Recently, someone very close to me called my maturity level into question. And it really hurt my feelings. I thought, “How dare this person make me doubt (even for a second) my ability as a mature adult!” The positive side of this incredibly offensive occurrence is that this individual got me to more carefully observe that which was called into question (and I made some pretty great realizations). It also made me wonder if other women in their late twenties struggle with the same issue, the same question: have I matured up? I think maturing up is different from growing up.

So I made a list, a list of things wherein I feel my maturity is unquestionably displayed:

1. I have more than one job. I perform each with care because I really love what I do. Because I care so much, the responsible, reliable, productive and efficient worker within comes out on its own.

2. I have my own apartment and pay all of my bills (without mom and dad’s help).

3. Speaking of parents, I talk to one of them everyday. Not because I feel that I need to but because I want to hear their voice, I want to always stay connected.

4. I really like to know what is going on in the world. There was a time when, I will admit, I was too selfish to care about Third World strife (because the stain on my new jeans made me more upset).

5. And since we’re on the subject of jeans: instead of shopping for clothes, I am now drawn to shopping for a cool piece of furniture to complement my faux fireplace.

6. In front of this faux fireplace, I enjoy having a few adult beverages and good conversation with my dearest friends versus binge-drinking and having to scream at the top of my lungs just to be heard by someone in an over-crowded club.

7. I am more patient with other people and most importantly, more patient with myself.

8. I take care of my body because it has been so good to me and I want it to continue to be.

9. I take care of my family and friends because they have been so good to me and they mean everything to me.

I still enjoy the same things now that I did at ages 12, 18, 23 (the core of everything really is the same: working, shopping, living, loving); however, these things have hit a level of balance, there is a moderation…and it is really nice.

I recently had a reunion with good friends. Instead of getting dressed up in scantily-clad outfits, partying and over-eating all weekend, we planned to run a race together one morning, called it an early night the evening before the race and spent the other weekend night making a lovely dinner from scratch. The weekend was so fun but a different kind of fun. Not better than what we used to do during past gatherings but quite possibly equal to on the fun scale. And I didn’t feel lame, I didn’t feel “old” and I didn’t feel at all like I had grown up. I felt like a happy 27-year-old hanging out with my best friends.

I am a strong and capable woman (I come from a long line of them). I know with unshakable confidence that I can handle anything that comes my way. Has this confidence come along as part of the growing up process? Possibly. But as far as I’m concerned, this solid idea I have of myself is the idea of a very mature young woman. Shame on the person who would dare to think otherwise.

I am thankful though that I was given occasion to contemplate the question of maturity. I think more often we should take time for self-reflection, to acknowledge that we are doing pretty darn well for ourselves in a city as intimidating as this one. Good for us.

Roman Polanski’s The Ghost Writer, based on the novel by Robert Harris, clearly demonstrates that Roman Polanski, at 77 and under house arrest in Switzerland, has not lost his directorial ability to tell a good story. In The Ghost Writer, Pierce Brosnan plays Adam Lang, a former British Prime Minister holed up on Martha’s Vineyard to write his post-premiership memoirs with the help of a “ghost writer.” While the movie disclaims any similarity to any real person, Lang is a dead ringer for former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and Lang’s wife Ruth, played by Olivia Williams, bears a striking resemblance to Cherie Blair.

The story opens with Lang looking to find a new ghost writer to pen his memoir. His long-time aide and ghost writer, Michael McArca, has been found dead — an apparent drowning. Ewan McGregor’s character (”The Ghost”), who befitting a ghost writer remains unnamed in the film, seems an unlikely candidate to ghost a former politician’s memoirs: His most recent ghost-writing assignment was the best-selling memoir of a magician.

The first line out of McGregor’s mouth on meeting the former Prime Minister Lang is: “I am your ghost.” This line will resonate poignantly as the movie unfolds.

The Ghost meets Lang at a challenging time in his post-premiership. Lang is accused of assisting the CIA in its kidnapping of four Pakistani terrorists. Accusations of being a “poodle” for the U. S. follow Lang as protestors camp out nearby, chanting torturer at him: Clearly, there is no resemblance to any real person here.

As the Ghost (McGregor) begins to work on Lang’s memoirs — with the aid of Lang’s sexy assistant, Amelia Bly played by Kim Catrall — he uncovers information left by his predecessor, McArca, that will put his own life in jeopardy. The last half hour of the movie keeps you on pins and needles.

The Ghost Writer offers suspense, first-rate story-telling, and for extra measure it includes a wonderful supporting cast. Tom Wilkinson plays Paul Emmett, a Harvard professor, who the Ghost (McGregor) thinks holds the key to Lang’s links with the CIA, Timothy Hutton, plays Lang’s American lawyer, and 94-year old Eli Wallach, makes a brief, but terrific appearance with McGregor.

Given that Polanski is under house arrest, the movie is actually filmed in Berlin (portrayed as London) and the Sylt Islands in the North Sea (portrayed as Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod).

While art often imitates life, and The Ghost Writer surely does that, life too imitates art. Just last week, William Hague ( the Shadow Foreign Secretary in the UK) announced that should a Tory government come to power in the upcoming UK elections, Tory leadership, unlike Labor (headed by Blair and now Gordon Brown) will not exclusively look to the U.S as its key alliance. Perhaps the Tories have seen Polanski’s The Ghost Writer.

By Robert F. Brands

The recently introduced Apple iPad is the latest wowing of the world by the pioneering computer company. Taken in totality, with its iPhone, iPod, MacBook laptops, and the original Macintosh computer itself, Apple’s ability to hit innovation home runs has changed technology — and the way people relate to electronic devices, and thus, each other.

What was the inspiration behind these products? How does a man — CEO Steve Jobs, who co-founded Apple with Steve Wozniak — foster such an upwelling of inspiration? How does leadership’s vision motivate teams in the organization, and ultimately transform consumers into loyalists? More importantly, how can you foster such inspiration in your organization?

Start with the question: How inspired is your organization? In a survey on InnovationCoach.com website, we asked, “Which elements of an Innovation Process and/or culture are in place today?” Only half the respondents answered “Inspiration.” The good news was that half of those responding realized the need for inspiration. The bad news was that just as many don’t — or haven’t put the process in place.

From the C-suite on down, can you honestly say that your company encourages inspiration and welcomes vision? Or does your organization “play not to lose?” Is it a pulse that beats constantly.

Inspiration goes beyond the thinking that brought us various Apple products. Inspiration is about how people think, collaborate, and then put new ideas into motion. Inspiration comes in an open forum for all involved and not involved. It reaches from the CEO to the customer service help desk, from the factory floor to the retail showroom, from the longest-tenured employee to the newest hire to the customer submitting concepts via a “Suggestions” box or a phone call. Savvy innovators even welcome partners, suppliers, and vendors into the process.

To my way of thinking, no one in the organization gets a “free pass” from thinking creatively about how to improve the company, its products or its processes.

While thoughtful leadership has fueled innovation for other businesses, inspiration remains the spark that drives the creative process. How can your organization inspire innovation? I suggest these seven tips:

* Make inspiration an imperative. In Robert’s Rules of Innovation, it states that successful innovation in an organization is driven by 10 imperatives, including — among others — leadership, ownership, accountability, risk and reward, and value creation. None is more important, though, than inspiration. An inspired leader, organization and process engages the team, welcomes them into the act of innovation and heightens chances for success.

* Install and empower a chief innovation officer. The processes of inspiration and innovation need a champion, someone who helps develop the ideas, fosters an environment that encourages creative camaraderie, feeds esprit de corps, and steers the organization toward greatness. In the small or mid-sized companies, this should be the owner or CEO. In large organizations with an especially thoughtful or charismatic leader — such as Steve Jobs — the CEO can serve this role as well. But generally in larger organizations, the CIO should be someone empowered by the CEO. The CIO (not to be confused with the Chief Information Officer) has the perspective of the organization to envision inspiration, and drive to push projects through the various necessary pipelines, and the power and purpose to see projects through.

* Set goals and create enthusiasm. Where do you want your organization to go today? Tomorrow? Does the company need one new product this year, or a new process management or workflow initiative? Inspiration is the daily communication that steers such direction. Though the CIO is the leader (after the CEO or other top exec), the team must embrace the challenge as a shared goal to be met together. Buy-in comes with smaller, incremental wins that need to be recognized. Failures must be tolerated, not penalized. Measure achievements, and use a reward system of monetary or recognition awards. You’ll find sometimes, especially with your most creative people, that recognition is reward enough to keep troops engaged and motivated.

* Create the right culture. Inspiration is bigger than individuals: It resonates throughout the organization. This is more than hanging motivational posters on the walls. Host regular brainstorming sessions to welcome new ideas. Hold team-building exercises, where inspiration is the focus, and new ideas — again for products or processes — are the goal. Successful inspiration that fuels innovation transcends hierarchy and silos. It’s not the just CIO’s job. It’s everyone’s job. Together, the team enjoys success and learns from the lessons of failure. Encourage the entire organization to become “Inspired” and to embrace the challenge of inspiration.

* Make inspiration a start-to-finish endeavor. On its album Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd laments, “plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines.” Life and business are littered with unfinished tasks. Set deadlines, and use rewards to help ensure they are met. Strive for the completed task.

* Observe, measure, and know. Inspiration — like innovation itself — doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It must be measured to gauge performance and ensure a chance at success. Each project team must have a leader in charge of shepherding projects to their respective waypoints and end goals. Set up processes and milestones. Establish checkpoints to weigh accomplishments. As Ronald Reagan famously said: “Trust, but verify.”

* Never relent. Inspiration is about the journey, not the destination. It’s not a one-time endeavor, but a life-long calling. Herb Kohler, the 70-year-old bearded chairman of the plumbing fixture company that bears his name, still heads Kohler’s monthly new product development meetings — that is, when he’s not collaborating with legendary golf course designer Pete Dye on a new development or leading the company’s acquisition of Scotland’s famed Hamilton Hall in St. Andrews — at a time when his contemporaries are content to just hit the links, Kohler remains committed to product innovation — and helping to provide the inspiration behind it.

Inspiration sparks, propels, and steers creative thinking, which leads to innovation and, thus, new business development. Establishing, maintaining and fostering a culture in which this thinking can thrive not only motivates teams and encourages shared goals — it ultimately drives value to the bottom line. Inspire and keep the beat.

Robert F. Brands, author of Robert’s Rules of Innovation: A 10-Step Program for Corporate Survival, is President and founder of Brands & Company, LLC (www.innovationcoach.com). Having gained hands-on experience in bringing innovation to market, creating and improving the necessary product development processes and needed culture, he delivered on his charter to bring “at least one new product per year to market” — resulting in double-digit profitable growth and share-holder value.

Ok, perhaps he died. Or maybe he went on an unexpected vacation. It’s possible he might have only wanted sex. Then again, maybe he’s gay. Or he got carpal tunnel from all of our flirtexting. It might be that his computer, blackberry and legs broke. Or he can’t afford his internet service anymore. He definitely just got scared. Yeah, that’s got to be it.

At first, it was all…”You’re so adorable! I mean, how can a girl be so freakin adorable?” He nonstop kissed you. He held your hand at dinner. He wanted to go away for the weekend. Later, he leaves your apartment after brunch. An hour goes by and you don’t get your usual cute text from him. Then another hour goes by. You check to make sure you’re phone is accepting incoming calls. And it is. It’s charged and the ringer is on loud AND vibrate. You decide to have some Ben & Jerry’s cookie-dough ice cream to distract yourself. And before you know it, four days have gone by. All the ice cream in your fridge is gone and your friends are about to ex-communicate you from their life because you keep updating them on the fact that he STILL (ugh…) hasn’t called. Yep, it finally sinks in. Yep, it’s definitely over. Damnit.
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Does this sound far too familiar? Have you ever gone from fireworks to burned within an instant? Why is it that some guys fall for you as quickly as they leave you? What early warning signs can you look for?

You can usually spot early warning signs and flags of all different colors and figure out if he’s gonna be flaky or insincere. I bet, with at least one relationship that ended badly, there was at least one sign or flag that each of you has overlooked. Heck, it’s not an exact science, but here are a few serious flags that should convince you to bounce before he does.

The Warning Signs
1. He Gets Too Serious Too Fast
When a guy gets too serious too quickly, that should definitely raise a flag. It’s almost always an indicator of something strange going on. At least it has always been that way in my life and with many other friends I’ve spoken to. The same guy who asks you to spend the weekend with him after the second date is almost guaranteed to fall off the face of the planet before you ever reach the twenty-second.

2. He Talks About The Future Early On
You should be skeptical of guys that make premature promises of romance and the future. Basically, if it comes so soon, it’s probably fake and not genuine. When a guy alludes early on to things WAY down the line - falling in love, how he’ll propose, names for your children - it usually is just talk. He just likes to hear himself speak and will likely drop you faster than you can tweet about it to your friends.

3. He Always Has An Answer
He doesn’t always tell you where he’s going. And when he does, he ends up somewhere else with someone else entirely. But he always has an answer. His phone died. His
phone broke. He crashed on his buddy Matt’s couch. He was underground and didn’t have service. He got caught up at work. Here’s YOUR answer. He’s no good. You’re good to move on.

4. He Seems To Have Some Insecurity
Insecure guys just like attention and want women to love them. Truly insecure guys don’t always think before they speak about what it might mean to the other person. They live in the moment, crave adoration. attention, love and acceptance. And they will get it wherever they can. If this is the case, he is likely reading from the same script with many other women. If you’re lucky, you’ll realize he’s a bad actor and move on before Act II.

5. He Doesn’t Want A Relationship (But It Feels Like You’re In One)
When guys don’t want a relationship and begin to realize they’re committing themselves, they take the easy way out-they disappear. Maybe you two really do have an intense connection but he reflects on it and gets scared. He’s not ready for the responsibility of a relationship. What he knows (rather conveniently and optimistically) is that you’ll be fine because a worthier man will snatch you up soon enough. Thank him for his vote of confidence, accept that timing can be a b*tch, and go find a man that can give you what you need.

6. He Talks About His Ex Extremely Too Often
When a guy talks often about his ex this is an indication that he is still attached to and hung up on the ex. It is unlikely that your date will be able to really connect with you and be 100% emotionally available. He will likely leave you high and dry without hesitation because he’ll never really be able to develop an emotional connection with you. Disconnect immediately.

7. He Makes Your Gut Feel Bad
Ladies, this is one problem that Spanx just won’t solve. We’ve all been out with a sexy new someone only to have him do or say something that made our stomach lurch - and not in a I-wanna-pounce-on-you-right-here-right-now kinda way. Maybe he was rude to the waitstaff. Perhaps he hopped in the first cab instead of giving it to you. Then again, maybe it was nothing you could articulate or put your finger on. Don’t ignore it. When our gut doesn’t feel right, there’s almost always a valid reason. And good intuition and judgment comes from experience. Take what you will from the experience and pat yourself on the back for picking up on the bad vibes sooner rather than later.

Ok, so what should you do when you detect these early warning signs? Alright, here’s the thing. When a guy shows you early warning signs, you have two options:

One. You can throw all of your energy into trying to make it work. After all, you have the memories of how great things ONCE were. Maybe somehow, some way, you can turn it all back around. Maybe you can accept his apologies and his excuses and try to get back to where you were.

Two. You can jump for freakin joy. Run through the streets singing! Shout “hallelujah!” Thank your lucky stars! Because the man you thought you knew finally decided to drop the act and show you his true colors. You can get out of this bad situation NOW and get on with your life.

Well, if it was me, I’d definitely go with option two. But, here’s the other thing. Often in life, we see the flags, the flashing red lights, and the thick yellow tape. But we proceed despite it all, praying that he will prove us wrong, praying we will be the exception, believing that we can and will be the one to change him. We see what we hope for and not what it is. Sometimes we want so badly for things to work out that we allow our longings to blur all the glaring red stop signs. We often develop a strange and temporary color blindness when we really like someone. But sometimes we need to cover our eyes and go with it in order to move on, to know we tried as hard as we could, to make sure we were right about him so we can eliminate regrets and what-ifs.

At the end of the day, we live and we learn. We rejoice in the months of courting, the romantic dinners, the long phone calls in bed, the passionate kisses - and we mourn when it all ends. And when that happens, we feel we have to be so guarded with our hearts the next time around but we also simultaneously fear we may miss out on a wonderful person if they do ever happen our way. It’s a confusing world out there. And I don’t know why it just can’t be easy. Maybe we meet so many of the wrong people so that we’ll really appreciate the right person when he finally comes into our life. But until that happens, I guess you can always go back to pretending he’s dead.

Has this ever happened to you? And did you ever figure out why? Did you see the warning signs? Guys, have you ever done this? I want to hear from you all, ladies and gentleman!

The literary marketplace is no stranger to the genre of personal journeys in quest of spiritual awakenings, religion, or any number of other life paths people undertake to find wholeness, self-awareness, and meaning. From Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson to Elizabeth Lesser’s Broken Open and the spirited travels of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love among others, books for lost searching souls abound.

One book that stands alone as an especially rewarding read is Dani Shapiro’s Devotion (HarperCollins/Harper). A thoughtful memoir of a woman whose spiritual journey and self-analysis of existential angst eventually leads to discovering her own personal truth, one not dependent or guided by a particular thought or philosophy. An affluent life, success as a writer and teacher, adoring husband and child, hardly shields Shapiro from the turmoil of inner conflicts, skepticism, and the need to confront an eternal question “Who was I, and what did I want from the second half of my life? ”

Framed against the backdrop of life-defining moments—9/11, death of parents, coping with the near fatal illness of an infant child, and entering mid-life—Shapiro’s story unfolds slowly as she examines doubt, decisions, faith (or lack thereof), a tense relationship with her mother and a distant Orthodox Jewish father whose early death leaves her further adrift.

When her nine-year old son inquires intently (a sure signal to any parent that attention must be paid) about their religious leanings, Shapiro’s odyssey begins in earnest. Given her temperament and a writer’s habit of living inside of one’s head, she sets the tone of her story, “I wanted to climb all the way inside the question - past tremendous resistance - and see what was there.”

As she ponders and probes, Shapiro, rather unwittingly, finds the Buddhist teacher whose writings she admires, a yogi, and a Rabbi. She experiences the rituals of her Orthodox relatives, attends a yogi retreat, and meets periodically with a Rabbi. Toward the book’s ending that also signifies a new life chapter there is the acceptance and acknowledgement of the ultimate reality - to co-exist with doubt and an unquiet peace.

Shapiro is an intelligent and gifted writer, an author of several books of fiction and nonfiction and a well-received memoir Slow Motion. The minutiae of everyday living that unconsciously weigh us down and an honest self-scrutiny of her beliefs are finely detailed and movingly told. Devotion is one woman’s journey, but one that will resonate, inspire, and guide others to courageously chart their own course.

We workout and eat right with the knowledge that there may come a time when we will hit a plateau. Plateaus rarely happen when working out with a personal trainer because a trainer knows the importance of changing exercise routines in order to avoid full body adaptation. A new DVD system, the P90X®, employs what it calls the concept of “muscle confusion,” which is basically what a trainer does with a client.

The system’s official website states: “P90X® is a revolutionary system of 12 sweat-inducing, muscle-pumping workouts, designed to transform your body from regular to ripped in just 90 days. You’ll also receive a comprehensive 3-phase nutrition plan, specially designed supplement options, a detailed fitness guide, a calendar to track your progress, online peer support, and much more. Your personal trainer, Tony Horton, will keep you engaged every step of the way, and you won’t believe your results!”

I think the P90X® system is a phenomenal idea and, without hesitation, I advocate its usage; however, Tony Horton (the system developer) is harder to feel committed to than an actual trainer. If a consumer commits to the 90-day challenge, then they will see great results. My concern is that not many people possess the willpower to fully follow the system (which includes a nutrition and optional supplementation guide); thus, they may waste a lot of money on something that goes unused or is quickly discarded after a few attempts. Horton’s system is genius but it is geared to a very small population of exercise enthusiasts. Use the money to invest in a personal trainer once a week, someone who is not far removed from you as Horton is by DVD.

When you’re ready to make the commitment to workout with less in-person assistance, then give his DVD a shot. This way you are not setting yourself up for  failure because you will have already developed proper workout habits. Having a good trainer (whether at your local gym or on a DVD) is the best investment one can make.

Kenley Ferrara is a certified personal trainer and running coach for Professional Personal Training Systems (PPTS) as well as a Pacer for Nike. Her website is www.pptswellness.com.

Ladies, plus-size clothing has been revolutionized! Monif C. Plus Sizes, created by Ms. Monif Clarke, has made shopping for the curvy woman, fun again. Her motto, “Be Transformed…I am Monif C. You are Monif C.,” describes the idea behind her line: embrace who you are as a sexy, curvy woman.

Monif’s campaign to teach women how to love themselves for who they are has been successful. Women all over the world from New York to Australia are jumping on the Monif C. bandwagon including Gabourey Sidibe who wore a piece from the Monif C. collection on the cover of this month’s Ebony magazine.

Her West Indian background is very prevalent in her work. Her designs include vibrant colors and sexy silhouettes. The new spring line consists of the stylish convertible dress. From elegant to edgy, the dress’s versatility can take you anywhere. Her site www.monifc.com features the different ways of wearing the dress.

Another great element within her line are her swimsuits. Her runway ready styles are based on the many places she has visited including her greatest inspiration, Barbados. Her many summers spent in her family’s native land inspired the sexy ‘Plunge V Plus Size Swimsuit’ in the beautiful gold and chic black colors; the colors of the Barbadian flag. The hottest suit in the collection is the ‘St. Tropez Fringe Plus Size Suit,’ which is a low v-neck one piece with long fringes in the front. Each suit offers comfort and class for this summer.

To find any of the pieces featured in this article you can visit www.monifc.com or her local boutique located at 325 West 38th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. Other stores within the city that carry her clothing are Chique Life, located in Manhattan and In the Box Boutique, located in Queens.

What if you were told that you could learn how to cook in the privacy of your own home and that you could even choose the meal you would be taught to prepare? Jennifer Clair, chef-founder of Home Cooking New York, thought that would be pretty extraordinary. After answering an ad to give in-home cooking lessons, she realized that most people who want to learn to cook are often too intimidated to learn at a professional cooking school. She started Home Cooking New York to teach people how to cook in their own kitchens.

Home Cooking New York offers clients the choice of learning basic cooking skills in a private or group setting and would-be-chefs get to choose exactly what type of foods and cuisines they want to prepare. Whether it is Indian, Chinese, Italian or vegetarian, Jennifer has the skills and resources to take her clients down just about any culinary path they are looking to travel.

Clair began her culinary career after attending college and venturing into a cooking school here in NYC. Not really sold on becoming a chef, she dabbled in food publishing and then worked for the food department at MarthaStewart.com as the Manager of Cooking and Entertaining. She spent the next four years brainstorming with her colleagues on recipes, and eating tons of free food. At the end of those four years the Internet bubble burst and at the time it seemed as though Jennifer’s career did too. However, after answering that simple ad for private cooking lessons her departure from MarthaStewart.com proved to be a blessing in disguise for herself and now, many others.

Since its inception in 2002, Clair and her team at Home Cooking New York have been entering peoples’ homes, providing an unusual but always appreciated gift for that hard to buy friend, hosting parties and teaching cooking skills to would-be home cooks in Beacon, NY and Manhattan. Clair along with four other chefs work together to provide this individually-tailored culinary service. Demand has been so great that what started out as a business providing lessons in a client’s home, has grown to include lessons held in Ms. Claire’s private kitchen in Beacon or at Home Cooking New York’s sparkling, new facility on West 23rd street in Manhattan.

Those taking private lessons choose the menu they wish to cook. Clair gives them a complete shopping list of the food needed to prepare the recipes, which is the client’s responsibility to provide. Working side by side with a chef, the client learns basic prep skills as well as tips on staying organized while cooking a four-course meal. Group classes are structured around a specific region or specific recipe. After each lesson, whether private or group, the client receives a recipe pack and everyone enjoys the meal that is created.

Clair finds the biggest reward in introducing people to new or different foods. In her classes she likes giving people a variety of options instead of teaching them one specific way to make a dish. “I am very passionate about food and enjoy showing everyone the different options that can be had when preparing a meal,” says Clair.

Although business is booming, Clair still finds time to stay in the kitchen. She personally teaches eight private classes and parties a week, in addition to running two schools where the group lessons are held and has no plans to slow down. When asked where she sees the business going, Clair says, “The sky is the limit.”

In addition to private cooking lessons and cooking parties for adults, Home Cooking New York also hosts children’s and teen parties. Each lesson or party is priced accordingly and the pricing sheet can be found on Clair’s website.  www.homecookingny.com

Woman Around Town’s Six Questions

Favorite Place to Shop: Farmers’ markets on the weekends.
Favorite Place to Eat: Prune restaurant
Favorite New York Sight: The Cloisters
Favorite New York Moment: Meeting my husband for the first time in front of a Chelsea gallery opening in the freezing cold. Knew instantly he was the kind of guy I had been looking for all along.
What You Love About New York: The endless opportunities for food adventures.
What You Hate About New York: Noise and distance from nature.

Photos by James Higgins

The 133rd George Washington’s Birthday Ball, a gala celebration of our first president’s birthday raised funds for the Fraunces Tavern Museum and charitable projects of the Knickerbocker Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. The event was held at the Metropolitan Club with music provided by the Paul Errico Orchestra.

Fraunces Tavern, a National Landmark, is well known as the place where George Washington bade farewell to his officers in 1783. The Sons of the Revolution saved it from the wrecking ball in 1904, restored it, opened it as a museum in 1907 and continues to operate it today with a range of exhibits and programs to educate the public about American history and
freedom.

There are so many cozy, romantic tables in La Mangeoire, you will never be disappointed with where you are seated. The lights are low, the fresh flowers abundant and fragrant, and the service attentive without being intrusive. All that’s needed is wonderful food. La Mangeoire has that covered, too. No wonder this neighborhood restaurant enjoys such a loyal following. The locals are regulars, but word is spreading outside the neighborhood. If you can’t travel to Provence this spring, put La Manegoire on your itinerary.

The menu includes familiar bistro dishes—Provencale-style fish soup, homemade pates, escargots (this version prepared in a crunchy pastry shell), and coq au vin served with mashed potatoes. Whether you prefer meat or fish, La Mangeoire has great selections. The steak au poivre arrives perfectly cooked and spiced, while the Mediterranean striped bass, seasoned with fresh thyme, lemon juice, and olive oil, is light and flavorful.

A bistro favorite is steamed mussels served with French fries. La Manegoire offers several variations, from shallots with white wine to tomato sauce. In each case, the shell fish is tangy and tender and the French fries hot and crisp. Try sharing with glasses of chilled white wine. Perfect.

Desserts are French and fabulous. The apple tart served with cinnamon ice cream is our first choice. If you love chocolate opt for the melting dark chocolate cake served with Tahitian vanilla ice cream. You also can’t go wrong with the chocolate mousse. Looking for something lighter and refreshing? The sorbets are always a nice way to eat a wonderful meal.

The best restaurants have a good rhythm—you are greeted warmly, seated promptly, and served a glass of wine or cocktail while you peruse the menu. La Mangeoire excels, establishing a tempo that feels neither lax nor rushed. So, relax and enjoy. Perhaps next year, you will manage that trip to Provence. Chances are, the food will be just as good.

La Mangeoire
1008 2nd Avenue, between 53rd and 54th Streets
212-759-7086
www.lamangeoire.com