Compleano and Natale

The Holiday Season was pleasant this year, probably because we started it early with a trip to Philadelphia and NYC. The east coast is festive with it's great areas for walking in the historical center and the seasonal torrone and treats at Isgros and in Little Italy (Philly) or the skating rink and horse carriages in Central Park and the fantastical window decorations on 5th Avenue -- yes, that got us off in the right spirit. And just before Christmas we had a 65th birthday celebration for Tom, then Christmas Eve dinner at Cherise's with wonderful food and the house wonderfully decorated inside and out, capped off with Christmas Day lunch and opening of presents at our home and dinner with Tom's family. Mellow and nice.


Pre-Christmas

Santa love's Sylvia and

Sylvia loves Santa back.

 Tom's 65th birthday celebration

 Cherise puts on a festive Christmas Eve dinner.

Sylvia's gingerbread house featuring the "bribery" candy we promised and purchased from the Monorail candy store at Westlake Center thus preventing a meltdown as well as providing ample treats to decorate her house (note gummy penguins and butterflies on roof).

Andy's gingerbread house creation below.

Cherise's creative centerpiece -- just a piece of ribbon and a few ornaments does the trick.

 

 Table filled with wine and tasting desserts.

Andy ties Sylvia to the door instead of dressing for guests. Why you ask?

Sisters looking a little wild-eyed.

The men relax.

Sylvia and Andy open presents from the relatives Christmas Eve. The remaining presents must wait 'til morning.

Cugine.

Roger taking better photographs than I. Pretty sure.

Paul and Jessica.

Opening presents.

Andy acting silly after many handfuls of those tasting sweets, I think.

 Ready for bed and ready for Santa.

 












Peter didn't make it to Seattle this year but spent his Christmas with Julie, Cedric, family and friends in a cabin in the woods in Ottawa. He sent us these pictures.

Neus take Manhattan

Well, not exactly "take" more like tiredly arrive. Very early we rose to catch the Amtrak to NYC for a visit with our other Pete -- Neu. We visited his flat, had breakfast at his local cafe, walked the length of the Highline, then left him to walk up 5th Avenue to Rockefeller Square, see the holiday window displays and all the department stores and visit Central Park. We were in town for the day to see his art installation in his school's Open Studio reception. After taking in his art, we headed to the other studios to see what students have been creating. After stopping for a couple of margharitas and some tostados for some December dining outside (in unseasonably warm weather) we head back to Philly on Amtrak.

Pete and Dad on the Highline. Now if Seattle could only have been as innovative -- imagine a similar park on the Viaduct.

Modern architectural take on the birdhouse.

It's not obvious, but this is one of several seating areas for people to observe, through a glass window, the street traffic below.

Rockefeller Center

Lego dragon that "moves" above the store.

Impressive array of legos

Bird takes a rest from the festivities on a decoration in Rockefeller Center

Tom and I stopped to hear the choir rehearse for Christmas mass.

One of the over-the-top store-window display on 5th Avenue

Ice skating in Central Park

SVA Open Studio

Apple cider vented through window