Favorite Annual Event -- Bike Oregon 2011 (Out of order)

Every year we head down to cycle with 2,000 other cycling enthusiasts and its the best three days of fun. We usually arrive early so we can get some cycling in before the main event. We always get there in plenty of time on Friday to secure a parking spot, check in and head to the beer garden/nightly music fest. The food is fantastic. This year we were at the university in the heart of Salem and then we typically ride about 50 miles a day. This year, our fourth ride, for the first time we had to worry about moisture not heat. In fact. we got so soaked on Sunday's ride we turned around and head back. But on Saturday and the Thursday and Friday before that we had perfect weather -- cool but not raining -- and fields of gold poppies and purple lavender. Such a beautiful part of the country.

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

Philly in a week, Manhattan in a day

Tom and I visited our Pete's on the east coast: Philly Pete to see his fantastic production of a baudy burlesque Nutcracker at the Painted Lady Theater and NYC Pete to visit his Open Studio at the School of Visual Art. Booking a bnb on Airbnb with the app on my iPhone, we stayed in Northern Liberties in the bnb French Philly. We couldn't have been better matched on Match.com, we had so much in common with these wonderful people. They are actors who are very active in the local theater scene, casting directors, and they came to Peter's Nutcracker performance along with their dinner guest, a retired professor from Penn. Dave, Paul, Jessica (Paul's girlfriend), Dave's friend and Paul's friend from NYC came down for the performance as well. We also had lunch with former Woodinvillian and Peter and Cherise's sometime babysitter, Heidi (Drummond) Rose in Bryn Mawr and it was a wonderful reunion. She was also their swim teacher, my house helper, my client (Nutrasystem), and an inspiration. We visited Esther. And Peter took us, Nicola, and friends to Chifa an upscale Peruvian and Cantonese restaurant in Center City treating us all on his royalty check from sales of his book. I'm humbled by Peter's generosity. The food was amazing. Truly some of the best I'd tasted. Meanwhile, our hosts at French Philly are Francophiles and foodies and had the best collection of cookbooks, gourmet magazines, and food-related tombs I've ever seen in private collection. We visited Peter's loft that he built inside a factory just north of fashionable Northern Liberties. He's done a fantastic job and followed his plans (below) precisely. We ate a lot of good food and had a wonderful time with Peter. I'm already missing him too much.

Gate to Peter's new factory loft home.

Door leading to Pete's space.

Ceiling of entry.

Pete's original building plans. The final construction is exact to the plans.

French Philly is in the Northern Liberties area of Philadelphia and within walking distance of the central city sites. Best of all it's a new, vibrant area with lots of places to eat, drink and shop. We loved being in this part of town.

French Philly was built in the 1800's and is over 100 years old.

In French Philly's courtyard is a mosaic wall by artist Isaiah themed around wine. His art can be found all around Philadlephia both in private and public spaces.

Part of another Isaiah wall.

Pete has a separate studio for rehearsals.

Our favorite neighborhood cafe. We ate breakfast here every morning with Pete.

Scenes from the Northern Lights neighborhood.

Community garden mural.

Decking the boughs with red and white onion ornaments in the community garden.

Ornamental iron work like this post and the gate below are found all over Philly, these are in the Northern Lights area.

Lunch at Parc. Here we are sharing a plate of raw oysters with our mimosas.

Visiting the old wooden boat where Pete has his summer pirate shows in Boston, Brooklyn, Baltimore and Philly.

Lunch on the Mainline with Heidi.

Early dinner in Mannyunk with the best antipasto misto I've had and a great Puglia primativo.

No trip to Philly would be complete without a visit to Little Italy and our annual holiday purchase of fresh torrone and panetone at Isgro's combined with some cheese and bread from di Bruno's.