A Fork And A Suitcase

While strolling through the streets of Warsaw, one is bound to come across many reminders of WWII.  In some areas, they seem to be around each corner.  Sites of executions of Polish citizens and other atrocities are marked with monuments, plaques, sometimes a sculpture and usually fresh flowers and candles. Growing up in my neighborhood of Warsaw, I was always aware that it used to be part of the Warsaw Ghetto.  I knew where the Ghetto borders were since we studied that at school, but there were no markers or signs in any areas of the city.    In the last decade, a concerted effort by the Jewish Historical Institute, the City of Warsaw and the Ministry of Culture, has been made to memorialize the City's Jewish population and its fate. There are 22 markers along the borders of the former Warsaw Ghetto which was established by the Germans in 1940.  Some of the markers are bronze letters that are embedded in the sidewalk indicating the location of the gh...

My first visit to this restaurant was with a group of friends.  We sat outside, where Zielnik has an elegant set up, in a pretty park just across the street from the restaurant.  The food was delicious, the service was attentive and polite and the dessert, a pistachio meringue, was outstanding!  I knew that I would have to come back. This time, since my grandmother did not want to eat outside, we sat inside of the restaurant.  I'm so glad we did. The second I walked in, I was in love!  The decor is stunning, with lots of  green vegetation, framed pictures of herbs and flowers and light color wood throughout.  The cabinets and the wainscoting help to create a very homey, inviting and comfortable feeling.    We got there very early when the restaurant was still empty but it was completely full as we were leaving.  My family eats dinner really early.  It's a habit from the olden days when breakfast was in the morning, se...

There are a few major getaways from the New York City area, the Hamptons, the Berkshires, and the Catskills.  We like to escape to the Catskills especially the area of and around Woodstock, NY. Woodstock is a town in Ulster County that is about 100 miles north of NYC.  The town was established in 1787.  The Arts and Crafts Movement came here in 1902 and ever since the town has been considered an active artists colony.  The organizers of the Woodstock Festival in 1969, planned a concert at the Winston Farm in Saugerties but the town turned down their permit and the "Woodstock" Festival was held 60 miles away in Bethel. Woodstock is home to the Woodstock Artists Association & Museum, the town hosts music, writers and  film festivals and is home to artists from different fields. We love it for its beauty, great food and nice people.    Oriole 9 (17 Tinker Street) is our f...