October highlights

Fall weekend in NE Pennsylvania
Originally uploaded by .edward

A compilation of snapshots from the past 31 days.....

Zipcar and Flexcar Merger!

Since 2005, we've been going green by using the Zipcar car sharing program in NYC. Found out today that Zipcar and Flexcar (Zipcar's competitor) are merging.....so what does this mean? More cities to use Zipcar!!! Bye-bye Hertz, Avis and the high-fees, hello Zipcar and convenience!!

Read the press release below:

Zipcar and Flexcar Agree to Merge

Combined company to enhance member experience, fuel car sharing growth

Cambridge and Washington DC (October 31, 2007) — Zipcar and Flexcar, leading car sharing providers, announced today the companies will merge. Together these two companies will represent an international network able to deliver new member benefits and accelerated growth to the burgeoning car sharing industry. The combined company will operate under the Zipcar brand and be headquartered in Cambridge, MA, under the leadership of Zipcar's chairman and chief executive, Scott Griffith.

Zipcar and Flexcar currently operate car sharing programs, providing members with on-demand access to a diverse fleet of vehicles conveniently located throughout major metropolitan areas. To use the service, members reserve a vehicle online or via a mobile device, use a smartcard to open the doors, take their trip, and then return the car at the end of the reservation. A simple hourly or daily fee covers gas, insurance, maintenance, parking and 24-7 emergency service. The merger will come at a time when car sharing is increasingly acknowledged as a smart urban lifestyle choice and transportation alternative. Today, with growing competition within the industry, and more than 30 independent car sharing companies operating in the U.S. alone, the combined Zipcar will have a stronger base from which to compete, particularly against leading car rental firms' product introductions targeted at the car sharing industry.

"This merger will be a classic example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts," said Scott Griffith, CEO, Zipcar. "The combined company will provide our members with increased benefits and improve our ability to expand into new markets. The management and employees of both companies are proud to be contributing to the progression of the industry, and we believe as a combined company, we will be more effective in making car sharing a mainstream form of transportation in cities throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe."

Zipcar currently operates in New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, Vancouver, Toronto and London while Flexcar operates in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. Both companies provide car sharing on college campuses where traffic congestion and limited parking are frequent challenges.

"With very little geographic overlap, the combined company will serve its members by taking the best attributes and features of each company and making a great service even better," said Mark Norman, formerly Flexcar's CEO, who will assume the roles of president and COO of Zipcar at closing.

Upon merging, member benefits will include:

- Award winning technology: Members will access the vehicles through Zipcar's Z3D, industry-leading technology. The proprietary platform fully connects the information flow between vehicles, members and Zipcar.com

- Universal membership: The Zipcar membership will enable the self-service reservation of any vehicle in any city in the combined Zipcar, Flexcar network simply by using the Zipcar.com website or mobile interface.

- Premium insurance: All members will be covered under an industry leading insurance plan with limits of $300,000 per accident.

- More convenience: Especially in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco (markets where both companies currently operate), the combined fleets will give existing members of each service hundreds more locations from which to choose. In addition, members will now be able to reserve cars in more cities.

- Green options: Both companies have a commitment to environmental responsibility, and now members will have access to more hybrid vehicles

Car sharing programs are proven to have significant positive environmental and social impacts. National studies show that each shared car replaces up to 20 privately owned vehicles. Car sharing members report driving significantly less and are more likely to walk, bike, and use public transportation. Members also report savings of $500 or greater per month compared to the average cost of owning and operating a car in the city, and businesses have saved thousands of dollars by eliminating company fleets or augmenting their transportation offerings with car sharing programs.

All media are invited to join a telephonic press conference today (Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007) at 12:00 p.m. EDT. Please visit www.zipcar.com/press/press-call for details on this and additional information surrounding this announcement.

About Zipcar

Zipcar is the world's leading, with more than 120,000 members and 3,500 vehicles in major metropolitan areas and colleges campuses in more than 35 cities, including Boston, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington, DC, Vancouver, Toronto and London, England. As a leading urban lifestyle brand, Zipcar provides a convenient and cost effective transportation alternative for individuals, businesses and universities throughout the United Kingdom and 18 North American states and provinces. For more information, visit http://www.zipcar.com/.

Crispy skin salmon over herbed cous-cous

Crispy skin salmon over herbed cous-cous
Originally uploaded by .edward

Homemade dinner in Long Pond, PA

Nip/Tuck Season 5 begins TONITE!!

Tonight is the Season 5 premiere for Nip/Tuck (FX Networks).

WE LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!

Stylish, brash, sexy and sass.....all in one show!!!

(10pm EST / FX Networks)

Home made split pea soup

We made a hearty split-pea soup made with

-organic split peas

-organic carrots

-organic vegetable-stock

-and the secret ingredient -- organic fresh chopped cilantro

• ....yummy!
  
  
  

Tiengarden

Hot and Sour Soup at Tiengarden on Allen Street. Spicy, pungent and delicious!

Angelica's Kitchen

Monday, October 22, 2007 - Enjoying the wee dragon bargain at Angelica's Kitchen in the East Village.

We (heart) pumpkin pie!

We (heart) pumpkin pie....we indulged in our first pie of the season last month from The Little Pie Company on West 43 Street. After weeks of seeking out pumpkin pie at different cafes, restaurants, bakeries, I can still say that the pumpkin pie from Little Pie Company is still the best!

NY or Paris?

NY or Paris?
Originally uploaded by .edward

On stanton & ludlow streets.

Coffee crawl: last stop Roasting Plant

Grilled eggplant, mozzerella & pesto panini

Grilled eggplant, mozzerella & pesto panini
Originally uploaded by .edward

A very memorable panini at Bite on Lafayette Street

Tempeh wrap @ S'nice

Tempeh wrap @ S'nice
Originally uploaded by .edward

Enjoyed a light arugula salad and a tempeh wrap with avocado at S'nice on Hudson Street.

Give me some pie!

Give me some pie!
Originally uploaded by .edward

Basil awaits his piece of cherry/peach/blueberry pie a la mode.

Soy latte redux

We had to go back to Cafe Grumpy again for the delightful soy latte. Overall, I think this place wins for best artisinal coffee house!

Close second to Joe-Art of Coffee

Close second to Joe-Art of Coffee
Originally uploaded by .edward

Thanks to Yelp!, we might have found the perfect soy latte at this cute artisinal coffee shop called Cafe Grumpy on West 20nd Street (between 7th and 8th Aves).

Dinner in PA

enjoying salmon, homemade cous-cous along with baba ganoush.....yum!

Mini Wedding Cakes

Mini Wedding Cakes
Originally uploaded by wubanga75

My cousin is a pastry chef/proprietor. Awesome work he did for a rehearsal dinner.

First sign of Fall Foliage

First sign of Fall Foliage
Originally uploaded by .edward

Spending the weekend at the house in Long Pond, PA...a very warm saturday (80s) but by late afternoon it started cooling down. Leaves are changing from green to burnt orange, pale yellow, bright red.

Old clothes

Old clothes
Originally uploaded by .edward

We escaped the neighborhood and went to an early dinner at Max on Avenue B. The outdoor garden (with clothes hanging to dry) was open so we dined alfresco on rustic italian dishes, a delicious salmon with garlic spinach, chived mashed potatoes and a semi-wonderful black ink spaghetti in a semi-spicy tomato sauce with nuances of sweetness (shrimp was overcooked and tough, bummer).

Interesting interaction with the couple seated next to us: couple chatting, then man-boy's cell phone rings, he picks it up and proceeds to talk for 15 minutes at the table. Date leaves to use restroom, man-boy still talking. Food arrives and he wraps up the conversation. Date brings up her displeasure and discusses cellphone etiquette. Man-boy gets defensive and walks away. .V tells the date, "You're better off without him...."

Sushi @ Kura on East 4th Street

http://www.flickr.com/photos/efabila_nyc/1480834720/
Originally uploaded by .edward

Feasting at our favorite local sushi joint Kura Sushi in the East Village.

Food spread

Food spread
Originally uploaded by .edward

Monday, Oct 1, 2007: A special dinner prepared by mom for Uncle Ed and Tita Liza.

Asahi select

Asahi select
Originally uploaded by .edward

Last saturday night: enjoying a special Asahi Select at Japanese Sushi Bar Mottsu.

Pumpkin Pie season is back!

Pumpkin Pie season is back!
Originally uploaded by .edward

One of the reasons why we maintain a disciplined practice of yoga, spinning and (now)pilates classes is so that we can eat guilt-free and enjoy the wonderful treats the season has to offer. Today marked the first day of pumpkin pies on sale at The Little Pie Company....worth the wait? OF COURSE!!