We kicked off the holiday weekend Wednesday evening, with cocktails at Spike Hill, followed by a wonderful dinner of tiny clams baked with oregano and lemon, a simple salad, and wood-fired artisanal pizza at Fornino in Williamsburg.

We started out early on Thanksgiving Day, heading to brunch at Serafinas in Manhattan (right on the parade route!), then returning home for a rest and a few nibbles before dinner. As evening fell, we returned to Williamsburg for a delicious Thanksgiving feast courtesy of Williamsburgh Cafe, one of our favorite haunts. As the cold wind whipped off of the water, we headed home in the drizzle, sated and happy, and very tired. Time to rest up, because we still had a lot ahead of us.

Friday was cold, but clear and sunny, and we took advantage of the weather with a trip up to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, where we walked around the charming streets, ducking in and out of the various Italian merchants' shops (meats, cheeses, fresh pasta - you name it). We, of course, did some shopping, returning home with some incredible fresh ingredients, and dining that evening on tender fresh ricotta ravioli with a sauce of San Marzano tomatoes laced with butter, a bit of heavy cream and a hit of freshly grated parmesan.

 

We ventured back into Manhattan yesterday to run a few errands, so we decided while we were there to brave the crowds over in Herald Square, and check out the holiday window displays at Macy's. After that, we took the subway to St. Mark's, where we had lunch at Crif Dogs, then we got Dietsch a cream puff from Beard Papa, and walked from there over to the Village to finish up our shopping. We headed home to unload our stuff, then went out again for a wonderful dinner at Moto, followed by a drink at our local bar.

Crazy as it sounds, we're looking forward to yet another great meal tonight - I've had Marcella Hazan's Bolognese sauce simmering for the better part of the day, and the apartment smells absolutely amazing... I'm going to use it in a lasagna tonight, with some of the fresh pasta sheets, ricotta and fresh mozzarella we picked up on Saturday in the Bronx.

For what seems like the first time in years, I'm really happy the holidays are here... there's so much to do and see, and I'm really looking forward to more great meals, more sights and sounds, and more stories to share.

I'm done...