We had some natural disasters last week, but it's the best time of the year right now. The air is cool and pleasant, and sun is bright but just comfortable. This morning I said to Taiyo, "We have to go shop in Chinatown," then he said, "China, Chinatown, Ni Hao, Ni, Hao.' Thanks to Kai-Lan, he's already learning his fourth language, Chinese!

After shopping at our new favorite Chinese supermarket on Mott Street, we stopped for some crepe at La Crepe C'est Si Bon on Eldridge between Grand and Broome. This bright little creperie may not be easiest to enter with a stroller with two steps up from the street, but the door was wide open and I let Taiyo out on the street and he happily walked in and climbed up on the bench. Although space is small, there's room for parking even a big stroller inside. We had a plain crepe- without any sugar sprinkled it was rather salty but Taiyo really liked it and chugged most of it by hand. It's super toddler friendly food that is easy to eat by hand, which is fortunate because the cute wooden utencil is not easy to use. When he finished the plate he asked for more. Recommended.

Early afternoon when Lynne started cleaning the window, Taiyo decided to join in to help. Even before he was walking, window cleaning was his favorite part of being a restaurant. Now he skillfully sprays and uses squeezee, which makes people passing by smile. You can see how seriously he takes this window cleaning.

By the time I woke up, I was expecting more dramatic weather. Eight a.m., it was a bit stormy with steady rain, but it didn't seem so bad. I thought it would probably get worse later when the storm passed. On the contrary, rain subsided within two hours. Oh, well. I still opened the bottle of wine I stocked up yesterday. "Come on Eileen" 1982-hit by Dexys Midnight Runners was ringing in my head all morning. It was my brother's favorite song. But yes, I was singing "Come on, Irene." So really, come on, but nothing happened, at least around here. By 11am rain stopped and sky brightened up even. That was it? But Taiyo happily indulged on Dora over and over, now that he know to hit the play button on remote. I did some cleaning, while feeling like an underachiever. I thought I could've done a lot more during the storm- we were supposed to be locked in until later in the afternoon. It was already over.

At one o'clock we finally got out of the house. When I pointed at the stroller Taiyo said, "Walk!" and marched out swinging his little arms. On the sidewalk, he immediately picked up a fallen tree branch and happily swang it around. Maybe some fallen branches and extra leaves, but the storm seemed to have left no damage in the neighborhood. Within two blocks, Taiyo got his feet wet, so he decided to climb up in the stroller so he could go barefoot. He hates to get his feet wet! The air was pleasant, a bit windy but at comfortable level, and people are wondering around the streets not knowing where to go. Not everything was of course back in business, and a few places open were pretty busy everywhere. Bars were packed, and the pizzeria on Rivington was already serving full tables. I was happy to see the pet shop was open on Avenue A, since I was almost out of Coco's food. We continued up on Avenue A, but Thomkins Square Park was still closed. Some businesses had tapes across their windows, and one place was even boarded up. I guess it was better to expect the worst, but wasn't it just kind of disappointing that nothing happened?

We wondered around some more and by the time I found a crowd taking pictures in front of a garden on Avenue B, Taiyo was asleep. I looked over, and there was a big fallen tree in the garden! Well, this was the most exciting damage Irene has caused that I saw in the neighborhood. There was smaller tree knocked over by the synagogue on Clinton Street.
I succeeded to lay him down when we got back, and after two-hour nap, he woke up in a rotten mood. So we went to visit Kathy down the street and there he happily went through her stuff, which she has many. Then another favorite aunt of his, Lynne came across town to join us for dinner at Cibao on Clinton and Rivington.

This is small neighborhood family-run Dominican joint, casual and reliable with good food and value. Entry is easy with a stroller, and spanish people are very kid-friendly, someone always talks to Taiyo here and there around the floor. Waitress acted indifferently in the beginning, but brought him a paper cup and plastic utencils, and later she was charmed with the jumping toddler. When the big plate of rice and beans arrived, Taiyo immediately drew it close to him and started feasting. Broiled chicken was nice and crispy outside but tender and moist inside. Today he decided ketchup on rice and beans was the thing to die for. He kept asking me for more ketchup on his rice. I like the low-key atmosphere of the place that reminds me of the good-old Lower East Side, and this is one of the place that hasn't changed all these years since I moved in the neighbhood 17-years ago. Baby pictures by the cash register prove that they don't mind a presence of one. Recommended.

Taiyo woke up at 8am, ealier than usual, but refused to get out of his pajamas. I said fine, and we were out the door by 9am to get some stuff done before the storm. The Chinese laundromat on Rivington was open and was unusually crowded, of course. After laundry, we went for brunch at Schiller's on Rivington and Norfolk. Although it is a noisy hipster joint, this place is quite kid-friendly- they immediately asked us if we need a high chair, made a room for the SUV stroller we had, and brought a pack of crayons for Taiyo. Staff were very friendly with him, and there was a large magazine rack by the door for him to pick a reading materials from. When I asked him if he wants to read something, he went over and brought a copy of "Popular Science" to our table. We had a toast with milk for him and a glass of bellini for me. He didn't like hazelnuts in the waffle, but still enjoyed good portion of it, plus it was adorned with fresh fruits. One by one, more strollers came in while we dined. Although it's a bit pricey- waffle, coffee, bellini and milk before tip was $32- food was fair and they provided us pleasant dining experience. The waitress was very much impressed with Taiyo bringing her money with the check. This usually never fails to put smile on people's faces.
Some shopping after brunch- the liquor store on Grand had nice long line at the register, but the shopkeeper handled it quickly and courteously. I decided not to bother with the supermarket- we have plenty of food downstairs anyway, and picked up some fruits from the stand - he seemed unsually busy also. After two hours of Elmo and an hour and a half of Teletubbies, Taiyo finally laid down for a nap on the couch. I went downstairs and defrosted the freezer. It's just an extra half day for me, since my staff couldn't get here this evening. It's still very calm outside at 6pm, just waiting for Taiyo to wake up while the hurricane approaches.

The week is going fast, with lots of work, lots of things getting done. I finally got a hair cut on wednesday, and so far I like it. I had a chance to get a quick massage around the corner after another well-received sushi class, which reminded me of my achey body. Today was another super busy Thursday, beginning with a large lunch delivery order for 20 people right at the start. In the meantime I had to deal with another bad day for Taiyo after failed attempt for a nap. Phone kept ringing, people kept dropping by, while Taiyo kept begging and screaming to be picked up. People often tells me, "I don't know how you do it," and I don't even know myself. I just keep going. Stormy wheather ahead.

Taiyo says "Wacky wild world." I'm not kidding, he really says it which he learned from his favorite Blue's Clues video he's been watching obsessively the whole week. Is it an appropriate toddler language? But hell it's funny to hear it from him. He seems so information hungry now, pointing at things and asking me "Kore? (this?)" all the time.
We visited Lynne at Integral Yoga in the West Village where she's currently staying. Taiyo loved running around in a yoga studio, then he worked on some self-portrait with my camera. He has destroyed the previous camera by messing with the lens too much, but I got a service plan with this one that they would repair/replace anything happens to it, even if a baby breaks it. It's a perfect thing to have for a parent in this wacky wild world.

Lunch at 'SNice on 8th Avenue and Jane Street. It's a nice feeling wifi vegetarian cafe that us meat eaters fear: untasty food. Our panini, with smoked mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes and basil was sad and yucky, but Taiyo ate it. He kept asking for "Gohan(rice)" but they didn't have any. I had very mixed feeling about this place- the space felt nice and spacious, but tables were very close together. I thought the food was horrible and expensive for what it is, but it's definitely a safe place to enter with a baby. I was also bothered by a bunch of fruit flies hovering over our plate, and the bench was rather dusty along the wall. I would never return to this place, but I think you'd appreciate it better than I did if you're vegetarian.

Raising a child is a constant battle. As many parents have told me, it's been a tough journey- some things get easier, but different challenges arrive. This week's dealings with Taiyo not taking enough naps have been a serious one. He's been very tired with active days but he may still wake up in transit between stroller to bed. This afternoon was a failure- he woke up as I put him down in bed and then he cried and screamed for half an hour. In the meantime I still had to take care of business; I felt bad for the customers who walked in to a place with a screaming child. Other times Taiyo provides entertainment singing to the bicycle pump as his microphone, playing the ukulele or the harmonica, bringing food or check to the table, or simply running around giggling. Ask him if he's a baby, and he would answer, "No, a boy!" He can kick on his scooter, and currently working hard to pedal his antique tricycle. He picks his shirt to wear in the morning, and today he even successfully put it on! He puts his shoes on, and when he comes home, he takes them off and neatly place them by the door.

In between, we don't forget to continue on our dining exploration. On Wednesday lunch, it was El Castillo De Jagua on Rivington near Essex. I was pretty sure that this type of old neighborhood Dominican joint had to be kid-friendly. Of course, there was already a large family with a bunch of kids feasting near the door as we entered. They asked me twice if we'd like a high chair. But not being a baby anymore, Taiyo would not sit in a high chair. He picked a table and climbed up himself. We went for a plate of beef stew with rice and beans, and he immediately started serving himself onto his plate. He happily ran around the restaurant in between his bites and no one seemed to mind. The entry was easy with a stroller, and there's plenty of room to park one near or away from a table, we were served quickly, food was fresh and tasty, and under $10 for the food and my beer was quite good value. Recommended.

It continuously rained on our precious Sunday, really with absolutely no intermission all day. We got laundry done in the morning while rain was not hard. It was pretty busy at the laundromat- I guess everyone was thinking of the same thing, there wasn't much else better to do. Taiyo was content running around the laundromat, cracking smiles on people's faces. As our ritual, Taiyo asked for 'coco juice,' and we went around the corner to the deli. The unfriendly shop keeper was not impressed with Taiyo bringing a little pack of coconut water and placing it on the counter as usual. While I paid, Taiyo was already jumping up and down beside me asking for a straw.

Then we went for a brunch at Remedy diner on Houston at Norfolk. They are pretty kid-friendly, as many diner may be, offering us high chair as we walked in. We didn't go with a stroller since I was already sick of pushing it in the rain with an enormous umbrella in my hand earlier, but the doorway is wide and easily accessible with a stroller. It was busy and noisy in the restaurant, and there were other kids and babies to make us comfortable. Brunch for $14.95 wasn't a bad deal in terms of volume: a glass of bellini and a cup of coffee for me, biscuits with 'Remedy Gravy' which was white goo with some meat bits and fruit salad to start (Taiyo very much enjoyed the biscuits and fruits, but wouldn't touch the goo), then our choice was blueberry pancakes with strawberries and side of bacon and sausage. Taiyo said, 'Bacon, bacon," but didn't really eat any of it. He did enjoy pancakes and strawberries. Well, it's diner food; I find it mostly gross in terms of food, but Taiyo actually likes diner experience. Our seat was comfortable, service was fairy quick and efficient, staff were friendly, and for parents I would say this is definitely a good option. Recommended.

Dinner was closer option at San Marzano on the corner of Clintona and Rivington. Of course pizza is something Taiyo never objects to. We've dined there a bunch of times before, and a pizzaria is never so child unfriendly. Taiyo promptly seated himself at his favorite bench. Their thin crust pizza (we settled for Margherita) was tasty, which Taiyo mainly enjoyed eating the edge crust, which worked for me, and he happily ran around the little restaurant in between, and we also went to watch the flames in the oven, and the staff very much enjoyed cuteness of Taiyo. Pleasant evening in the rain in the neighborhood. Recommended.

Because of unfavorable weather forcast for tomorrow, we decided to forget about laundry and headed out to enjoy the sun this morning. "The Summer Streets" were back again for us to enjoy the traffic free trip uptown. It was so congested with too many bikers that I thought they should rename it to "Beijing Streets" but it got better by midtown. We stopped for a picture in front of a giant yellow teddy bear-the friendly guard offered us to capture the moment.

We continued uptown to the park and enjoyed the street show by an indredible drummer banging on buckets and metal scraps. Being a novice drummer, Taiyo was super impressed and captivated by his seamless performance. We decided to skip the zoo since the line was way too long, and it was time for lunch! I headed for Menchanko Tei, a Japanese ramen noodle joint, on 55th Street, and luckily Taiyo's mind was already set for gyoza when we parked our bike outside.

I hadn't been there for many years, and interior was very different from what I remembered. Entry should be easy with a stroller, and although it is not very spacious inside, they should be accomodating to one. A friendly older wairtress promptly brought Taiyo a little bowl with plastic utencils. Good sign of a kid-friendly restaurant. He was not interested in nicely arranged cold tomato noodle, but chugged down two plates of gyoza dumplings. Of course the waitress was super impressed when he brought her our check with money. Recommended.

Another long busy Thursday that made me want to quit or shoot myself. And finally Taiyo went to sleep after jumping on the bed for half an hour- it's my time to reflect on yesterday which already seems so long ago.

After our ritual of laundry and some food shopping in Chinatown, we stopped at Noodle Bar at Orchard and Stanton for lunch. Open side panels were inviting, plus it was convenient for us to be able to leave the bike right next to our table. Taiyo happily climbed onto the chair. Taiyo's water arrived with a straw, which is a good sign of an attention to the little customer. The lunch special, Teriyaki Chicken Soba with little salad and two spring rolls nicely arranged on a plate was pretty good deal for $8.25. Although it was too sweet to my taste, but Taiyo loved the cold noodle and he even worked on his chopstick stills before he cleared the plate. I've ordered in from them many times in the past, and food was generally good and it always arrived pretty fast. I didn't notice any high chairs or we were not offered any child seating, but it's fairy spacious and seems accomodating to strollers. Taiyo happily took our check to the waitress with money at the end. Fairy recommended.

After lunch we went past our street and kept going to hit the East River Park. The track is one of our favorite spot in this park- which makes me happy he loves this open space to run around. I swear I've run around this track at least a million times in the last 12 years. When we get there I always regret that I don't have my running shoes with me. This afternoon added bonus for Taiyo was cute little corns to play with. A short while later on the ride back home, he was of course fast asleep behind me.

The air was dump from early morning's rain when we left the house Sunday morning. The sun was getting strong, but we head out on our impulsive bike trip. Taiyo was letting out his funk reserve this morning after a week of excellent behavior. He cried and screamed that he couldn't wear his shoes (and he would not let you help), screamed as if I left him in the middle of a desert when I had to put him down to open the gate of the store downstairs, and fussed around that I wasn't putting him in the bike seat immediately when we walked into the store. So I was fine slowing down a little when he decided to just stomp around in a rain puddle making his little footprints at the Seaport. It's so beautifully fascinating how this little person can discover and enjoy simple activities. He jumped around a while, then of course complained that his feet were wet. So we got on the bike again and I let him go bearfoot. We continued to the West side but the air was getting really hot. We decided to take a refuge in the Winter Garden at the World Financial Center. Oh, yes, this is like the greatest indoor playground with shiny floor and big trees and so much space above and all the stairs to climb up and down and escalators to get on and off. This time he also tested the echo by shouting some amazing baby prophesies into the air. (No, I didn't understand what he was saying.) He ran around, danced around, and got some more pictures taken by strangers.

We enjoyed viewing the drawings of Jules Feiffer at the Couryard Gallery. The spacial gallery was pretty empty, and the drawings of dancers inspired Taiyo to do some more dancing around. After 15 minutes of dancing around, Taiyo go to the corner and poo. Fortuantely the gallery was empty, and we found a changing table right downstairs in the restroom. However, it was a real baby size-one and Taiyo's head laid uncomfortably on the edge. After cleaned up Taiyo danced around the restroom some more.

Next door, we stopped at Yushi for lunch. This was just another overpriced fast-food sushi takeout kid of a joint. They also offered hot food, but I just felt like grabbing a quick bite, so settled for a maki-sampler, sitting ready in the refrigerator. The rolls looked pretty, but rather tasteless. After just a little bite, Taiyo decided that looking around the ceiling was more of interest to him. The booth was clean and comfortable, and food was nothing impressive, but edible. It's not the best choice but not the worst. Having so many chopsticks to mess with is a plus.

Before we left we had to have a treat from Ciao Bella. A bunch of indecisive tourists hovered around the showcase that contained douzens of colorful gelato choices, but I quickly made my aim and called out, "Green Apple!" The heat was much more bearable with a little cup of gelato outside. To my surprise Taiyo let me finish half of it. What's wrong with this gelato, Taiyo? He fell asleep on the bike seat just as we left the Battery Park City. I was hoping for a few hours of downtime, but my day was doomed to be the long one. When we got home and put Taiyo down on the bed, he opened his eyes. I told him I had to go take a shower, and he quickly decided to go into a tantrum, so I offered him beautiful golden yellow watermelon I just picked up at New Amsterdam market on the way home. He happily accepted the bribe. It was amazingly refreshing fruit. Just sweet enough.
Two hours later, we were back out in the heat. This time I was ambitious heading to 'MoonDance' at Piar 84- this was the last one of the season already! Taiyo fell asleep before we hit Union Square. My plan was to have a bite before the dance, but I decided to keep on riding in the heat. Because he was asleep, I took my bike helmet off. It was just too hot. I went past Intrepid, Trump Place, and wanted to stop and relax a few minutes myself, but realized stopping was even hotter and uncomfortable. Eventually reached Riverside Park. I was tired. I was sweaty. Taiyo was finally kind of waking up. We headed down back to the MoonDance by Intrepid. When I took Taiyo down from the bike seat, he was just in the funkiest mood. He decided to fuss, whine and cry, not wanting to watch the dance lesson that was just starting, not wanting to get down on his feet, not wanting to sit on my lap on the lawn. He twisted around on the lawn crying for 10 minutes. I had to give up. I put him back on the bike, and he calmed down. Just at the end of the Pier, he began chanting, "Gohan(food)!" And right there, it was PD O'Hurleys.

No, I didn't think we would find decent food there, but it was just too conveniently located with outdoor seating and even an entertainment- a guy with a guitar! Of course Taiyo wanted to take a seat and I ordered $13 cheeseburger. When my beer arrived, Taiyo proposed a toast with his water. The singer was not horrible, doing John Denver, Eagles, Tom Petty, and such, and I liked it when a kid shouted out, "Star Wars!" when he asked the audience what he should play. Taiyo rocked to the music and made him happy. The burger that arrived 10 minutes later was just as sad as I expected. A slice of cheese was kid of dried not melted on the also quite dried out piece of meat. Did they just recover this sad item that was sitting under the heat lamp for 30 minutes? At least the fries were done to the right crispness, and Taiyo did eat some of the burger. He was totally out of the funk at the end of the meal, we went back to the MoonDance and he enjoyed seeing and listening some more music. The ride back home was still too hot and long and heavy. I realized we didn't see fireflies anymore. Only three more weekends left in August.

After we through our laundry into the washer, we headed to Gaia Italian Cafe around the corner on Houston Street. When we walked into this little cafe for the first time a few months ago, I immediately felt a strong comradery- an Italian proprietor was busy cooking and running the place. Like me, she was doing everything. She takes orders, gives instruction to her employee, cleans the tables, packs your food. Simple good food is her motto. Today she was uttering to her help, "Make your life easier," which I often tell my workers. Inside the cafe is clean and spacious, and Taiyo got busy with magazines at the table. Unfortunately stroller access is not very easy, since the place is downstairs from the street. Taiyo was so comfortable in the space, probably feeling that this place is just like ours, but we had to take the food back to the laundromat. We settled for a Panini sandwich, Sano, with pesto, frittata, parmesan, tomato and arugula. Back at the laundromat, as soon as I open the package Taiyo was so excited poiting at the panini. It was just simply delicious with crisp homemade panini bread. It was fresh and so perfectly balanced. Taiyo could not stop taking a bite even before he could finish chewing what's in his mouth. He was really loving the flavor, and I was truly impressed he dug this food! It's an amazing bargain at $5, too. Highly recommended.

After his recovery Taiyo totally bounced back as a happiest baby on the block, being super cute and fun all the time. He seems to have grown so much all of a sudden too. Now he can put his crocs on, kicks on his scooter, counts one to ten in both Japanese and English, and climbs up on the bar stool. He enjoys playing music daily on the sidewalk, and his drumming skill's improving too. Are we ready to show up at the open mike up the block? He's suddenly been doing very short naps some days this week, too. I'm fearful of no nap days that seems to be around the corner.

After super short nap on Wednesday, we had late lunch at One More Thai on Clinton Street near Houston. Yes, exactly, one more Thai in this Thai saturated city. Thai food is like Duane Reade of restaurants- you can find it anywhere, and usually provide a pretty good value. This little restaurant has comfortable decor, with easy to climb benches for Taiyo, enough room for strollers and an energetic one to run around. It was empty at 3pm, and big open windows felt nice but this stretch of Clinton always have lots of car traffic and there was serious construction noise from Houston Street. The waitress immediately brought Taiyo a plastic cup of water with a straw which is always a good sign of a kid-friendly restaurant. Lunch special was good value with an appetizer and an entree- we went for curry puff and fried rice- $6.95! Food was pretty tasty- although first he had to step away to the front door to poo. But then he ran back to the table and loved the curry puff, then some fried rice. "Chicken - yummy!" This week he's enjoying meat very much.

What a week it had been! Nine out of ten people I told about 'coxsackie' virus laughed, chuckled, rolled their eyes. But the virus with a funny name wasn't funny at all. For three days Taiyo couldn't eat or nap, had very had time going to sleep at night or staying asleep, was extremely cranky and needy, crying and screaming a lot of times. I really wanted to shoot myself in the head for hundred times a day. Then finally he started eating on Friday and took a record-breaking five-hour nap. Since Saturday he's been extremely happy and pleasant to make up for the sick days.

On Sunday we were back on our bike to enjoy the world again! Taiyo strapped himself in the bike seat, put his helmet on with his kitty in his arm, and we were off! It was warm but fairly dry and pleasant, so after picking up a bread at the New Amsterdam Market we headed to the Governor's Island. I just totally love this little island that makes me feel that we are vacationing somewhere far away. Colonial empty buildings always reminds me of Cuba. It seemed crowded around the ferry ride, but as soon as we landed and headed out to the Picnic Point, it was not so crowded at all.

Taiyo enjoyed his favorite rice and beans from the Jamaican food truck. Then of course Blue Marble ice cream. Outdoor eating is such a blessing to a mommy because we don't have to clean up as much. After some more leisurely biking along the scenic waterfront, Taiyo fell asleep on the ferry ride back.

After a short nap and hanging around a bit in the apartment, it was already time for dinner! I said, "How about pizza?" Taiyo is an American kid, of course he would not object to pizza! We headed to Two Boots on Avenue B and 3rd St. At 6pm it was empty and Taiyo immediately got comfortable on the spacious booths. Yes, this is a super kid-friendly place with easy entry, easy to climb booth, some funky art works along the window and even a TV monitor to stare at! Although I think their pizza used to better than now, they have nice selection of pies with fun names- we went for a slice of Tompkins Square, which was topped with organic seasonal vegetables and nothing to do with homeless people who used to camp out in the park year around, and Tony Clifton with wild mushrooms (which weren't very wild), red pepper pesto, onions and mozzarella. Taiyo also liked Fizzy Lizzy, sparkling fruit drink that wansn't sweet but fruity. He was busier climbing up and down all the booths in the place than eating, but it was totally easy dining experience for me. Very much recommended. By the way I got some peaches at New Amsterdam market on the way back from the Governor's Island, and they turned out to be a killer. They weren't ripe yesterday, but today they were just amazing and sweet Taiyo kept asking for more.