NYC: Day 3

NYC: Day 3

Day 3 was all about my friend Trever and I. Cheryl had to do some business in New Jersey so it was a great chance for Trever and I to really spend some time together. Considering we see each other maybe twice a year now, we had a lot of catching up to do.

We started out the day with much needed caffeine. Nothing glamorous at all. Starbucks. $6 latte. (ouch) $3 Water (double ouch). A quick jaunt to buy a camera charger. Yes, I brought the wrong one with me and since my camera died the day before, moments before meeting Rick Riordan, I was not going to miss anymore events.

In addition to Broadway, Trever and I enjoy going to different churches. I love the big, old churches with the stained glass and statues of saints. So we headed to one of our favorites.

St. Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown on 5th Ave. I really wanted to light a candle and say a prayer for a close family member who is battling cancer. While I was there I picked up a Prayer Card of the Patron Saint of Cancer Patients and sent one to my family member.

It was peaceful and was a good start to the day. Always crazy to step into this quiet place in the midst of busy Manhatten.

Then we hopped the train and headed waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay up north, all the way up to 190th to the Cloisters. Beautiful Day, long hike up a big hill (we couldn't exactly find the entrance!) and another peaceful place as well.

We topped off the day with an early dinner at Tea and Sympathy (sigh) and read books in Washington Square Park (another one of my favorite places). The first time Trever and I came to NYC we were not so skilled at finding public bathrooms. We found one at this park and would come back to it numerous times simply because we couldn't find any other public places to go!

We have since moved on from that! Besides, meet way too many crazies in the bathrooms at that place. Oh the stories I could tell...

One more day until BEA! At this point in the trip I was beyond excited and nervous. We went to bed a little earlier than normal this night to gear up for our big, big day!

During this whole time, of course, I had been calling home many, many times to check up on my little kiddo. He was in good hands. No worries. He didn't even miss me. :(

In fact, he almost enjoyed saying "Mama Airplane!"

Thanks, kid.

Stay tuned. Tomorrow is all about the first day of BEA!!!!

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

NYC: Day 2

NYC: Day 2

Monday was the only full day I had with my two friends, Trever and Cheryl, so I knew it was going to be busy and full of our favorite things to do. We each pretty much like the same things about New York especially the shows. We are Broadway Junkies!

We awoke early for vacation standards; completely sleeping in for Stay At Home Mom standards. 8am...luxurious! We hit our favorite diner in Midtown just a few short blocks away from the Best Kept Secret Hotel in the city (wink!).

The diner?

Cosmic Diner on 8th and West 52nd.

Saucy waitresses with thick New York accents calling you honey and constantly keeping your coffee cup full. I love this place like it was home! Be warned though, when they say sausage on the menu, they mean sausage! 3 big huge Bratwurst sized links of meat. Good Morning to me! (or I should say for my friend Cheryl who had no choice but to share)

With full bellies we made our way down to the other somewhat best kept secret in town. The TKTS Booth down along the South Shore in Downtown Manhatten. The picture above is deceiving. I did take that one at the TKTS Booth in Times Square. (cringe)

I do not like waiting in lines for hours. I do not necessarily like large massive shoving crowds of people. So, I tend to stay clear of Times Square if I can.

The TKTS Booth downtown is much less crowded. In fact, you can get your tickets within 20 minutes if you get there at 11:00am when they open.

For those of you new to NYC and the TKTS Booth, this is where you get same day show tickets for 40% or 50% off the list price. Brilliant!

Since it was Monday and most shows are dark on Mondays we had a limited selection. We chose Rock of Ages and it rocked my socks off! If you are a child of the 80s, like I am, this is so much fun to see. REO Speedwagon, Whitesnake, Journey, Styx. Need I go on? How the creators wrapped all of these songs together to make a linear story line is amazing to me. I haven't seen hair this big since, well...my 9th grade school picture.!

But let's jump back to the afternoon. I had a scheduled tour of Scholastic Publishers that was arranged because of my attendance to the Book Blogger Convention. I could not pass this up considering Scholastic publishes almost everything Kid related that I've loved. Harry Potter, Babysitters Club, Canby Hall, 39 Clues, etc.

I met so many lovely bloggers during this tour including

Angela from Dark Faerie Tales

Pam from Bookalicio.us

Gaby from Starting Fresh

And I know I am forgetting a few others but I am trying to organize all of my business cards I got along the way and remembering faces to cards. :)

Scholastic was a blast! The tour guides were so friendly whether they were publicists or the marketing department. We got a chance to see the Archives where they had all of the older books from my child hood, like the Canby Hall series! They had a giant sized Clifford doll that I knew my son would LOVE but, it was much too big to smuggle out of there :)

They gave us lots of cool ARCs to fill our bags and we got a chance to meet Rick Riordan. He was just hanging out in the offices signing stock! So cool until my camera decided to die right before I met him. Grrr.

After drooling over the glass case of all of the first editions of Harry Potter, we got a chance to meet Young Adult author, Aimee Friedman. She is the author of the South Beach books for Teens. She was a delight! She did a little Q & A and signed copies for all of us.

Then we had a great group photo on the roof and went on our way.

All in all, Monday: Day 2 in NYC proved to be a great start to an exciting week!

I finished out my afternoon with scones and clotted cream at Tea and Sympathy in the Village. Sigh. I wish I was there now.

I will include a pic of that place later in the week because I went there multiple times. I'm a little addicted to the place and the cute, hairy Scottish boys with accents that work next door. :)

Until tomorrow...

Happy reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

NYC-One Day At A Time

Dear Followers and Friends,

I am back from NYC. For those of you new to my blog, I have been away in the Big Apple for BEA and the first ever Book Blogger Convention.

Yes, it's true. I was part of the fabulous group of trendsetters.

I had a wonderful time and met so many wonderful people that I have been following and reading for months. It was such a pleasure to meet these individuals and a whole bunch of new people as well.

But before I tell you all about those events, I will tell you about my trip as a whole. BEA and the Book Blogger Convention happened mid week starting on Wednesday for me. I arrived on Sunday full of long lists of things to do.

I have been to NYC 4 times now with the same two people that I went with this time around. My best friend, Trever, who went under the bookseller hat and my friend, Cheryl, who is an archivist. Both were able to go with me to BEA.

We are all three lovers of the city; the sights, the food, the people, the shows, the energy. We love it all...even the subway. I, of course, have no sense of smell so I probably love some areas more then they do!

So we arrived on Sunday, after many a delay and lost luggage, and hurriedly checked in the same little hotel we always stay in in the heart of Midtown. To let you all know the name would be telling you a best kept secret. So sorry. :)

We couldn't waste a minute. We walked the streets looking for the "perfect" place to eat. In NYC, you have a restaurant every two steps.

Picking one is a tremendously hard thing to do.

We wanted comfort food after our long day of travels so we stumbled on

Bocca Di Bacco on 9th and West 55th.

Authentic Italian food for typical New York prices.

We never hold back when it comes to food in NYC. It's just not worth it. It's expensive everywhere but more often that not it's worth it.

Unfortunately, this was one of the places that catered more to the design of the dish rather then the amount of food. So, yes, instead of getting a good old helping of Tortellini, I got 5 pieces (or some such ridiculously small amount).

I love to eat. I love to eat a lot. In fact, my friends commented on how often I get hungry. Chalk it up to having a two year old or having my body get all whacked out after having a two year old but I can eat all day.

So, needless to say, delicious as it was, those few pieces of yummy Tortellini were not enough. At all. Not with a gigantic glass of red wine.

Can you say No Tolerance?

So I did the only thing I could. I ordered a piece of chocolate cake...one for each of us and I was pretty sure I could eat all three but thank goodness, this portion was a good size.

After our meal, we walked the streets and soaked it all in and planned our big week.

Would I be able to sleep without my little kiddo?

Would I be able to schmooze with all these new people?

Would they all start immediately un-following me once they meet me?

Would it physically be possible to smuggle the life size Clifford doll out of the Scholastic offices?

What if I spend my mortgage payment on boxes of books to send back?

Would I be prepared to do an impromptu duet with Bernadette Peters if she asked?

And, lastly, are my feet going to survive?

Stay tuned for my daily posts this week on my adventures in NYC!

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by! It's good to be back.

red headed book child

Welcome to Red Headed Book Child!

Hello!
Thanks for stopping by Red Headed Book Child. This is a welcome post to those of you who may be new to my blog due to me meeting you at BEA or the Book Blogger Convention this week.

I have been reviewing books on this blog since July 2009. I have 10+ years experience in book selling as a manager and buyer. Starting in June I will be making my transition to working at my local library.

I am a passionate reader of all genres but my favorites are literary fiction, mysteries, memoirs and young adult.

I review everything I read. I am honest and open in my review style and I have enjoyed working with all of the publishers and authors I have so far.

You can navigate my blog quite easily from my tabs above and find my email under the Contact info.

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope to work with many of you in the near future!

Happy Reading!

Michelle @
Red Headed Book Child

I'm off to see the Wizard (in Wicked in NYC!)

Hello fellow bloggers!

I am off to NYC for BEA and the Book Blogger Convention.

My days are jammed packed with so much I think I may burst. I have long lists of authors and publishers I want to meet at BEA. I have names I want to put to faces at the Blogger Convention. I have names I want to put to faces at BEA too!

I get to tour Scholastic! I get to see Wicked! I get to have tea at Tea and Sympathy and look at the cute English boys next door. I get to get lost in Brooklyn. I get to see Sex and the City 2!

All in all, I am beyond excited.

I hope to introduce my blog to many and share my passion of reading and

recommending as well.

I hope to not need medication for being away from my son.

Here's to a crazy fun filled week full of hope and new beginnings!

I have a fancy new Blackberry that totally exceeds my tech savviness but I will try to post a few times while out there, maybe a picture or two of me and Lemony Snickett doing shots...who knows? Or me singing with Patti Lupone?! ( I know, she is totally going to be there!)

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

Guest Review #3: Play Dead by Ryan Brown (Blog Tour and Giveaway!)

Title: Play Dead

Author: Ryan Brown

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Genre: Horror

Format: Review Copy from Publisher

ISBN: 978-1-4391-7130-1

Price/Pages: $24.99/344

Release Date: May

Description from Publisher's Website:

Today’s #1 New York Times bestselling thriller writers agree: Ryan Brown’s compulsively readable first novel is unbeatable—a darkly humorous, rich and pungent zombie shocker that melds our national obsession with football and the newest wave of fascination with the undead.

For the first time in Killington High School history, the Jackrabbits football team is one win away from the district championship where it will face its most vicious rival, the Elmwood Heights Badgers. On the way to the game, the Jackrabbits’s bus plunges into a river, killing every player except for bad-boy quarterback Cole Logan who is certain the crash was no accident—given that Cole himself was severely injured in a brutal attack by three ski-masked men earlier that day. Bent on payback, Cole turns to a mysterious fan skilled in black magic to resurrect his teammates. But unless the undead Jackrabbits defeat their murderous rival on the field, the team is destined for hell. In a desperate race against time, with only his coach’s clever daughter, Savannah Hickman, to assist him, Cole must lead his zombie team to victory

. . . in a final showdown where the stakes aren’t just life or death—but damnation or salvation. Boundlessly imaginative and thrillingly satisfying, Play Dead gives small-town Texas an electrifying jolt of the supernatural, and is unquestioningly The Zombie Novel of the Year!

Michelle's Two Cents:

I received this ARC a few months ago from Simon and Schuster for fun, not necessarily to review right away. I had it on my list to read but my husband snagged it first! When I saw the Blog Tour going on, I emailed Sarah at Simon and Schuster and asked if he could hop on board and maybe do a Giveaway too! So, she sent us a copy and here we are. Sean read it a few months ago so he is a little rusty in remembering some of the finer details but he did remember he found it to be a hoot!

Sean's Review:

Play Dead was definitely a fun, fast-paced read. I am fan of horror novels in general and though this is a bit more on the campy side, I did find it absorbing and finished it in just a few days.

I haven't read a lot of Young Adult but this one read much like that genre. The plot line was relatively uncomplicated and it seemed the adults went along with some pretty wacky, unrealistic things; things you would not think a sensible adult would do. Zombies? Ok.

But I set aside my skepticism and enjoyed it for the candy that it was. Zombies, Revenge, Horror, Black Magic, Adults acting crazy, Jocks gone bad. A little flashy, a little sparkly, like realty TV.

Think of it as Pet Semetary with Jazz Hands.

Rating: 4 stars/ 6 stars

Recommended for a quick, summer read.

Giveaway (of my ARC) Rules:

* I wouldn't cry if you became a follower to my blog first. :)

* I would love it if you lived in the US. I'm just too broke to send it anywhere else.

* I would love it if you would leave me a comment and your email.

* Do you have a Zombie Survival plan?

GIVEAWAY WILL GO UNTIL JUNE 1!

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by.

Michelle and Sean

Review #65: The Good Night, Sleep Tight Workbook by Kim West

Title: The Good Night, Sleep Tight Workbook

Author: Kim West (The Sleep Lady)

Publisher: Easton Studio Press

Genre: Parenting

Format: Review Copy from Publisher

ISBN: 978-0979824-86-9

Price/Pages: $13.95/112

Release Date: Out in Stores

My Description and Review:

The Good Night, Sleep Tight Workbook is a very short, sweet, to-the-point sleep guide for parents of children birth to five years. As a parent, the one thing I don't have is a lot of time, especially to sit and read a lengthy book on how to solve my child's sleep problems. I would probably just take my own sleep over that! Though still, I am a parenting book junkie!

This book has what I need as a parent. Simple instructional chapters, charts in back to log your progress and lots of real life examples. My son is two now and this book would have been helpful when he was an infant. It gives you age specific tips to help your child sleep through the night and through their naps. It also educates you as to how much sleep children need and the different types of sleep. This was helpful to me now.

During a busy day, you sometimes only get a half hour nap in the car and think that your child will sleep better and longer because of the lack of nap. This is not true! (and I have come to find out from my own experience!). Children need to enter a deep sleep in order for it to be quality sleep. Quality over Quantity is better ultimately. So a nap in the car with motion causes them to not sleep as heavily as they need.

Tips like this and mock schedules to follow really make this book a must for any parent. I don't think you need to have sleep issues to benefit from this one. You may think you have it all down but she also brings up some common seemingly positive parenting practices that could affect your child's sleep behavior. (rocking your child to sleep or letting your child sleep with you).

It's easy for parents to get comfortable with soothing their child at every moment because it works! But ultimately the author shows you how important it is to let your child control their sleep behavior and develop those soothing and comforting abilities on their own.

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for providing me a copy to read and review. As a mom of a toddler, I am always looking for any parenting tips and help!

Rating: 5 stars/ 6 stars

Because of its simplistic Workbook style, this is an easy instructional read for parents. It is matter of fact and easy to follow and to relate to. I rate this book a 5, highly recommended for parents of young children. Even if you do not have any sleep issues in your household, it is still helpful with understanding some basic needs of children.

Author Profile:

Kim West (The Sleep Lady), LCSW-C has helped thousands of tired parents all over the world gently and effectively teach their babies and children how to go to sleep and stay asleep. West as appeared on Dr. Phil, the Today Show, NBC Nightly News, TLC and Good Morning America. She is also the author of 52 Sleep Secrets for babies.

Visit her on her on the web at www.sleeplady.com

Happy Reading, and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child