CURIOUSER NEW YORK

Funny, how I haven't noticed the fried mushrooms at the Christmas market back in 2005, when I last visited Germany on Christmas.  Now that I've discovered it and indulged in it quite often in the last two weeks, I can't, really, call the Kartoffelpuffers  dish my favorite Weinahtsmarkt food. It is now - the Frische Champignons!  Frische Champignons mit Knoblauchsauce Interestingly enough, my parents weren't aware of it as well. When I mentioned to my mom that I've tried the fried champignons at the market in Gottingen, she was surprised and asked me: "How can you enjoy champignons, they don't even have the taste?!"

It's Christmas Eve today and almost time to go back to NYC! I must admit, I'll be missing German Christmas markets, even though they will be soon closed anyway for the season.  I, personally, think they add quite some magic to the holidays. Without them, German cities wouldn't bring upon us the same kind of joyful holiday spirit. It's a special, special time when Christmas markets open, and I do love my Glühwein on a cold snowy day... The tradition of Weinahtsmarkt has been around for centuries and Glühwein is as old as the Christmas market itself . However, as much as it is popular in Germany, the Glühwein recipe does not originate in Germany. To learn more about the history of Glühwein and how I've come about it, click here .

Yesterday I tried Apfelkuchen - a delicious and relatively contemporary addition to the Christmas market 's expanding drink selection in Germany . Warmer Apfelkuchen translates to "warm apple pie". It consists of mostly Mulled Cider, which is essentially spiced and heated apple juice, a traditional and tasty seasonal drink that is usually non-alcoholic. With the addition of a liberal amount of Zubrovka bison-grass vodka (a sweet Polish vodka with a flavor similar to apple) the beverage becomes a Warmer Apfelkuchen. However, after trying hot white cocoa with Baileys, hot cocoa with Rum, Weisswein (a white wine copy of  Glühwein ) and Apfelkuchen, I still prefer a good old  Glühwein . Here's why it's so good and so popular in Germany . But there's just so much more to try!...

I'm in Germany right now to visit my family for Christmas, so most of my blogs will be about the happy holiday Christmas time in Germany - from foods I love and miss when back in USA to street fashion and German lifestyle. I'd like to start with the Christmas Market, or, as the Germans call it - Weihnachtsmarkt. It's one of the things I miss about Europe... So, the things we eat at Weihnachtsmarkt: The Kartoffelpuffers...

Just before I left New York City to celebrate Christmas in Germany, I took my annual "Christmas Walk" on Madison and Fifth Avenues to see the Christmas window displays and building decorations. This is something of a habit of mine - I do it every year.  One of the most impressive window displays on Madison Ave. was Ralph Lauren boutique stores for adults and kids, located on Madison Ave. and 71st Street.

I'm in Germany from 12/12 to 12/26, so everything will be around Germany and its wonderful Christmas time, when the German cities become magic, like a fairytale, thanks to the presence of beautiful Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market.) Expect many photos from Germany as my Daily Inspiration! To learn more about Germany - where I've been, what I've seen and what I've tasted - in greatest details - click here .

Since I remember myself living in New York City - [I moved to NYC for the first time back in 2001] - I've been going to see Bergdorf Goodman Christmas window display every December, and not once they've disappointed me. 

When Christmas comes, most likely you will go home to celebrate the holidays with your family and friends - in the city or away. And, what's the best way to pump up your Christmas holiday spirit if it's not with the Christmas tree market scene?!

    It's almost Christmas time and you know, what that means for me - for someone who is a pathetic romantic when it comes to the holiday spirit, decorations and the scent of a Christmas tree? It means that for the next month I'll be blogging quite a bit about everything that the Christmas and New Year's holidays are all about - shopping, fashion, lifestyle and decorations, as well as the activities one engages in during the holidays - like making home gluhwein (aka mulled wine) - [I must admit, my time living in and traveling extensively around Germany didn't go by wastefully, I can now make one mean gluhwein!] - and skiing in the Northern America. Yes, my dear readers - I'm such a child when it comes to these holidays. I've always loved them growing up and it took  me a while to give up the fact that Santa Claus does not exist…but, shshshsh , don't tell that to your kids, let them believe the magic as long as they can! So, when are we open...

I love, love Christmas and New Year's celebrations - and for very different reasons... First of all - I love taking photos of the holiday decorations in the city. I can't never get enough of the holiday window displays, street lights - day and night, restaurants' interiors, in-store music, and, of course - the holiday sales... I know some say it's 'cheesy' this, 'cheesy' that and the winter holidays are just the epitome of 'cheesiness', and many people, who know the fact that I take holiday photos EVERY year, are surprised by that as they think that NOTHING changes in the city in terms of the decorations...it's same old, same old - just as the Rockefeller Center's Christmas Tree . But it does change, and I notice it because I shoot it every year and can see the difference...

It's been quite an interesting day last Saturday - the overindulgence in two very different events that took place that day and draw my attention to. One was a complete the opposite from the other one: a very silly entertaining one vs. a very serious important one. I must, though, admit, I enjoyed both! Last Saturday, I became a witness of my very first Naked Santa Day in NYC, which - as it seems - I happened to miss through all 5 years of my life in NYC. Perhaps I was preoccupied with the New Year's celebration - my favorite holiday of all times - more than with Christmas? Maybe, maybe... But as far as I remember myself, I never participated in such massively silly dress-alike events in my life. [Halloween doesn't count...] And on the same day, at the same time - last Saturday - I've also been a witness of the Russian protest against Putin and parliamentary election fraud at the Russian consulate. That happened to be just one block from the Central Park , wh...