Mother of Rula is in the paper today!

Sammy Perea, 7, sits with Bernice Pearl as she knits her 1,012 hat of the year at her home on Dec. 17. Pearl, who has been knitting since she was 8, make hats for hospitals, schools and anybody in need and gives them away. On a typical day she makes three to four hats. Perea is a friend and neighbor who visits often. Peanut relaxes in the background.
Jane Phillips/The New Mexican

Knitter's gifts warm community - The Santa Fe New Mexican: Local News

After 17 years of Bliss …

Mazel Tov! For anyone who missed it (and if you did you really made an error), I would like to congratulate Gabriella Marks and Mike Whistler on their recent marriage which took place on Monday April 15 and aired today. It was the first KSFR wedding ever and it was a blast. Rula officiated and Bernice was the flower girl (photos to follow). They are currently honeymooning somewhere in Texas with their motorcycles, their undying love, and their chickens (don't worry, they are all wearing helmets). We wish them happiness forever!

New York Eats from Stacy and Bernice

Highlights from our trip to NYC

Here is a list of the places we ate during our one week tour of NYC. Mind you this is just the highlights — now you know why I want to explode!

Eaterly located in the Flat Iron District this place has a marketplace, gift shop, bread bakery, pastry shop, coffee shop, pasta restaurant, seafood restaurant, pizza joint, chocolate shop, book store and anything else Italian you might want. And it's open late!

Babbo Maria Battali's original restaurant in the West Village. It used to be the Coach house. High priced, elegant setting, excellent and creative Italian food.

Joe Shanghai There are three of these, we went to the one in Chinatown on Pell street. Always crowded and no reservation taken, but the line moves really fast. They pack you in like sardines and forget about atmosphere, it's all about the food. They are known for their soup dumplings. The soup is inside the dumpling! so bite with care. Everything on the menu is excellent. The parsnip cakes were a treat!

Japonica on University Place, this sushi restaurant has been around forever and serves classic sushi in an elegant setting. Always super-fresh and delicious!

Balthazar In Soho, a beautiful French bakery and restaurant. I love sitting and people watching while nibbling on excellent pastries. Susan Purdy and I enjoyed a 3 hour lunch.

Van Daam a Dutch restaurant in the East Village full of beautiful people and weird pretentious food. Seaweed focaccia anyone?

Jules French Bistro on St. Marks Place, been around forever. Often there is live jazz and great old school food. Bargain!

Trestle on Tenth farm-to-table-type joint in Chelsea. Had a great piece of calf's liver and a decent Sazerac.

Ear Inn All the way west on Spring street. Guinness on tap, and one of the best burgers in town. Order a black and tan!

The Shake Shack 4 locations in NYC, in parks all over the city. Cheap, good-quality burgers and fries from restaurant genius Danny Meyers

Live Bait Oysters and cocktails in a shabby, funky, New Orleans-type setting on 14th street.

Chelsea Market really busy fun marketplace full of great fast lunch options. Incredibly crowded. They also have great shopping!

Bernice and Stacy

I had a request for a photo of the best dressed woman in Santa Fe, my mother Bernice so here she is!
I am starting to get jealous of her fame.

The Classic Cosmo for Bernice

Refreshing Beverage of the Week
The classic Cosmo — I know, I know, it's so "Sex in the City" — but when made right, it is a delicious and simple drink and often a safe choice at bars of unknown capabilities.

Ingredients
Ice cubes
1 ounce vodka (citrus infused is nice)
1/2 ounce Cointreau (an orange-flavored liquor or use Triple Sec, which is a bit cheaper)
1 1/2 ounces cranberry juice
1/4 ounce fresh lime juice
lime twist to garnish

Procedure
Half fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the vodka Cointreau, cranberry juice and lime juice. Shake well. Strain into a large chilled martini glass and garnish with a lime twist. So simple even your mother can make one.

Bernice's top picks around town

Bernice's top picks around town

The Bullring 150 Washington Street 983-3328
The best damn steak in town served with class.

La Boca 72 West Marcy Street 982-3433
Lovely Spanish tapas prepared with extreme care. This place is jumping!

Del Charro 101 West Alameda 954-0320
The best cheap burger in town and a great local bar. Parking is tricky.

Bobcat Bites 420 Las Vegas Highway 983-5319
A bit out of the way, and they have crazy short hours, but the burgers are superb.

Clafoutis 420 Guadalupe Street 988-1809
The only place in town to get croissants as well as real-deal French pastries and food. Close your eyes and you could be in Paris.

Plaza Cafe Southside 3011 Cerrillos Road 424-0755
Good normal diner food, as well as New Mexican and Middle Eastern, you can't go wrong!

Piccolino 2890 Agua Fria 471-1480
Cheap and cheerful family-style Italian restaurant in an old Church's chicken joint, go figure!

Konami 313 South Guadalupe Street 984-2002
They have a great $10.00 sushi lunch special, then shop the street!

Whole Hog 3006 Cerrillos Road 474-3375
Great BBQ, sauce on the side, so it doesn't have to be spicy. First shop at Goodwill, then do lunch, a perfect afternoon in Santa Fe.

Mallomars?

Please help Bernice — Mother of Rula — find Mallomars! If any of you fabulous listeners know of anyplace in Santa Fe (or Albuquerque) where she could buy these, please email or leave a comment on this post!