Manhattan

Visiting Greenwich Village as if it was the first time – REPOST!!

I was cruising through Greenwich Village the other day while working on research and development for my product invention, RestoPresto, and saw a fun group taking a Free Tours by Foot tour.

This reminded me of my own lovely experience so I am reposting my article and hope you enjoy it!

Thanks for following The Candi Dish!

Keith Haring Mural at James J Walker Park

Keith Haring Mural at James J Walker Park

The Candi Dish is a huge fan of taking tours to get to know cities.  Manhattan included, even for residents. The City’s 380+ year history provides for much to see, do and learn so naturally there are many tour opportunities that cater to both visitors and locals.  I made a clever last minute decision to join a “Free Tours by Foot” Greenwich Village walking tour led by Renée on a chilly and sunny autumn day last week and it was fantastic.  Learning new things about the place that I call home felt great.  I detail my two favorite parts of the tour here.

I joined the group at stop #2 (because I was running a bit late) in front of The Northern Dispensary, a now defunct medical facility that was built in 1827 and is located at an interesting intersection in which one side of the building faces two streets: Grove and Christopher while the other two sides face Waverly. I have passed that building tons of times but never knew its interesting story (please look it up for more info).

Northern Dispensary - Empty but Full of History

Northern Dispensary – Empty but Full of History

I previously posted about how one should look out and up when walking around the City so please allow me to contradict myself because examining the pavement beneath your feet can be very rewarding. One such example is the small triangular mosaic imbedded on the southwest corner of Christopher and 7th Avenue South in front of Village Cigars that reads “Property of the Hess Estate Which Has Never Been Dedicated for Public Purposes.”  In a nutshell, David Hess once owned a five-story building at this location and it was seized by the City since it obstructed construction plans to widen 7th Avenue South. In 1914, Mr. Hess fought the city but lost and was left with only a 500-square inch piece of land, which he was expected to donate to the City to become part of the thoroughfare “for public purposes”. Mr. Hess refused and to symbolize his defiance, implanted the mosaic to remind people of his plight. In 1938, Mr. Hess sold the triangle to Village Cigars and the shop has left the mosaic message, a west village treasure, untouched. Again, I have walked by Village Cigars (a NY institution in its own right) countless times and never noticed this priceless piece of NY history.

David Hess' Tiny Plot of Private Property

David Hess’ Tiny Plot of Private Property

Being escorted around Greenwich Village by someone who knows much more than I was a joy.  I observed architecture (smallest house in Manhattan), special spots (the alleged origin of the term “86 that guy”) and street art (Keith Haring, anyone?) for the first time. An experience like this for a local is remarkable.  If you have 2.5 hours to spend exploring, consider a Free Tours by Foot, you will be glad that you did. http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com/new-york-tours/

Washington Square Park

Washington Square Park

Please note that I was not compensated by Free Tours by Foot for this post.  My hope is to simply spread the word about a great tour company. 

Buy your own RestoPresto™ the 3-in-1 portable, compact mat that you can sit on, sit under & wear!

I am happy to announce that RestoPresto™ can be purchased on www.restopresto.com!  Colors available are black, royal blue, red and pewter gray.  Each RestoPresto comes with 1 branded carabiner, 1 set of 4 branded mini-stakes & 1 instructional brochure.

Buy yours today!

RestoPresto is great for ALL seasons and ALL ages!

RestoPresto is great for ALL seasons and ALL ages!

Dishing about a RestoPresto MILESTONE!

Golden Tree 2014 marks RestoPresto’s first vendor exhibit!

Golden Tree 2014 marks RestoPresto’s first vendor exhibit!

 

As an inventor and small business owner, I hit a huge milestone last Friday exhibiting RestoPresto at the New York Junior League Golden Tree fundraiser; marking the first time RestoPresto was a vendor. Witnessing people’s excitement about the product that I created from scratch at a festive and philanthropic event is an indescribable feeling.

For those of you who have taken the leap to make, launch and build a company, a product or a service understand how incredible, educational and validating it is to obtain positive feedback from prospective and new clients. I had 11 full hours to talk about and show people RestoPresto and the fact that it was in a supportive and pro-small business environment like Golden Tree, with proceeds supporting charitable community projects in New York, was extra special.

IMG_8207IMG_8209

My thank you list is enormous and begins with the New York Junior League for providing me with an opportunity to spread the joy of RestoPresto to so many people and a special thanks goes out to Charlotte for continuous positive encouragement. I appreciate that my US factory was able to squeeze RestoPresto into the production schedule to produce a small pre-Kickstarter order so that I could take advantage of this invaluable experience. From my heart, I thank my sister, Dana for hours and hours of preparation and planning and for being an outstanding RestoPresto ambassador. I literally was able to physically arrive and set up my exhibit table at Golden Tree because of my cousin Nina whose joyful and calming disposition made a stressful morning fun! The talented Kayle of Dot Zev Sweets, whose delicious and beautiful “RP” cookies were a HUGE hit, made my display even sweeter!

Each day since I first came up with the idea for RestoPresto, I have worked on some aspect of the product or business so accomplishing the first public exhibition is superb!

 

IMG_8219

Dishing about RestoPresto: turning a great idea into reality!

I came up with the idea for RestoPresto last year when I was in Sheep Meadow in Central Park, New York and am delighted to be on the way to manufacturing in the USA so that this convenient, multi-functional, on-the-go solution will be in the hands of my first customers soon!

It was a “full circle” and validating moment when I was at Sheep Meadow last weekend with RestoPresto! Here is a photo!

 

The idea for RestoPresto HIT me at Sheep Meadow in Central Park in 2013! Now it is a reality!

The idea for RestoPresto HIT me at Sheep Meadow in Central Park in 2013! Now it is a reality!

The Kickstarter campaign has been going incredibly well and I now understand what my predecessors meant by saying that managing a crowd-funding campaign is a 24-hour job. It is! Since I am a one-person operation, it is challenging to “do it all” but let me tell you, it is getting done AND it is terrific.

I am tenaciously running all aspects of this process so the fact that people will be using and enjoying their own RestoPresto mats in the very near future is beyond exciting and keeps me very motivated. Each day is different, presenting challenges and accomplishments some are expected (most are not) and after the past 24 hours, which were a bit crazy, I decided to take a quick BLOG break to write. I kid you not, at one point yesterday I was simultaneously speaking to one person on my landline, another person on my smartphone, emailing a third person from one laptop and googling on my other laptop! Talk about multi-functioning!

 

There are 5 days remaining in my Kickstarter campaign so please consider supporting RestoPresto if you have not already done so and definitely spread the word.

Here is a link to my campaign and you can like the RestoPresto page on Facebook; follow @RestoPresto on Twitter and #RestoPresto on Instagram.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/candiobrentz/restoprestotm-the-portable-mat-to-sit-on-sit-under

As I have said many times, I cannot WAIT to see how my customers RestoPresto!

Ciao for now!

DSCN1507

Happy 1st Anniversary to The Candi Dish!

Happy 1st Anniversary to The Candi Dish!

It was a year ago that I hit “PUBLISH” on my first blog post on The Candi Dish and what a year it has been!

Dishing out stories, snapshots and suggestions is the goal of The Candi Dish. While I have not dished out as much as I had hoped due to my focus on my production invention, RestoPresto™, it has been fun and I plan to keep the blog going for as long as possible.

DSCN1507

RestoPresto is the size of a beach towel but can be carried in your hand when in its easy to stuff pouch!

Screen Shot 2014-09-19 at 11.05.45 AM

Snaps, drawstrings & loops allow TONS of configurations! RestoPresto is a multifunctional solution for people on-the-go!

Screen Shot 2014-09-19 at 11.06.14 AM

RestoPresto weighs under 9 ounces and fits in your hand! SO convenient!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please check out my product, RestoPresto™ on Kickstarter! I am raising funds for the first production run in the USA! To get your own RestoPresto™, contributions begin at $40 at the “GOLD” level.  http://kck.st/1sBYxRq

 

Have a wonderful day!

Thanks for following The Candi Dish!

Warm regards, Candi

 

 

Dishing about RestoPresto™!!!

Introducing RestoPresto™!

 

Dear Followers of The Candi Dish,

I am thrilled to share news about my product invention, RestoPresto™.

RestoPresto™ is a 3-in-1 portable, compact, water-repellent mat that you can sit on, sit under and wear.  When contained in its pouch, RestoPresto™ (aka “RP”) fits in an adult hand and when open, it is the size of a beach towel. With snaps, drawstrings and loops at each corner, the configurations for RP are endless making it a multi-functional solution for impromptu and planned events.

Picnics, the beach, travel, unexpected weather changes, sport events, child care (including diaper changes), festivals, pet care, playgrounds, commuting, exercising on the go and so much more! RP is for all ages and all seasons!

 

Screen Shot 2014-09-19 at 11.06.32 AM Screen Shot 2014-09-19 at 11.06.14 AM Screen Shot 2014-09-19 at 11.05.45 AM Screen Shot 2014-09-19 at 11.05.27 AM

 

I came up with the idea for RP in 2013 and have been designing, creating prototypes, testing fabrics and trims and searching for manufacturers in the U.S. that are willing to work with a first time inventor.

I am very pleased to have established a relationship with two prospective factories in the U.S., finalized the design after creating 15 prototypes, registered my trademark and have a provisional utility patent and a design patent pending.  I am now ready to put RP into the hands of consumers!

This is where you come in! To get your own First Edition RestoPresto™, I will be pre-selling through a Kickstarter campaign to fund the first production run in the U.S.  Up until this point, I have self-funded each stage of the pre-manufacturing process and would like to secure funding before taking the leap to production.

Now that you now have the link to my LIVE Kickstarter campaign, please check out the site spread the word to your friends, family and social media networks.  #RestoPresto

RestoPresto™ on Kickstarter

I hope that you will support my project to get your own First Edition RestoPresto™! 

I cannot wait to find out how RestoPresto™ makes your life easier!

Thank you and warm regards,

Candi

DSCN1507

DISHING an update!

DSCN1419Happy Saturday!

When I launched The Candi Dish, my goal was to capture the remarkable photos and stories that came my way…often, very often. Travels (like my recent, fantastic visit to Solvang, CA), every day life in Manhattan, special occasions, spreading messages and the like.

THEN, I had an idea that turned into a project.  This project evolved into an actual PRODUCT INVENTION and I am working diligently to bring this fantastic thing to the market.  It has been a challenging, amazing experience and I am very excited to share the product launch via The Candi Dish soon!

I have several pending blog posts that are begging to be released in addition to the “big reveal” of my product so I ask you to please stick with me!  There SHALL be POSTS…..

It is a Saturday so a day late for my “Follow Friday” suggestion with respect to bringing exposure and assistance to a serious, but little known disease called Sanfilippo Syndrome.  There is a darling young lady named Blair who is afflicted with this disease.  Blair is the daughter of my friend, Roger and his wife Susan and the Sister of their younger daughter, Grey.  They have dedicated their lives to finding a cure for Sanfilippo Syndrome in honor of Blair in the most beautiful of ways.  Please explore one of these heartwarming efforts called “Sing for Blair” which features various people (including JIMMY BUFFET) singing for Blair, which brings much needed comfort and solace to sweet Blair.

To join the “Sing for Blair” movement please click on: http://www.gofundme.com/Sing-for-Blair

To read about Blair’s story and to learn more about Sanfilippo, please click on:  http://theblairbanner.org

 

In conclusion, I wish a happy belated Labor Day to American workers, best of luck to those with “back-to-schoolers”, encourage you to look into “Sing for Blair” and thank you for  being a Candi Disher!

 

 

It Was 20 Years Ago Today – Part 3

Plastic bags are not okay but this one is cute and was recycled!

Plastic bags are not okay but this one is cute and was recycled!

The Candi Dish has been busy cooking up something REALLY big so please pardon the fact that Part 3 of my 20th Anniversary of living in Manhattan (which actually occurred in May) is being posted at the end of July!

From Andy Warhol’s “Dollar Signs” series.  This one hangs in Christie’s in Rockefeller Center

From Andy Warhol’s “Dollar Signs” series. This work hangs in Christie’s in Rock Center

“John Finley Walk” Silhouette on the East River named after a man dedicated to education who loved to walk the perimeter of Manhattan

“John Finley Walk” Silhouette on the East River named after a man dedicated to education who loved to walk the perimeter of Manhattan

Honoring Barbra Streisand  for her film career at the 40th annual Chaplin Award at the Film Society of Lincoln Center in 2013 was an incredibly memorable evening

Honoring Barbra Streisand for her film career at the 40th annual Chaplin Award at the Film Society of Lincoln Center in 2013 was an incredibly memorable evening

A bench in Central Park dedicated to the incomparable Jim Henson

A bench in Central Park dedicated to the incomparable Jim Henson

“Tribeca Talks Director Series" is a fantastic opportunity during the Tribeca Film Festival to experience brilliance like that of Ron Howard who was interviewed by Brian Williams

“Tribeca Talks Director Series” is a fantastic opportunity during the Tribeca Film Festival to experience brilliance like that of Ron Howard who was interviewed by Brian Williams

Still giving peace a chance, at Yoko Ono’s Wish Tree in Chelsea

Still giving peace a chance, at Yoko Ono’s Wish Tree in Chelsea

My feet welcoming fall 2013 and always in admiration of great New Yorkers

My feet welcoming fall 2013 and in constant admiration of great New Yorkers

George Washington took the oath of office as our first President at Federal Hall on Wall Street

George Washington took the oath of office as the 1st US President at Federal Hall on Wall St

Keith Haring’s 170 foot long mural in Greenwich Village on a wall that connected the Carmine Street Pool to the James J. Walker Park handball court was painted in August 1987 and still stands today.

Keith Haring’s 170 foot long mural in Greenwich Village on a wall that connected the Carmine Street Pool to the James J. Walker Park handball court was painted in August 1987 and still stands today.

 Father Mychal Judge was a Franciscan friar and Catholic priest who served as a chaplain to the New York City Fire Department.  Born in Brooklyn, Mychal dedicated his life to helping others and was known for his extraordinary works of charity and deep spirituality.  While offering aid and prayers for the rescuers at the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, 2001, Father Mychal Judge was injured and killed.  He was 68 years old. Each September 11th, I attend a Memorial Service at St. Bart’s Cathedral and at the 2013 service, members of “Mychal’s Message” handed out prayer cards memorializing a man that impacted countless lives. This is a photo of the card.


Father Mychal Judge was a Franciscan friar and Catholic priest who served as a chaplain to the New York City Fire Department. Born in Brooklyn, Mychal dedicated his life to helping others and was known for his extraordinary works of charity and deep spirituality. While offering aid and prayers for the rescuers at the World Trade Center to which he rushed to help on the morning of September 11, 2001, Father Mychal Judge was injured and killed. He was 68 years old. Each September 11th, I attend a Memorial Service at St. Bart’s Cathedral to honor the Firefighters from my neighborhood who lose their lives that tragic day.  At the 2013 service, members of “Mychal’s Message” handed out prayer cards memorializing a selfless, giving, beautiful man whose daily work impacted countless lives. This is a photo of the card.

 

 

 

 

 

Celebrating Meathead as the 41st Annual Recipient of the Charlie Chaplin Award for his contribution to film

Celebrating Meathead as the 41st Annual Recipient of the Charlie Chaplin Award for his contribution to film

There are just SO many photos to share. Each of these photos is connected to a person. Living in New York, one has access to extraordinary people or their legacies. Every day.

Flag Day in the US

American Flag waving over Rockefeller Center, NY

American Flag waving over Rockefeller Center, NY

237 years ago, on June 14, 1777, the flag of the United States was adopted by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. The Flag Resolution stated: “Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

IMG_6148

American Flag waving over Fifth Avenue, NY

American Flag waving over Fifth Avenue, NY

Many Americans cherish the, often refuted, story of Betsy Ross being the designer of the first Stars and Stripes. As General George Washington’s seamstress and fellow-church congregant, legend says that Betsy Ross was commissioned around June of 1776 to create the flag from a drawing, which she subsequently re-designed and produced successfully. Some historians discredit this tale based on lack of evidence but either way the story is a great one.

Over 100 years later, Bernard John Cigrand, a young man from Waubeka, Wisconsin, authored hundreds of articles, made speeches and submitted proposals for there to be an annual observance of the birth of the Flag. He felt strongly that good would come from a “Flag Holiday”. Then, in 1949, President Truman signed an Act Of Congress designating the 14th day of June every year as National Flag Day. 55 years later, on June 14, 2004, a unanimous vote by U.S. Congress declared that Flag Day originated in Waubeka, Wisconsin recognizing Cigrand’s dedication to the cause.

Since 1777, the design of the flag has been officially modified 26 times. The 48-star flag was in effect for 47 years until the 49-star version became official on the 4th of July 1959.

American Flags painted on trees in Battery Park to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks.

American Flags painted on trees in Battery Park to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks.

IMG_6149The American Flag, which is also known as the “Stars and Stripes”, “Old Glory” and “The Star Spangled Banner” with 50stars to represent the 50 states of the United States of America was ordered by President Eisenhower on August 21,1959. The blue rectangle in the canton (specifically called the “union”) bears 50 small, white, 5-pointed stars arranged in 9 offset horizontal rows of 6 stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of 5 stars.

The current 50-star American flag was designed in Ohio in 1958 by a then 17-year-old, Robert Heft, who created it for a high school class project. Apparently he received a B- on his assignment, which was subsequently raised to an A after his design was chosen and adopted by presidential proclamation.

Isn’t it fantastic that young adults have played integral (sometimes unrecognized) roles in US history?

“Flag of Honor” listing the name of each human who perished on September 11, 2001 displayed in Battery Park during the 10-year memorial.

“Flag of Honor” listing the name of each human who perished on September 11, 2001 displayed in Battery Park during the 10-year memorial.

Happy Birthday to the American Flag!

Photos are my own.

It was 20 Years Ago Today – Part 2

 

ALL ABOARD The “Manhattan" to cruise around the Island.

ALL ABOARD The “Manhattan” to cruise around the Island.

I previously posted photos in honor of my 20-year Anniversary of living in New York and it was a fun challenge narrowing down which ones to share.

Central Park Arch

Central Park Arch

The Fabergé Egg Hunt 2014

The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is Round 2 of more snaps from my personal collection. All photos are my own and each one captures one moment in time in the City that never sleeps.

Ginkgo leaves line the Autumn streets

Ginkgo leaves line the Autumn streets

Sand Castle masterpiece by Matt Long at Water Street POPS! 2013

Sand Castle masterpiece by Matt Long at Water Street POPS! 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of my favorites each year: The Bloomberg Tower Christmas Tree

One of my favorites each year: The Bloomberg Tower Christmas Tree

The Obelisk in Central Park is over 3,500 years old and is the oldest outdoor monument in NYC

The Obelisk in Central Park is the oldest outdoor monument in NYC at 3,500 years old

Quoting Victor Hugo with sidewalk chalk

Quoting Victor Hugo in sidewalk chalk

Sing for Hope Piano in SoHo

Sing for Hope Piano in SoHo

George Washington Statue at Federal Hall where he took Oath of office as First President of the United States

George Washington Statue at Federal Hall where he took the Oath of office as the First President of the United States

East River

East River

IMG_3380

I hope that you enjoyed them!

Please stay tuned for Round 3!

error: Content is protected !!