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We moved into our house nearly 40 years ago. When I was living with my parents, my dad grew tomatoes. Now, it was my opportunity to do the same, except that I decided to grow other vegetables as well. So, I grew tomatoes, cukes, peppers, eggplants, and lettuce. I loved putting those little seedlings into the ground, carefully watering and fertilizing, then watching them grow into full-fledged vegetables. Sure, I could have bought these vegetables at the many local farmstands in our area. But growing my own gave me a deep sense of soul satisfaction.

Over time, growth of trees in the backyard provided fewer and fewer hours of sustained sunshine until, finally, there were not the minimal six hours required to grow vegetables, so I gave up my garden. However, a couple of stakes that surrounded that vegetable patch were so strongly imbedded in the ground that I couldn't pull them out. So, they remain there, in what are now shaded woods, as a reminder of my happy days as a vegetable gardener.

Wu Liang Ye, on 86th St., b/t 2nd & 3rd Avs., serves Szechuan cuisine. I've only been to the one on 48th St., but my daughter and her b.f. have told me the 86th St. location is very good

I suggest a getaway weekend in Red Bank, NJ, about an hour's drive (without traffic) from Manhattan. There are lots of shops and boutiques, and dining options in town and in the surrounding area are excellent.

Stay at the Molly Pitcher Inn, an elegant small hotel right on the Navesink River. While they do have dining facilities, I recommend that you do not eat there with one exception: their famous Sunday brunch is highly recommended.

http://www.mollypitcher-oysterpoint.com/mollypitcher/

Dining

Restaurant Nicholas (most of us just call it Nicholas) is located in Middletown, NJ., just north of the bridge over the Navesink into downtown Red Bank. It's one of the best -- if not *the* best -- restaurants in the entire state. Superb cuisine, excellent wine list, service that is both pleasant and polished, and elegant NY-style contemporary decor. Start and/or end your evening in the capacious, comfortable bar room.

http://www.restaurantnicholas.com

Another excellent restaurant not far from Red Bank is Le Fandy, in Fair Haven. Delicious French cuisine served in a small space with a rustic country French feel. As is the case with many restaurants in NJ, it's BYO.

http://www.lefandybistro.com

In downtown Red Bank, here are a few restaurants that I think will offer you the best meals:

Dish serves very good New American cuisine in a small space with minimalist decor . BYO. They have an arrangement where you can select your wine at the restaurant from a list provided by a nearby liquor store, and the wine will be delivered to your table.

http://www.dishredbank.com

The Bistro in Red Bank is a casual spot with an eclectic menu. You can dine al fresco at their sidewalk tables.

http://www.thebistroatredbank.

Gaetano's serves very good thin-crust pizzas and pastas in a pleasant trattoria-style setting.

http://www.gaetanosredbank.com

Thyme Square opened last year, and its Mediterranean-style cuisine has been getting lots of good reviews.

http://www.thymesquarerestaurant

Willy's, which just opened, is all about cheesesteaks. I haven't been yet but have been hearing very positive reports.

http://www.willyssteaks.com

If you are looking for entertainment, there's usually something going on at the Count Basie Theater. And if you like the beach, Long Branch is about 20-30 minutes away, depending on traffic.

Enjoy and Bon Appetit!

I must disagree with shea. In my view, the Park Ave. Les Halles is awful. Sub-par food, poor service, seating that would make a sardine squirm, and a hideously high noise level.

Bourdain does not still work at Les Halles and hasn't done so for several years. And, btw, when he did, he was the chef only at the Park Av. S. location. He, himself, has said many times that he never had anything whatsoever to do with the downtown Les Halles.

Restaurants always serve cold Reubens with cole slaw and grilled Reubens with sauerkraut. All of the other ingredients are the same - bread, swiss cheese, corned beef and Russian dressing. Lots of people don't like sauerkraut and have never had the pleasure of a grilled Rueben. Grill it with cole slaw! I like it both ways, but actually prefer cole slaw. Try it - you'll never look back. It is so delicious that words can't even describe.

I make mine two ways. Always grilled. Bread can be rye, marble or pumpernickel. Preheat pan to medium/medium low (now I use a grill pan with a heavy panini top, but I used to just do it like grilled cheese in a frying pan). Butter one side of two slices of bread, put buttered sides together. Lay a slice of swiss or gruyere cheese, then half the amount of corned beef (fat removed), then either creamy cole slaw (my preference) or rinsed and drained sauerkraut, russian dressing, remaining corned beef, another slice of cheese. Lift top slice of bread (buttered side is down) and place on grill or frying pan. Top with second slice, buttered side up. Cover. Grill until cheese melts and interior is warm - don't have heat too high or you'll burn the bread. This is my favorite sandwich of all time. I get the dressing from a local bed and breakfast, but if out - combo of mayo, chili sauce, lemon juice and even a little horseradish cream if I feel like it. Serve with potato chips, kosher dill pickle and potato salad. Heaven on a plate.

I agree with all of the above. If you have a big sweet tooth, go to Economy Candy on Rivington in the Lower East side. Tons of retro candy( candy buttons, lips, necklaces, Skybars, and on and on) It is so much fun!!!

Chikalicious puddin is super amazing. We had the three puddings with hot chocolate (valrhona) All thre choices were so yummy, the presentation adorable-cutesy! The bite-size portion was perfect and the anglaise, one of a kind. A true NYC one of a kind. I also love the crepe place on rivington...another gem.

I always have lemons and herbs growing in pots on my cement patio, but only once did I grow tomatoes. The Early Girls were delicious, but by the time I purchased the cages and special food and all the other stuff I needed--not to mention the acquired compulsion to roll the pots around every afternoon to catch the most sun--they probably cost me $5 per pound. So much more relaxing to go to the farmers' marekt....