#5: Prepare 12 meals at home

Trying to go carb-less. Torturous.

Back home, but still in a New York state of mind.

3 for 3! Watched Her, Saving Mr. Banks and Philomena. All three were really good.

Eleven Madison Park is the top rated restaurant in the US and number four in the world according to the Pellegrino list. Subtract the cost of the wine and the meal was amazing and worth it.

The final purchase. Rimowa carry-on luggage. Shopping for a four day stay was harder than I thought it would be.

#64: Eat at a top restaurant in the world

Coming in at number #22 in the world, Chef Eric Ripert’s, Le Bernardin was worth every penny. Truly one of my favorite meals of all time.

#85: Have a pint in a bar over 200 years old

Unfortunately we’re about forty years too early, but McSorely’s has survived the test of time in fantastic fashion. Even Ab Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt enjoyed pints here.

Had lunch with my buddy, Matt. This is the only picture I got. The Black Label Burger from Minetta Tavern.

Saks 5th Avenue in NYC. The shoe department literally has its own zip code.

Other than carry on luggage, I knocked out all of my shopping in one day. Now I can focus on the food.

Not a Zagat Guide top ten, but our favorite pizza in the city. Adrienne’s on Stone Street in downtown is worth the trip.

Opened last week. Couldn’t take pictures in the actual memorial. Pretty powerful exhibits.

#86: Eat a NYC Street Dog

#74: Eat a top 10 Zagat guide burger.

Burger Joint hidden in the Parker Meridian.

Got in an hour and a half of shopping on Madison Ave, but other than boxers, socks and a couple of tee shirts, it is much harder to find what I’m looking for when I need rather than want.

#10 in Progress: Go to New York City without Luggage

We’ve been looking forward to this one since I posted it on this year’s list. I know it may sound indulgent (of course it is), but shopping, clothing, branding and marketing is our business, and NYC is Mecca, so call it research and development. Going without luggage will help me hone my packing skills and inform a future endevor. Sonia, on the other hand, usually packs her entire closet, so this will no doubt be a challenge, especially since I have laid down the following ground rules:

We will be in New York City for four days and four nights. We will carry on toiletries, laptop and camera. Sonia can carry on one addtional pair of shoes. We can buy four daytime outfits and two nighttime outfits for fine dining. We can only buy one pair of shoes each. And of course we will need a carry on bag for the trip home. If there’s a glamourous side to our business, this will be it.

What I wore on the flight was the most strategic. Sacrificed comfort and wore a sports coat and dress shoes. And now for the brand whoring.

Sports Jacket: Armani
Tee Shirt: Threads4Thoughts
Jeans: All Saints
Belt: Cartier
Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Settling in.

Two pool days in a row. One more tomorrow will break his record.

#66 Done: Hockey Game

Enjoyed watching the Kings win game three with three Blackhawks fans.

Steaks and tightrope walkers.

The “Save the Date” cards are in the mail. Here’s an outtake without me in it. In truth, the best ones are sans me.

Enjoyed a night out with my good friends from Chicago.

A celebratory dinner at WP24.

My “little” brother is now a college graduate.

I was Kaden and Kennedy’s VIP for their lunch picnic today. Scarfed down some In n Out before melting in the triple digit heat.

Celebrated the five year anniversary of our first hire. Of course, she’s the one taking the picture.

… And we don’t have air conditioning at the office.

Saw the play, American Idiot. Wondering if the joke is on me. Nevertheless, enjoyed dinner and the company of Dad and Georgeanne.

Wish I could get ahold of you, but you’re off camping in no cell service land. I love and miss you.

A small enjoyable movie. Thank you to my daughter for making me home made spaghetti and meatballs before I saw this. Don’t see this hungry.

Got a Go Pro. Need to get a better mount.

Watched the Clippers lose with my Dad. I’ve said that quite a bit in my lifetime.

Treated all of the contractors to a Cinco de Mayo taco feast.

Finally ate at Connie & Teds in West Hollywood. A most excellent selection of oysters.

#87: The Kentucky Derby

My planning came too late this year. Besides, Hemingway would’ve killed me if I didn’t spend a little pool time with him.

The “Save the Date” cards are a few weeks out, but the deposit has been made on the venue. We look forward to seeing you at the Carondelet House on Oct. 31st!

#100: Prepare ten meals at home

So, I’m giving a company called Blue Apron a try. They ship you the ingredients and “easy” recipes for three meals a week. First try was this pizza panini and salad. I’d rather have a chef, but not bad.

#64: Eat at one of the world’s top restaurants

Pellegrino named its top 50 restaurants in the world today.

50. Waku Ghin, Singapore

49. Coi Restaurant, San Francisco, U.S.

48. The Test Kitchen, Cape Town, South Africa (and Best in Africa)

47. The Fat Duck, Berkshire, U.K.

46. Le Calandre, Rubano, Italy

45. Hof van Cleve, Kruishoutem, Belgium

44. The French Laundry, Napa Valley, USA

43. Schloss Schauenstein, Fürstenau, Switzerland

42. Geranium, Copenhagen, Denmark

41. Quique Dacosta, Alicante, Spain

40. Daniel, New York City, U.S.

39. Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy

38. L’Astrance, Paris, France

37. Restaurant Andre, Singapore

36. Mani, Sao Paulo, Brazil

35. Martín Berasategui, Lasarte-Oria, Spain

34. Asador Etxebarri, Vizcaya, Spain

33. Nihonryori RyuGin, Tokyo, Japan

32. Attica, Melbourne, Australia (and Best in Australasia)

31. L’Atelier Saint-Germain de Joel Robuchon, Paris, France

30. Per Se, New York, U.S.

29. De Librije, Zwolle, The Netherlands

28. Acqua, Germany

27. Le Chateaubriand, Paris, France

26. Azurmendi, Bilbao, Spain (and Most Sustainable Restaurant)

25. L’Arpege, Paris, France

24. Amber, Hong Kong

23. Restaurant Franzen, Stockholm, Sweden

22. Vila Joya, Albufeira, Portugal

21. Le Bernardin, New York, U.S.

20. Pujol, Mexico City, Mexico

19. Faviken, Järpen, Sweden

18. Astrid y Gaston, Lima, Peru

17. Gaggan, Bangkok, Thailand

16. Steirereck, Vienna, Austria

15. Central, Lima, Peru

14. Narisawa, Tokyo, Japan

13. Nahm, Bangkok, Thailand (and Best in Asia)

12. Vendome, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

11. Mirazur, Menton, France

10. The Ledbury, London, U.K.

9. Alinea, Chicago, U.S.

8. Arzak, San Sebastián, Spain

7. D.O.M, Sao Paulo, Brazil (and Best in South America)

6. Mugaritz, Errenteria, Spain

5. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London, U.K.

4. Eleven Madison Park, New York, U.S. (and Best in North America)

3. Osteria Francescana, Modena, Italy

2. El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain

1. Noma, Copenhagen, Denmark

#48 Done: Attend a Music Festival

We got our country on at Stagecoach music festival.

The iPhone camera doesn’t do it justice.

Lynyrd Skynyrd

#45: Nap in a Hammock

Got in a good 2 hour nap in the warm desert air.