May 7, 2009

 

Rooftop Tomatoes, Be Happy You're Not Rich, Our Vodka reviews and more.
 
The Three Tomatoes do not all have green thumbs. One of us kills philodendron and cacti. But every year she faithfully plants three tomato plants at her home on Long Island, flowers on the deck and a few herbs too, like basil. And she gets so carried away with herself when she serves her homegrown tomatoes and basil with mozzarella that you'd think she's Martha Stewart. But we are always so impressed with people who have amazing gardens in the 'burbs.  So when we saw the photos of the gigantic tomato plants grown on a rooftop terrace right here in NYC, we had to get the scoop. You'll love this story and the tomato behind it.

 

But first, we want to remind you that our Broadway Theater ticket contest ends tonight at midnight.  All you have to do is tell your friends about the 3Ts and you and they could win theater tickets. So enter now. And we've got some great updates at our web site too this week, like our Vodka reviews.  Plus, if you need some career transition help right now, see our sidebar, we've got some resources for you. So read on.
 
If you're not super rich, you might be happier these days
Jan Bina describes herself has a typical LA hyphenate - actor-writer-tortoise feeder-acting teacher-sloppy homemaker-weed puller-treadmill walker-fretful mother-daydreamer and sometime producer for In The Trenches Productions.com.  She writes this week "While it's not nice to celebrate anyone's pain, there is a bit of schandenfraude knowing investment bank-robbers are scaling down. So, here are 10 reasons why, you and I may fair better in this recession than the super rich." Read more for your daily dose of humor. 
 
If you're a spendthrift, blame it on Mom
Well of course. Don't we blame everything on Mom? Well according to finance expert Stacy Francis, "Our mothers are powerful financial role models, whether they planned to be or not. What type of mother did you have and how has this influenced your money behavior?"  Read on.  And then get over it.
 
If Life Gives You Vodka
As comic Ron White says "I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade...And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party." But which vodka should we serve? The Three Tomatoes review panel took on this tough assignment recently in a blind tasting, and we've got the results from Smirnoff ($11.99) to Ultimat($44.99). Although honestly, by the 10th tasting, who cares?

A tomato grows on 25th Street
By day Valerie Block is the Deputy Manging Director for Crain's New York Business and her husband Mitch is a software guy. But as soon as spring arrives they spend their nights and weekends tending their garden. Which doesn't sound too much different than lots of other weekend gardeners, except that Valerie's garden thrives on the wrap-around terraces of her apartment on 25th Street right here in NYC.  And unlike our measly 3 tomato plants in the 'burbs, she and her husband plant several varieties of tomatoes, from heirlooms to Brandywines, green, red, and yellow peppers, eggplants, strawberries, all kinds of herbs, and this year they'll add lettuces and cucumbers too. 

 

How did they get started? 
Turns out Valerie's husband grew up in the suburbs with vegetable and flower gardens. And Valerie had always been good with houseplants. So when they bought their apartment five years ago with its two wrap-around terraces, Mitch said, let's plant a garden. And as they say, from small seedlings, big things grow as has their amazing garden, and their knowledge of urban gardening too. Gardens need water. Especially gardens grown in pots on hot terraces. So in the early years, if they went away on the weekend, they had to ask neighbors to water the garden. These days they have an elaborate automated watering system. And yes, they spend countless hours gardening, but they absolutely love it. And the best part is delighting their friends with a dinner at their apartment with all fresh ingredients picked from their garden that day.
 

How can you get started?
Valerie says anyone can grow a garden, even if it's inside (provided you've got some good sunlight.)  And here's the great news urban dwellers who are envious of your garden 'burb friends. Starting this week Valerie is going to share her urban garden expertise with us. So read How to Start an Urban Garden. 
 
So here's to tomatoes, the human, fruit, and vegetable kind, and vodka martinis. The perfect pairing.

 
Cheers,