Best of Pre-Schools

 

There is only one place to go to for a pre-school with heart and that is the International Montessori Preschool.   The name isn’t the most creative, but you get the point.

The heart comes from the Founder of the school, Mrs Dekleva.   She is so gentle, so caring and just embodies the soul of an educator.   Her loving hand touches everything at the school.   She was the first educator for Zayne and Aiyana.

At the IMP the emphasis is not so much on WHAT they learn, but HOW they learn.   The idea is to empower children to learn, to infuse learning with joy and a sense of personal accomplishment and most importantly, a sense of social awareness.   Learning is not an individual sport - it is a team sport.   The most important lessons learned are not necessarily those from books, but those you learn from others and those you learn FOR yourself.

As for the basics, they do learn them, but it is done in relation to the world around them.  

Mrs. Dekleva and her caring team, know each child by name, give individual attention and love with firm guidance when needed.    She does not believe in whip discipline, so if you are looking for a boot camp this is not the place for your child.   Children are given the freedom to be children to a large extent.

I just want to give you an example of their level of attention by describing a parent teacher conference.   First of all there is a detailed report card with over 30 metrics.   Then there is a written component and then a discussion.   There was no doubt that they knew my children’s strengths and weaknesses and they laid out a plan to encourage the strengths and address the challenges.

And frankly I get a full report of their daily activities at pick up.   If they know you care enough to know, they care enough to tell.   Mind you sometimes ignorance is bliss.   I really didn’t want or need to know that the boys are showing each other their willies to see which one has the biggest.   Really?   From now?

They currently have space for January, so if you are the slightest bit dissatisfied with their current school, call them!   You and your children will be nourished and enriched by the Deklevas.

ps.  Personally speaking I LOVE the community of mothers and fathers at the school.   We meet for coffee after drop offs on Monday and our time together has been filled with laughter, support and love.   You will not find a warmer circle of friends.

Website:  
http://www.viennaimp.com/Welcome.html

Best of Haircuts

There is not one day that goes by that I don't hear Gloria from Laura Branigan blaring from the radio - not one!   There is a reason for that.   Vienna is not stuck in the 18th century, it's stuck in the 80's and the hairdos reflect it!

Twice a year I try and find someone who won't have me leave the chair in tears or worse, with helmet head reserved for brides on their wedding day.   Brian runs his fingers through my hair on haircut days and they surface with treasures stuck to them.    The hair nest captures all sorts of goodies in it's sticky lair.

After numerous disappointments I saw a new place Seven P's open up.   It looks beautiful, but that's no sign.   The only thing I was hoping for is that being new they would try harder and do better.   Unlike massages or manicures I care about the environment my hair is tended to.   It needs to be calming and pleasant to off set the anxiety of potentially having a bad hair month.   At Seven P's everything they do is to decrease anxiety.   

Washing of the hair comes with a 10 minute scalp massage.  Relax.   Sitting in the seat looking like Marge with a towel wrapped around one's head is accompanied by a 5 minute shoulder massage.   Relax.  The wet poodle look comes with a side of nespresso.   Relax.  The shedding comes with a stunning array of design books and the coolest magazines one never sees (all in English).   Relax.  For a while you feast you eyes on gorgeous people with funked out hair and you think, this isn't so bad.

Then the blowout.   Soft and kind, Max's deft fingers play with my hair in perfect harmony with the musak.   Max, oh Max, you talented, sweet man with a flair for all things fabulous.   I bow down to thee for one reason and one reason alone.   You listen.  

Girls, aren't hairdressers worse than men?   They don't just have selective hearing, they really just don't listen.   "I want a trim" being said, you come out with a close shave.   "I want layers" being said, you come out with a blunt bob.   Has anyone EVER gotten just what they asked for.   Note to all hairdressers - If you are a frustrated artist, don't taken your frustrations out on me.   I don't want a creation, I just want you to do what I tell you.   If I say I want one inch off, don't take of five.  

So yes, Max listens.   But don't react like a typical woman - when he does listen don't be disappointed that he did exactly what you wanted.   If you go in looking like Beth, don't expect to come out looking like Rachel Welsh.  

Book Seven P.   The P should stand for peace, peace of mind.

Smiles,
Ruchika

Seven P

http://www.sevenp.com/

Wipplingerstrasse 24-26
1010 Wien
T 01/533 75 06
E salon@sevenp.com Tuesday to Friday
from 09.00 to 18.30
Saturday

from 09.00 to 17.00

Best of Arts and Craft Stores

Finding an Arts and Crafts store in Vienna is like trying to find a Billa cashier who can actually smile.   UNLIKELY!

After a year here and no Chenille stems or wood blocks I found Mastnak and got my glitter on!   Until recently I couldn't remember the name of the store, I just programmed in Neubaugasse 31 into my handy dandy GPS and off I would go.

You walk in downstairs and it looks like a cheesy gift store with the requisite "I'm not old, I'm experienced" trucker hat and edible underwear.   Like I said, cheeeesy.  

But walk up the winding staircase and click your heels in delight.   What shoes do for some women, glitter glue does for me.   Rocket ships go off, bells ring in my head, flowers float by and euphoria sets in.   I'm not going to lie, a gorgeous pair of Louboutins thrill me as much as the next girl, but rows and rows of acrylic paint, finger paints, textile paints bring me lasting happiness.    The possibilities are endless and the imagination can take flight.

Like my favorite bookstore, Shakespeare & Co in Paris, there is no order and you can find the most beautiful beads tucked in between a cardboard birdhouse and wood letters.   With crafts as it is with life, the unexpected turns are often the ones that delight us.   Creation is rarely the result of order.  

However, if you have one kid hanging off your leg and wiping the snot of the other one, then take it easy on yourself and just click on http://at.opitec.com/opitec-web/st/Home or http://winkler.turbo.at/shop_at/index.php.

Use babblefish to translate the page and off you go.   It's easy, there is tremendous choice and comes right to your door.

Go create!
Smiles,
Ruchika

Mastnak
Neubaugasse 31
1070 Vienna
Ph.  01-523 27 58
Mo - Fr 8:30 - 18:30
Sa 8:30 - 17:00

Winkler Schulbedarf
http://winkler.turbo.at/shop_at/index.php

Opitec Hobbyfix
http://at.opitec.com/opitec-web/st/Home

Best of Vasectomies

There are two words that now put the fear of God into my soul - "You're pregnant!"  

By popular demand, here is the best of vasectomies.   Girls, we love our children, but for most of us the thought of having another one is equated to the pain of walking on hot coals or getting a root canal, the terror of being chased by wild elephants, the dread of Space Mountain, the pinch of a 1,000 needles...should I continue?   I love my kids, BUT I am D.O.N.E!

Do you want to say bye bye to smelly poops, lack of shut eye, throwing up and stretch marks?   Then send your men to Igor for a little snip, snip.   After the big slice and dice we have endured, a little snip, snip should get no argument.  

Now prepare yourself, because you are going to hear the following "How can you let something happen to my precious jewels?" or "I know a guy who said he doesn't orgasm anymore."  or "My friend said the quantity of his ejaculation is diminished" or "I can't, it's my manhood"  or the classic "But it's going to be painful."    For each one of these, the rebuttal need only be a roll of the eyes.
 
Abi, Igor's wife is a dear friend of mine.   Of course, that doesn't guarantee anything, but I've met Igor and he is just wonderful.   He is the kind of man who puts you at ease right away and his stature exudes confidence.   If I had balls I would feel very comfortable putting them in his hands :-)

Dr. Igor Stancik speaks English, German and Russian fluently.  

For appointments, call between Monday – Thursday between 9:00 – 16:00 for Russian, Slovakian, Czech or English speakers:
Mobile: 0043 6991 941 78 11
e-mail: urology-vienna@stancik.at
http://www.urologe-wien.at/english/default.htm

And I'll end in poor taste with some vasectomy humor!
A vasectomy means never having to say you're sorry.

What do a Christmas tree and a man who's had a vasectomy have in common?  They both have ornamental balls.
 
Smiles,
Ruchika

Best of Cake Decorating Stores

Definitely not Willy Wonka fun, this sad, broken and poop brown store looks nothing like what I would imagine a cake decorating store to look like.   And Grumpy and Dopey run it, but never mind, because just being surrounded, enveloped, by the sight and smell of that much sugar makes you Happy!

Before we get to the cups and the cakes of it all, let's just take a moment to raise our eyebrows to the sad and pathetic attempts at kids cakes in Austria?   There is a reason the birth rate is declining - the sperm looks at the egg, and the egg looks at the sperm in the womb in Austria and says "no thank you" before swimming their separate ways.

The reason - MARZIPAN.   Yuck!   Which kid wants marzipan on their cake!   Yuck!

At Bon Bons, a cornucopia of sugar concoctions lies at your disposal.   There are a few things on the shelf but the real treasure lurks behind the counters.   You can get a rainbow array of food colorings, sprinkles, cake toppers, sugar gel pens and more.  

I love sugar pens and have then out at every party.  Kids love writing on each other and licking it off!  

They have stunning cake toppers (it'll cost ya) and give two days they can also make custom toppers based on your designs.

There is no reason to subject your child to an Austrian cake when you can bake a fluffy American one with yummy buttercream icing and princess sprinkles!

Enjoy!
Ruchika

Bonbons Lebkuchen Tortendekor
Wollzeile 26
1010 Wien

Best of Father's Day Gifts

Panic! Don’t. You have time. In Austria Vater’s Day is on June 14 and if you’re celebrating the American one it’s June 20th. I’ll opt American to buy me some more time!

Skip the tie, the frame with a picture in it, the wallet, skip the clichés and go straight for something he’ll truly love.

I have a great batting average (I don’t have a clue as to what number that would be, but I thought guy speak would be appropriate here) with concert tickets. Try for someone new, upcoming, because they are full of wonder and giving it their all, or someone old because you know they are just doing it for the passion of it.

There are some great ones coming up in Austria –


1. Elton John – I’ve seen him and he puts on a great show
2. Leonard Cohen – The best concert I’ve ever been too
3. Abba Gold – J.O.K.I.N.G. sigh that would be my dream!
4. Eric Clapton – Mind blowing in concert 

5. Rod Stewart

6. Norah Jones
7. Jethro Tull
8. MARK KNOPFLER - from Dire Straits who sings two of my favorite songs…Love Over Gold and Why Worry. I’ll be at that one for sure!

Go to www.oeticket.com to buy them or you can buy tickets at any Bank of Austria if you have an account there.

OR…there is always Beers from Around the World.

Go to Bohle on Wollzeile for all things gourmet Austrian. It’s a deli, but they carry beers from around the world and have it packaged in a very cool tool box. You can choose the beers from the countries he loves to create a custom gift.

You could design a beer and tapas tasting evening for him. Pair the Japanese beer with sushi, the Mexican beer with nachos, the Austrian one with a wiener. Oh cancel that thought! The thought of eating a wiener after sushi just made me sick. Just give him the beer!

BÖHLE
Wollzeile 30
A-1010 Wien
http://www.boehle.at/bier.htm

OR…if your man is fancy, book the Jazz evening at Palais Coburg in their Winebar.

It’s gorgeous and Bartender Benny will mix fancy drinks and recommend a Cuban from their Humidor. Slink back, drape your leg over his and watch him smile.

This magic spell can only be cast on Saturday evenings so book now.

OR…if your man is in between Al Bundy and James Bond, then head to Palais Coburg on a Monday evening for some Garden Grilling.

They have live music, a wood grill and open air. Enjoy.

Palais Coburg Residenz
Coburgbastei 4
1010 Wien, Österreich
Telefon: +43/1/518 18-0
www.palais-coburg.com

OR…if your man is an intellectual or just likes to read on the toilet you can get him a year subscription to TIME magazine delivered to your mailbox for 49.95 Euros. Click below. 

http://www.time.com/time/europe/custserv/ti_newsstand.html

For a subscription to the International Herald Tribune write to subs@iht.com. You can also get a yearly subscription for 20,000 points through miles and more.

For a subscription to Conde Nast Traveller go to https://www.subscription.co.uk/custservice/csorder.asp?m=85&pub_id=24

Don’t forget the sentimental winners like handmade childmade cards, breakfast in bed, and handprint frames! And nothing beats letting him sleep in :-)

Best of Dentists

Dr. Germ. No kidding, that was the name of our first Dentist in Vienna. And our pediatrician is Dr. Doczy. Doctor Germ and Doctor Doc!  

Dr. Germ is incredibly nice, very good and speaks English really well. But somehow I wasn’t sold on him so I sought advice on the best in Vienna.

Unanamously Dr. Jens Busk’s name came up. Zayne and myself went to meet him. Our first impression was painted by the wonderful receptionist who greets you with a big smile.

Enter Dr. Busk. He is Icelandic which in it self speaks volumes. He practiced in California for 10 years and he has the kindest, most gentle manner.

On Zayne’s first visit he took Zayne through all the scary looking gadgets in his office. He sprayed Zayne with water, let Zayne spray him. He blew air on his forehead and let Zayne do the same. It was a 45 minute discovery channel journey that led Zayne to say “I want to be a dentist when I grow up.” How rare is that!

I’ve spent a lifetime running away from Dentists. I would rather visit the gynec and open my legs, than open my mouth. Dr. Busk has changed that. I am now a proud owner of a mouth guard and I’m going back for caps.

Dentists always seem to have a certain amount of disdain for their job and you sort of feel like they settled, but you can tell that Dr. Busk loves his job and takes pride in it.

For all of those who have put off going to a dentist, call Dr. Busk and drop jaw.

Smiles,

Ruchika 

Dr. Jens Busk
Lazarettgasse 33/32
1090 WienTelephone: 01-405 2100

E-Mail: office@jens-busk.at 

www.jens-busk.at

Best of Easter Markets

Easter weekend is one of my favorite weekends of the year.   First, it’s a long weekend.   Second, it ushers in spring with cute bunnies, colorful eggs and CHOCOLATE!   Third, it’s a chance to go to markets, which is my favorite thing to do.

So as you can imagine, I’ve tested a few markets out.   Let’s start with the mother of all Easter markets, the Altwiener Ostermarkt at the Freyung in Vienna.

It’s small, quaint and has so many beautifully hand painted eggs that I walked around like a 3 year old kid had me on remote control.   Start, stop, turn, stop, up, stop, drop down, stop, turn, stop.  

It is no wonder that this year Bri told me to take a look for a while as he stood and enjoyed his beer.  I am truly EGGstatic to wonder and ponder on each egg.  Imagine how challenging it would be to paint a story on an egg!   Picasso would have given up in a minute and then gone off to bed yet another woman.

Each year, (it’s been my third) I buy a few that sit in egg cartons in my home.   I also love this particular Easter market because Bri takes a day off and we walk to the market, and he watches me watch eggs that don’t hatch, then we go for a wonderful meal and take pictures of the eggs and each other and walk home.  

But I have to come clean and admit I cheated and went to an Easter market at Schlosshof before necking with my main squeeze.    For just one weekend, the Schlosshof grounds turn into an Easter delight.   Unlike the other markets, the stalls here carry local wares and we bought some wonderful schnapps from the region, pumpkin infused oils and a fake castle (that would be for Zayne).   They have a petting zoo for the kids and pony rides.  FUN!

This year we spent Easter in Amsterdam and went to the “Funky Easter Market,” which was totally funky.   Now I know what you’re thinking – Amsterdam funky could mean prostitutes and pot funky, but no, this is clean funky.    Or as Brian explained to Zayne when he asked what funky meant – it’s the key to fun.

This market held the key to my fun.   The space was amazing – beautiful brick on the outside and clean high ceilings inside.   The inside part is important, because at this time of year it rains and rains harder in Amsterdam.    A dj spins awesome music, there are warm waffles, a piece of long brown paper on the floor with crayons where the kids camp out and stalls upon stalls of really, REALLY cool shit.

Last year we spent Easter in Munich and took the kids to the Olympic city where they had giant papier mache Easter eggs for the kids to paint, a cool band, a bouncy castle, and hip hop lessons for kids.   Wonderful for the kids, not much for the adults.

And then there was the not so wonderful Easter market in Bratislava.   A few stalls with yawning women behind them, some Slovak country music and not much else.   Skip it.

Till next Easter!  I have my eggs to keep me beautiful company in the meantime.

Smiles,

Ruchika

Alterwiener Ostermarkt

http://www.altwiener-markt.at/ostermarkt/index.html

Schlosshof

http://www.schlosshof.at/cms/index.php

Munich Easter in Olympic Park

http://www.olympiapark.de/en/home/events-tickets/entertainment/details/event/2556/Easter%20festival%20impark10/

Best of Translation

Am I the only living expat not to have ever heard of Babblefish?   It has been nothing short of a major revolution in my life.   If you install Babblefish as an add on to firefox a simple right click allows you to translate any page from any language to any language.

If you have wanted to read falter.at then go to the site,  right click and chose translate page and within a second the page appears in English.   Forget rabbits appearing out of hats, Babblefish is the magic trick that makes me clap with delight.

So bring on Korea, bring on Italy, bring on Iraq (ok, maybe not Iraq) and I will be able to not only survive, but thrive.

Paste this in your window and get going!
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/7004

Smiles,
Ruchika

Best of Karate Chop Chop

For most people it was Karate Kid that made them aspire to "wax on, wax off."   But for me it was one particular episode of The Flintstones with Dr. Sinister and the "Ah Judo chop chop" that Barney and Fred deploy to escape him that made me fall in love with martial arts.   Who knew it could be that easy!

It was with great ceremony that I took Zayne to his first karate class.   We had the karate outfit - no idea what it's really called - surely not karate outfit, but either way, I loved that it was white.   We show up and the first thing I saw is a row of women, dressed like they were going to an Oprah show, smacking their lips with gloss.   All of them were fluffing their ta tas and frankly I was a little taken aback showing up in my get up.

Their gaze rested on the Sensei, who was SENSEI-tional :-)   He was taking off his jacket and it was as if his muscles were revealing themselves in slow motion.   It didn't take long before I joined the ranks of the mommies smacking their lips and fluffing their _ _ _ _ (rhymes with lips :-).   All in the name of our kids, of course.

My joy was short lived.   The eye candy was to become an eye sore when I saw Zayne had no aptitude for using his ears to actually listen.   When Sensei said "los" all the kids jumped up and ran except Zayne.   He wandered casually down all while checking himself out in the mirrors along the side of the wall.

We went back enough times to see if Zayne would take to Karate.  It wasn't meant to be.  But that was last year.   It seems Zayne is way happier with ski poles in hands instead of running barefoot - Indian traitor - but I think Karate deserves another shot.

The Sensei is fantastic, truly.   The classes are easy to get to and the timings are great.   Check the calendar on the website.

If I recall correctly you can pay for 1 month, 3 months or 6 months.

I look forward to you joining me on mommy row soon.   By the way I go to the one in the 9th district.

Smiles,
Ruchika

Karate Samurai
http://www.kyokushin.at/
For times and locations go to "Zeiten und Orte" on the website menu

Locations:

1090, Roßauer Lände 27	1130, Amalienstrasse 31
1040, Rienößlg. 4/1	1230, Alma Seidler Weg 2
1160, Brüßlgasse 18	2130, Mistelbach

Best of Romance

Spring is here, the birds are chirping outside my window and the sun is shining again. Romance and pollen are in the air!


Nothing is more romantic than walking Vienna hand in hand, to Schwarzenberg Platz to admire the fountain. What is it about water gushing up, ejaculating to the sky that makes us love it so :-) Sit for a while and let the wind dust you with the tiny beads.

Walk to the ring, sit outside at Cafe Schwarzenberg and order a melange. The sun hits the outdoor seating at around noon and stays a while. Don't eat a thing there (yuck) and don't sit inside (it has an old person odor), but enjoy a melange and lazy conversation in the sun.

Walk the ring to the Opera, go into The Albertina to see just one painting - pick one to admire and walk away. I find nothing sexier than watching my husband watching art. The silence, the space, the immense creativity, the soft light, the love of beauty all make for a breathtaking experience.

Make a left to Naschmarkt and admire Klimt's Secession building from the outside. It is stunning. Don't go inside, there isn't much to see. But stop and contemplate the words written on top "to every age its art, and to art its freedom."

Then walk Naschmarkt. It is the largest farmers market in Europe and the left side is all the produce and on the right are make shift restaurants that use those fresh ingredients. It is a sensory delight. Men and women shout out offering you a taste of their wares. Enjoy.

After the first traffic light move to the right aisle and make your way to Te Wa. Sit outside if possible unless you want to smell like the bottom of an ashtray. Order anything on the menu. Order what I do - the hummus platter. Oh heaven. It's all organic and all yummy.

Bri enjoys a tall beer as we sit for hours talking and people watching. It's the best place for people watching because the walls of all the restaurants at Naschmarkt are made of glass.

If you go there on a Saturday then make sure to walk further to the flea market. Close your eyes and listen to all the languages making music with each other.

The buildings that flank the right of the flea market are done in the Art Nouveau style and just make you smile. To think of big flowers painted in the most delicate colors gracing each window..sigh. Wouldn't you love to be the face peering out?!

Just writing about this walk has made me want to read poetry. "What imagination seizes as Beauty must be truth," said Keats.  And the truth is this. Make time for romance. It is beautiful.

Kim Kocht Kicks Ass!

The most mouthwatering, exotic adventure awaits your taste buds at Kim's. There are no menus, there is a lengthy questionnaire to fill out prior to showing up and reservations are a must, but when you step in to the intimate space and are greeted by Kim herself, the trek is worth it.

Reaching the summit of culinary ecstasy is delicious. It's Asian infused seafood and Kim is an inventor of incredible proportions. Last week we were treated to tuna sashimi three ways, with three sauces ranging from bitter, to sour to sweet and were told to go left to right. Seriously the yum is in the details.

It's expensive, but really it is a two hour experience in the passionate hands of a master craftswoman. You feel cared for, tended to and the happy ending (Lemongrass creme brulee) is happier than any I have ever had.

So don't think, just do it. Pick up the phone and call Kim. And after the meal, you can write me to say THANK YOU :-)

A tip - if you don't want to wait months to get a table, ask for the early 6 - 8 pm seating. You are sure to get in within a week. And really you want to have the rest of the evening to talk about the meal in bite by bite detail.

Enjoy!
Ruchika

Kim Kocht

www.kimkocht.at

Lustkandlgasse 4
1090 Wien, Austria
+43 (01) 319 02 42