Places – Page 4 – Querin Explores

Empire State Building: Lights up for Mardi Gras

February 12, 2013February 12, 2013 by Querin Ventura, posted in Places, Travel

On my way home from work, I observed the Empire State building. Tonight, it lights up with the beautiful and vibrant colors, purple, green and gold in honor of Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), the famous festival celebrated in New Orleans every year. New Orleans is a dear city to me. I lived in Louisiana a few years ago, and while at first I was a little home sick, I quickly made friends who made me feel at home. It is true what they say about “southern hospitality.” The people in Louisiana are warm and friendly. The food is exquisiteness… from the craw-fish to the jambalaya, to the you name it dish. So on that note, here are a few pictures I took of the Empire State building welcoming Mardi Gras.

Restaurant Week

February 11, 2013February 11, 2013 by Querin Ventura, posted in Food and Dining, Places, Restaurant, Travel

Last week, restaurant week ended. This week is fashion week in NYC. This is what I love about New York City; there is always something going on. Before restaurant week ended, my friends and I went to try a restaurant that has always have a great reputation for quality of food and excellent service. Ruth Chris’s Stake House in Time Square located at 148 W St New York, NY 10019 was our restaurant of choice. Sean, our server, was extremely professional and fun.

Stuffed crab mushroom

Fried calamaris

Lobster bisque

Prime cut stake

My friends and I.

Thank You 2012, Welcome 2013

January 8, 2013June 1, 2014 by Querin Ventura, posted in Inspiration, Places, Travel

I came back from my trip in The Dominican Republic three days ago. I had an amazing time. This was my first Christmas/holiday season in my homeland in about 10 years. Words cannot describe how I felt being in my beautiful country during this time. This was a very special trip in so many ways. It was quality time with the people I love the most on earth. I spent time with all my four nieces, Querin, Mia, Maiya and Miranda, with one of my nephews, Ronny, with my brother and sister-in- law, and with the one woman I love the most on this planet–my mother. Two of my nephews weren’t present, Christian and Jonathan —we did not forget about you two and knew in our hearts that you being there would have made this holiday season even more special. I am so grateful to God for the opportunity to spend time with my habuelito (grandfather) who is over 90 years old and is sick. I also spent time with my childhood friends in the town I lived in as a child, Mata De Palma (Palm Tree). This town means a lot to me as most of my precious childhood memories are from events that occurred in this town. My favorite aunt, also spent New Year’s eve and New Year with us. She is so much fun and made us all laugh really loud. What else could I ask for? I would have loved for my brother Kelvin and my two best friends Luz and Marcela to be there as well. Surrounded by the people I love the most, I could not ask for anymore joy then the one I felt. To my surprise and to top it off, my mother and my aunt planned a surprise dinner for me the night before I came back to the states, hence I enjoyed my stay there up until the last minute.

This new year is very special to me. I am humbly grateful to God for everything. From the bottom of my heart I wish you all a very happy and successful New Year. I feel so much gratitude for all of God’s blessings, for caring for me, for loving me the way He does.

I took lots of pictures…here are some to start:

Tako Yaki

December 19, 2012January 27, 2013 by Querin Ventura, posted in Food and Dining, Places, Restaurant

Tako Yaki is another dish in Kodama Sushi restaurant that I enjoy. It is, as the menu descrives it: Fried Octopus ball (wheat flour-based batter) worcestershire sauce and Mayo. I Just had it again this evening after I left from work. Here is a picture I took of the dish.

Oh, and the best part of it is that it only cost $6.00.

My Fav sushi restaurant

December 14, 2012January 26, 2013 by Querin Ventura, posted in Food and Dining, Places, Restaurant

I still remember the first time I was introduced to sushi. I said to my self “how can people eat raw fish?” Many years later I now have to admit that sushi is one of my favorite foods. My favorite Sushi restaurant is Kodama sushi. It is located in Time Square, address, 301 west 45th Street, New York, New York. This is a low key, modest, nothing fancy restaurant, but their sushi is one of the best I have ever tried and their price point is on the inexpensive side.

Remembering September 11

September 12, 2012September 12, 2012 by Querin Ventura, posted in Courage, Inspiration, Places

I really wanted to publish this post before midnight, but my schedule did not permit. So here is a recount of my day yesterday, a day we will never forget: Tuesday, September 11th. As part of my daily routine, I’m waiting for the bus that will take me in to NYC. The sky is bright, bleu and clear. It’s a little cooler than in previous days, nevertheless it’s a beautiful day. I hop on the bus; it rides along what I call the most beautiful street-Boulevard East in West New York, New Jersey, my town. From afar, I can appreciate a view of the Freedom Tower standing tall. I observe the Hudson River how calm it seems today, as if it too is paying a moment of silent for what took place 11 years ago.

Pictures taken while on the bus

We ride through the Lincoln tunnel and in New York City we arrive. As it was expected, there was a lot of police activity everywhere in the city, yet it was more manageable moving around then last year, the 10^th anniversary. I stroll the streets of NYC at least five days a week yet today it feels very different. Of course, it is a special day.

I meet some firefighters. They take a moment to pose for Querinexplores I want to thank the FDNY for always being ready to protect our great city and for always being willing to take a brief moment to pose for the cameras :).

Beautiful K-9

I meet Michele, she is a detective with NYPD. She and her team were on a special operation during 911 called, operation Hercules. Their job…to keep the city extra safe.

Then I meet Honschar. As you can see, he is an artist who was filling the sidewalks with special phrases and quotes for this special day.

;

You may find more about Honschar on his facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Honschar/358433244227879

Here she is, the Freedom Tower, up close. One World Trade Center will be her address once she is open for business.

Into the evening reflecting the patriotic colors of our great nation. God Bless America!

Thank you!

Canada- June2012

September 4, 2012January 27, 2013 by Querin Ventura, posted in Inspiration, Places, Travel

This past June, My Sister (in God) and I planed a trip with our moms, my niece and her two young boys to Canada. In between everything else, we had a good time. Here are some pictures. I, probably, will do several post about Canada as we took many pictures. We took a lot of beautiful pictures of the falls, so I’m planning to do another post later with more pictures. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy these ones.

With our ponchos, ready to board the Lady of the Mist boat that will take as close as you can be onto the Canadian Falls

Beautiful White water

The Canadian Fall -The true strength and beauty of nature can’t be replicated by humans.

The American Fall

Meet Miss GuineaUSA 2012

June 9, 2012June 12, 2012 by Querin Ventura, posted in Empowerment, Fashion, Inspiration, Places, Women

This past Thursday I had one of the most amazing experiences so far in my blogging journey. I was walking in midtown Time Square, taking pictures with my new Canon T3i. I was taking random pictures of anything that caught my attention. All of a sudden, I saw a very elegant young lady with a very nice dress that reminded me of Africa. I put my “shyness” aside and asked her if it was ok to take a picture of her outfit. At first, she was a little hesitant and asked me the reason I wanted to take the pictures. I explained to her that I was a blogger. She agreed to let me take some pictures of her…and then she told me who she was. Her name is Kadiatou D. Fadiga and she is Miss GuineaUSA 2012!

How lucky could I be to be able to meet and do one of my first posts about a woman who is elevating the name of women by representing women, acting as an ambassador and being actively involved in community services and conferences that adhere to empower young women as well as men.

I want to thank Kadiatou, Miss GuineaUSA 2012, for allowing me the opportunity to photo shoot her. She is such a beautiful young woman representing and putting women’s name at the top. The pictures I took here don’t do justice to her beauty. I’m still learning all the features of my camera and because I had to take the pictures very quickly (there were lots of people passing by nonstop), I did not have much time to get a clear focus on the image.

Ignore the Asian guy to the left; he was just one of the thousands of pedestrians who stroll along the streets of NYC.

Here are some other pictures I took.

Above is a picture of me holding Mary Poppins :)

This is a picture a took of two young…I’m not sure what you call them, dressed with umbrella skirts. This one of the many things you see in NYC.

Thank you!

Europe, here I came

May 7, 2012June 9, 2012 by Querin Ventura, posted in Inspiration, Places, Uncategorized

In August of 2009, I went to Europe for about two weeks. The two main destinations were Paris and Amsterdam. I now regret not having a travel journal at the time to keep record of the places I visited and my experience there. But I took many pictures, and will share some with you here.