Up Close and Personal: My Favorite Things to Do Times Thirteen

By James V. Ruocco 

What's your favorite thing to do?

Shop.
Sightsee.
Travel.
Dinner with friends.
Explore.

All these things - and so much more - are amazing in their very own way.

Choosing what you want to do can be absolute fun.

And the possibilities are endless.

Make a list.
Call a friend or family member.
Be creative.
Indulge.

Some of my all-time favorites - 13 to be exact - are as follows.

Walking barefoot along the beach in the sand or in the water...alone, with a friend or with a loved one, is especially fun during the summer months.
You pick the location. You pick the time. You pick the date.
It's healthy. It's romantic. It's good for the soul.
I also come prepared - flask in hand or a chilled bottle of champagne...at sunset, sunrise or whenever the urge strikes me. 
Photo ops are also a must.
 

Taking a day off from work, from life, or from whatever. Driving through the town of my choice - Ridgefield, Westport, Darien, Greenwich, Fairfield, among others is great any day of the week.
Parking the car. Checking out the locals, the pubs, the shops, the restaurants, the antique stores, the landscaping, the architecture. So much to do and see with side stops thrown in for drinks, lunch, dinner or sweets at your favorite candy shop.

It's been said that I have more clothes that Jay Gatsby. And guess what? That assessment is probably correct.
Shopping!
It's been in my blood since the day I was born.
As a kid, most of my clothes came from the stores in New York - Brooks Brothers, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fitch Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman.
Nothing trendy or overstated.

Smart, sophisticated clothing that never went out of style.
It's a fashion statement that I follow to this day investing in smart clothing choices - Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, LL Bean, J Press, Burberry - that complement my look, my style and my personality.
For me, it's all about feeling comfortable in yourself.

Theatre - Broadway, London, West End, Fringe, Regional, Off-Broadway, National Tour, Opera.

I act. I write. I sing. I perform. I critique. I indulge.
Theater has been a part of my life since I was six or seven.
It's a sugar rush. It's a shot of adrenaline. It's a high.
It's something I never tire of. And never will.
"Evita," "Rent," "Company," "Les Misérables," "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and "My Fair Lady" are among my ultimate favorites. As are new plays and musicals I'm seeing for the very first time.

Candy. Candy. Candy.

I have perfect teeth. No cavities.
But I have a sweet tooth that craves and craves all those delectable candy shop goodies.
Candy Canes. Peeps. Jujubes. Jelly Tots. Black licorice. Wine guns. Fruit pastilles. Werther's caramels. I love each and every one of them.

But, in moderation.
I'm not going to mess with my perfect smile.

People watching. I absolutely love it. I do it all the time. It's a force of habit I can never break. It's lots of fun, especially when the seasons change, or a holiday - Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Boxing Day - springs into view. And if no one's looking, a snapshot or two will suffice.

Making fresh lemonade with fresh lemons, sugar, ice cubes and water. Forget that store bought crap. Whenever the mood strikes, I make my own. My grandmother did it. My mom did it. So did my dad.
It's fast. It's simple. It's easy. It's rewarding. And that homemade taste is like no other. 

Making lists. Really? Yes, really.
Ever since I was a kid, I always kept a list (or lists) of sorts. I still do. It's a great pastime.
Grab a drink. Pick your favorite dessert. Turn on the music. And start writing.
It sparks your creativity. It keeps you engaged. It's yours and yours alone. 

Going out to dinner - something my family did ever since I can remember - is a must. It's fun. It's social. It's a force of habit. It's well worth the time and money. And yes, I have my favorite places. Doesn't everybody. I am also on the lookout for new places to explore. So, book me a table. Tonight, if possible. 

Reading. Yes, reading. No Kindle. No paperbacks. Hardcover and hardbacks, only. This was a steadfast rule on my household. My mom refused to wait for the book of her choice to come out in paperback. So, there never really was a paperback in sight. 
Reading, she said, was a wonderful escape. And what an adventure. I mean, who doesn't like to read.  

Cheese. Lots and lots of cheese. French cheese. English cheese. Irish cheese. Italian cheese.

But first, let's set the record straight. The cheese I enjoy (as did my parents, uncles and aunts) is not the cheese you find in the supermarkets. I prefer the kind of cheese (domestic and imported) that comes from the gourmet shops, the food emporiums and the specialty shops. As a kid, mostly on Sundays, my family and I went out to the shops looking for fine cheeses (let's not forget the wine) to satisfy everyone's palate. 

Nothing beats a bowl of homemade soup from scratch.

It's warm. It's comforting. It's guaranteed delicious.

For me, three soups stand out - beef stew, chicken matzo ball soup, escarole and bean soup.

Whenever I have a day off from work, I get up early, head to the market, pick up the ingredients, drive home and prep the meal.

It's time consuming.
But the end result is well worth the time and the investment.
PS: Satisfaction is guaranteed.

Birthday cake. I'm not a big fan of the "Happy Birthday" song (as a kid, I used to run out of the room the minute everyone gathered around the kitchen or dining room table to sing this silly ditty) or the candles and the balloons that came with it. But the dessert itself remains my #1 passion.
So, every now and then, I like to indulge in a piece of homemade vanilla cake with butter cream frosting (my best friend Paul's mother Barbara made the best vanilla cake ever) - the kind that is made in the finest pastry shops out there.