Heather Kovar: Reporter and her dog in New York City.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

St. Patrick's Day

Over my more than 14 years in New York, I grew accustomed to hearing bagpipes on St. Patrick's Day.

Spending the holiday in Austin, Texas this year at the South By Southwest Music festival, I made the statement, "the difference between New York and SXSW on St. Patrick's day is the music.

NO BAGPIPES!

But then I saw a man out of the corner of my eye... (actually my cousin Tammy pointed him out.) We chased after him because we thought he was carrying bagpipes- but oops.
Look- it was a fold up chair masquerading as pipes.

Willamena is in Texas as well. For now she has traded in Central Park for Central Texas.

Here you see her looking for a four-leaf clover. She actually found some pollen and spent the night sneezing.

Back in NYC over the years, McMena sniffed out some nice Irish bars for St. Patrick's Day. Here is a look back at some of her work. There are three tours. Click below.

Upper West Side Irish Tour
McMena's Upper East Side Irish Tour
McMena's Blackrock, CT Tour from 2007

Actually this St. Patrick's Day, a viewer sent me a picture he took of me in the Greenwich parade three years ago! Here I am with morning Weather man Paul Piorek. We had such a good time. However, I think my favorite Greenwich parade memory is from one year riding with co-anchor David Smith. "Connecticut" was spelled wrong on the side of the car. The printers left out the middle C.
Maybe the bagpipes stole our note.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Nearly two years since I've posted to this blog.
It's a shame since "Reporter and her dog" was one of the biggest elements of my life since 2006. And haha- when I look back at the writing from 06 to 08 it's much better than my "experimental times with social media" of 09 and 10.
I'm living in London now and trying to figure out how to get back into the Swinging 06's.
Olympics are coming up- anyone need a reminder?
I'm constantly reminded of Connecticut- the games are in Stratford, you pass the Stamford tube stop on the way there- not far past Greenwich- oh and these are the easy ones just off the top of my memory.
So from here- let's see where the future Leeds.
(Ugh that was a way dumb reference to UK football that had no place here :)) sorry....
Heather

Thursday, June 24, 2010

WILLAMENA CHEERS ON USA IN THE WORLDCUP

There might have also been a piece of steak involved.

Wednesday, May 05, 2010

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO!

Yes, it's considered an American drinking holiday. But so what?

A while back, Willamena put together a list of some of her favorite Mexican hot spots in New York City. So if you are looking for a place to have a marg- CHECK IT OUT HERE.

According to Mexonline.com, in Mexico the day is not that big of a deal, just in the Mexican state capital city of Puebla and throughout the state of Puebla.
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at The Battle Of Puebla in 1862.

As for Mexico Independence Day? We'll have to raise a glass in September for that.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

The Willabeast strikes again.
Actually, I think it's time to call in the big dog to spook the Philly Phillies as we head into game two of the World Series.

Upper West Side dog is a Yankees fan, and she wants a win. Last year she haunted Philladelphia with her devilish antics- so maybe she left behind a curse.
Click here to see the Willabeast's Haunted Philly tour.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Short clip of interview w Charles Grodin. Longer versionuploaded later- plus watch on News 12 CT tonight.

Download now or watch on posterous

IMG_0548.MOV (5219 KB)

Sent from my iPhone
Heather Kovar
Twitter: hrkovar
HeatherKovar.com

Posted via email from heatherkovar's posterous

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Help the Willa-Beast choose a Halloween Costume!

Remember Willamena's visit to the Bull and Bears as a Mutt-ador?

Click here to read her post about the stock market last October and click here for the pics with the bears!

However, we still need to decide what Willamena will wear this Halloween! I was thinking lab- tekkie. Maybe put a white coat and give her an i-Paw. I'm holding out for something better. Send me your ideas.

Every year we revisit the Willa-beast's haunted tour of NYC-
so CLICK HERE ...if you DARE...

Oh, she has also already been "Super-Mena."

But don't worry, I'm sure I'll find something with all the help retailers are sending.
I think the emails starting arriving mid-September.
Amazon, ebay and a company I don't remember ever ordering from, filled my in-box with titles such as "$10 Off Costumes." "Don't be left without a costume!" "The best ones are going fast."

They're said to be spooked about consumer spending this entire upcoming holiday season. A survey by the National Retail Federation says Americans plan to spend 15-percent less on Halloween this year.
Even following a dismal retail report yesterday, futures are up this morning. News 12 Business Reporter Bob Plunkett says some analysts think that after everyone's "NO-spending sprees" all year, as soon as people start shopping for gifts, they WILL make the impulse buys for themselves.

After all the tricks, maybe it is time to treat yourself.
In moderation.

Sunday, October 04, 2009

I love that trees in Central Park are labeled. I can stop and look at them and know who they are and where they came from. I thought it was great the other day in Connecticut when I noticed some trees near the Bruce Museum in Greenwich were labeled as well. I started telling my friend Dwight about how I love reading labels on trees when I noticed, I was labeled. We had been at a media event, and not only did I still have my name tag on, I was labeled "New 12" instead of "News 12."
But this also reminded me of another time I had a label- and so here is the story of not just being labeled, but of where we put those labels.

If you watched the video, you heard about how I left a news conference with a name tag on, but how my photographer reminded me to take it off before shooting a stand-up. I'm not going to litter, so I pulled the sticker off my chest and put it on my back-side. Of course people walking by had to let me know I had something on my....

AND that story reminds me of a Halloween a few years earlier. As morning anchor, I like to have a costume, but I can't wear it all morning long, I mean, I am a serious journalist. So that year, I wore a white suit, brought along bunny ears, tail and a duster. I was a "dust bunny." Get it?

So we took some pictures for the blog. My photographer was supposed to remind me to take off the tail, but wouldn't you know it, we got called out to breaking news and I'm running around asking people what happened. I couldn't understand why they all kept telling me how much they liked my suit.

Finally I turned to 'not face' my photographer and asked, I took that tail off, right?
"Umm, NO."

Good thing Halloweeen is a Saturday this year and I'm not working!

Saturday, October 03, 2009

Hey fellow Twitter fans.
Whether you use the social networking site for conversation or marketing or a way to never eat dinner alone, you should be aware of local tweet-ups and opportunities to meet people with whom you share links.
I'm excited to attend the upcoming #140 Conference in London, because I met so many agitators and movers and inspired thinkers at Jeff Pulver's #140 New York back in June.

As Pulver's gatherings move forward, he says #140conf is not about microblogging or the place where people share twitter “tips and techniques” but rather where we explore the effects of the real-time Internet on Business.

You can still register for #140 Los Angeles (October 27th-28th,) #140 London (November 17th,) and #140 Tel Aviv.
Maybe you are wondering how to get an opportunity to speak at one of these, or future events? @jer979 (Jeremy Epstein) spoke at #140 NYC and said he read every tweet by founder Jeff Pulver. He says he know what Jeff was looking for, and was able to respond and make a pitch based on what he knew about Jeff through his tweets. He explains why following only a select few works for him in this little video I shot with him at #140 NYC.

With all that is out there on Twitter, how can one read every single tweet of someone they follow? Simple strategy according to @jer979. When he spoke at #140 in NYC, he actually "got some boos" when he told the crowd that he only follows 140 people. He says it allows him to read every tweet and post and link of the experts he follows.
However, checking in with him now, he is only following 99 people!

I don't remember exactly what it was, but something @jer979 said at #140 conf influenced some interesting works from Jeff Pulver. After Epstein spoke, Pulver went on to say how twitter and blogs and your footprint on the internet are your legacies. Your words are there for future generations to read; ways to get to know you better.

With that in mind, see you at #140 London!

Monday, September 21, 2009

"Acorns keep falling on my head... "
Willamena was almost nocked in the head by these little nuts that were raining from the sky in Central Park Sunday morning. The squirrels were busy in the trees above, and the acorns had a certain rythm as they fell and hit the sidewalk, bouncing up to hit a few more notes as they bounced to their resting spots.

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Yes, this year will be better than the last.
Willamena is enjoying the Counting Crows in Central Park.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

A tour from the roof of 124 Broadway.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Witness says one of the cruisers got a call and took off. He says he watched as they used the jaws of life to cut off the top to get the one driver out.
72nd and West Wnd is a dangerous intersection. There are accidents here all the time.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Meet LT Sean Cooney @StamfordPolice . We are mic-ing him up for an interview. @chicphotog

Download now or watch on posterous

IMG_0291.MOV (4606 KB)

Sent from my iPhone
Heather Kovar
Twitter: hrkovar
HeatherKovar.com

Posted via email from heatherkovar's posterous

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

STRIKE A POSE!

While your dog might not enjoy hamming it up for the camera as much as Willamena does, (wonder where she gets that from?) there are ways to jazz up your pet's pics.

Tips such as changing angles by getting down at your pet's level, come from a professional photographer on the blog of Dogster.com.
Send Mena your best shots.

Monday, August 17, 2009

We are at the zoo finding out how the animals are keeping cool. Zoo Director Gregg Dancho says animals have natural habitat and plenty of shade and water. Later on News 12, heat from a vet on keeping you pets safe in heat. Also see the Guinea Hogs. There are only about 150 in country. They are endangered and called a heritage breed.