Decade

For my sister's birthday this year I took her on her first trip to NYC. Like all trips to NYC, this one was great. However this one had a few bonuses.

The day sister left for NYC, her 7 year old daughter gave her a frog keychain, named Lucky Frog, as a bon-voyage good luck charm. Lucky Frog obviously has power. When we checked into our hotel room in Midtown we were expecting the ususal 250-sf room with no view and no counter space. What we discovered was a full living room with 2-stories of glass forming a 180 degree view over looking midtown Manhattan. Then we discovered the full kitchen. Then the 20x20 bedroom with floor to ceiling windows. It wasnt until later that we discovered the hallway with the other 2 bedrooms and bathrooms. They had given us the penthouse suite on the 41st floor. We were the 41st floor.



Sister checks out the penthouse terrace


View from the bedroom


Lucky Frog welcomes you to NYC!

We had a whirlwind tour: Avenue Q on Broadway, Central Park, The Met, Battery Park, Ground Zero, Uppper East Side, Chelsea, Times Square, Hells Kitchen, and many interesting and delicious organic vegetarian meals!

Winners for this trip were

Double Crown
316 Bowery @ Bleecker
NYC
212.254.0350

Holy crap! This newcomer to Nolita is fantastic. We loved the English ruled India theme, which manifested itself in a wonderful drink called a Kumquat, Red Chili and Elderflower Mash. A citrusy whallop with spicy undertones and almost no sugar! The food is comparably amazing. Randomly pick an entree since they will all satisfy but dont forget to have the Yellowfin Tuna app, easily the best use of tuna on the planet!

Guy & Gallard
120 East 34th @ Lexington
NYC
212.684.3898

Why am I getting so excited about a coffehouse? Easy, its not Starbucks and they have a salad bar with several kinds of marinated tofu. Then there's the fresh juice bar, the better-than-Starbucks coffee and options for breakfast that don't include the 1200-calorie blueberry muffin (aka, pie in a muffin tin)


Lucky Frog recommends Guy & Gallard

The Met
1000 5th Ave
NYC

We really wanted to see the Frank Lloyd Wright exhibit at the Gugg, but it had just opened so all of Manhattan was there. Instead we were thrilled to walk several blocks to the infinitely larger Metropolitan Museum of Art. I've been to this museum literally dozens of times but there is always something new. This time sister and I became quite fascinated with the Asian Art wing.




Right, you aren't supposed to take pictures inside The Met. But then I have a Lucky Frog and you don't :)


The last day I treated sister to a subway ride from Park & 33rd down to Battery Park. She loved the subway! I wanted her to see Battery Park; the view to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island as well as a casual stroll around Ground Zero. Battery Park was particularly busy as it was a warm sunny day. We stumbled across this 9/11 memorial of sorts. I think it was once stationed around Wall St. but as you can see it was somewhat damaged in the attacks. I thought it was very cool to preserve it in its battered state in Battery Park.



On the cab ride back to La Guardia sister was asking just how she could fit her 150 pound puppy into a 500 SF apt. Well, NY'ers are known for making the seemingly impossible, possible.

It's why we love them.

4AM @ 23rd & 8th

If you've known me for than a second you know I can't go too long without returning to the ancestoral homeland. Every trip to NYC makes me feel more centered, focused and, I realize how odd it sounds as I write the words, more relaxed.

I try not to do the same things as I did before so this time I tried a new, well, everything. Starting off the new, I stayed at the Chelsea Hotel. If you feel you have a bohemian spirit, staying here will test that theory. The Chelsea has an interesting history, a camp and playground for writers and artists from an era gone by, it always stuck in my mind that it could have been the location where Sid Vicious (allegedly) murdered his girlfriend in the 70's. The hotel is quirky in decor, layout and patronage, although I think the all-night parties and rampant drug use are gone with the new management and an unfortunate upscaling of the neighborhood. Still, The Chelsea will never host the Champagne sipping UES debutinas, nor the investment bankers they begrudgingly marry. Pluses to the The Chelsea are large rooms, incredible location and relatively good rates.


Chelsea Hotel, Entrance


Chelsea Hotel, 8th floor stairwell

Honorable mention for this trip goes to the restaurant/bar called Public in Nolita (Elizabeth & Spring). I was late getting into the city so I didnt arrive for dinner until midnight, about 5 minutes after they stopped serving food. But the Pineapple Pink Peppercorn Caipirinha will be remembered!

The highlights were many for the 48 hours.


Equus, the new play making its opening on Broadway last week, was excellent. If you are not knowing, try renting the movie version circa 1977 starring Richard Burton. Its an intense and interesting pyscho-sexual drama involving the interaction and inversion of a very disturbed and isolated young man and his equally disturbed analyst. The acting by Daniel Radcliffe was extraordinary. He is convincing, clever and he is showing his intent and ability to wriggle out from under his illustrious Harry Potter stigma. He also seemed to be quite at home stripping down to nothing and staying that way.


Equus @ Broadhurst Theatre

Food recommendations for this trip are two:

Empanada Mamas
Hells Kitchen
763 9th Ave @ 51st
NYC

I loved this place and went 3 times in 2 days. We have empanada shoppes in Houston, plenty of them but none with the variety EM's has. Personal favorites are the Brasil (ham, potato, cheese and olives) Spicy Chicken (hot red pepper in the dough and the pulled chicken) and the Reggaeton (pork, curry, rice, veggies). Definitely make liberal use of the green sauce that will already be at the table. Service is fantastic and trust me when I say this is one of the few sit down restaurants in NYC where you'll be able to lay down a $20 and walk away with change.


Empanada Mamas, Hell's Kitchen

Highline
Meat Packing
835 Washington St @ Little W 12th
NYC

Upscale, stylish and trendy but not oppressive. Very impressive Thai fusion, particularly the Ginger Mohito and the Black Thai Tuna Tartar (chopped tuna, basil, orange and thai bird chile). Go early or late for dinner as reservations are not accepted.


The other new place I tried was the NYC Eagle. Waaaay out near 11th Ave where you can almost feel the Hudson, I found where every gay man over 30 with facial hair goes on a Saturday night. I liked it. Its dark, cavernous and crowded. It could've been naughty but that wasnt what I found on the rooftop patio for the hours I was there. The friend I went out with, went away with a lovely Englishman leaving me alone to watch the city and crowd by myself. At 330a I made my way out of the building, crossed the street, passed the strip club, the hip hop bar, every Italian man from Brooklyn and a strip of lonely subsidized housing. At 4am I found myself turning the corner to The Chelsea. And I thought, here I am, 4am at 23rd & 8th with hundreds of other people like me, all quietly walking home, soaking it all in, happy but unaffected.

I love New York.