Manhattan - Day 41

All day just kicking around town with Mary Ann. Started it off with breakfast at the Cook Shop, followed by a walk through Soho, a movie in the afternoon at Angelika. While I liked, Martha Marcy May Marlene I'm not sure I get all the hype. As usual, with a movie that gets this much attention, I with I had seen it earlier.

after the movie we headed off back through the village with a stop for coffee at Jack's on 10th.

This evening we had a quiet dinner back in Chelsea. Tomorrow off to Maine for a week.

Manhattan - Day 40

Back to Manhattan yesterday afternoon after a night New Jersey visiting Mary Ann's family. We dropped off the bags here at GTS and set off on a walking tour of my NewYork. First stop Doma for a coffee and then a walk down Bleeker Street ending up at BareBurger for a bite to eat.

A beautiful night for a walk, and the need to do such after the dinner we ate, we strolled back through the village before calling it a day.

Today we kicked around the village, starting with breakfast at the Bus Stop Cafe (loyal readers do we see a pattern here?) then toff to check out the Occupy Wall Street encampment. On the way down I snapped this pic of Mary Ann on the train.

Tonight it's off to Greater Jamaica Development Corp's annual Gala.

Manhattan - Day 39

Fall in the air. This morning up for my walk which took down through the village as usual. The air had that crisp feel that was a sure sign that the cool nights of fall are her to stay. As I turned the corner from Bleeker and onto Hudson, there was the Saturday morning farmers market at Abington Square. I snapped this shot of these cauliflower which seemed an apt symbol of a fall day.

Manhattan - Day 38

Life Underground

It was my friend David who first pointed out the sculptures in the 14th Street & 8th Avenue subway station to me. I was certain that these whimsical little characters had been there for years but in reality "Life Underground" was created in the nineties by American sculptor, Tom Otterness  and installed in 2000.


Otterness credits 19th century political cartoonist Thomas Nast's depiction of Boss Tweed and the corruption of Tammany Hall that was ongoing at the time of the subway's initial construction as his inspiration for the sculptures, hence my thought that they were from a bygone era. Regardless, they never fail to bring a smile to my face and when you think about today's political climate and the Occupy Wall Street movement, many of them seem particularly relevant.

                 

Manhattan - Day 37

Up to the upper east side to drop off another disc at the event planners on Lex. First time I've been to Grand Central since I've been here. Yet another iconic New York landmark. The area covered in black above the stairways in the last photo is the site of the new Apple Store, set to open next month.

Manhattan - Day 36

Lot's of running around today, dropping off DVDs up on Lex at Lorelei Events, back to Chelsea for desk work, coffee with Ira Goldberg from the Art Students League on 57th and eighth - all in the middle of constant cold wind and rain.

rain rain go away - we're all out of umbrellas!

Manhattan - Day 35

Well the results are in. I've spent over a month now walking and training up and down the island of Manhattan and I've identified my street of choice. Well first, I have to say that it came down to a few all in the West Village and while Waverly is lovely as are parts of Christopher, Bank and Greenwhich, in the end it came down to two - Horatio and Perry.

And the winner is . . .

Ultimately it was that perfect blend of residential and a touch of businesses that swayed me. Of course, that fact that it is anchored on one end by my favorite coffee shop, was a determining factor. 

Note: I was not swayed, however, by the fact that Carrie Bradshaw from Sex In the City lived on Perry. It took me a whie to figure out that all those people having their pictures taken in front of 66 Perry were not visiting the site of the former home of some literary giant such as Henry James.

Manhattan - Day 34

Well, this morning was a beautiful fall morning and after a couple hours at my desk I started off in search of a hearty breakfast. Little did I know that I was about to discover my new favorite breakfast place. I strolled down through the West Village making my way down Hudson, stopping at the Bus Stop Cafe. As you approach this smallish corner establishment you have the feeling you might be onto something.

Once inside and seated your instincts tell you that you could be right. The place is loaded with charm, huge windows that let the light stream in and reveal a perfect Greenwich Village view.

Of course we all know you can't eat ambiance so you remind yourself not to get carried away because the food has yet to arrive. The next in the continuing signs of good breakfast fortune arrives in the form of a cup - yes, a cup, not a mug but a cup of coffee, oh the joy! It's made of that wonderful classic diner ware with a handle big enough for your finger!

Cautiously you order your favorite - pancakes with a side of sausage and you sit sipping coffee from your CUP enjoying the view and oh yes - the classical music playing - not bad pop or screaming hip hop, but actual classical music. You tell your self to take it easy and enjoy it while you can because surely the food will arrive and burst the bubble. As the waiter sets down your plate you try and contain yourself because there they are - three golden and perfectly sized pancakes and on small plate next to them, three plump, New York sausages just waiting to release their abundant juices when you slice into them. Then comes the moment of truth - you smear the pancakes with butter and drown then in that oh so wonderful thick, brown, (2% actual maple syrup), liquid.

Slice into them and take a bite - delicious! The equally delicious sausage is next and as your waiter fills your coffee cup for the third time you realize that yes indeed you have found BREAKFAST NIRVANA!