We are having an amazing time here in NYC.
So much so, that keeping a blog is an impossibility, what was I thinking!
But I will update one when we get home so that anyone who's interested, or is planning a trip can get a few tips and see a few photos.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
2 days to go!
As its Thursday morning, its now only 2 more sleeps before we embark on our trip.
Starting to get excited now - work has been super busy with wrap week being a bit of a saga, so once I am done and dusted with work, I can start to think about what an amazing time we are going to have....
Melanie has booked us into Balthazar for brunch on our second to last day (ladies + eggs, my favourites!).
We have dates with Ana & Troy (Ana is an NYC props person, just like me, whom I've been emailing for like 4 years, and we've never met in person, Troy is her BF).
Kat and John are having us over to Flushing, Queens, to their place for dinner (same deal as Ana, except Kat and I have been in contact since King Kong, so what's that, 7 years?! Crazy). John is a NYC cop and Kathryn works for a product placement company for films/tv.
Their son John Carlo is the same age as Harvey.
Going to someone's house for dinner in NYC - what a privilege. So looking forward to meeting/hanging with Ana and Kat!
Starting to get excited now - work has been super busy with wrap week being a bit of a saga, so once I am done and dusted with work, I can start to think about what an amazing time we are going to have....
Melanie has booked us into Balthazar for brunch on our second to last day (ladies + eggs, my favourites!).
We have dates with Ana & Troy (Ana is an NYC props person, just like me, whom I've been emailing for like 4 years, and we've never met in person, Troy is her BF).
Kat and John are having us over to Flushing, Queens, to their place for dinner (same deal as Ana, except Kat and I have been in contact since King Kong, so what's that, 7 years?! Crazy). John is a NYC cop and Kathryn works for a product placement company for films/tv.
Their son John Carlo is the same age as Harvey.
Going to someone's house for dinner in NYC - what a privilege. So looking forward to meeting/hanging with Ana and Kat!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Dropping the H Bomb
Well, I'm not proud but I managed to get us a booking at La Esquina for Sam's birthday by emailing them with my TH email signature.
Sometimes it helps and goddamn it, I wanted to get Sam that booking.
Mission Accomplished.
There WILL be photos. And margaritas.
Sometimes it helps and goddamn it, I wanted to get Sam that booking.
Mission Accomplished.
There WILL be photos. And margaritas.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Full Brain
The pressure is mounting. Oh and the excitement.
When I booked this trip 6 months ago, I felt so great about having so much time to plan our time and not miss out on anything in New York.
For months I've been subscribed to Time Out and Daily Candy.
I have Goop's iPhone Ap on NY on my phone.
I've gone to the library and gotten out every book known to man on NYC and then purchased the really good ones through The Book Depository.
I've asked friends who have travelled to NY for tips, recommendations and advice (thanks Eliza, Ben & Brigitte in particular).
My laptop is full with bookmarks. The physical books are crammed full with post-it flags.
Now its 2 1/2 weeks to go and I have to find some time to try and assemble this wealth of information into some kind of mental database.
Its a bit overwhelming. Don't want to miss out on anything but yet its the spontaneity that makes a trip evolve in a way that you never could have planned.
So. Deep breath. Make note of the really important things.
Momofuku Milk Bar and their Pork Buns.
Otto's Shrunken Head Tiki Bar.
Antiques Garage in Chelsea.
Balthazar for eggs.
The Rainbow Room - scratch that, its closed.
Outdoor films 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' in Central Park, and 'All About Eve' in Brooklyn.
The Boom Boom Room at The Standard or the Rooftop Bar.
Cooney Island and what I'm told is the best pizza in New York at Totono's.
Russ & Daughters Salmon and Bagels.
La Esquina (the brasserie) for Sam's Mexican Birthday Dinner.
Amy at work had a fantastic idea, that I think I might be a little tardy in doing...
An excel spreadsheet with a one line of districts, food, shops, etc that you don't want to miss, with opening days and hours.
Another good thing I've decided is to take photocopies of pages from books I'd like to have as reference, but I can throw away/leave behind when we go home and weight is an issue.
And a large roll of gaffa tape for securing the suitcases when they are close to bursting.
When I booked this trip 6 months ago, I felt so great about having so much time to plan our time and not miss out on anything in New York.
For months I've been subscribed to Time Out and Daily Candy.
I have Goop's iPhone Ap on NY on my phone.
I've gone to the library and gotten out every book known to man on NYC and then purchased the really good ones through The Book Depository.
I've asked friends who have travelled to NY for tips, recommendations and advice (thanks Eliza, Ben & Brigitte in particular).
My laptop is full with bookmarks. The physical books are crammed full with post-it flags.
Now its 2 1/2 weeks to go and I have to find some time to try and assemble this wealth of information into some kind of mental database.
Its a bit overwhelming. Don't want to miss out on anything but yet its the spontaneity that makes a trip evolve in a way that you never could have planned.
So. Deep breath. Make note of the really important things.
Momofuku Milk Bar and their Pork Buns.
Otto's Shrunken Head Tiki Bar.
Antiques Garage in Chelsea.
Balthazar for eggs.
The Rainbow Room - scratch that, its closed.
Outdoor films 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' in Central Park, and 'All About Eve' in Brooklyn.
The Boom Boom Room at The Standard or the Rooftop Bar.
Cooney Island and what I'm told is the best pizza in New York at Totono's.
Russ & Daughters Salmon and Bagels.
La Esquina (the brasserie) for Sam's Mexican Birthday Dinner.
Amy at work had a fantastic idea, that I think I might be a little tardy in doing...
An excel spreadsheet with a one line of districts, food, shops, etc that you don't want to miss, with opening days and hours.
Another good thing I've decided is to take photocopies of pages from books I'd like to have as reference, but I can throw away/leave behind when we go home and weight is an issue.
And a large roll of gaffa tape for securing the suitcases when they are close to bursting.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Booking at Per Se
8pm our time? Hello, it was 2am in New Zealand that the Per Se reservation line opened.
Per Se only accept reservations for exactly one calendar month in advance, so in order to book a table, you have to call or book through Open Table on say, the 18th of July, for a table on the 18th of August. You can see how this is a pressure driven experience....its hard to get a table at New York's Restaurant of the Year 2011.
So when Open Table failed miserably (why no, even though its one second past 12, we appear to have no bookings available between 5pm and 10pm), it became apparent someone would have to call the restaurant exactly when the reservation line opened at 10am NYC time.
Melanie and I bantered briefly via text as to whom would have to wake up/stay awake until 2am.
First off, its probably good to know about me that I love my sleep. As in, don't mess with me when I am sleepy, tired, wanting to go to sleep or half asleep.
If there is one person who is even less tolerant than me regarding sleep, it is Melanie.
And she is not to be trifled with.
When we were teenagers, we would call Melanie's house - always after 10am at the extreme earliest.
Salve, her lovely Italian Dad, would answer the phone and reply that Melanie was still asleep, but that he would wake her up.
"No, no, that's ok, we'll call back!" the unfortunate person would reply, knowing what was coming.
But Salve had selective hearing, and the bravery of a true innocent.
You'd hear him knock on Melanie's door, and say that someone was on the phone.
The banshee screams that came in reply were indescribable. Like some sort of hell.
It was the oral version of Dante's Inferno.
Usually I would hang up at this stage, as the rudeness was preferable to having to listen to the sounds of hell and then eventually face Melanie as being the monster that disturbed her sleep.
But I digress.
Luckily, neither of us had to disturb our beauty sleep as Sam agreed to staying up until 2am to try and make the booking.
My husband is a wise man.
After being on hold for half an hour, success!
So after hearing for years about Thomas Keller and The French Laundry, we are going to be enjoying his signature Oysters & Pearls (look it up), in the best company, at NYC's best restaurant, on a Saturday Night no less.
I feel so incredibly lucky.
Per Se only accept reservations for exactly one calendar month in advance, so in order to book a table, you have to call or book through Open Table on say, the 18th of July, for a table on the 18th of August. You can see how this is a pressure driven experience....its hard to get a table at New York's Restaurant of the Year 2011.
So when Open Table failed miserably (why no, even though its one second past 12, we appear to have no bookings available between 5pm and 10pm), it became apparent someone would have to call the restaurant exactly when the reservation line opened at 10am NYC time.
Melanie and I bantered briefly via text as to whom would have to wake up/stay awake until 2am.
First off, its probably good to know about me that I love my sleep. As in, don't mess with me when I am sleepy, tired, wanting to go to sleep or half asleep.
If there is one person who is even less tolerant than me regarding sleep, it is Melanie.
And she is not to be trifled with.
When we were teenagers, we would call Melanie's house - always after 10am at the extreme earliest.
Salve, her lovely Italian Dad, would answer the phone and reply that Melanie was still asleep, but that he would wake her up.
"No, no, that's ok, we'll call back!" the unfortunate person would reply, knowing what was coming.
But Salve had selective hearing, and the bravery of a true innocent.
You'd hear him knock on Melanie's door, and say that someone was on the phone.
The banshee screams that came in reply were indescribable. Like some sort of hell.
It was the oral version of Dante's Inferno.
Usually I would hang up at this stage, as the rudeness was preferable to having to listen to the sounds of hell and then eventually face Melanie as being the monster that disturbed her sleep.
But I digress.
Luckily, neither of us had to disturb our beauty sleep as Sam agreed to staying up until 2am to try and make the booking.
My husband is a wise man.
After being on hold for half an hour, success!
So after hearing for years about Thomas Keller and The French Laundry, we are going to be enjoying his signature Oysters & Pearls (look it up), in the best company, at NYC's best restaurant, on a Saturday Night no less.
I feel so incredibly lucky.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
These Streets Will Make You Feel Brand New
Welcome to my NYC blog.
This blog used to be about a few different things - my embroidery and projects, then my foray into running.
Now its all about NYC and my "I'm turning 40" trip.
Righto, background information.
This is me and husband Sam:
Sam and I have sub leased an apartment in the East Village. Alphabet City.
Here it is:
http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/171647
We have been to NYC before, but that was 10 years ago on our honeymoon, and we were there only 3 days.
I heart New York.
This time I have 12 nights with Sam before I send him packing, and then I move in with my 3 best friends Melanie, Lisa and Josie, for my final 3 nights.
Best of both worlds, because somehow I don't think Sam will want to visit Carries Stoop, or Century 21, or try and pick up guys at a club in the Meatpacking District (only kidding Sam, I wouldn't do that - stop judging me).
So far, the only real plan is to try and book at Per Se, Thomas Keller's restaurant (of The French Laundry fame). Its revoltingly expensive, but I'm sure totally worth it, and quite frankly I am expecting it to be the meal of the decade.
They only accept bookings exactly one month in advance so tomorrow I'm going to be calling them at about 8pm our time and onwards, in the attempt to get a seat for 5...
Here is the Per Se Website
http://perseny.com/
Fingers crossed!
This blog used to be about a few different things - my embroidery and projects, then my foray into running.
Now its all about NYC and my "I'm turning 40" trip.
Righto, background information.
This is me and husband Sam:
Sam and I have sub leased an apartment in the East Village. Alphabet City.
Here it is:
http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/171647
We have been to NYC before, but that was 10 years ago on our honeymoon, and we were there only 3 days.
I heart New York.
This time I have 12 nights with Sam before I send him packing, and then I move in with my 3 best friends Melanie, Lisa and Josie, for my final 3 nights.
Best of both worlds, because somehow I don't think Sam will want to visit Carries Stoop, or Century 21, or try and pick up guys at a club in the Meatpacking District (only kidding Sam, I wouldn't do that - stop judging me).
So far, the only real plan is to try and book at Per Se, Thomas Keller's restaurant (of The French Laundry fame). Its revoltingly expensive, but I'm sure totally worth it, and quite frankly I am expecting it to be the meal of the decade.
They only accept bookings exactly one month in advance so tomorrow I'm going to be calling them at about 8pm our time and onwards, in the attempt to get a seat for 5...
Here is the Per Se Website
http://perseny.com/
Fingers crossed!
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