New York trip notes April 2007
23.04.08
  • Flew to JFK from LHR on American Airlines (I swear I will try my best never to fly AA again!)
  • Checked into the Pod Hotel. I give it an A+ for being the perfect accommodation for this trip.
  • Went for a wander from the hotel to Times Square, via Chrysler Building and Grand Union Station.
  • Hopped onto the subway to Brooklyn to pick up tickets.
  • Dinner at Zenkichi (the tasting menu was superb)
  • Then went to see Cinematic Orchestra play at Williamsburg Music Hall. OMG! They were fantastic! Heidi (Vogel) said she was having an off day!


24.04.08
  • Wandered down to China Town and finally settled in a place for dim sum
  • Queued outside Moma in the sunshine for 20mins. Bought the City Pass as I wanted to visit all the museums and galleries. Moma is cool (and I have no shame in saying that it's cooler than SFO Moma)
  • After Moma, wandered up Fifth Ave, through Central Park until I got to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Enjoyed a glass of champagne on the roof garden.
  • Dinner at Asia de Cuba - exciting food washed down by champagne cocktails


25.04.08

  • Had blueberry pancakes and maple syrup for breakfast at Star Diner (round the corner from the hotel).

  • Wandered into the United Nations Headquarters, sent a few postcards and then left as I couldn't be bothered to wait an hour and a half for the guided tour.

  • Shopping (Soho/Nolita/East Village area)

  • Walked past Schiller's Liquor Bar and decide it's time for another champagne cocktail.

  • Bought sweets at Economy Candy - Wing loved the Nerds I bought her.

  • Late night opening at the Guggenheim Museum but am deeply disappointed as it's currently being renovated and the main exhibition is a bit too much on the abstract side for my liking.

  • Once a month, there's a club night at the Rose Centre, American Museum of Natural History called One Step Beyond. The DJ is playing techno all night (which I cannot appreciate) but it's a wonderful venue and the place really works as club. If only we could do something similar at the Natural History Museum in London.


26.04.08

  • Head straight for to Broadway for breakfast at Balthazar
  • Try to walk off some of breakfast by going shopping on Broadway - end up spending a lot of money in Bloomingdales
  • Done with the shopping and head over to the Brooklyn Art Museum but most of the permanent collections I wanted to see are closed so wander over to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden to admire the cherry blossoms as its Hanami
  • Head back over to Manhattan for dinner at John's Pizza. The queue is already quite long when I get there but I just join it without quibbling as everyone else seems to be doing the same.
  • Dessert at Beard Papas!
  • Tonight's entertainment is going to see Benny Maupin (Emsemble) at Jazz Standard. I decide I love live jazz sets.


27.04.08
  • Grabbed a muffin and coffee from Starbucks while waiting for a bus.
  • Braved the Circle line boat cruise around Manhattan - seriously, I wouldn't have bothered had it not been included with the City Pass.
  • Dashed over to Shea Stadium to catch 3 innings of The Mets vs The Braves (The Mets won - yey!)
  • Continued shopping on Fifth Ave
  • Dinner at Ninja Sushi New York - OMG, I've never had so much fun at a restaurant before. The ninjas were so cute! So good, I had to buy the t-shirt.
  •  Then just as it's about to shut for the night, we make up the top of the Empire State Building. No queuing involved - nice one!


28.04.08
  • Dying for a hair cut, so wander around China Town for a place. Found one that looked OK.
  • Wandered back down Broadway and back into Bloomingdales to get pampered. Spent a while in Kate's Paperie deciding on whether to buy two items or half the shop. Settled for just the two items.
  • Quick lunch (of more sushi) near the hotel and then off to JFK