Day 4 - Rain, Rain Go Away

it is rainy and dreary in the city today, but at least it is cool. 

We had breakfast at the Stage Restaurant. This is an old school Polish Lunch counter that has been around for years. There are no tables, just a counter and stools. 

The food is good and cheap. 

Next order of business was to find Moira some rain boots.  We tried Orchard Street in the Lower East Side, but no luck, so we hopped an uptown M15 to 14th street. 

At 14, we decided to get out of the rain by taking the L train crosstown to Union Square. We then walked over to Designer Shoe Warehouse and got her a pair of red boots   

Our next task was to find Yeshiva Museum, where Moira's internship will be. Turns out it is really close to Union Square. 

We then decided to brave the rain and walk to the East Village Cheese Shop. 

This place is amazing. We got Brie, smoked Gouda, and Cheshire. We then walked back to the Sanctuary to dry off. 

Trying to think of things to do inside, we decided to go to Chelsea Market. There are tons of little restaurants and food related shops. Since it was National Doughnut Day, we got some mini-doughnuts from the Doughnuttery. Vanilla glaze and Lavendar pistachio. They were excellent. 

Moira got some fancy chili powder from a cool spice place. 

Next up was lunch. It was raining hard and we were wet and cold. The lunch decision did not come easily. We ended up at Vanessa's Dumpling on 14th. Not as good or as cheap as out favorite Prosperity Dumpling, but good and cheap all the same. 

We then bussed our way to the Morgan Library. What an amazing place. We have not been there before. They had an exhibit on Illuminated Manuscripts and Moira got to see her first Gutenberg Bible. 

As we were leaving, Tropical Storm Andrea was arriving in full force. We decided to take buses back, as they require less walking. There were high winds and cold blowing rain was we waited for the M34 then the M15.  We were soaked and frozen, but a slice from Pronto Pizza on 2nd avenue helped a bit.

 

Day three

Our first task today was getting Moira up to Columbia for a meeting. Columbia is located at 116st street, so it is a long hall. 

We started off with breakfast at downtown bakery. I had the chorizo soft tacos and they were excellent. 

Then the long subway ride up to Columbia. We decided to hit St. John the Divine first, as it was on the way. A very impressive church, one of the biggest I have seen. 

Then on to Columbia. We looked around the beautiful campus as Moira met with a

Professor from Art History. A good meeting, but I am not sure it is the program for her. 

Afterwards we were tired and hungry in a new part of town, and thus lunched at Chipotle. Sad, I know. 

We then caught a bus to meander down the west side. We ended up at Times Square, as that was where our bus ended. We took advantage and visited St. Mary's Episcopal Church. 

We then spent some time in Bryant Park, one of our favorite spots. Then back on the F train to rest a bit before the ballet. 

We saw City Ballet do two Balenchine pieces and two Robbins pieces, with Seranade being the best known. A very nice show with great music. We sat with Charlie for most of the show. 

Afterwards, we subwayed through the light rain to stop for a bite at Veselkas. Tonight it was Beef Stroganoff and of course more pirogues. 

Then back late to the Sanctuary. 

Day Two

The NYC experience is more than the shopping and the eating and the museums. It is also a way of life much different from that in Tennessee. 

I woke up before the rest of the family this morning, as is usual. We always stay in an apartment in the East Village. The streets are lined with apartment building of 6-10 stories. The avenues contain the bulk of the businesses. There are few really tall buildings. 

As I ventured out at around 7 this morning, the streets were already filled with people. Some were off to corporate jobs in midtown. Some were retired, just out for a stroll. Others worked in the Village and were out doing their jobs. I walked down to the local newsstand and bought a newspaper. I then went down and got a cup of coffee. Somehow the experience seemed profound. 

One of the facts of life in the city is that apartments are small. The upshot of this is that folks tend to congregate in public places. Parks, restaurants, pubs and bars offer a place for people to hang out. 

There are few big name stores. Most places are locally owned. You don't go to a supermarket, you go to a butcher and a baker and a produce stand to get what you need for the day. You live a very public life. You get to know those who live around you. 

We had breakfast today at Jonas Shimel, which had been around since the lower east side was a Jewish neighborhood. 

We then ran into some public transportation issues before finally making it up to the new St. Patrick's Cathedral. It was unfortunately mostly under construction. Still beautiful though. 

We next took the subway up to Lincoln Center to get some ballet tickets. We took some time to sit in the sun in the oddly angled grass terrace. 

Next stop, lunch up by the Joffrey dorms on the Upper West Side. Cafe on Broadway for chopped salads and sandwiches. Then over to Central Park for a nice walk. 

We walked through to the east side of the park and caught a bus down to 34th street for some shopping. I opted for a venti iced chai and some quiet time in Herald Square. 

Jill and Moira returned with some shopping, so we decided to head back to home base to drop them off. 

The original plan was to go to the halal cart at 53rd and 6th. We instead decided to try a different cart at 31st and Broadway. It was also highly rated on Yelp. There was no line, which was good. The food was good as well, just not as good as the original. 

We then walked through Koreatown and caught a bus for 42nd street, as we wanted to walk through Grand Central Station. It was as stunning as ever in its 100th anniversary year. 

We then walked down to catch the bus through Tudor City, one of our favorite spots in town. We caught the M15 back to St. Marks Place to catch the crazy vibe that it always has at night. Jill and Moira had some yogurt at Pinkberry. 

I held off for some Hametaschem from Moesha's. 

Then a walk back through the village at night. 

First meal in the City

We had a nice train ride. We were settled into the Santuary. Tired and hungry. We headed down to Vesleka for Ukrainian pierogi, Mac and cheese, and hot borscht. 

First Day Out.

What a beautiful day in the city!  Sunny and 70 with low humidity.  

We started off with egg on a roll at the Downtown Bakery. 

Next task, getting a Metro Card. 

Our first destination was the Eldridge Street Temple Museum in Chinatown.  It was a beautifully restored gem. 

It was the first temple in America built by Eastern European Jews. 

On the way back to meet Charlie for lunch we stopped in at Old St. Patrick's Cathedral.  

Plain on the outside lovely on the inside 

We then has lunch at Prune. Prune has a national reputation, but I was underwhelmed. Food was just fine, but bland. Not worth the price. 

We then walked up to the Strand bookstore at Union Station Park. This is a stop we make every trip. After some failed show shopping, we headed back for a quick rest 

After a short break, we were off to get dinner. We again headed to Diwntown Bakery. I had the ever awesome Jucy Lucy, yes that is how they spell it.   It is basically a carnita quesadilla with spicy guacamole and sour cream.  

Next stop was Washington square park for some people watching. 

 We walked back to the East Village to end the day with a Starbucks run.  

On our way

Some Basic NYC Information

Jill and I are off for more New York City adventures this summer.  Our daughter Moira has a summer internship at the Yeshiva University Museum in NYC, so we have the perfect excuse to spend some time in our favorite city.  We will be there one week in early June, and then another week in July.

I sometimes get questions from people who would like to visit the city but are a little apprehensive.  To aid those interested, I am going to be blogging about our trips this year.  I am an avid reader of other folks travel blogs so I guess it is time to add something of my own to the mix.

In addition, I will be adding photos of the trip.  I take a lot of photos. The image at the top of this post is a somewhat photoshopped view of the Midtown Skyline as coming in on an Amtrak train from Saratoga Springs.  All of the photos on this blog are taken by me, usually on my iPhone.

Getting to the City:

We don't really like to fly much, and we love trains, so we always take Amtrak to the City.  I do not recommend having a car.  Driving and then finding a place to park in the City is best left to the professionals.

We have some good friends in Durham, North Carolina, so we catch the train from there.  The Carolinian (http://www.amtrak.com/carolinian-piedmont-train) goes from Charlotte to New York City everyday.  We leave Durham at 10 a.m. and get into the City at 9 p.m.  All in all, a nice ride.  It is usually on time, and is comfortable.  The seats are much larger than on an airplane.  There is food available, but bringing along some snacks is always a good idea.

Where to Stay:

Hotel prices are pretty high in the city.  We always stay a guest house run by a non-profit organization in the East Village.  Email me if you want details.  All parts of Manhattan are safe, so you can feel free to search for good deals anywhere.  Make sure the hotel you pick is close to public transportation.  I always check online review to make sure the hotel is legit.

How to get Around:

Again, I would never drive in the City.  The fastest way to get around is via Subway.  You can pick up a Metro Card with unlimited rides in any Subway station.  You can get them for a Week at a time, and they allow you to ride the Subway and Buses as much as you want.

You need a Subway/Bus map with you.  There are several good iPhone App, I use Embark/NYC.  You can also pick up a small folding map in most gift shops and bookstores.

I am a big fan of taking the Bus.  Buses cover the city more thoroughly than the Subway, which means less walking.  You also have the advantage of seeing the town as you travel.  The downside is that the bus is slow. In Manhattan there are buses that run on every Avenue.  In addition, there are crosstown buses on the "major" streets.  Example of major streets are 9, 14, 23, 34, 42, 58, 66...  There are Express Buses, which are faster, but do not make all the stops.  There is a map at each bus stop.

The Subways are much faster. Make sure you know the direction you want to go, whether Uptown (towards higher street numbers) or Downtown.  Also, watch for Express trains.  Express trains do not make all of the stops.  Do not stand too close to the edge when waiting for a train.  Safety first.

You can also take a cab.  Cabs are fast and can take you exactly where you need to go.  They are more expensive than the Subway.  To hail a cab, just go to a street corner and raise you hand.  Only get into Yellow cars.  Black cars that may offer you a ride are not regulated and can be a safety risk.  Unless the place you are going is super well known, it is best to give the driver a street corner (such at 41st Street and 3rd Avenue.)  Be careful not to steal a cab by moving up the block from someone who is already waiting.

What to Do:

There are so many things to see in the City.  I recommend a good guide book for the first time visitor.  One thing not to miss is a ride on the Staten Island Ferry.  This free ride will offer you a cool breeze on a hot day, and excellent views of the Statue of Liberty.  When you get to Staten Island, just turn around an come back, as there is not much to see there.

There are also tons of great museums.  My favorites are the MOMA, the Guggenheim, and the International Center for Photography.  Look online, as many museums offer "free" days sometime during the week.

Spend some time in Central Park.  It is really an amazing place.  Make sure to explore the northern end as well, as it is more rustic and less crowded.

Walk around Chinatown.  You will see and smell things there that exist no where else in America.

Go to Times Square once.  Then mark it off your list and never go back. :-)  Times Square is not New York.  It is more like Disneyland.

Walk, Walk, Walk.

Where to Eat:

There are so many amazing places to eat in NYC.  If you have a smartphone, get the Yelp app to help you out.  You can get surprisingly cheap food in the City, or you can pay way too much.  You just have to look around. Some neighborhoods are cheaper than others.  The Lower East Side and the East Village are pretty cheap.  Anywhere Midtown or above can be pretty pricey.  I few spots we never miss are the Meatball Shop on on 84 Stanton in the Lower East Side, and Veselka (Ukrainian Food) at 144 Second Ave. in the East Village.

If you have any questions, please let me know.