Day 11

Day 11 – Another HUGE day!  After a leisurely breakfast we grab a cab for a $25 ride to Brooklyn.  I’m sure there are some fabulous little pockets of shopping and culture there but we didn’t actually find them L  We walk around a few streets but this is just another neighbourhood, the only notable difference is that the residents are predominantly black.  There is a great steak restaurant here called Peter Lugers, but for us, this will have to wait for another day.  We head to the Brooklyn Bridge.  It takes about 10 minutes from the start of the walk to actually enter the bridge, approximately 25 minutes to cross the span, allowing for photo stops – you really do get stunning views of Manahttan – then another 10 minutes to get onto the street.  From way downtown we start to walk…. through Soho, Greenwich Village, right up Broadway to 44^th Street!  Quite a trek!

I managed to shop along the way and bought pants, jacket and shirt and we did stop at Macy’s where I tried to shop again, but all in vain!  Gordy was decidedly unimpressed.  I had at least another two venues I wanted to check out but I had NO chance!  Men just don’t have the ‘retail’ gene!

It didn’t take him long to grab some zzzz’s as soon as we arrived home.  Maybe just as well as we are going to the NYCB’s performance of “Nutcracker” tonight J   

The night at the ballet was lovely – beautiful at the Lincoln Centre – then we had dinner at the Lincoln Ristorante.  Good food, fabulous service and all the little extras.

 Another fabulous day in New York!

View of Brooklyn

Walking over Brooklyn Bridge

 Commemorative plaque

View from the bridge

Brooklyn Bridge

NY character

Organic market in the middle of NY

Parking NY style

Inside the Lincoln Centre

View straight to the kitchen at Lincoln Ristorante

Day 10

Day  10 – I had to go back to Century 21 to return a purchase, so after breakfast we started our journey …. I say that because it’s right down the bottom of Manhattan!  We lasted a few blocks but then opted for a cab as it was also raining lightly.  A couple of bargains later we headed back to the hotel for a little R & R before heading to the theatre for the 2.00pm show of ‘Kinky Boots”.  Great show – lots of fun.  The drag queens had better legs/bodies than most females I know!   

A visit to the local Broadway shops for CDs, T-shirts etc, then a wine stop at the iconic Sardi's.  Established in 1921, Sardi's was the popular haunt of many a famous actor/actress and the walls are adorned with caricatures of most of them.  There have been four artists since 1921, the most recent has been drawing for the last 37 years!  Then finally back to the hotel.  We have a booking at the hotel restaurant, Gaby, tonight.

Meal was delightful.  Unfortunately I was forced to eat TWO desserts as Gordy’s watching his waistline …. as I am watching mine ……. expanding! 

I think all the police had stopped for donuts!

New York has the most fabulous windows!

Set of "Kinky Boots"

Sardi's - that's Hugh Jackman second to the left :)

One of my bargain buys!

Day 9

Day 9 – After breakfast we walked up to meet Robert & Carol, who were checking out of their hotel, and from there we drove uptown to the Jewish Museum.  Saw an amazing Chagall exhibition (which I loved) and then visited the permanent exhibition of Jewish art works.  “Why aren’t we all Jewish?”  

R & C dropped us near our hotel and we called in for a moment of R& R, then off to Grand Central Station for oysters and wine!  Back to the hotel (for a ‘personal stop’  - it’s impossible to find a “loo” when you need one)  By the time I came out of the loo, Gordy was asleep!  We had everything together by 11.00pm so decided to go out for supper.  Found a great little place,

Getting your car fro valet - 30 - 45 minutes! 

Heading to Grand Central

Grand Central

Choice of oysters

Yum!

They even do dessert!

just down the road called “Un Deux Trois Cafe”.  A meal and several drinks later we have arrived back at the hotel by 1.30am!  Another fabulous day in New York

Day 8

This was a really full day!  After breakfast we met with our friends from Baltimore, Robert and Carol.  We are on 44^th St so we walked down to 34^th St to Macy’s for our first shopping stop.  Everything is still in sale mode so a great time to shop.  Carol then suggested Loehman’s so off we traipsed ….to 76^th St!  Loehman’s shoes were marked down and then had 70% off!  Unfortunately there wasn’t a great selection left but whatever I could squeeze my feet into …I bought!

We then walked through Central Park as we had ‘timed’ tickets to see the Vermeer exhibition at the Frick.  If there is an exhibit, make sure you buy tickets, otherwise you will have at least 1 ½ hour wait in queue.

We finished up at about 5pm and then headed to Bella Blu, a restaurant Robert’s sister had booked for dinner.  We were also joined by another friend of Robert’s from med school and his wife.   Our last stop was back to the sister’s apartment in Park Ave and 83^rd.  From the doorman to the white-gloved elevator man this was a glimpse of life in New York….a huge amount of money in this area.  Classic statement for the night was when Gordy asked everyone gathered how they had celebrated Christmas!! Considering  everyone there was Jewish, I thought it was rather funny :) The doorman hailed us a cab and we went back to the hotel and after a quick nightcap together, parted company for some much needed rest.

Walking Manhattan

Lights, camera, action!

Times Square - self portrait - that's me holding the Macys' bag 

Some fabulous building in Manhattan

A view to the park