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Wednesday, October 3, 2012

My New York Excursion - Rained Out!


The Waldorf Astoria Hotel

Yeah, yesterday was totally rainy all day.  I would have braved it for a walk last night had it not been pouring buckets most of the afternoon and evening.  I'll still may have braved it but I had to pack and I didn't want to pack wet tennis shoes.  (Yes...I think of these things.)

I've been eating on the cheap since I've been here, from food carts to drugstores but no real restaurants.  So I thought I'd jump in a cab and go somewhere really nice for dinner.  At first I considered Mesa Grill which is one of Bobby Flay's restaurant and one at which I've always wanted to eat.  Nope...too far.  I did make my co-workers promise to go with me when we come back in November...it will be more fun with a group.


Then I considered The National, which is Geoffrey Zakarian's restaurant (he's the newest Iron Chef and sometimes judges on Chopped on the Food Network).  It was directly behind my hotel (I was at the Waldorf Astoria.)  Nope...booked.  Unless I wanted to eat at 9:30 pm.  I'm from the South, we're generally in our pajama's at that time.

How about Mario Batali's Babbo?  Nope - too far and also booked.


Arron Sanchez' Centrico?  Too far...but he and Mario should totally hang out.


I'm such a wimp when it comes to weather.

So what did I do?  I ordered a mediocre but stupidly expensive wrap from room service, treated myself to a side of fries with plenty of ketchup and a diet coke.  Then I just vegitated and watched the limited TV selections (thank GOD they had HGTV) and read up on my hotel.  (The Waldorf is steeped in history, not the lease of which is the fact that Cole Porter and Frank Sinatra lived their at one time.)  Then I went to sleep early.  All in all, not a bad evening.

Yes, I missed visiting Tiffany's and Central Park but it's okay because I've been there.  I've had drinks at the Oak Bar at the Plaza and dined at Tavern on the Green.  All that is really left for me to see in NY is the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the 9/11 Memorial, and Mood (the fabric store on Project Runway).  I'm sure I can hit all of them on my next trip...or the one after that.

This morning I packed up to go home, checked out, got a pumpkin spice latte from Starbuck's and will joyfully board a plane this afternoon and by 9:30 be in my PJ's and in my own bed.

Namaste

7 comments:

  1. Sometimes its nice just to do nothing and enjoy some down time. Chillin' at the Waldorf ain't too shabby, I guess:=)

    My favorite things to do in the City is walk the historically ethnic neighborhoods - Hell's Kitchen, East End, Chinatown, even though all the original ethnic population have moved out of Manhattan. Excellent Chinese can now be had in Queens.
    I then walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and look at the skyline from that side, then take the subway back. I also like to do a self-guided achitecture walking tour - lots of Art Deco there. I esp. like looking at the Flatiron Building from various angles.

    All this walking justifies some serious eating:-) Not sure if you like ethnic foods, but some good Korean BBQ in Little Korea (in mid-town I believe), Nobu for sushi, Shanghai Uncle for steamed soup buns (xialong bao).

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    1. Oh, and can not forget the awesome museums- from the Whitney, Met, to obscure ones like the Doll, or Hologram museums. Great for rainy days.

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    2. I'm going to save these comments for when I come back and I'm not working. My favorite parts of Chicago and San Francisico are the ethnic neighborhoods and the food. I'd love to discover the NY side of all of this...even if I have to go to Queens or Brooklyn to get it!

      Thanks Ann

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  2. We are going in November (family trip) and plan to visit the 9/11 memorial and also High Line park. Would love to visit Ellis Island but somehow it never seems to be the right time. I bet your hotel was really nice! Sounds like a fun trip, minus all the rain.

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  3. Glad you found some useful tips. Having done both, I recommend taking the subway over to Brooklyn (Park Slope stop) and walking back to the City across the bridge - better view and great photo ops. For good, local eats, I've found the websites Chowhound and Egullet useful. As a NYTimes food critic recently noted, some of NYC's best eats are not in the fancy over-hyped celebrity chef joints, but in the sometimes hole-in-the-wall neighborhood restaurants. Something worth noting if you can't get reservations in the better know places.

    p.s. Let me know if you need an "assistant" on your next trip. I can fit in an oversized check0in ;-)

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  4. Thanks for sharing your trip with us Sherry, safe journey home and enjoy a chilled early night with your family, much love sent to you x x x

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  5. I'll meet you for coffee and that trip to Mood! Glad you had a good trip.

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