Seems a bit surreal that only three weeks ago I was still in New York – just shows how quickly holiday effects can wear off and you can settle back into your regular routine...
Before it becomes a hazy memory, however – I thought I’d record it here for the whole wide web world to see. Or at least the two to three readers I occasionally get, who probably don’t even visit any more considering I update this even less frequently than I mop the kitchen floor. (And for anyone who knows how much I hat mopping, you get the picture...)
So, anyhoos....
Thursday 31st March – and the New York weather forecast was for overcast, rainy and grey. Which of course made perfect sense, as I was about to leave uncharacteristically sunny London for four days in that very city. No matter – given my years in the north west, I know a little rain can’t hurt!
What can hurt --- or at least annoy -- is a two hour flight delay. Yawn. And a
lengthy journey from JFK into Manhattan. (Why is it that whenever I take SuperShuttle, I’m *always* the last one off??) So instead of arriving with a full afternoon as expected, I finally arrived chez Kim about 5pm, already jetlagged, but determined to stay awake and quickly acclimate myself so I could make the most of my short stay. Fortunately lively conversation, a little walk around Kim’s neighbourhood, and yummy dinner at nearby Meme helped, and finally exhausted at 11pm I fell asleep on an amazingly comfortable inflatable mattress.
Friday Kim and I hit the ground running. Or at least she did, heading off to the gym, while I started my day in a slightly less healthy way, indulging in one of my favourite New York treats – a diner breakfast. Thanks to the Good Stuff Diner and their Lumberjack Special, my arteries are just that little bit cloggier, and my jeans just that little bit tighter. Mmm mmm good.
Following that, we proceeded to pack as much of the NYC experience into a single day as possible – starting with manicures (natch), a little shopping (thanks Kim for your fashion guidance, not sure I would’ve gone through with the orange skirt purchase without it), subway hopping (uptown, downtown and repeat), museum hopping (Museum of Arts and Design, with free entry thanks to my V&A volunteering status!), then off to the theatuh, as you do. I’d been quite eager to see Driving Miss Daisy, which was entering its last weeks – and fortunately we were able to get tickets (from the half-price booth, ticking another NYC must-see). James Earl Jones was fantastic, and well worth the effort required to keep my drooping eyes open. (and Vanessa Redgrave's understudy was pretty great as well, didn't mind only one of the icons being available... may have felt otherwise if it was JEJ off that night!) Note to self: comfy chair in darkened theatre is perhaps not the best place to combat jet lag, no matter how commanding the thesp on stage... Fortunately the show itself was only about 90 minutes, and I managed to stay awake throughout to enjoy the show, followed up by some classic dinner Tex-Mexicana, including pleasantly strong margarita, at Dos Caminos. (Where I discovered that instead of actually being in Jerusalem, my brother-in-law has been living a double life as a maitre d’ in Manhattan. Either that or he has an identical twin, separated at birth... must ask BiL’s mother about that...)
Saturday I enjoyed a luxurious morning actually reading the New York Times, in bed, cover-to-cover, sans Dora or Spongebob or ‘Mommy! Where my juicey?!’ soundtracks (as pleasant as those sounds are, of course). (And by cover-to-cover, I don’t mean literally reading every article – who has time for that? I did, at least, skim every section, and read the articles that caught my interest, which is more than I can say for most weekends...)
The day continued at a leisurely pace, as I headed over to Brooklyn to meet up with a former housemate from my DC days, who I hadn’t seen in I think 14 years (thanks, Facebook, for putting us back in touch; thanks, Dad for a unique enough last name that people who try can easily fine me on said site). I will confess to being a teeny bit (perhaps 12%) apprehensive before setting out – I mean, it could’ve been all emms and errs and awkward pauses – 14 years is a long time. Fortunately my 88% intuition came true, and the day flew by in brunchy catch-up conversation mode, and it was a shame that I had to eventually tear myself away from the sunny playground where we chatted while keeping an eye on her adorable almost-three-year-old. I already can’t wait for a return trip to introduce Paige...
Before it becomes a hazy memory, however – I thought I’d record it here for the whole wide web world to see. Or at least the two to three readers I occasionally get, who probably don’t even visit any more considering I update this even less frequently than I mop the kitchen floor. (And for anyone who knows how much I hat mopping, you get the picture...)
So, anyhoos....
Thursday 31st March – and the New York weather forecast was for overcast, rainy and grey. Which of course made perfect sense, as I was about to leave uncharacteristically sunny London for four days in that very city. No matter – given my years in the north west, I know a little rain can’t hurt!
What can hurt --- or at least annoy -- is a two hour flight delay. Yawn. And a
lengthy journey from JFK into Manhattan. (Why is it that whenever I take SuperShuttle, I’m *always* the last one off??) So instead of arriving with a full afternoon as expected, I finally arrived chez Kim about 5pm, already jetlagged, but determined to stay awake and quickly acclimate myself so I could make the most of my short stay. Fortunately lively conversation, a little walk around Kim’s neighbourhood, and yummy dinner at nearby Meme helped, and finally exhausted at 11pm I fell asleep on an amazingly comfortable inflatable mattress. Friday Kim and I hit the ground running. Or at least she did, heading off to the gym, while I started my day in a slightly less healthy way, indulging in one of my favourite New York treats – a diner breakfast. Thanks to the Good Stuff Diner and their Lumberjack Special, my arteries are just that little bit cloggier, and my jeans just that little bit tighter. Mmm mmm good.
Following that, we proceeded to pack as much of the NYC experience into a single day as possible – starting with manicures (natch), a little shopping (thanks Kim for your fashion guidance, not sure I would’ve gone through with the orange skirt purchase without it), subway hopping (uptown, downtown and repeat), museum hopping (Museum of Arts and Design, with free entry thanks to my V&A volunteering status!), then off to the theatuh, as you do. I’d been quite eager to see Driving Miss Daisy, which was entering its last weeks – and fortunately we were able to get tickets (from the half-price booth, ticking another NYC must-see). James Earl Jones was fantastic, and well worth the effort required to keep my drooping eyes open. (and Vanessa Redgrave's understudy was pretty great as well, didn't mind only one of the icons being available... may have felt otherwise if it was JEJ off that night!) Note to self: comfy chair in darkened theatre is perhaps not the best place to combat jet lag, no matter how commanding the thesp on stage... Fortunately the show itself was only about 90 minutes, and I managed to stay awake throughout to enjoy the show, followed up by some classic dinner Tex-Mexicana, including pleasantly strong margarita, at Dos Caminos. (Where I discovered that instead of actually being in Jerusalem, my brother-in-law has been living a double life as a maitre d’ in Manhattan. Either that or he has an identical twin, separated at birth... must ask BiL’s mother about that...)
Saturday I enjoyed a luxurious morning actually reading the New York Times, in bed, cover-to-cover, sans Dora or Spongebob or ‘Mommy! Where my juicey?!’ soundtracks (as pleasant as those sounds are, of course). (And by cover-to-cover, I don’t mean literally reading every article – who has time for that? I did, at least, skim every section, and read the articles that caught my interest, which is more than I can say for most weekends...)The day continued at a leisurely pace, as I headed over to Brooklyn to meet up with a former housemate from my DC days, who I hadn’t seen in I think 14 years (thanks, Facebook, for putting us back in touch; thanks, Dad for a unique enough last name that people who try can easily fine me on said site). I will confess to being a teeny bit (perhaps 12%) apprehensive before setting out – I mean, it could’ve been all emms and errs and awkward pauses – 14 years is a long time. Fortunately my 88% intuition came true, and the day flew by in brunchy catch-up conversation mode, and it was a shame that I had to eventually tear myself away from the sunny playground where we chatted while keeping an eye on her adorable almost-three-year-old. I already can’t wait for a return trip to introduce Paige...
Later that same Sunday morning, our driver (aka Poppy – he’s multi-talented) arrived to pick us up, bleary eyed, Starbucks-filled, and slightly hoarse, for the journey back to the White Plains and FAMILY DAY. All the Carl Jr Wulfestieg-lets in one place – a rare occurrence, so thank goodness Mom has photographic evidence. And we did what we do best... just kinda hang around, chat, and eat... ah, sibling hood! Only shame was that it was such a short visit – Brian and family were back off to Chicago that afternoon. And after a night sharing a room with my niece (thanks for the upper bunk, Toby), and brunch with Mom & Dad, it was airport time for me as well (via Manhattan to grab a blow-out, pedicure, and some last minute shopping on the way)
And now it’s back in London, with a weekend of happy memories – that would have only been made better by the inclusion of my lovely husband and (usually) sweet daughter. As great as it was to have some time on my own, I would’ve loved to have shared it with them (well... at least a portion of it – I’ll keep the mani-pedi and a little girlie shopping time for myself...)
2 comments:
I can send you the photo of you & sibs, so you can post it.
thanks Mom, yes would be good
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