NYC: Places We Go

Again, and Again, and Again

We have our go-to spots when we hit NYC, for various reasons.  Here's a few.

1. Washington Square Park

It was one of the areas we used to hang when we lived in the Bronx. We'd take the subway down, jump off, walk up the park, and then further up to MacDougal to Panchitos (which had the nerve to be closed at lunch this go round!). The park has been in the midst of a complete overhaul for the last year and it's really looking good. We love taking a stroll through.

This band was great. Swinging it old school with 'don't get around much anymore'.  I thought I was videotaping them on my phone, but I don't see it now. It either didn't work, or I taped with Gar's phone. Fingers crossed on that one.

There are always entertainers in every corner of the park. The trio was playing ragtime-esque songs. And yes, if you look close, the trumpet player laid his usual instrument down and played a tea kettle. Oh yeah, you read that right - a tea kettle. I know, first time I've seen or heard that one too.

It was a beautiful day, and this pooch pulled his owner to the fountain so he could have a lie-down. I don't think he knows he's a rule breaker. He can't read.

Nobody cared either. He was too darned happy.


2. Little Italy

My Grampy was born on Mulberry Street, but even before I knew that we'd take a walk through Little Italy. The people, the smell of the food cooking.........the cannoli.

The picture of us was taken by our waiter Sal. He was a show unto himself. I asked if there was a charge for the entertainment.

My cousin was on Mulberry Street at the same time as us, eating at a different restaurant. If we had only known.



3. South Street Seaport

We love it in the Seaport. Our friend's pub and restaurant is two blocks up on Fulton so we always have a place of refuge should we need a break.  Beyond that, it's a beautiful spot right on the water, steeped in history.  Walk straight up Fulton to the other side of the Island (10 minute walk) and you're at Ground Zero and Freedom Tower.  You've got a great view of the Brooklyn Bridge from the Seaport and there is your choice of boat rides. Also, the above the water park we discovered this trip. I'm not sure if we just missed it before or if it's new. Sadly, the wood carvers shop that used to be on the pier was gone. I'll assume it was a victim of Sandy. How sad. This guy has been there for years....carving ship mastheads and the like.  A lot was affected by the storm and there are restaurants and shops that are still closed, and a lot of temporary set ups. It will take time.

 

Have you been to NYC? If you have, what are your favorite places there? If not, book your tickets and hotel today. This time of year is beautiful in New York.


Freeform Friday

I was hoping to share the music from Washington Square Park, but that's not going to happen for aforementioned reasons. So, a little ditty you all know well and can sing along to. G's new go-to karaoke song. You did a good job at TJ Byrne's karaoke night, babe. You got everyone singing. It was classic. Click here if you're reading via email. 



By the way, I just love Ringo.

Hope you enjoy your Friday and have a great weekend.

Ciao for now,

The Big City

Always Too Fast

As usual, our trip to NYC was quick with a capital Q. Just when we're settling in it's time to come home. Ah well, we really enjoy every minute while we are there. The weather cooperated and which always helps since we do a lot of walking.

When we hit NYC on Thursday afternoon, our niece Ali was just landing at JFK with her boyfriend Jay. They flew over to enjoy the the city for a 4 days for her birthday. Nice present Jay.  It was the first time we got to meet Jay in person, we'd only talked via skype previously. The four of us had a blast.  It was his first trip to NYC and he was bit by the bug. It's hard not to be.

We met Thursday evening for a nice dinner at our pal Tommy's place TJ Byrne's on Fulton Street in the Seaport.  We had a lot of laughs.

The next morning we got up and the sun was shining. Ali was on a shopping mission and Jay was the official bag holder. We'd see them later as they were staying midtown and we were staying in the Seaport. 

We walked our 'usual route' past City Hall. 

Through City Hall Park which had pretty hydrangeas I'd never seen before...they were long and skinny.

Up to MacDougall Street to our old haunt, Panchitos. If you're a Margarita lover like us. This is the place in NYC. Ali and Jay met us there and then we walked just up the street to Washington Square Park, another old haunt. When we stopped in the park last year, there was a lot of work going on. It looks great.  Beginning with this shady corner to get out of the sun. Coral bells blooming.

A neat shaggy bark tree with sun showering down on it.

The fountain with the kids splashing on a hot, almost summer, day.

I thought Gar was thinking about jumping in, but he didn't.

The kids weren't as shy.

I love this park. It has a little bit of everything. One corner with the chess players, the fountain, the beautiful entrance arch, and always some music.

Got a shot of the Dubliners in front of the arch.

Then I needed some close ups. General Washington. He's pretty impressive.

Then President Washington on the other side of the arch.

And lest you think there is no green in the city, the trees were popping and so were the roses.

We stopped and listened to the music before heading back downtown to take a ride out of the seaport on a high speed boat.

More on that tomorrow.

Hope your weekend was grand. Even though it's nice to go away, it's always nice to come home.

Ciao for now,

Walk On Up To The Square - NYC Part 2

Our trip to NYC last weekend was fun filled and packed, from our Friday night viewing of the city from across the river, to our morning enjoying the Seaport, and walk up to Little Italy.  As we were leaving Mulberry Street in Little Italy, this man was rolling cigars in front of the Mulberry Street Cigar Company. Every once in awhile Gar will enjoy one, but couldn't get him to bite that day. 

When I say we walked and walked and walked, I mean it. So easy to do in the city. Since the Bates of Clontarf hadn't been up to The Village yet, we headed up to Washington Square Park, one of our old haunts.

One thing I love about New York is that there is always beautiful architectural details to see all around.

Lovely scroll work detail on the way to the square.

Washing Square Park is getting a face lift, so the the older gents weren't out playing dominoes as their corner is still under construction.  Of course, there are always several live performances to enjoy.  Gar and I really liked this band, The Big Nasty.

Conor, Fiona and Rachel listened to them from afar while resting on the 'hot' marble benches. 

I love the Square in the summertime. You can always count on kids playing in the fountain to cool off. 

A close up of the top of the arch at the entrance to Washing Square Park. Something I never noticed before, the Ws decorating the arch (can you find them? look hard..............in between the laurel circles).

After the day of walking we were all getting a little peckish and thirsty. Thankfully we were just around the corner from Panchitos on MacDougal Street, another favorite spot for their Strawberry Daiquiris. I was so sad when the waitress told me that the daiquiri machine was broken. It was a brief sadness, as she followed that statement up with, 'The Margarita machine is working!"

Gar chose to practice his impersonation of The Most Interesting Man In The World, and went for a Dos Equis.

The funny thing about Panchitos is, #1. we've been going there longer than our waitresses have been alive now and #2. there is always some sort of excitement and action whenever we're there. This time, a fire across the street that was quickly dealt with by NYC's firemen from the Bowery Station.

Then it was onto Chinatown Brasserie, thankfully another short walk. We'd had a very nice meal here before and it didn't disappoint. We all got into the spirit of things with our chopsticks.  The boys did it Beatles style..."I am the Walrus."



We had a lovely server who was nice enough to get this picture of all of us.

We all agreed that the Crispy Orange Beef was our favorite dish, though everything was delicious.  

To top it all off, our waiter brought us these yummy warm custard rolls just because we were the only group that didn't ask to be moved away from the air conditioning.

How can you beat that?

We were going to take the subway, but decided it really wasn't 'that' far to where we were going. In case we were confused along the way, there was a sign that let us know where we were.

All in all, a great day in the city.

Sunday we headed up to Yonkers to see my Godparents again and luckily we finally caught up with my cousin Gina too. My Goomba- that's Italian slang for Godfather- is lurking on the right.

We had to cut our visit short as the weather was awful, and we thought we might be able to drive out of it. That didn't happen quickly. There was lots and lots of really weird, scary clouds along the way.

I don't think these pictures really captured how weird these clouds were.

We finally got ahead of the storm when we hit the Massachusetts' border.  Then it caught back up with us after we got home. It rained and rained and rained from Sunday night to Monday night. Today, just gray and damp.

Here's hoping it's nicer in your part of the world on this Tuesday.