Do I Love NY?

When brother-in-law, Fritz Stewart invited Andy and me to visit him in NYC, we leapt.  Not only would we stay with him in the city, but we planned to cross paths with co-worker, James McMullen and his wife Katy while on Spring Break.  The opportunity for time in the city and a planned maritime field-trip to Mystic Seaport was almost too good to be true.  My first and only other trip to New York was 20 years ago and less than 24 hours in duration.  Enticing experiences and sights beckoned me back. My list of desired activities was way too long, yet Andy and I managed 4 packed days in the city and 3 in Mystic, Connecticut, including the driving time.  The fun/satisfaction ratio on this trip was high!  After looking back through thoughts and images I may be able to answer my question at the end of this post.

Here's one way to get around Greenwich Village.

The Walking

I have to say because of all the walking and yes, fresh air, I slept more soundly in that week than I usually do at home. Only one day did I make a bad shoe choice. Yes, there are scars and blisters to prove it. That was the day we took the 1 Train all the way south and visited the Financial District.  Wall Street, Ducatti Park, Ground Zero, the Ferry Terminal for Staten Island, The Battery Park, and through the narrow deep canyon streets famously define the image of Gotham.  Most days my feet were happy in my waterproof walking boots.  The walking was good, most of it at a comfortable pace.  Luckily most of the major distance was passed by subway, quickly and efficiently.  We never found ourselves pushing against of tide of people below or above ground.  Good timing I guess.

Enjoying the sights from the Highline.  Former tracks of the train that carried goods from the Meat Packing district

James along the tracks.

Iconic Bridge in Central Park.  Spring was just starting to get a hold

Statue of Liberty near the Irish Hunger Memorial, Battery Park

Past the Brownstones on the way to Central Park from Fritz's apartment

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in Central Park

Mid- town, near MoMA. Hot dogs of course!

The Food and Beverages

Of course, because of all the walking we get hungry.  We ate Turkish, Belgian, bagels and lox, pizza, falafel from the Halal carts, succulent clam strips (better than Ivar's I must say), delicious seafood and Italian in Mystic, and a very fine home-cooked meal made by our host, Fritz. The meal was built around a venerable vintage red. The  kale salad, filet minion, and wild rice salad from Zabar's held up their end.

On our last night, Fritz's friend Richard was our host for a most amazing meal of Chef's selection at Varelli, which is Greek for barrel.  Trios of small plates filled with amazing creations kept arriving!  A fantastic thunderstorm raged most of the evening.  In fact, Andy and I were lucky to have a break in the storm as we made our way to the train and then the restaurant from Fritz's apartment.  I have never heard thunder echo like that.  It snapped in and out of the buildings, clapping on and on!

We sometimes got thirsty and would have to find a place to have a pint or glass of wine along the way.  In Fritz's neighborhood we found The Parlour and the Firehouse.  The Parlour had great allure, as it also showed the day's Football matches. We had a nice lunch while watching Barcelona beat Paris St. Germain.  A large group of French people shared the fun with us.  In the end, they were a bit sad, Barcelona won. Our first day, we enjoyed the tiny and casual Blind Tiger in Greenwich Village with James and later Katy.  It was a place with a homey feel, no t.v. screens and one patron knitting socially.

What caught my eye

Besides everything in MoMA!  We visited an special exhibit on the beginings of Abstractionism, with a focus on Kandinski.  It was a wonderful trip through an art era.

A friendly fellow along the Highline

Subway Mosaics

Window Display in the Village

Thinking of New York, we might Imagine....

Strawberry Fields across from The Dakota

You know it!

Washington Square

Empire State building framed by tower

T-REX!!!! Natural History Museum

Ground Zero construction, new tower going up and up and up

Bull!

Central Park

Is it Love?

Do I find myself day dreaming about what I'd be doing there now?  Do my eyes open wider thinking of the sights seen and yet to be seen? Do I find myself making plans of how I'd spend future time together?  Does the thought of eating at a sidewalk cafe watching people make my heart flutter? Do I have a desire to watch the movie,  I Love NY?  Am I looking the city up on the internet searching for maps, images and seeing what the weather is like? Yes, to all those questions. In actuality, I've made a very good new friend.  I want to visit again soon and see what else there is to explore.  Maybe the love will grow!

Shakespeare's Garden in Central Park

Love on the Highline