Category: Manhattan


The day after

Filed under: Manhattan — 1 Comment
May 3, 2011

Sunday night the announcement was made by President Barak Obama that Osama bin Laden was dead. There was much speculation about possible retaliation, comments that this didn’t mean the end of the war or hostilities. The Daily Post even posted this question:

According to reports yesterday, Osama bin Laden was killed. What will change, for you, for the U.S., for the world, now that Osama is gone? Or it will it not have much of an effect at all?

Monday morning I took the train into Grand Central Terminal. Like I’ve been doing the past 5-½ years I wondered if this morning would be any different. The mood on the train was normal. It wasn’t my normal train since I had overslept, but I have taken the train occasionally. We got off the train and headed up the ramp, so far it was a normal day. Then at the top of the step were two police officers. That is not usual, then inside the doors two more, then a K-9 officer, they weren’t being intrusive, just standing around watching every one. There were just a lot more then normal.

Do I think this will change things in the U.S. and abroad? No not really, terrorism is still out there, there is the chance of retaliation that we need to be aware of, if the terrorist leaders have done their job correctly, teaching that this is a holy war not a war for the leaders, I fully expect someone to step up and take over where Osama left off.

And that is all, says she.

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Raining in Manhattan

Filed under: Beauty, Family N Friends, Manhattan, Technology, Weather — 6 Comments
April 24, 2011

Em had a nail appointment so we went to the city even though it was raining. The rain was supposed to stop at noon, it didn’t. It stopped eventually, but a long time after noon. I wore my gray coat and figured that would be enough, I wouldn’t need my rain poncho. I was wrong. As for the common sense factor of going to the city to walk around in the pouring rain, we went to NYC when a hurricane was coming. Yeah, common sense doesn’t come into play when we plan to go the city. Two things you will notice about me when it’s raining in the city. One is I never carry an umbrella. The other is that instead of waiting for the light at the curb, I stand back by the buildings. There is a little bit of protection there, it the wind is strong I can usually get out of it by going around the corner. Also, there is less chance of being splashed by cars.

When we first got to Manhattan I wanted to get food, Em had this store she wanted to go to that she didn’t want to take me to. We were going to meet up at this coffee place that I had a Groupon for that I won’t name, you’ll see why in a minute. The store she wanted to go to wasn’t open, so she went to the Apple store to get an iPod Shuffle, (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition iPod, a portion of the purchase price to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa. She wants it for music when she goes to the gym, currently she has an iPod touch, but she is planning to get an iPhone in June or July and she doesn’t want to take that to the gym. So she was very happy to find it at the Apple store. Then she came to join me at the coffee place.

She was starving, but they only had pastries and sandwiches, we ended up just getting drinks. The cappuccino looked just like the picture in the Groupon I got. The service was terrible. First I was told they provided table service. So we sat down, no one came to our table so I went up to the bar and ordered our drinks. The waitress brought them, after drinking them, Em had to leave for her appointment. I waited for the check. And waited and waited. Finally she brought it, then took the Groupon to refigure the bill. Then she never came back for the money. I waited almost 20 minutes before I took it up to the bar, she acted surprised when she saw me. The place is in the lobby of a hotel, so they have hotel guests charging things to their room, but it is also open to the public, so come on! I left her less then 10% for a tip.

After meeting up with Em at the nail salon we decided to try another place for the items she was looking for in the store she wouldn’t let me come with her to. Then we used one of her Groupon’s for lunch. This place had much better service even though the waitress appeared to be less experienced. Not saying she was, just that was the impression I got, but our order was right and she was prompt, it was more of a bar then a restaurant but the food was good.

Then to Ashley’s so Em could get another hole poked in her ear, then to Harney’s for tea, then home where we watched the end of the baseball game.

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Nasty Cold Rainy Day

Filed under: Beauty, Environment, Family N Friends, Manhattan
April 18, 2011

And there I was in the city with a few hours to kill before my nail appointment. Since I really didn’t want to be walking around in it, and the Starbucks in GCT is not conducive to sitting and waiting, at least not for long periods of time, I went to one of my favorite places in NYC, the library. On my way I stopped to take pictures of the flowers in front of the library only to discover I had forgotten to take my SD card out of my computer and put it back in my camera. So I stopped in a store to buy one before I went to get my nails done.

Flowers don’t mind the rain, in fact I think they quite like it. I don’t mind it, at least if it’s not cold and windy. For most of my time in the city on Saturday it was like that, sort of raining but not really windy. I found a lot of umbrellas to take pictures of, check out Better off soaked to see what I am talking about. I went to SoHo for tea then NoHo to see Ashley and bring her coffee, I almost got another hole in my ear, I had my blue diamond stud with me.

When I left NoHo and started for Grand Central, it had started getting windy and cold so I went to catch the subway at Broadway and Houston St. While I was waiting I was looking at the tracks. People throw all kinds of junk down there, even though being told not to. I don’t know why I always look down there, the tracks kind of fascinate me for some reason, I keep thinking I might see body parts …. On this particular day I saw movement, I looked closer, it was a rat. It was the same color as the floor and the tracks so it was hard to see, I wouldn’t have seen it if it hadn’t moved. I watched it run under the tracks and under the platform, then it came back. I was so intent on watching it I didn’t notice the D train pull in behind me, until it was leaving. That was the train I was waiting for. So I had to wait for the next train, with only the rat to entertain me, oh and my iPod of course.

So the rest of day was uneventful, the Yankees won, I participated in some retail therapy and then came home.

And that is all, says she.

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Good day all around

Filed under: Family N Friends, Health, Manhattan
April 10, 2011

This Saturday started with me fulfilling an obligation first thing in the morning. Then it was off to the city. Em and I had appointments for a massage at the Russian spa I really like. It was the first time for Em and the second time for me. We skipped the sauna because Em didn’t want her makeup all over her face. There are three things I have learned about this spa:

  1. The robes are not one size fits all,
  2. The lockers are not designed for 5 ft tall people.
  3. The twisty things that the locker keys are on do not make good ponytail holders.

Other than those three things, I loved the massage. So did Em, well she says she always loves getting a massage and here is not the best massage she has had. I have also decided that a shot of vodka at 4:00 pm after just having a handful of Cheerios and a doughnut all day is not a good idea.

Then it was time for Em to get her nails done, and I was going to go to Starbucks to have a snack and go online, but Em wanted to see if The Yankee store had and Russell Martin shirts. I knew they wouldn’t, but I went there anyway. This time I didn’t buy anything, no one seemed to mind that I was walking around taking pictures in the store.

For dinner we went back to BonChon chicken. This time we got just pot stickers and salad. But since it was dinnertime, there were a lot more pot stickers per order. So we had some to bring home for Stitch. Good times.

Oh, and the Yankees beat the Red Sox.

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Keeping my promise

Filed under: Family N Friends, Manhattan, Weather
March 28, 2011

Last week I said that I was going to post every trip Em and I made to the city. The only problem I have is coming up with new and original titles. Also right now, I don’t know if the problem is with WordPress or my router, but I am losing posts. It is very annoying but because that is happening, this post may not be what I want it to be, as in, not as long and no pictures, since the pictures seem to be the problem. For instance, I have been trying to get my review post done for almost an hour and a half. It’s not the writing that is taking so long, it is getting the pictures in the post! There again, I don’t know if it’s my browser or WordPress.

It is making me so frustrated, I can’t even remember what I was going to say here.

All right, my reviews are posted. So Saturday, we got a late start, I had to go to Weight Watchers (up 0.6 pounds) and Em was not feeling great. Fred came with us, I never got a reason as to why, not that I care. First off we stopped at the soupman. Fred kept saying he wanted soup from the ‘Original’ soupman, so we went, Em had a groupon. I got black bean and he got Lobster bisque. On the wall was a T.V. with clips from Seinfeld, every so often a quote from an episode featuring the Soupman was shown and I would laugh, then we would have to explain why it was funny to Fred. After we finished the soup we walked to Bon Chon Chicken for lunch. Another groupon, before we get finished with Em’s groupons, we will probably have eaten in every part of Manhattan. Make sure to check out my review of Bon Chon here.

Next was Em’s appointment to get her nails done, Fred was getting a manicure also. We were early, so we stopped at the Yankee store since I had promised Em a sweatshirt for opening day. She didn’t find any she liked, but I found a navy blue jersey that was half price. While she was getting her gel manicure and Fred was getting a plain manicure, I went to wait for him at Starbucks across from the nail salon, thinking I would go online and check my e-mail, track my food for the day, guess what? It wasn’t working. I was frustrated. After Fred was done he came over to Starbucks and we went to the library, where I let him use the computer and I went online there with my iPod. Such fun, I don’t know what he did, but I checked in with four-square, and what else I don’t remember.

We took the subway to SoHo. It was cold Saturday and I don’t think Em was feeling very well. The original plan was for Em to go look at earrings, by that time she had changed her mind, one because Ashley wasn’t going to be there and two because of the cost. But we still wanted tea so we went to Harney and Sons. Check out my review here. I also bought tea, so as soon as I finish my chocolate rose tea, I can start drinking my Irish Breakfast. The other Irish Breakfast I currently have is going to feed the plants.

We had one last groupon we used, for dinner, at a pizza place called zPizza. According to Em it is in Greenwich Village but the website says it is in the West Village. I didn’t write a review, it is small and you can buy a slice of pizza already made, or you can pick your crust, your sauce, your cheese and your toppings for a custom made pizza. When we were done, once again we headed for the subway instead of just walking up to Grand Central. When we got there we had to go outside because Fred wanted to try on these shoes he saw at Models. They are ‘toe’ shoes, remember toe socks? Well these look creepier. Then to the train, then home and I was so tired, I took my shower and went to bed. Didn’t even turn on the computer.

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On this day

Filed under: Manhattan, News
March 25, 2011

Today is the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory fire, a tragedy in Lower Manhattan that claimed the lives of 146 people, all but 23 of whom were young women. One of the landmark disasters in American history, it eventually inspired important shifts in the nation’s laws, particularly those protecting the rights of workers and the safety of buildings.

The Triangle shirtwaist factory fire, as it is commonly recorded in history books, was one of the nation’s landmark disasters, a tragedy that enveloped the city in grief and remorse but eventually inspired important shifts in the nation’s laws, particularly those protecting the rights of workers and the safety of buildings.

The tragedy galvanized Americans, who were shaken by the stories of Jewish and Italian strivers who had been toiling long hours inside an overcrowded factory only to find themselves trapped in a firestorm inside a building’s top floors where exit doors may have been locked. At least 50 workers concluded that the better option was simply to jump.

For more information: The New York Times.

Also: TRIANGLE — The Fire That Changed America By David Von Drehle
BlogButtoonbuy

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Back to Manhattan

Filed under: Beauty, Family N Friends, Health, Manhattan, Weather
March 22, 2011

This title is sort of misleading since Em and I have not stopped our bi-weekly trips to Manhattan, what stopped was I stopped writing about them. Last year was not a good year for blogging for me, this year I have recommitted and decided that every trip will be followed up with a blog post.

Also I will be bringing my camera, which I haven’t done in a while and taking pictures. Not a lot probably, but enough to give you an idea of what we are doing. Em has a lot of food groupons, that is why we will be eating at a variety of places. Saturday lunch was at Oaxaca, 16 Extra Place, Manhattan. It is just a little fast food Mexican place, we each had two chicken molé enchiladas. They were so good, spicy hot with flavor. It’s going on our list, just have to remember where it is. Then we headed to NoHo to see Ashley. Em had to take out her piercings, and one of them was all red now. I wanted to go to the tea place that Ashley tweets about all the time. Em said sure since we didn’t have an agenda. After getting the address from Ashley we headed to Broome St.

We had already had lunch, but decided a little snack was in order, after all it was COLD Saturday and I was still having sinus and asthma problems. Friday was so nice, Saturday was not. So we got tea with scones. The scones were served with cream and jam, thick cream like butter. All very yummy. Em got mint chocolate tea, I got Chinese Black Tea, Golden Snail I think it was called. Em bought some tea and I bought a tall tea cup with an infuser and a lid.

Next stop was a fabric store, that was closed. That turned out to be o.k. because it wasn’t fabric for clothes it was fabric to home furnishing, so now Em can replace the curtains. Dinner was at a place called MotherBurger. It was quite different from Harney and Sons, which was relaxing and quiet, MotherBurger was loud and crowded. But the burgers were good, exactly to order and not to huge.

Our last stop was at Annie Moore’s. Is there any better way to end a day then with bourbon and chocolate cake? Well Em would say scotch and chocolate cake. Of course it wasn’t really the end because we ended up with a sighting of our strange friend with the long spike of hair, red and blue plaid, and some train drama. We had to wait in Harlem for an ambulance for someone on the train.

Speaking of Harlem, does anyone know of any safe neighborhoods for a little white girl to live?

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New York, NY Slideshow

Filed under: Manhattan
February 24, 2011

One of the reasons I hesitated moving this blog to WordPress was because I couldn’t put my slideshow in this blog. However, I just discovered the “Make a Movie” edit in Picasa, where you make your album into a movie, then upload it to YouTube.

So here it is, my pictures from New York City from last year. O.K. there are few pretty pictures from where I live.

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Home

Filed under: Manhattan
February 23, 2011

Went to see the Plain White T’s at the Highline Ballroom. Got in at 2 a.m.

Quick look through my mail. AT&T and my union want to give me a phone, Bank of America wants to give me a MasterCard and look! Mr. Obama sent me a check.

Happiness.

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The great hill

Filed under: Manhattan, Miscellanea
February 20, 2011

Friday and Saturday were busy days that I am now paying for. While I rest I am going to try to catch up on my blogging.

Friday was spent in the city with Gwen. Em had a Groupon for bike rental in Central Park so we started off early. Even with stopping for breakfast (o.k. it was just coffee and yogurt at Starbucks) and walking we were there before the place opened. So we got strawberry tarts.

There is a bike path that bicycles are supposed to stay on with arrows pointing the direction you are supposed to ride in, I almost called one bicyclist a ‘dumbass’ right in front of Gwen. Oops. After I while I determined we were on the small loop, we wanted to get the whole park experience. We had the bikes for the whole day. This nice man with a poodle (a standard poodle, not one of the annoying midget versions) helped us figure out the way to get out of the circle, then he pointed to the far north part of the map, “Take the easy path over, you don’t want to go up or down this hill.” That sounded good to me, considering I can’t remember how long it had been since I had been on bike before Friday. It is true however, that you never forget.

When we spoke to this man we were between the Sheep Meadow and the Tavern on the Green, heading south, since we couldn’t turn around we continued south, looped around past the Carousel, the Mall and the Playfield to the exit for 72nd which is where the big loop starts. I knew I had made the right turn when the Loeb Boathouse came into view. Here is some very important information, when you see the sign for Belvedere Castle on the left side of the road and turn in, the way to Belvedere Castle is to the right, if you go on the path to the left (you should walk your bikes down here, its the law) you come to this building. Why is this important? This building at the edge of the Ramble, has bathrooms! Ladies to the left, Mens to the right. If you’re looking for it on the map, its the Ramble Shed.

We get back on the road and start riding and riding, I keep looking off to the left for the ‘easy’ trail, suddenly I notice we are riding next to Central Park West and ahead of us is the Great Hill. Gulp, oh boy. We made it, we conquered the Great Hill! We are amazing. We even rode the bikes on Broadway when we left to have lunch.

After we dropped the bikes off we did some shopping and stuff, but what made the day amazing was the bike ride in Central Park.

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