Whirlwind trip to NYC

First impressions:  it's what I remember but twice as crowded, twice the traffic.  More small cafes and eateries; a surprise seeing TGI Fridays, Applebee's and Starbucks.  We stayed away from the familiar except for Starbuck's -- still has better coffee.  Car service better than cabs for things like rides to and from the airport.  Cab drivers nicer than I remember. 

Our first afternoon-evening was reconnoitering to find where we wanted to go and how far we would have to walk.  The hotel was on 51st and 8th Avenue.  We found a Thai restaurant 2 blocks away for dinner -- great dish of pineapple fried rice with chicken.   Many plazas had lighted trees (right).

Friday started with a tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  The building is architecturally magnificent inside   The shot at left doesn't do justice to the arches of the ceiling.  The building is HUGE! I wanted to see the 18th & 19th century European art and we had to cross from one side of the building to the other, stopping to see Assyrian, Babylonian and similar collections on the way. 
One stop was the magnificent "angel" tree located behind one of the largest choir "screens" I've ever seen.


After a couple of hours walking and looking, we stopped in the museum's store..... and found so many Xmas presents and other gifts.  It was hard to choose, but so much fun!

For lunch, we met Karin's best friend Lindsay at Rockefeller Center and had lunch, watching the ice skaters on the rink and in view of the immense Xmas tree.  Then we walked up 5th avenue, enjoying the Xmas lights and decorations.  Cartier had a huge red ribbon and bow from top to bottom and side to side of the building, along with signature greens over the display windows.  One stop was at the Lindt chocolate store, and later the Magnolia Bakery, which according to Lindsay has the best muffins in the world.  To attest to that, a line stretched from the entry around the corner.  There was no lingering inside -- make your pick and pay, then out the side door.  I didn't eat my muffin (chocolate with mocha) until Saturday, but agree it was the best.

Dinner was at a quaint restaurant across from the hotel called Sweet Emily's.  The staff were attuned to guests needing fast service to get to theaters, and we did get that.  With satiated stomachs, we hoofed our way to the theater on 45th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.  The cold front had settled in by now but the walk felt good.  We knew the play, A Steady Rain, would have no intermission.... a nonstop 90 minutes.

The play was the reason for the journey to New York.  It was a limited run, ending Dec. 6, and starring Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman!  The play was a tour de force for both actors, and the writer as well. Apart from the distance and cost of travel, plus the fact it is no longer playing, I would love to see it again.  We ended our evening with dessert at the Pigalle. 


I'll continue the journey tomorrow.