New York City Day 6: Last Day = Relax Day!

"I just saw a woman dying on the street, two funeral processions, and a man get punched in the same block in Chinatown. I think I'm ready to go home."

Although my day started off rough (all because I wanted a sesame ball in Chinatown), the rest of the day proved to be a relaxing pace. It had to have been one of the hottest days of my visit, so much so that there were numerous fires in the subway tunnels which caused me to walk on the surface of Manhattan. I attempted to visit the Met but it was closed on Mondays, then ventured through Central Park, getting lost on the way. That's ok! I found a castle, a moat, and ran into Strawberry Fields again. When I finally came to a clearing there I was, in front of the American Museum of Natural History. I had a nice little coconut ice cream bar and headed in to stake out in the cool air conditioning for many hours. Ahhh civilization.


The museum had huge banners for a show called Journey To The Stars which I decided to see. Although it was narrated by Whoopie Goldberg, I was not impressed at all. The content must have been targeted at an audience about half my age. "Something that has a large mass has a lot of stuff inside it!"

I decided that since this was my last day I would go to the East Village and get an awesome slice of pizza at a store I'd wandered by often - Muzzarella Pizza. It was full of veggies and oh so wonderful! I nearly scarfed it down when a nice older Puerto Rican man pulled up a seat next to me and started randomly talking to me. We talked about family and relationships and he was the nicest man ever. He said he'd pray for my safe return home. How incredibly random.

I honestly forgot what I did for the rest of the evening besides take a nice walk on the Brooklyn Bridge and attempt to join my friends at a Bingo night. I arrived at the Bowery Poetry Club a little after Bingo night had started to a drag queen announcing the silly prizes. I couldn't find a seat except at the very back and when attempting to buy a bingo card I was yelled at by some fat girl saying I was blocking the view. I obviously needed a drink but when I tried to order a beer the bartender never brought it to me and I was asked to give up my seat to 'people who had bingo cards'. I'd had my share of New York City rudeness but none so much as the cool artsy hipsters of the East Village, ironically. I headed to Mc Sorelys again as if to completely change the scenery (no drag-queen hosted bingo night for me, I'll take my Gangs of New York City backdrop please). I had a few ales and was finally able to spot Houdini's handcuffs as there was actual standing room this night.

Mc Sorely's on a Monday / Houdini's hand cuffs

I had a great trip full of adventures! I wish I'd have had more time to relax in the city. Sometimes when you go somewhere you haven't been in a long time there is pressure to fit in as much as you can. Perhaps my next visit to the city won't be so hectic, I hope so :-)

New York City, Day 1: Splash!

I woke up slightly hungover to my Italian bunk mate going through an extremely extensive pampering that I will learn is a daily morning habit. I decided to walk around town, wandering into Grand Central Station and a few accessory shops on 6th Ave (I bought the cutest feather headband!). We spent most of the morning slowly waking up and didn't end up 'heading out' until the afternoon.

We took the subway to the Brooklyn Bridge. The clouds were dark and looking as if they were about to spill any time soon but we decided to start walking the bridge anyways to Brooklyn. The views were spectacular! Unfortunately it started pouring down rain as we were half way to the other side and all we had was the shelter of the bridge's arcs and a measly umbrella I decided to bring at the last minute. There we were for about 40 minutes and the rain never ceased. Rachael and I decided we were going to bolt for the other side, and got completely soaked in the process. As we were almost to Brooklyn, a car drives by this huge puddle and like Shamu sends a huge splash onto us. Welcome to Brooklyn! We could not stop laughing, the situation was ridiculous. Rachael's feet were blistered up like crazy and I luckily had shielded my camera with the umbrella. Where were we to go in this situation wet as dogs?

(Rachael and I just saw Shamu!)

We decided to hang out in Brooklyn for a bit, having a pizza at the Front Street Pizza Parlor. Just a bit down the street I noticed was the Brazen Head, this pub I heard about that had a great selection of cask ales and plenty of free food. Upon entering there was a huge table filled with bread, crackers, brie / cheddar / garlic cheese, and pretzels. Best bar food presentation ever! Rachael went with the UFO Raspberry Wheat beer and I tried both the Stoudt's American Pale Ale and Captain Lawrence Espresso Stout. We were exhausted and hung out there for a while, talking briefly with the bar owner about the photography in the place, then make a long trek back to the nearest subway.

The evening was pleasant... I discovered a liquor store down the street, took a long and much needed shower, and hung out with the young men from Australia late into the night (they were drinking Fosters... I had to giggle). We called it an early night.

Videos:

New York City, Night 1: Getting Cozy

What a rough flight! Rachael and I both arrive at Laguardia and meet up to take a taxi into town. Knowing the Big Apple Hostel was going to be near Time Square, we did not expect the grand arrival going right through it and arriving at the place only a block away. We were both glued to our windows, watching the towering buildings of Manhattan and taking in the strange stench of the air (a mix of street food, and garbage... considering we were coming in the evening before trash pick up the streets were filled with garbage bags.

Rachael ended up bunked with a group of three asian girls who spoke no English. She was not happy. I never got to see my roommates until late at night and early in the morning.
We immediately went out to scout a place to eat as we were starving and lo and behold was a wonderful little deli next door called the Cranberry Cafe. We pretty much downed some Italian pflatbread sandwiches and decided to go explore our surroundings.
On the corner of 7th and 45th was, day in and day out, the same person dressed as Elmo for photographs. I became very fond of him / her considering we passed him constantly. It was night and I walked to the Rockefeller Center and Radio City Hall, passing the smells of curry being cooked on street carts. Rachael was quite distressed with her overzealous roommates so we decided we needed to find a cheap drinking hole so that we may pass out easily the first night. We stumbled upon the Blarney Stone west of Time Square, a relatively empty bar that had great music playing. The bartender was Irish and he poured stiff drinks. We spent the majority of the time entertained by the bum across the street everyone referred to as "Bobby". He was blatantly shooting up heroine as people walked by sometimes doing a triple-take. Stay classy NYC, stay classy.

On the way back we We stopped at this little place called the Rum House where a lounge singer who claimed to have been there over a 16 years sang us some Nat King Cole songs. Between songs she asked Rachael and I if we were singers, considering I was wording the songs along with her (I grew up listening to Nat King Cole). Like a deer in the headlight, Rachael said, "We're EX-singers" and left soon afterwards.
We spent the rest of the evening at the hostel hanging out with a group of Australian tourists drinking Newcastle and talking about the city. They were going on a somewhat tour through America, next stop Las Vegas. A young French guy sat with us briefly. Talk about an international experience. It was a good night to start off our vacation.