New York Christmas

Christmas is here. Every building has a huge Xmas tree in it's foyer. Almost every tree on the street has lights up through their branches. The Rockerfeller Centre has it's famous Xmas tree, ice skating, toy soldiers and fairy lights.

The Christmas tree from Rockerfeller Centre supported by the Toy Soldier. The ice skating is going well in Central Park and Bryant Park.

The Cartier Building on Fifth Avenue 

Ice Skating at Bryant Park

More Ice Skating at Bryant Park 

You may think that all we've done is wander around New York looking at bright Xmas lights. Not so.

We have enjoyed the celebrations on Columbus Circle that heralded the opening of many Xmas stalls around the entrance of Central Park. Watching the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir rehearse Handel's Messiah. An evening with Hugh Jackman got Maureen excited and definitely left me in second place. He is a wonderful entertainer. A further night with the Rat Pack. Well perhaps great impersonations of Frank Sinartra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr.

This has been randomly sprinkled with diner out, lunch out, breakfast out and runs around Central Park. It's quite invigorating to run in temperatures of -2 degrees. There is not much chance of over heating.

The city is alive with an enormous energy. There is an unmistakable excitement on every street. The people are generous with their best wishes for a great holiday. We have had a chance to share this with Jimmy and Tiggy Nathan. Followed by Jane Lane-Mullins her daughter Andrea and a very close friend Helen McCarthy.

In the middle of all this Apple has opened their largest shop in the world. Where else but Grand Central.

The Apple Store

                             The view from the store.









The kids arrives in a couple of days so the speed of the journey will quicken.  Unfortunately Damien will not be able to make it. Notwithstanding we look forward to sharing New York with each of them especially Leo.

Xmas Lights and Brooklyn

Thanksgiving has come and gone. We spent the time in Tampa Bay, a 3 hour flight south of New York. We stayed with Chuck and Lee, Stephen's sister in law and her husband. It was great, fantastic weather and it was wonderful to meet and be welcomed by Chuck and Lees friends.  See PB, Lee, Chuck and PB below.

We arrived back on Saturday afternoon, 27th November. The Xmas lights have just started. We  headed downtown through Columbus Circle where we began with the  lighting appetizers. The little ones before the real ones are switched on the Monday evening. Below are a couple of photos to tantalise the enthusiast. 

We then headed downtown through Times Square to Macy's. People, there are millions of them. All madly clicking away to record their visit. Kodak must rue the day digital cameras were invented. Macy's  front window was spectacular. Not a traditional Xmas window. It was more about the fascination of space. Nevertheless the children we many rows deep to make sure they got to see windows. 

Sunday was a glorious day so we dusted down the bikes and rode out over  Brooklyn Bridge to Prospect Park which is well downtown in Brooklyn. In 1858 Frederick Law Olmsted and Cavert Vaux referred to their creation, Central Park, as "a single work of art, an outdoor museum, one without walls. In 1859 the planning of Prospect Park was commenced by James Stranahan. the now famous Olmsted and Vaux were commissioned to plan the 320 acre (Central Park is 843 acres) into a park that " would become a favourite resort for all classes of our community, enabling thousands to enjoy pure air, with healthful exercise, at all seasons of the year". Notwithstanding the influence of Olmsted and Vaux it was Stranahan who has been given the credit for all the Prospect Park has to offer. The woods, the lakes, the winding tracks and zoos make it a must visit park.  It was finally completed in 1891.  

Downtown Brooklyn we found the Dud Pie shop. It was famous for Australian and New Zealand pies and great coffee. The coffee was great, the pies were dud. Our 45k bike ride took us home via Red Hook an old working wharf area through cobblestone streets and ruined warehouses. Interesting. It doesn't matter how many time you cross Brooklyn Bridge it has a wonderful fascination. It was a great ride.   

Marilyn's Visit

We are fortunate. The greatest pleasure is to share our opportunity with other people. Marilyn Surtees came with many expectations. She arrived 9.00pm on Friday October 8th. PJ Clarkes, our local pub, was open and raging. Maureen and I were having diner, with Kerry Weir, her friend Leslie, Anne Andrews and her daughter Cara Barrow, Kirsten McEwin and her partner Charles Pace. A great start for Marilyn. A few wines later it seemed we had known each other for decades.

There is a lot of discussion about how much this city called New York has to offer. we had a week to help Marilyn  enjoy as much as possible.

Saturday started with a walk through Central Park. Mid morning we headed through Columbus Circle to walk down Fifth Avenue and then head for Brooklyn Bridge. We were interrupted by hundreds of skate board riders heading for Wall Street to support the Wall Street demonstration against wealth.

Brooklyn Bridge was sensational. The plans commenced in 1870 and the bridge was completed in 1886. It was fourteen years in construction. Bodies were crushed and broken, lives lost, political empires fell and surges of public emotion constantly threatened the project. The concept of building a bridge large enough to span the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan was unprecedented. The bridge is a reflection of the social climate  of the time. Today it's strength and charm remain as clear as if it was recently built.    After a couple of hours spent crossing the bridge we were  all absorbed in our own adventure involving the bridge.

 We headed home through Little Italy and Chinatown. The Peroni in Little Italy provided the sustenance to keep us going. Both areas could have entertained us for many hours but they would have to wait.

Saturday evening we met with Debbie (one of Maureen's new friends) and her partner Chris as Debbie was heading to San Diego in the next couple of weeks.   We headed up Amsterdam St. Diner  started with appetisers at the Citrus Hotel where we left Debbie and Chris. The next stop was at Luke's Monster Lobster Roll shop for fresh lobster. Apparently the best in New York.   Our final  meal for the evening was at the Japanese restaurant, Hanu. Not bad for our first day. Couldn't understand why Maz was starting to fade.

Sunday gave us the opportunity to take in a 55k bike ride around New York. Central Park provided the short cut over to East River. Heading South we took in Carl Schulz Park, the official residence of the Mayor of New York. Before our coffee stop we enjoyed Roosevelt Island, Greensboro Bridge,  Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge. The coffee at Jack's at the waterfront, one of the better coffees going round, was great.

Before heading to the Hudson River we took in the New York Stock Exchange, Ground Zero memorial, St Paul's Church which survived 911, Broadway and "The Bull".  Hudson River has a bike track through Battery City all the way to George Washington Bridge. We were under prepared for such a long journey so were forced to lunch at one of the many riverside restaurants at Battery City. The remaining 25 ks following the Hudson and back through Central Park presented New York in much of its beauty.

Sunday evening found us way down town in the Bleeker Street area. Cornelia Street is a very small street with a number of quaint restaurants. "Palma" a family owned Italian restaurant won us for diner. Every part of it was good. This was a great warm up for the Cornelia Street Cafe Theatre. A small 80 seat theatre presented us with a Georgian ( as in Russia) jazz/folk band. Two hours later we headed for home.

On Monday Marilyn enjoyed a polarities class with Maureen's friends followed by a visit to the Tenement Museum. Strange but Monday night found us out to diner at Nook the first BYO restaurant we have found in New York. The red wine was easy to drink. I think Marilyn set the pace.

Tuesday was another ladies day. One of Maureen's other ladies group "The Tuesday Walkers" toured the Frick Museum and then lunch at on Madison avenue. The evening was spent at the Lincoln Theatre seeing "Warhorse". An excellent story of a boys love for a horse that  had been sent to the Western front. The horses used were life size puppets. An amazing play with World War 1 and its background . Diner at PJ Clarkes gave us the opportunity to use all our artistic thoughts to sum up the excellence of the play.

Wednesday saw Maureen and Maz head up to Harlem for a morning of gospel singing then lunch at the New York Public Library. This is internationally recognised as one of the worlds greatest libraries. At the time,1895, it was the largest marble structure ever attempted in the United States. The plan called for an enormous reading room topping seven floors of stacks and the most rapid delivery system in the world to get the Library's resources as swiftly as possible into the hands of those who requested them. That reading room is still in it's current state  used daily and constantly full.

Dizzy Gelespie's Jazz Club allowed us a few pre diner drinks whilst listening to the cool jazz sounds of New Yorks finest. There was just time for diner at ll Violino, the very first Italian restaurant we made home on our arrival in New York.


The Lincoln Centre has "The Atrium" where entertainers from around the States and the World perform for free. Tonight we were entertained by a group from Malawi in Africa. Wow, how good were they. Three instruments and their voices. Just time enough for diner at Bocca di Bacco before bed. More great food.

Friday 15th October came quickly. We were confident that we had worn Marilyn out. Not so. There was still time for a spin around Central Park, breakfast and coffee at Pan Quotidien our favorite cafe in the park. A fantastic finish to a reasonably busy week. Marilyn was sent home with a great taste for New York that included very few of the well known tourist attractions.

Leppardes bring Manly to New York

Peter and Charlene arrived on 1st October after a great holiday through Italy. Peter is an enthusiastic rugby league follower having been to the last 46 rugby league  grand finals. In addition he is a fanatical Manly supporter. The Rugby League Grand Final was between Manly and the New Zealand Warriors and it was on the night of arrival. There was no way we were going to miss out.

It would start at 2.30am on the Sunday morning after arrival. Through investigation we found The Australian Hotel on 38th West St.  Phone calls indicated we should be there by midnight in order to get a close up of anyone of the 12 screens showing the game. It was to be a long night.

We had arrived back the day before from Ian Cooks funeral. On sitting down at the bar we found the Aussie sitting next to us was John Spicer, Ian's brother in law. Cookie's networking was still full on within a week of his passing.

Every 15 minutes the bar owner increased the volume of the music. Is it any wonder I'm deaf. Amber and Shelly, Peter's daughters, joined us for the game. Clearly the oldest person in the bar, a great evening, which finished with no hearing, many stories and a great win for Manly.

Sunday night saw us at New World Stages for Avenue Q a show with Sesame Street type puppets living out life in any big city. Raunchy and hilarious. Yes, raunchy puppets, definitely R rated. I will let your imagine run away with how it all worked. Very clever and a lot of fun. The evening finished with a Japanese diner in West 46th St, known as Restaurant Row.

Monday night we dined in one of New York's finest, Corton, on West Broadway in Tribeca. Leppardo, Charlene, Amber, Shelly, Rob, a long time friend of Peter's, Maureen and I enjoyed ourselves in one of New York's ten Michelin two star restaurants. Chef Liebrandt's pairing of shrimp and rabbit, rhubarb and beef, egg and octopus support the fact that he is a chef exploring new taste and textual sensations. This was a serious temple to modern food.

Tuesday our wonderful an expert tour director, Maureen, took Peter, Charlene, Amber and Shelly  for a bike tour down the Hudson and around Battery Park and Battery City. The turning point was Jack's coffee place. One of the better coffee places in town.

After diner at the restaurant, Home, in Cornelia Street on Tuesday night we wandered all of 20 metres to the  Cornelia Street Cafe theatre where Amanda Bassington won us over with a voice reminiscent of Norah Jones. There is no shortage of wonderful places to visit. We were fortunate to have spent this special time with Peter and Charlene.

Reflections, as a result of a very close friend, Ian Cook, dying.

In life your closest friends number very few. Ian was one of mine. The relationship, a very open one, of 30 years. He passed away in a matter of moments at the end of a walk with friends, with no pain, doing something he loved doing. What a way to go.

Within the last 2/3 months as Ian left a funeral he said to his wife, Robyn, "I feel worse coming out than when I went in. At my funeral I want people to feel better for the experience". That is what happened.

Ian was bigger then life. He made a difference in everything he did. Whether it was in your life, your business, or anything else that was part of your life. He impacted not only each of us as individuals but our children and our friends. In many cases he was the ring master in all that we did.

Ian will be missed. His funeral was the celebration of a fantastic life. Everyone left the funeral better than when they entered.

Ian created the opportunity for us to spend time with his wonderful wife and their children Gemma and Julia. Two days before Ian died Gemma and Christian provided Ian with a beautiful granddaughter, Alexandra.

The return allowed us an unexpected flying catch up with children, parents and very close and special friends. Never to be taken for granted.

Thanks Ian for creating the opportunity. During the week of writing this blog Steve Jobs of Apple fame passed away. Similar to Ian he was an innovator. His quote "Stay hungry Stay foolish" also summarizes Ian. I have no doubt heaven has been reorganized and technologically advanced.

Ian thanks for reminding us of the importance of life and the need to take nothing for granted. You will be missed

Stooke's Legacy

We were fortunate enough to have Isabele and Jack Stooke and Jack's best mate Rowan stay with us from 16th September. Great to have some young people stay. One bedroom, a double bed and a blow up mattress was home for a few days.

The first night was at Celeste, a tiny Italian restaurant, owned by a fanatical Italian rugby supporter. He could name every member of the Italian rugby team including the reserves. Australia was due to play Italy that weekend. He assumed we had some direct links to the Australian team as he asked us to take it easy on his team.

Maureen has a great understanding of what happens in New York so was able to head them in the right direction. It was good that Isabel was there to ensure the boys got themselves going each day. Isabel left to return to London leaving Jack and Rowan with unencumbered control of their own days. They seemed relaxed.

Whilst the boys were doing their thing Maureen had found a free night out for us at an east side mansion. It was a property owned by The Kosiusko Foundation which supports Polish students and other Polish endeavors. This particular night they were presenting a Polish Jazz Band. The mansion was spectacular and for the 17 people who attended, the Jazz was just ok.

Saturday night found us at the Khune Theatre on the east side. A 60 seat theatre which presented "The Specific Instructions and Detailed Directions of Eugene O'Neil. Hilarious. Eugene O'Neil, a playwright  in 1913/14 apparently gave specific instructions and detailed directions for every play he wrote. As the plays directions were read  a group acted out the instructions. Fantastic  for the unbelievable cost of $20 per seat.

Whilst we were developing the  cultural aspects of our life Jack and Rowan had been to the Yankees and a comedy club. The Yankees had a win and the laughter continued well after the club had closed.

On Tuesday evening we were led astray by the younger generation, for at least 2 hours. We visited the Lincoln Jazz Centre. Here we were entertained by the new and younger generation of jazz. All educated at the Julliard School of Jazz they were spectacular. Look our for a young violinist called Charles Yang.

Baz and Gabby you can be well proud of the legacy you have created.

It was that evening  we received a call that one of our closest friends, Ian Cook, had suddenly passed away. We returned to Australia and left Jack and Rowan in charge of their New York apartment. I noticed a smile on both  of their faces as we left town.

  

Harts of New York

September has come and gone. We had a great time with Tim and Libby Hart. Monday lunch time saw us At The Men's US open final. It was fantastic. Apparently one of the best ever. It lasted just over four hours. Both Nadal and Djokovic are amazing athletes. Its hard to imagine what they actually do to achieve their level of fitness and maintain

It was Straight from the stadium onto to the train and onto Times Square with the other millions of mesmerized tourists. It's difficult to think of any other city that can consistently create such an environment.

The rest of the week included an attempt to catch Andre Borcelli. However rain and finding ourselves at the end of a que of 66,000 people dampened our enthusiasm. The bike ride around New York held some excitement for Libby as we headed the wrong way down the street into on coming traffic. That's why we wear helmets.

On an early morning walk Tim was able to recruit at least 5 New York policemen for touch football at Hassell Park.


I think they went home tired and fulfilled.

Anniversary of 911

The week leading up to the anniversary was routine. Highlights included a visit to the Lincoln Centre where we saw the original film of West Side Story. The  music was played live by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Very good.
 Friday they started to close down the city. Police on every corner. Four lane roads closed down to two lanes. All large trucks were being checked. Roads blocked.
Nothing left to do but go to diner. Started at a little wine bar, Casslula. Drinks, nibbles and cheese. Then on to Restaurant Row West 46th for next course. Hard work as we then walked home. Saturday much the same. Dam the routine.
 Spent a little time speaking to the Italian owner of a little restaurant "Celeste" on Amsterdam between West 84th and 85th. There's one or two restaurants in this city. He knew every Italian player including the reserves. It was suggested that I should ring Robbie and ask him to have the Aussies go easy on Italy. I guess next time we go the prices will have doubled. Great win by the Wallabies.
Sunday morning we took a bike ride over the East side and then headed for ground zero. Two policeman for every citizen. Helicopters hovering above and one the US's battleships moored in the Hudson River. We got to the barriers. I tried the, I'm Barak's elder brother, no luck. Then tried, I'm Cadel Barrow. No luck.
Last try we suggested that Maureen was a leading Australian politician and if they got it right they had to let us in. The answer was Kristina Keneally. Again no luck.
An enormous day. The name of every one who died was read out. All 2900 hundred of them. At Battery Park there was a separate flag to remember every person who had been killed. A significant memory. The city has embraced the ocassion. One the way home we had to stop at Pier 66 to have beer in remembrance of those who had passed away. Just one , not  2900.
The Harts arrive this afternoon for the next week.  It will be difficult. The US Tennis Open on monday afternoon to see the mens final. Go Nadal. Tuesday is a free evening. Wednesday show and diner at Cornelia St, Thursday Andre Bocelli in Central Park and Friday the New York Surf Festival to see surf film by Richard and Andrew James. We'll have to increase the training regime.
Stay Tuned
PB&MBinNY