Outside New York

Fantastic as New York is there's a need to enjoy what other cities have to offer. Late January and early February saw us in London enjoying a recent significant dump of snow. Hyde Park covered in snow is worth experiencing. Early morning walks through the Park were rewarded with no queue for coffee and scrambled eggs at the cafe next to the Memorial for Diana, Princess of Wales.

London does not have the vibrancy or energy of New York. It does have extraordinary experiences within two hours drive of the city.  We headed for The New Forest, South West of London, an area, encompassing Brockenhurst, Lymington and Beaulieu.

The township of Beaulieu

The New Forest has over 200 km of bike riding trails, great Trout fishing and extensive walking trails.  Horses run wild so it's a wonderful playground. Thank god the snow and rain had made  riding and walking difficult and trout fishing is apparently a summer sport. We were restricted to enjoying the environs of the wonderful hotel, "The Pig". Thoroughly recommended. 

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu owns the town of Beaulieu and the surrounding 7000 acres. His grandfather was given ownership of the land and all on it as a wedding present. The Estate which  is home for Beaulieu Abbey, the Palace House and Gardens also houses the National Motor Museum. 

Lord Montagu's "Home"

The National Motor Museum houses over 250 motor vehicles reflecting the history of motor cars in Britain. It has the worlds largest official collection of original James Bond vehicles. There's even more. The Museum offers an experience in the "World of Top Gear". See actual cars, or what's left of them, from their most ambitious challenges. 

Motoring History

An early Man Cave. 

Our UK experience was finished with an illegal drive through the grounds of Downton Abbey. The grounds on which Highclere Castle, the real name, rest, border a property owned by Chris and Clare Berry, friends of Jimmy and Tig Nathan. Chris is a master designer of extraordinary tables. View some of his handy work on berrydesign.co.uk. Chris and Clare were kind enough to have us for lunch which finished with an  intermit drive through the grounds of the Abbey, or should that be castle?   

Business as Usual

New York has had Sandy. A horrific storm causing US$50B of damage. In some places it will take years to fix. In other areas, just months. Restaurants and retailers in some locations will be out of business for some months, perhaps not ever opening again.

Somehow the city just keeps going. Winter is coming, in fact it has arrived. Sandy was followed by a blizzard and the commencement of winter. The morning starts at 3 degrees and, on a good day, gets to 8/9 degrees.

I am sure that other cities are the same as New York. Perhaps we've had an opportunity to slow down and observe. It just keeps going. Testament to that is this weekend.

Friday morning a couple of meetings. The afternoon allowed some time for exercise before the evening in Greenwich Village. We found a restaurant in MacDougal street, Rouge et Blanc. What a find. It was fantastic. We had walked passed it many times but never ventured over the door step. A French Asian influence with amazing ambiance and wonderful tapas. Fried brussels sprouts, crispy pork belly, salmon, rabbit stew and wild mushrooms. Of course the odd glass of red wine to help.

This was followed by a play, Falling, in the Minetta Theatre which is off Broadway and through Club Free Time the princely sum of $5 a seat. This was a true story about the impact of Autisim on a family. It was very confronting but allowed us to discuss the issues as we called into the local wine bar for a glass of wine and cheese before finally heading home.

Saturday morning commenced with a bike ride down by the Hudson River, through Battery Park, the Seaport Historic District then over the Williamsburg Bridge to Brooklyn.  Bedford Street is very similar  to King St,Newtown so we were right at home in lycra and sunnies. The return ride through the centre of New York was rewarded with the excitement of Xmas and lunchtime crowds filling the street.


Late afternoon saw us at the pictures to see "Lincoln" the newest movie to hit the theaters. A great show  and well recommended. It portrays a major part of American history and further confirms that politics, irrespective of the era, is a dirty game. Fortunately just nearby there was a little restaurant with more tapas, spinach, mushrooms, meatballs and cauliflower.

Sunday morning has seen a walk around Central Park followed by coffee with friends. This evening presents us with another play, a comedy, from Club Free Time at $4 a seat.

New York City just keeps on going. There are always options. We just need to maintain the energy to embrace what is on offer.

New York Post Sandy

We were fortunate to be in Australia when Sandy struck. Arriving back on the Friday, 3 days after Sandy had done her stuff. New York was a ghost town. Lower New York was still without power. People had moved out of town to stay with relatives and friends. Those restaurants and pubs that were open had only just got their  power back. It was a great opportunity to get diner at those restaurants that normally have a  long que.

                                         
                                               Work equipment out the front of our building

                                                              Our Building


One of the great disappointments of Sandy was the cancelation of the New York Marathon. A decision that was made on the Friday evening before the race was to commence. New york was full of many gaunt looking people wondering what to do. Nevertheless many ran 2/4 times around Central Park as a substitute. Somehow Damien didn't think it was the same so declined the excitement.

                                                    A cold start in the morning
             

                                             The drinks will definitely be cold.

A damage bill of $50b. So that Sandy was not the only game in town the weather gods brought a snow blizzard to town. It lasted two days. Since then the sun has shone and beautiful weather has prevailed.

A bike ride downtown around the South Ferry piers revealed significant water damage. Those of you that have ridden with us will remember "Jacks"one of the few great coffee stops in town.  The entrance to the shop is 2/3 feet above the footpath. Talking to the girls that work there they indicated that the water had got to 3ft above the floor of the shop. This is a total of 5/6 feet above the footpath.

Many of the shops are boarded up and it will take months before they are fixed. Part of the seawall for the East River is closed until further notice. Trees, lamp posts have been knocked over by the strength of the water and wind. Central Park is coming back together, slowly. There are piles of rubbish waiting for collection. Some of the streets are still waiting to haver their garbage collected.

The one constants in New York is that people just keep on keeping on. That's exactly what has happened. People have just got up and carried on regardless.

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.