Early morning flights meant we had to be up by 7:30am and out of the apartment by 9. Megan had it worse though: up by 5am.
Fully packed and last-minute sweeps of the apartment done, I decided on a farewell photo of the living room. The light streaming through the window was beautiful this morning.
We hauled our exceedingly heavy suitcases down the narrow stairs. Trying to make as little noise as possible proved most difficult.
Luckily, right across the street from us were two parked cabs. The first cab driver passed on taking us all the way to Newark, and the second cab driver said he would take us, but only if we paid cash. Another $90 cab ride for us. Ugh. We probably could have taken transit as Megan did, who had texted me to reassure us that the trip was actually quite easy, but we really weren't feeling up to lugging our suitcases all over Manhattan, especially with Sue's hand still in recovery mode.
Our cab ride took us past the stomping grounds of my previous trip. I was saddened to see that the D'Agostino grocery store was now a Duane Read, but the Morning Star diner was still around.
At the airport, Sue and I had to part ways after checking in. Our terminals were nowhere near one another, seeing as Sue booked a direct flight into Vancouver, and I still had a layover in Detroit before flying to Seattle. It would be a long, long day for me.
My food dreams came true at the Newark airport!
I was hungry and stuck between a non-existent breakfast and a lunch-hour flight, so I wandered around the terminal and found JavaMoon. Their slogan is "where food dreams come true morning noon and night" (no punctuations). I had a massive chicken caesar salad and a chai latte, which actually tied me over for almost the entire day.
Arrival at Detroit airport. And so begins my three-hour layover. The plus side? The Detroit airport is quite pretty. Or rather, the evidently new terminal area I was in was very clean, white, and modern: a treat for my eyes.
People watching, a book, and my laptop could only relieve some of my boredom. I started feeling restless after a couple hours, and the terminal was too loud and crowded for me to nap. There seemed to have been a huge delay in flights and my flight was overbooked.
It would've been nice to nap on the plane, but I got seated next to two people who'd met in the terminal and switched seats to sit with one another, so they were chatty-chattersons throughout the flight. Did I mention drunk chatty-chattersons? They were loading up on the booze and the guy next to me decided to order some rum with his coke. The smell of that alcohol, in such close quarters coupled with my desire to rest, almost made me hurl.
In the SeaTac airport, I had another two hours to kill before having to board a lightrail train into Seattle for my bus back to Vancouver. I picked up some essential Cheez-Its and found a secluded corner to plug my laptop in.
Seattle's new lightrail is so convenient and affordable! For $2.50 I was able to get from the airport to the bus terminal in central Seattle. (Hey, TransLink in Vancouver, get a clue!)
Unfortunately, the station I got off at looked pretty sketch at night. I wasn't positive where I was going, I'd only a rough idea of the direction based on maps I'd studied online. Reaching street level, I saw the bus and train depot across the street, but couldn't see how to get down there, and there was no one I could ask.
As I rolled my giant suitcase down the street, a man appeared from around the corner. He seemed to sense that I was not sure of my whereabouts and asked if I was heading to the bus and train terminal. I said 'yes' and he told me I was going the right way and just needed to turn the corner and take the flight of stairs down. He was super jovial and asked where I was coming from and going to. I am so thankful that he'd turned up when he did and that while I was following his directions, I didn't run into some crazed rapist lurking in the dark corner. That route down to the depot was very poorly lit and secluded. Also, the flight of stairs was LONG. I almost felt embarrassed by the racket my suitcase was making.
I went into the (stale, old) terminal building to print my bus tickets and was again, faced with a lack of directional signage. Contrast the aforementioned jovial man who'd offered his assistance to this: I approached a man standing outside, evidently waiting for something, which I assumed was the bus that I was catching (it was Sunday and this was the last service of the night), but he could not offer any help, only answer 'no' to all my questions in a curt manner. Annoyed, I approached some Japanese girls instead who were at least able to tell me where I ought to wait for the bus.
I finally reached the bus terminal in Vancouver well past 12:30am, where I was attack-hugged by my boyfriend.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Beautiful Weather vs. End-of-Trip Exhaustion
New York - Day 6
So much to do on our last day! We were in for another nice, sunny day, warm by February in New York City standards. Off we went, bright and early, towards Central Park. We found a pretzel cart on the way and grabbed some warmish food. (The pretzel Sue and I shared was still a bit cold in the middle. Meh.)
The sun was incredibly bright on this brisk morning and Central Park looked beautiful. We only walked as far in as the zoo, which wasn't open yet, then turned back heading towards 59th Avenue (trying to avoid all the puddles of melted snow and mud).
One stop I missed last time was FAO Schwartz. Because I will always be a kid, we may have spent a tad bit too long in there. I picked up some chocolates for souvenirs, and wrestled with whether I should buy a tube of plastic dinosaurs. In the end, I walked away with an assortment of Harry Potter candies instead. (They had a Harry Potter section!) Oh yes, on the ground floor, there was a Muppets event of sorts. I got to play with one for a minute before we hopped on the elevator, but they started harassing us to stay.
Along 59th, I stopped inside MAC hoping to pick up some Viva Glam lipsticks (no dice) and popped in the giant Zara (they had a sale and it was INTENSE in there). Having wasted too much time, we finally walked over to the MoMA gift shop, the third purpose of our morning jaunt. I picked up some cute things and the checkout girl wasn't nearly as horrendous as all the other MoMA gift shop employees.
Outside the MoMA we met up with my friend Ana. She had moved to New York last summer. (We'd met in 2005, both travelling alone and visiting Tulsa for the first time. All you really need to know is Hanson brought us together.)
Ana took us to Stage Deli on 7th Avenue for lunch. (The man who seated us looked like Locke's father from Lost.) All the menu items had names associated with actors and movies. I ordered a Kevin Bacon Lettuce Tomato sandwich and an egg cream. I'd always wondered what an egg cream was, having read Harriet the Spy more times than I can count. It contains chocolate syrup, milk, and soda water; definitely an interesting combination. I don't know if I'd ever crave it, but it's yummy and rare enough for a West Coaster, that I would order it again if I ever see it on a menu.
After our huge sandwiches, the waiter (did I mention how incredibly amusing he was?) pressed us to order a slice of cheesecake. Ana assured us it was quite delicious, and though I am not a big fan of cheesecake, I relented. When the slice arrived, my jaw dropped: it could very well have been the size of my face. The four of us could not finish it.
We parted ways with Ana after a great lunch. Megan, Sue and I headed to the old Macy's with their wooden escalators. Inside Macy's I finally found some Viva Glam lipsticks, and Megan waited forever to get a drink at the Starbucks, then we made tracks for the Met.
It was later than we'd hoped by the time we made our way back up town. We all wanted to see different things inside the Met, so we split up with intentions to meet again around dinner time. On my previous visit, I'd spent most my time in Egyptian and American art, so I wandered in the opposite direction this time, and happily found a lot of stuff from the art deco era.
We were all exhausted by the time we sat down with some pre-packaged cafeteria food (it was late and the only dining area open was the American Wing Café). Absolutely determined to see more of the museum, we persevered and did not aim to meet up again 'til the museum closed.
Getting lost among the relocated modern art paintings, I found myself with only 15 minutes left to track down the Degas section in 19th century European art. The museum guides were of little assistance unfortunately, and by the time I finally saw Degas's Dancers Practicing at the Bar, I only just managed to snap a photo before I was ushered out.
I had wandered in the gift shops for a bit and found a nice necklace that was priced for clearance. After we located one another in the lobby, we trudged home in exhausted silence, glad to have seen what we did, but hoping the pain in our feet and legs would subside by morning.
So much to do on our last day! We were in for another nice, sunny day, warm by February in New York City standards. Off we went, bright and early, towards Central Park. We found a pretzel cart on the way and grabbed some warmish food. (The pretzel Sue and I shared was still a bit cold in the middle. Meh.)
The sun was incredibly bright on this brisk morning and Central Park looked beautiful. We only walked as far in as the zoo, which wasn't open yet, then turned back heading towards 59th Avenue (trying to avoid all the puddles of melted snow and mud).
One stop I missed last time was FAO Schwartz. Because I will always be a kid, we may have spent a tad bit too long in there. I picked up some chocolates for souvenirs, and wrestled with whether I should buy a tube of plastic dinosaurs. In the end, I walked away with an assortment of Harry Potter candies instead. (They had a Harry Potter section!) Oh yes, on the ground floor, there was a Muppets event of sorts. I got to play with one for a minute before we hopped on the elevator, but they started harassing us to stay.
Along 59th, I stopped inside MAC hoping to pick up some Viva Glam lipsticks (no dice) and popped in the giant Zara (they had a sale and it was INTENSE in there). Having wasted too much time, we finally walked over to the MoMA gift shop, the third purpose of our morning jaunt. I picked up some cute things and the checkout girl wasn't nearly as horrendous as all the other MoMA gift shop employees.
Outside the MoMA we met up with my friend Ana. She had moved to New York last summer. (We'd met in 2005, both travelling alone and visiting Tulsa for the first time. All you really need to know is Hanson brought us together.)
Ana took us to Stage Deli on 7th Avenue for lunch. (The man who seated us looked like Locke's father from Lost.) All the menu items had names associated with actors and movies. I ordered a Kevin Bacon Lettuce Tomato sandwich and an egg cream. I'd always wondered what an egg cream was, having read Harriet the Spy more times than I can count. It contains chocolate syrup, milk, and soda water; definitely an interesting combination. I don't know if I'd ever crave it, but it's yummy and rare enough for a West Coaster, that I would order it again if I ever see it on a menu.
After our huge sandwiches, the waiter (did I mention how incredibly amusing he was?) pressed us to order a slice of cheesecake. Ana assured us it was quite delicious, and though I am not a big fan of cheesecake, I relented. When the slice arrived, my jaw dropped: it could very well have been the size of my face. The four of us could not finish it.
We parted ways with Ana after a great lunch. Megan, Sue and I headed to the old Macy's with their wooden escalators. Inside Macy's I finally found some Viva Glam lipsticks, and Megan waited forever to get a drink at the Starbucks, then we made tracks for the Met.
It was later than we'd hoped by the time we made our way back up town. We all wanted to see different things inside the Met, so we split up with intentions to meet again around dinner time. On my previous visit, I'd spent most my time in Egyptian and American art, so I wandered in the opposite direction this time, and happily found a lot of stuff from the art deco era.
We were all exhausted by the time we sat down with some pre-packaged cafeteria food (it was late and the only dining area open was the American Wing Café). Absolutely determined to see more of the museum, we persevered and did not aim to meet up again 'til the museum closed.
Getting lost among the relocated modern art paintings, I found myself with only 15 minutes left to track down the Degas section in 19th century European art. The museum guides were of little assistance unfortunately, and by the time I finally saw Degas's Dancers Practicing at the Bar, I only just managed to snap a photo before I was ushered out.
I had wandered in the gift shops for a bit and found a nice necklace that was priced for clearance. After we located one another in the lobby, we trudged home in exhausted silence, glad to have seen what we did, but hoping the pain in our feet and legs would subside by morning.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Designer Tempations, Chinese Food, and Sweets Galore
New York - Day 5
Sue and I wanted to check out all the shopping nearby this morning (mainly the giant Bloomingdale's). Megan was feeling tired, so she opted to sleep in a little and meet us later at H&M. It wasn't nearly as cold as previous days, so I was happy to abandon my big down jacket.
This was my first time inside a Bloomingdale's and we entered through the ground floor purse section. Oh, the time we spent drooling over designer bags... I was unsure of venturing into the Chanel section, having had very snobby "service" at Holt Renfrew in Vancouver. However, the sales people here were very polite and asked right away if they could help us with anything. I guess in New York, you don't have to look rich to afford designer things, perhaps something people can learn in Canada.
We were treated with the same deal of politeness on the shoe floor, where I spied a pair of discounted grey Chloé leaf boots. As amazing a find this was, I am not so great at shoe care, and suede in Vancouver is not a good combination. I put the shoe down and we perused some clothes instead.
There was one area in Bloomingdale's where I was completely ignored: I don't recall the label, but the clothes I would maybe liken to Rag & Bone. The sales girls here were younger and chose to ignore me even after eye contact.
Other things I lusted over inside Bloomingdale's: Burberry trench coats, and an amazing black leather Be&D clutch with decorative silver chains that always fell differently because of the magnet inside the flap. Unfortunately, the bag cost more than my flight, so wasn't a justifiable purchase. Sigh.
We traipsed over to H&M where we saw a row of bright pink faux fur jackets calling to us like a beacon. At $15 a pop, Sue was convinced she would have to buy one for me: no convincing needed; I bought one for myself!
After a fruitless excursion into (a rather small) Zara, we grabbed a train to Chinatown for lunch. The name "Excellent Dumpling House" is definitely not a misnomer. I ordered a bowl of hot and sour chicken noodle soup. The soup was not particularly hot nor sour, but the noodles, chicken, and veggies were all perfectly cooked. The bbq'd pork buns were also delicious! The 燒賣 (siu mai), 小籠包 (xiao long bao), and Shanghai style fried noodles weren't bad either. We also ordered some lobster and shrimp dumplings which were very pretty to look at and very pleasant on the taste buds too; almost like superior 蝦餃 (ha gao).
Stuffed silly, we consulted a mini map at the info station to figure out where to go next, but mostly wandered around aimlessly. We found a tiny tea and herbs shop, so I stopped in for some instant chrysanthemum honey tea. Eventually, we found Columbia Park and a large gathering of elderly Chinese men playing card games and checkers. They were all so pre-occupied that they didn't notice me sidling up for a peek nor stepping back to take photos. There was another large group gathered on the other side of the park: elderly Chinese women, also playing card games/gambling. (Probably one of the cutest sightings of the trip thus far!)
Right next to Chinatown is Little Italy. We walked a few blocks through the area - the same route Megan and I are sure we'd taken last time because of the green-white-red painted building and fire hydrant AND the gun shop - then we hopped back on a train to SoHo.
In SoHo, we found another Pylones, another MoMA gift shop with snobby employees, and kidrobot; we wasted too much time in each shop. It was a lot later than we'd hoped by the time we got back to a subway station, so we decided to reschedule the Metropolitan Museum for the next night. Instead, we went back to Alice's Tea Cup for mar-TEA-nis. This time, I had a wonderful lemon poppy seed scone.
With the night still young, we thought some venturing around the neighbourhood was in order and we remembered the giant candy store a few minutes' walk away. Dylan's Candy: two floors of almost every sweet imaginable! I've not a big sweet tooth, so I picked up some things for others instead: a Mario coin box for Penelope, bacon-flavoured gum for Sean (gag), and dust bin chocolates for my parents.
Megan had found some club nights that sounded interesting, but we were in no real state to go dancing 'til the wee morning hours considering we still had to tackle the Met the next day. So, we accepted we were no spring chickens, and tucked ourselves in early.
Sue and I wanted to check out all the shopping nearby this morning (mainly the giant Bloomingdale's). Megan was feeling tired, so she opted to sleep in a little and meet us later at H&M. It wasn't nearly as cold as previous days, so I was happy to abandon my big down jacket.
This was my first time inside a Bloomingdale's and we entered through the ground floor purse section. Oh, the time we spent drooling over designer bags... I was unsure of venturing into the Chanel section, having had very snobby "service" at Holt Renfrew in Vancouver. However, the sales people here were very polite and asked right away if they could help us with anything. I guess in New York, you don't have to look rich to afford designer things, perhaps something people can learn in Canada.
We were treated with the same deal of politeness on the shoe floor, where I spied a pair of discounted grey Chloé leaf boots. As amazing a find this was, I am not so great at shoe care, and suede in Vancouver is not a good combination. I put the shoe down and we perused some clothes instead.
There was one area in Bloomingdale's where I was completely ignored: I don't recall the label, but the clothes I would maybe liken to Rag & Bone. The sales girls here were younger and chose to ignore me even after eye contact.
Other things I lusted over inside Bloomingdale's: Burberry trench coats, and an amazing black leather Be&D clutch with decorative silver chains that always fell differently because of the magnet inside the flap. Unfortunately, the bag cost more than my flight, so wasn't a justifiable purchase. Sigh.
We traipsed over to H&M where we saw a row of bright pink faux fur jackets calling to us like a beacon. At $15 a pop, Sue was convinced she would have to buy one for me: no convincing needed; I bought one for myself!
After a fruitless excursion into (a rather small) Zara, we grabbed a train to Chinatown for lunch. The name "Excellent Dumpling House" is definitely not a misnomer. I ordered a bowl of hot and sour chicken noodle soup. The soup was not particularly hot nor sour, but the noodles, chicken, and veggies were all perfectly cooked. The bbq'd pork buns were also delicious! The 燒賣 (siu mai), 小籠包 (xiao long bao), and Shanghai style fried noodles weren't bad either. We also ordered some lobster and shrimp dumplings which were very pretty to look at and very pleasant on the taste buds too; almost like superior 蝦餃 (ha gao).
Stuffed silly, we consulted a mini map at the info station to figure out where to go next, but mostly wandered around aimlessly. We found a tiny tea and herbs shop, so I stopped in for some instant chrysanthemum honey tea. Eventually, we found Columbia Park and a large gathering of elderly Chinese men playing card games and checkers. They were all so pre-occupied that they didn't notice me sidling up for a peek nor stepping back to take photos. There was another large group gathered on the other side of the park: elderly Chinese women, also playing card games/gambling. (Probably one of the cutest sightings of the trip thus far!)
Right next to Chinatown is Little Italy. We walked a few blocks through the area - the same route Megan and I are sure we'd taken last time because of the green-white-red painted building and fire hydrant AND the gun shop - then we hopped back on a train to SoHo.
In SoHo, we found another Pylones, another MoMA gift shop with snobby employees, and kidrobot; we wasted too much time in each shop. It was a lot later than we'd hoped by the time we got back to a subway station, so we decided to reschedule the Metropolitan Museum for the next night. Instead, we went back to Alice's Tea Cup for mar-TEA-nis. This time, I had a wonderful lemon poppy seed scone.
With the night still young, we thought some venturing around the neighbourhood was in order and we remembered the giant candy store a few minutes' walk away. Dylan's Candy: two floors of almost every sweet imaginable! I've not a big sweet tooth, so I picked up some things for others instead: a Mario coin box for Penelope, bacon-flavoured gum for Sean (gag), and dust bin chocolates for my parents.
Megan had found some club nights that sounded interesting, but we were in no real state to go dancing 'til the wee morning hours considering we still had to tackle the Met the next day. So, we accepted we were no spring chickens, and tucked ourselves in early.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Regarding Modernism and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
New York - Day 4
We took a little longer to get out of the door this day (probably my fault). Our first stop was the Museum of Modern Art. I love this museum and I love their gift shops - even if the people who work there seem to have to ace a stick-up-the-ass snob test - but I digress...
Breakfast was enjoyed in the MoMA's Cafe 2. This is a museum cafeteria done right! The food was top quality, service incredibly friendly, and everything - from tables and chairs, right down to the napkins - was designed with that clean and sophisticated eye. What can I say? I'm a sucker for mid-century modernism.
On my previous visit to the MoMA, it was a slow enough day that I was able to have my photo taken next to Van Gogh's Starry Night, but it was incredibly busy this time and I could barely get close enough for a quick shot. As usual, the design floor was amazing, but my favourite part of the visit may have been the commentary I'd overheard from fellow museum visitors: "It looks like a mistake" (Redon's Roger and Angelica) and "It must have taken him so long to paint all these" (Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans).
Unfortunately, we did not realise there were scheduled viewings for the Tim Burton exhibition and the two earliest were already fully booked. The last viewing of the day ran right into our guided cruise around Manhattan (part of the CityPASS package). I tried to stifle my disappointment with photos of the entrance to the exhibition and the giant blow-up monster on the main floor.
It was a tad bit confusing finding the correct bus stop for the cruise, so I am glad we allowed ourselves extra time for the commute. We arrived with tonnes of time to spare and ended up chatting with a food vendor at the terminal. He definitely made the cold and long wait bearable.
The guided cruise was a welcomed opportunity to sit and relax. We sailed for two hours around mid and lower Manhattan, coming up right next to the Statue of Liberty, and going under the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg bridges. It was too cold for anyone to be outside, so I took photos from my seat, though the windows were a bit dirty. My only real gripe though, is that a mother and son with friend/relative who sat behind us chose to talk loudly over the tour guide THE ENTIRE TIME. The friend/relative was clearly a local (of sorts) so deemed herself knowledgeable enough to answer all the dumb questions the two tourists kept spouting out instead of listening to the guide.
After the cruise, we headed back up Manhattan, staying on the west. We weren't hungry, having snacked on the cruise, but we had to check out Tom's Restaurant. Seeing Tom's neon sign lit up in the dark was great. We stood outside for a few minutes trying to get good shots from different standpoints. When we finally entered, we were greeted at the door and shown to a booth near the kitchen.
The walls were covered with Seinfeld TV Guide covers, and other Seinfeld memorabilia. Most of the employees were milling around waiting for it to get busier, I suppose. Though they didn't seem incredibly attentive, the service was pleasant enough. The prices were great; portions generous (though the tuna salad grilled cheese sandwich I had could have been... less cold). We all shared a delicious slice of apple pie for dessert (and no one refused a bite without explanation*).
Before heading home, we wandered around Times Square for a few hours, taking photos of all the lights, spending way too long inside Toys-R-Us... We almost bought some 6 Train (see previous post) t-shirts, but they were about $20 more than we were willing to pay. By the time we left Times Square, it was well past midnight.
*Seinfeld reference
We took a little longer to get out of the door this day (probably my fault). Our first stop was the Museum of Modern Art. I love this museum and I love their gift shops - even if the people who work there seem to have to ace a stick-up-the-ass snob test - but I digress...
Breakfast was enjoyed in the MoMA's Cafe 2. This is a museum cafeteria done right! The food was top quality, service incredibly friendly, and everything - from tables and chairs, right down to the napkins - was designed with that clean and sophisticated eye. What can I say? I'm a sucker for mid-century modernism.
On my previous visit to the MoMA, it was a slow enough day that I was able to have my photo taken next to Van Gogh's Starry Night, but it was incredibly busy this time and I could barely get close enough for a quick shot. As usual, the design floor was amazing, but my favourite part of the visit may have been the commentary I'd overheard from fellow museum visitors: "It looks like a mistake" (Redon's Roger and Angelica) and "It must have taken him so long to paint all these" (Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans).
Unfortunately, we did not realise there were scheduled viewings for the Tim Burton exhibition and the two earliest were already fully booked. The last viewing of the day ran right into our guided cruise around Manhattan (part of the CityPASS package). I tried to stifle my disappointment with photos of the entrance to the exhibition and the giant blow-up monster on the main floor.
It was a tad bit confusing finding the correct bus stop for the cruise, so I am glad we allowed ourselves extra time for the commute. We arrived with tonnes of time to spare and ended up chatting with a food vendor at the terminal. He definitely made the cold and long wait bearable.
The guided cruise was a welcomed opportunity to sit and relax. We sailed for two hours around mid and lower Manhattan, coming up right next to the Statue of Liberty, and going under the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg bridges. It was too cold for anyone to be outside, so I took photos from my seat, though the windows were a bit dirty. My only real gripe though, is that a mother and son with friend/relative who sat behind us chose to talk loudly over the tour guide THE ENTIRE TIME. The friend/relative was clearly a local (of sorts) so deemed herself knowledgeable enough to answer all the dumb questions the two tourists kept spouting out instead of listening to the guide.
After the cruise, we headed back up Manhattan, staying on the west. We weren't hungry, having snacked on the cruise, but we had to check out Tom's Restaurant. Seeing Tom's neon sign lit up in the dark was great. We stood outside for a few minutes trying to get good shots from different standpoints. When we finally entered, we were greeted at the door and shown to a booth near the kitchen.
The walls were covered with Seinfeld TV Guide covers, and other Seinfeld memorabilia. Most of the employees were milling around waiting for it to get busier, I suppose. Though they didn't seem incredibly attentive, the service was pleasant enough. The prices were great; portions generous (though the tuna salad grilled cheese sandwich I had could have been... less cold). We all shared a delicious slice of apple pie for dessert (and no one refused a bite without explanation*).
Before heading home, we wandered around Times Square for a few hours, taking photos of all the lights, spending way too long inside Toys-R-Us... We almost bought some 6 Train (see previous post) t-shirts, but they were about $20 more than we were willing to pay. By the time we left Times Square, it was well past midnight.
*Seinfeld reference
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Brief Encounters with the Fashion Industry
New York - Day 3
What is it about travelling that makes it easier for me to function on less sleep than usual?
We got up early for another ambitious day. Shower situation? Maybe slightly better, but only because I was the first one in.
I really wanted breakfast so we decided on the diner on the corner of our block even though we'd already seen the unexciting menu and prices. (I say every diner should have $3 breakfasts.)
While Megan made a trip to the bank, Sue and I decided to grab a table. Who do I see when I walk through the doors? MISS J! My jaw literally dropped. I was totally gawking. Miss J, "runway coach extraordinaire" from America's Next Top Model was sitting inside this lackluster Midtown/Upper East Side diner having breakfast with a friend. What stunned me even more was when the staff decided to seat us at the booth right behind him! (It really wasn't busy in there.) I could make eye contact with him from my seat! I was so embarrassed for gawking that I tried to hide behind Sue while we decided what to order.
Shortly after Megan joined us, a girl walking by the diner came in and asked Miss J for an autograph. Still more people walked by giving him double-takes and sometimes actually backtracking to wave or stare. Finally, Sue convinced me I needed to ask him to take a photo.
First of all, I am incredibly shy. Secondly, I hate interrupting people when they're having a conversation. I waited 'til I thought Miss J and his friend (a blonde woman who looked familiar to me) were about finished with their meal and ready to leave before finally gathering enough courage to approach their table. It was still an awkward few (long) seconds before I finally opened my mouth to ask for a photo.
Miss J gave me this sideways glance in that diva-like/sarcastic way of his and asked, "Do you have a camera?" When I produced one, he got up (very gracefully) and I lamented (maybe more like squeaked) about how he was so incredibly tall that I would look ridiculous next to him. (I was hoping he'd just stay seated for the photo.) Megan took two photos for me and I can't say I look great in either, but Miss J totally posed for the camera - and with a genuine smile.
Due to the celebrity encounter so early in the day, I can't even remember what I'd ordered for breakfast. All I know is that Sue and I both got meals that involved a coffee or tea plus a tiny glass - filled to the brim! - of juice. We also laughed at the sights outside the diner: a parked advertising truck with a marriage proposal message on it. I understand the sentiment, though I can't help screaming CHEESE-Y! (I would never want to be proposed to in that way, but maybe I'm being overly judgmental because the message was really poorly designed and not nearly flamboyant enough for something that's supposed to be attention-grabbing. Go big or go home!)
After breakfast, we headed to the Guggenheim. It was a lot busier along 5th Avenue than I'd expected (or remembered from our previous trip) so it wasn't easy getting a good shot of the exterior of the Gugg. Last time Megan and I were there, the exterior was being renovated so we didn't even get to see the iconic building from the outside!
Buying the City Pass was definitely a good idea. Not only do you save money on admission tickets, you also get to bypass a lot of lineups! (Almost like being a VIP. Haha)
As soon as we entered the museum, we noticed a couple embracing. (AWKWARD!) As we unbuttoned and unzipped our winter coats, I couldn't help but mutter, Um, seriously? Get a room? There were plenty of people hanging around the "lobby" (?) and many were staring or trying not to stare at the couple. As their embrace got more... heated, I finally realised this was a performance piece. Sure enough, listed inside the program was performance art. The couple, fully clothed, continued to stare at each other longingly/grope one another slowly, eventually finding themselves squirming around on the floor. I never witnessed the end of the "piece" (nor did I want to) but we noticed later on that a new couple was doing the same thing. ...Wow.
One thing I did "wrong" the first time I visited the Gugg was to walk up the museum from the lobby (let's just call it the lobby because I can't think of a better word at the moment). I didn't realise that it was meant to be enjoyed (?) from the top down. So, take the elevator (yes, it's slow) all the way to the top floor, then make your descent.
Typically, art is hung along the slightly concaved walls of the Gugg, with smaller rooms showcasing supplementary exhibitions. On this particular visit, there were absolutely no pieces on display on any of the concaved walls. Believe it or not, these blank walls was a curated exhibition. The blank walls as well as hundreds of submissions from artists around the world showcased in a few of the side rooms, was all part of "Contemplating the Void", an exhibition to commemorate the Guggenheim's 50th anniversary. The artists (architects and designers) were invited to re-imagine the iconic rotunda of the Guggenheim. I wasn't impressed with most of the submissions to be honest (one was a giant labia; yeah, you read that correctly).
A lot of the Guggenheim's permanent collection was on touring exhibitions when we visited, but we did get to see an amazing selection of French/modernist paintings (Picasso, Braque and Chagall amongst others).
My absolute favourite exhibition was by Anish Kapoor entitled "Memory". We actually viewed it in the incorrect order, but I'd say the effect was still as haunting as it was meant to be. I won't spoil it but if you get the chance to see it in person, please do. I'm usually not a huge fan of modern art simply because it tries to be way more than it actually is, but this was extremely well done.
No trip to the Gugg is complete (well, any museum really) without a stop at the gift shop. The thing I love most about modern art museums like the Gugg is the chances of seeing really chintzy and cheesy souvenirs are usually very slim. (Chintz and cheese are fine though in public and flea markets, and vintage stores!) I definitely overspent at the gift shop this time as they had the Frank Lloyd Wright Lego sets on sale. I couldn't resist the Lego version of the Guggenheim! I also walked away with a coffee mug inspired by the museum's rotunda design.
While on the plane from Minneapolis to Newark, I'd read on the in-flight magazine that Cooper-Hewitt was having a Rodarte exhibition. Glee! I'm so happy to be travelling with two fashion lovers! We all agreed that skipping over to the Cooper-Hewitt after the Gugg was a must!
The Cooper-Hewitt is an amazing old mansion. I love the juxtaposition of contemporary design against a building that was designed and built in the Victorian era. If you are a designer - anything from textile to graphic to industrial - make sure you pay the Cooper-Hewitt a visit. Aside from the extremely well-curated exhibitions, their gift shop has a large collection of design books. As an aside, I also quite liked their tiny cafe. I can imagine how beautiful it'd be during the spring.
Back to Rodarte: the top floor was where the Rodarte exhibition was housed and though we couldn't take photos nor get too close to the clothes, being able to see the intricacies of the Mulleavy sisters' designs in person is just breathtaking. Assorted pieces from different collections (the dresses!) were on display as well as the shoe collaborations with Christian Louboutin and Nicholas Kirkwood. STUNNING.
After our museum jaunts, we headed back to the subway, but not without stops inside H&M and Sephora first! Across the street from our apartment are a series of little shops including a Pylones. I'll let their website speak for themselves.
For dinner, we headed to an Italian place within walking distance from our apartment: thin-sliced pizza with fresh ingredients done right! The pasta was also delicious and the desserts were to die for.
No mind-numbing television for us tonight! We decided the lack of snow meant it was the perfect night to go the Empire State Building. I figured going at night would work out better in order to avoid smog and bad viewing conditions. Besides, who hasn't marveled at pictures of NYC with all the cities' lights all lit up at night?
Yes, it was extremely cold out at the top of the Empire State. It was actually so windy that I couldn't steady my camera for more than a handful of good shots. At first I figured my hands were just shaky, but eventually I realised that the structures I was placing my camera on were not still: the building was swaying a little. Was the blistering cold worth it? YOU BET!
We left the Empire State building quite late into the night and had to traverse through Koreatown to get back to the subway. It was... kind of sketchy. There were lots of licensed restaurants and karaoke bars still open and we had to side-step some drunken guys trying to hit on some Asian girls.
On the subway platform, we could hear rats squeaking and Sue actually saw one run across. It was there that we decided we could form a band called the 6 Train and our backing vocals could be the sound of rats squeaking. (Late night creativity at its best.)
What is it about travelling that makes it easier for me to function on less sleep than usual?
We got up early for another ambitious day. Shower situation? Maybe slightly better, but only because I was the first one in.
I really wanted breakfast so we decided on the diner on the corner of our block even though we'd already seen the unexciting menu and prices. (I say every diner should have $3 breakfasts.)
While Megan made a trip to the bank, Sue and I decided to grab a table. Who do I see when I walk through the doors? MISS J! My jaw literally dropped. I was totally gawking. Miss J, "runway coach extraordinaire" from America's Next Top Model was sitting inside this lackluster Midtown/Upper East Side diner having breakfast with a friend. What stunned me even more was when the staff decided to seat us at the booth right behind him! (It really wasn't busy in there.) I could make eye contact with him from my seat! I was so embarrassed for gawking that I tried to hide behind Sue while we decided what to order.
Shortly after Megan joined us, a girl walking by the diner came in and asked Miss J for an autograph. Still more people walked by giving him double-takes and sometimes actually backtracking to wave or stare. Finally, Sue convinced me I needed to ask him to take a photo.
First of all, I am incredibly shy. Secondly, I hate interrupting people when they're having a conversation. I waited 'til I thought Miss J and his friend (a blonde woman who looked familiar to me) were about finished with their meal and ready to leave before finally gathering enough courage to approach their table. It was still an awkward few (long) seconds before I finally opened my mouth to ask for a photo.
Miss J gave me this sideways glance in that diva-like/sarcastic way of his and asked, "Do you have a camera?" When I produced one, he got up (very gracefully) and I lamented (maybe more like squeaked) about how he was so incredibly tall that I would look ridiculous next to him. (I was hoping he'd just stay seated for the photo.) Megan took two photos for me and I can't say I look great in either, but Miss J totally posed for the camera - and with a genuine smile.
Due to the celebrity encounter so early in the day, I can't even remember what I'd ordered for breakfast. All I know is that Sue and I both got meals that involved a coffee or tea plus a tiny glass - filled to the brim! - of juice. We also laughed at the sights outside the diner: a parked advertising truck with a marriage proposal message on it. I understand the sentiment, though I can't help screaming CHEESE-Y! (I would never want to be proposed to in that way, but maybe I'm being overly judgmental because the message was really poorly designed and not nearly flamboyant enough for something that's supposed to be attention-grabbing. Go big or go home!)
After breakfast, we headed to the Guggenheim. It was a lot busier along 5th Avenue than I'd expected (or remembered from our previous trip) so it wasn't easy getting a good shot of the exterior of the Gugg. Last time Megan and I were there, the exterior was being renovated so we didn't even get to see the iconic building from the outside!
Buying the City Pass was definitely a good idea. Not only do you save money on admission tickets, you also get to bypass a lot of lineups! (Almost like being a VIP. Haha)
As soon as we entered the museum, we noticed a couple embracing. (AWKWARD!) As we unbuttoned and unzipped our winter coats, I couldn't help but mutter, Um, seriously? Get a room? There were plenty of people hanging around the "lobby" (?) and many were staring or trying not to stare at the couple. As their embrace got more... heated, I finally realised this was a performance piece. Sure enough, listed inside the program was performance art. The couple, fully clothed, continued to stare at each other longingly/grope one another slowly, eventually finding themselves squirming around on the floor. I never witnessed the end of the "piece" (nor did I want to) but we noticed later on that a new couple was doing the same thing. ...Wow.
One thing I did "wrong" the first time I visited the Gugg was to walk up the museum from the lobby (let's just call it the lobby because I can't think of a better word at the moment). I didn't realise that it was meant to be enjoyed (?) from the top down. So, take the elevator (yes, it's slow) all the way to the top floor, then make your descent.
Typically, art is hung along the slightly concaved walls of the Gugg, with smaller rooms showcasing supplementary exhibitions. On this particular visit, there were absolutely no pieces on display on any of the concaved walls. Believe it or not, these blank walls was a curated exhibition. The blank walls as well as hundreds of submissions from artists around the world showcased in a few of the side rooms, was all part of "Contemplating the Void", an exhibition to commemorate the Guggenheim's 50th anniversary. The artists (architects and designers) were invited to re-imagine the iconic rotunda of the Guggenheim. I wasn't impressed with most of the submissions to be honest (one was a giant labia; yeah, you read that correctly).
A lot of the Guggenheim's permanent collection was on touring exhibitions when we visited, but we did get to see an amazing selection of French/modernist paintings (Picasso, Braque and Chagall amongst others).
My absolute favourite exhibition was by Anish Kapoor entitled "Memory". We actually viewed it in the incorrect order, but I'd say the effect was still as haunting as it was meant to be. I won't spoil it but if you get the chance to see it in person, please do. I'm usually not a huge fan of modern art simply because it tries to be way more than it actually is, but this was extremely well done.
No trip to the Gugg is complete (well, any museum really) without a stop at the gift shop. The thing I love most about modern art museums like the Gugg is the chances of seeing really chintzy and cheesy souvenirs are usually very slim. (Chintz and cheese are fine though in public and flea markets, and vintage stores!) I definitely overspent at the gift shop this time as they had the Frank Lloyd Wright Lego sets on sale. I couldn't resist the Lego version of the Guggenheim! I also walked away with a coffee mug inspired by the museum's rotunda design.
While on the plane from Minneapolis to Newark, I'd read on the in-flight magazine that Cooper-Hewitt was having a Rodarte exhibition. Glee! I'm so happy to be travelling with two fashion lovers! We all agreed that skipping over to the Cooper-Hewitt after the Gugg was a must!
The Cooper-Hewitt is an amazing old mansion. I love the juxtaposition of contemporary design against a building that was designed and built in the Victorian era. If you are a designer - anything from textile to graphic to industrial - make sure you pay the Cooper-Hewitt a visit. Aside from the extremely well-curated exhibitions, their gift shop has a large collection of design books. As an aside, I also quite liked their tiny cafe. I can imagine how beautiful it'd be during the spring.
Back to Rodarte: the top floor was where the Rodarte exhibition was housed and though we couldn't take photos nor get too close to the clothes, being able to see the intricacies of the Mulleavy sisters' designs in person is just breathtaking. Assorted pieces from different collections (the dresses!) were on display as well as the shoe collaborations with Christian Louboutin and Nicholas Kirkwood. STUNNING.
After our museum jaunts, we headed back to the subway, but not without stops inside H&M and Sephora first! Across the street from our apartment are a series of little shops including a Pylones. I'll let their website speak for themselves.
For dinner, we headed to an Italian place within walking distance from our apartment: thin-sliced pizza with fresh ingredients done right! The pasta was also delicious and the desserts were to die for.
No mind-numbing television for us tonight! We decided the lack of snow meant it was the perfect night to go the Empire State Building. I figured going at night would work out better in order to avoid smog and bad viewing conditions. Besides, who hasn't marveled at pictures of NYC with all the cities' lights all lit up at night?
Yes, it was extremely cold out at the top of the Empire State. It was actually so windy that I couldn't steady my camera for more than a handful of good shots. At first I figured my hands were just shaky, but eventually I realised that the structures I was placing my camera on were not still: the building was swaying a little. Was the blistering cold worth it? YOU BET!
We left the Empire State building quite late into the night and had to traverse through Koreatown to get back to the subway. It was... kind of sketchy. There were lots of licensed restaurants and karaoke bars still open and we had to side-step some drunken guys trying to hit on some Asian girls.
On the subway platform, we could hear rats squeaking and Sue actually saw one run across. It was there that we decided we could form a band called the 6 Train and our backing vocals could be the sound of rats squeaking. (Late night creativity at its best.)
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Today's Forecast: Flurries with Dinosaurs
New York - Day 2
We awoke early and hopeful about the hot water situation. No luck. Lukewarm showers for all. I had goosebumps throughout the shower and was thankful I had the foresight to pack my knitted poncho.
I had emailed the rental services the night before about the hot water situation and also asked for a frying pan. We realized that, although our one "magical" pot was multi-functional, a frying pan would be nice if we wanted to cook breakfast (or anything else while boiling water for a bath).
It was American Museum of Natural History day. We headed out to face the flurries, taking the wrong train and/or heading the wrong direction more than once on the subway system and picking up some sustenance at Starbucks along the way. More time was wasted in the line up at the basement entrance of AMNH, which is connected to the subway station (convenient). When we got to the cashier we realized that we couldn't buy our City Passes here and they only took cash. Back outside we trekked and thankful that we did as we skipped across the street to truly marvel at the great building we were about to enter. We took some photos in the snow, then made our way in.
I think if I lived in New York, I'd visit the AMNH fairly often. The beautiful lobby with its tyrannosaurus and brontosaurus - sorry, apatosaurus - skeletons is free to loiter in. The people watching alone is simply amazing.
After a few hours of exploring the African and Asian wings, we made our way to the planetarium for our scheduled viewing. The waiting was long and tiring. Before entering the theatre, we were informed that "all seats provide equal viewing of the universe." This statement is quite mind-blowing really.
Although the planetarium show is quite astounding, I'm afraid I fell asleep for a few minutes. Sitting in a comfortable chair with head tilted back in a dark room... this situation has 'nap time' written all over it.
In the gift shop after the show, I found the tiniest plastic animals I'd ever laid eyes on. I had to buy the tyrannosaurus. It was 75 cents and begging me to take it home. (When we got back to the apartment, I decided to name him Elton. Why? I've no clue. He just felt like an 'Elton' to me.)
After our gift shop foray (one of many), we needed food badly and made our way into the cafeteria where Sue found chicken "strips/nuggets" shaped like dinosaurs: t-rex and stegosaurus to be exact. As expected, the food was overpriced and not particularly spectacular.
We had tried to purchase tickets to see Wicked, the musical, for this night at 7pm, and were awaiting an email confirmation. (We'd talked about it before leaving for New York but still managed to forget to buy tickets beforehand.) Getting back to the apartment before 6pm was crucial. Sadly, we did not get to see the entire museum, but we did see the major dinosaur exhibits and (probably) wasted too much time in the gift shops. The AMNH, like the Met, is not meant to be a one day trip.
Silly us. We thought we could walk back to the apartment from 53rd. On a nice day, yes, but not on a flurry-filled day after we'd already been walking for hours in a museum. We were pretty tired, cold and grumpy by the time we climbed up the flights of stairs to our apartment. The icing on the cake was realizing we didn't get the tickets to see Wicked.
We had the whole night ahead of us but we were too tired to think of how to fill it. While watching more mind-numbing television, we realized we were hungry. I had been searching for some nearby restaurants the night before and looking at our choices again, saw that Jackson Hole Burgers had some raving reviews.
Tucked away on E 64th St with an unassuming exterior, as with most older buildings in New York, you had to descend a small flight of steps before entering. We were immediately greeted warmly and shown to some seats in a second room. It was quite late for dinner (at least 8 or 9pm I think) so the restaurant was quite empty.
Having looked at the menu before leaving the apartment, we knew what we wanted. I ordered a veggie burger with cheese and mushrooms and added bacon - something I always do as I do not eat red meat, but I love bacon - with a root beer float because I'd noticed they brew their own sodas ('pop' in Canadian speak). While we waited for our food to arrive, we were given some cornichons (I'm not sure why New Yorkers don't call them pickles... maybe because they are only lightly pickled cucumbers?) to munch on. I'd brought Elton along for the meal, so took copious photos of him whilst enjoying my root beer float.
The veggie burger was amazing. The patty was house-made with black beans and not the least bit dry or bland as some veggie patties are apt to be. I'm sad to report that the fries, in comparison with the burgers, are really not up to snuff. But perhaps it's a personal preference? I've never been partial to steak fries.
Stuffed to the brim, we dragged ourselves back to our humble (temporary) abode, and winded down the night with some more mindless television. (I'm truly disgusted that TLC - The Learning Channel!!!! - has become a reality television network.)
We awoke early and hopeful about the hot water situation. No luck. Lukewarm showers for all. I had goosebumps throughout the shower and was thankful I had the foresight to pack my knitted poncho.
I had emailed the rental services the night before about the hot water situation and also asked for a frying pan. We realized that, although our one "magical" pot was multi-functional, a frying pan would be nice if we wanted to cook breakfast (or anything else while boiling water for a bath).
It was American Museum of Natural History day. We headed out to face the flurries, taking the wrong train and/or heading the wrong direction more than once on the subway system and picking up some sustenance at Starbucks along the way. More time was wasted in the line up at the basement entrance of AMNH, which is connected to the subway station (convenient). When we got to the cashier we realized that we couldn't buy our City Passes here and they only took cash. Back outside we trekked and thankful that we did as we skipped across the street to truly marvel at the great building we were about to enter. We took some photos in the snow, then made our way in.
I think if I lived in New York, I'd visit the AMNH fairly often. The beautiful lobby with its tyrannosaurus and brontosaurus - sorry, apatosaurus - skeletons is free to loiter in. The people watching alone is simply amazing.
After a few hours of exploring the African and Asian wings, we made our way to the planetarium for our scheduled viewing. The waiting was long and tiring. Before entering the theatre, we were informed that "all seats provide equal viewing of the universe." This statement is quite mind-blowing really.
Although the planetarium show is quite astounding, I'm afraid I fell asleep for a few minutes. Sitting in a comfortable chair with head tilted back in a dark room... this situation has 'nap time' written all over it.
In the gift shop after the show, I found the tiniest plastic animals I'd ever laid eyes on. I had to buy the tyrannosaurus. It was 75 cents and begging me to take it home. (When we got back to the apartment, I decided to name him Elton. Why? I've no clue. He just felt like an 'Elton' to me.)
After our gift shop foray (one of many), we needed food badly and made our way into the cafeteria where Sue found chicken "strips/nuggets" shaped like dinosaurs: t-rex and stegosaurus to be exact. As expected, the food was overpriced and not particularly spectacular.
We had tried to purchase tickets to see Wicked, the musical, for this night at 7pm, and were awaiting an email confirmation. (We'd talked about it before leaving for New York but still managed to forget to buy tickets beforehand.) Getting back to the apartment before 6pm was crucial. Sadly, we did not get to see the entire museum, but we did see the major dinosaur exhibits and (probably) wasted too much time in the gift shops. The AMNH, like the Met, is not meant to be a one day trip.
Silly us. We thought we could walk back to the apartment from 53rd. On a nice day, yes, but not on a flurry-filled day after we'd already been walking for hours in a museum. We were pretty tired, cold and grumpy by the time we climbed up the flights of stairs to our apartment. The icing on the cake was realizing we didn't get the tickets to see Wicked.
We had the whole night ahead of us but we were too tired to think of how to fill it. While watching more mind-numbing television, we realized we were hungry. I had been searching for some nearby restaurants the night before and looking at our choices again, saw that Jackson Hole Burgers had some raving reviews.
Tucked away on E 64th St with an unassuming exterior, as with most older buildings in New York, you had to descend a small flight of steps before entering. We were immediately greeted warmly and shown to some seats in a second room. It was quite late for dinner (at least 8 or 9pm I think) so the restaurant was quite empty.
Having looked at the menu before leaving the apartment, we knew what we wanted. I ordered a veggie burger with cheese and mushrooms and added bacon - something I always do as I do not eat red meat, but I love bacon - with a root beer float because I'd noticed they brew their own sodas ('pop' in Canadian speak). While we waited for our food to arrive, we were given some cornichons (I'm not sure why New Yorkers don't call them pickles... maybe because they are only lightly pickled cucumbers?) to munch on. I'd brought Elton along for the meal, so took copious photos of him whilst enjoying my root beer float.
The veggie burger was amazing. The patty was house-made with black beans and not the least bit dry or bland as some veggie patties are apt to be. I'm sad to report that the fries, in comparison with the burgers, are really not up to snuff. But perhaps it's a personal preference? I've never been partial to steak fries.
Stuffed to the brim, we dragged ourselves back to our humble (temporary) abode, and winded down the night with some more mindless television. (I'm truly disgusted that TLC - The Learning Channel!!!! - has become a reality television network.)
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Losing My Shit: Figuratively and (Almost) Literally
New York - Day 1
We got to baggage claim in Newark airport and sure enough, my suitcase wasn't there. I talked to the baggage claim lady (I don't know what their official titles are supposed to be and feel bad that they must work in tiny, depressing, holes for offices) and she was nice - like a mom who won't sugarcoat things for you but definitely looks out for your best interests.
The earliest my suitcase could make it into Newark was 2pm (it was 11am then), but they could deliver it to me. I didn't have our apartment address written down. I am never this disorganized, but I was this trip. Shame!
I did have the apartment rental service's address and number though. The girl I talked to was not very helpful. What should have taken maybe 5 minutes to sort out took closer to 10. (Why would you hire anyone so incapable to handle anything administration-related?!)
I thought it best to send my luggage to the apartment rental services office, but they wanted to charge me $50. The baggage lady was completely disgusted and handled the rest of the call for me. No, you're not paying them an extra $50. That's ridiculous! We'll get your number and give you a call before we deliver your luggage so you don't have to wait around in the apartment all day. See what I said about her being a total mom?
With that sorted out, we hopped in a cab to Brooklyn to get our apartment keys. Our cabby was Haitian, which I found out because his GPS was set to French and I asked where he was from. We drove through the claustrophobic-ly long Holland Tunnel and the congested streets of Chinatown to Brooklyn.
The cab ride was $90. Ugh.
At the rental services office, I met the ditzy girl I talked to on the phone. I think she was an intern.
Apartment keys secured and back into Manhattan! It was a really nice day out and not at all as cold as I was expecting, which was good for me as I was still dressed for west coast weather (my giant down jacket was in my suitcase).
We marvelled at shady-looking nail and hair salons along the way, lamented Jenny's absence, and laughed over how I misunderstood Ricky Martin for Obama. (Sue said "Whitney and I were wondering if he's in Vancouver right now [for the Olympics]" and Ricky Martin was on the radio, so I'd said, "Who? Ricky Martin?" when we'd been talking about Obama just a minute ago.)
Lexington between 63rd and 64th. Finally here!
We knew the apartment building had no lift when we'd booked, but I was too optimistic to realize the building would have narrow staircases. We are on the top (fourth) floor.
When we got to our suite, I knew we'd made the right choice for our apartment. The windows are massive with draping curtains. One living room wall is painted in gold and maroon damask patterns while the opposite brick wall is painted white. The bathroom has a sunroof and the view into the neighbouring back yards is so lovely. (I really want to live in an apartment to the left of us, on 63rd.)
Internet was functional. Megan was on her way.
Having travelled for so many hours (16 hours total, give or take), we wanted to take it easy. After Megan arrived and settled in, we needed food. I'd already researched and found Alice's Tea Cup - Chapter II was around the corner from us. It was packed! (We did arrive around 4pm though.) After putting our names down, we did a few blocks' sweep of Madison Avenue where (on the outside of the windows) I drooled over an ostrich feather skirt and some D&G heels.
The wait for tea at Alice's was worth it. The decor is lovely and they have a great selection of teas from around the world. What really surprised me was the fries though (I'd ordered a sandwich). They are seasoned and fried to the perfect amount of flavour and crisp-meets-crunch factor. There have been no fries in my recent memory that can rival these.
After tea, I realized I was way too tired and cold to venture anywhere further. We holed up in the apartment and turned on the TV. Maybe an hour later, I got a call about my luggage (yay!) but the caller hung up before I could ask his ETA.
Three hours later and many horrendous shows later, there was still no luggage. I started getting pretty pissed. I tried to call a customer support line: could not get through. I tried to call the number I'd received the call from earlier: could not get through. I tried another customer support line: mailbox full. I finally emailed them an angry letter but knew I'd get no response so late at night. (It was also President's Day. FML.)
I'd been in the same clothes for over 24 hours and I couldn't even brush my teeth. The hot water was no longer working either. We had lukewarm water at best and tried to boil some water (with the one and only pot in the apartment) for the tub.
By eleven I was giving up hope and ready to sleep in the same dirty clothes 'til I could shop for new ones the next day. At 10 minutes to midnight, my phone rang. My luggage! I raced downstairs to open the door and found the man holding a girly duffle bag. NOOOOOOOOOO!
I'd seen that same bag unclaimed on the carousel earlier. I was waiting on a blue suitcase. I had given the airline all the specifics of what my suitcase looked like. The man didn't know what to do. I just started going off about how I'd been waiting over twelve hours for my suitcase and how badly I needed it. I probably would have cried in another minute. He didn't think he had any blue suitcase in his truck, but he told me to come have a look with him. It was there pushed in the back under other luggage and surely, did not look blue under the truck's bad lighting. I thanked him profusely and hauled my suitcase best I could up the stairs.
It had started to snow but we decided to brave it for some groceries and toiletries. We were starving. One big bowl of KD later, we all climbed into bed and called it a (long and eventful) day.
We got to baggage claim in Newark airport and sure enough, my suitcase wasn't there. I talked to the baggage claim lady (I don't know what their official titles are supposed to be and feel bad that they must work in tiny, depressing, holes for offices) and she was nice - like a mom who won't sugarcoat things for you but definitely looks out for your best interests.
The earliest my suitcase could make it into Newark was 2pm (it was 11am then), but they could deliver it to me. I didn't have our apartment address written down. I am never this disorganized, but I was this trip. Shame!
I did have the apartment rental service's address and number though. The girl I talked to was not very helpful. What should have taken maybe 5 minutes to sort out took closer to 10. (Why would you hire anyone so incapable to handle anything administration-related?!)
I thought it best to send my luggage to the apartment rental services office, but they wanted to charge me $50. The baggage lady was completely disgusted and handled the rest of the call for me. No, you're not paying them an extra $50. That's ridiculous! We'll get your number and give you a call before we deliver your luggage so you don't have to wait around in the apartment all day. See what I said about her being a total mom?
With that sorted out, we hopped in a cab to Brooklyn to get our apartment keys. Our cabby was Haitian, which I found out because his GPS was set to French and I asked where he was from. We drove through the claustrophobic-ly long Holland Tunnel and the congested streets of Chinatown to Brooklyn.
The cab ride was $90. Ugh.
At the rental services office, I met the ditzy girl I talked to on the phone. I think she was an intern.
Apartment keys secured and back into Manhattan! It was a really nice day out and not at all as cold as I was expecting, which was good for me as I was still dressed for west coast weather (my giant down jacket was in my suitcase).
We marvelled at shady-looking nail and hair salons along the way, lamented Jenny's absence, and laughed over how I misunderstood Ricky Martin for Obama. (Sue said "Whitney and I were wondering if he's in Vancouver right now [for the Olympics]" and Ricky Martin was on the radio, so I'd said, "Who? Ricky Martin?" when we'd been talking about Obama just a minute ago.)
Lexington between 63rd and 64th. Finally here!
We knew the apartment building had no lift when we'd booked, but I was too optimistic to realize the building would have narrow staircases. We are on the top (fourth) floor.
When we got to our suite, I knew we'd made the right choice for our apartment. The windows are massive with draping curtains. One living room wall is painted in gold and maroon damask patterns while the opposite brick wall is painted white. The bathroom has a sunroof and the view into the neighbouring back yards is so lovely. (I really want to live in an apartment to the left of us, on 63rd.)
Internet was functional. Megan was on her way.
Having travelled for so many hours (16 hours total, give or take), we wanted to take it easy. After Megan arrived and settled in, we needed food. I'd already researched and found Alice's Tea Cup - Chapter II was around the corner from us. It was packed! (We did arrive around 4pm though.) After putting our names down, we did a few blocks' sweep of Madison Avenue where (on the outside of the windows) I drooled over an ostrich feather skirt and some D&G heels.
The wait for tea at Alice's was worth it. The decor is lovely and they have a great selection of teas from around the world. What really surprised me was the fries though (I'd ordered a sandwich). They are seasoned and fried to the perfect amount of flavour and crisp-meets-crunch factor. There have been no fries in my recent memory that can rival these.
After tea, I realized I was way too tired and cold to venture anywhere further. We holed up in the apartment and turned on the TV. Maybe an hour later, I got a call about my luggage (yay!) but the caller hung up before I could ask his ETA.
Three hours later and many horrendous shows later, there was still no luggage. I started getting pretty pissed. I tried to call a customer support line: could not get through. I tried to call the number I'd received the call from earlier: could not get through. I tried another customer support line: mailbox full. I finally emailed them an angry letter but knew I'd get no response so late at night. (It was also President's Day. FML.)
I'd been in the same clothes for over 24 hours and I couldn't even brush my teeth. The hot water was no longer working either. We had lukewarm water at best and tried to boil some water (with the one and only pot in the apartment) for the tub.
By eleven I was giving up hope and ready to sleep in the same dirty clothes 'til I could shop for new ones the next day. At 10 minutes to midnight, my phone rang. My luggage! I raced downstairs to open the door and found the man holding a girly duffle bag. NOOOOOOOOOO!
I'd seen that same bag unclaimed on the carousel earlier. I was waiting on a blue suitcase. I had given the airline all the specifics of what my suitcase looked like. The man didn't know what to do. I just started going off about how I'd been waiting over twelve hours for my suitcase and how badly I needed it. I probably would have cried in another minute. He didn't think he had any blue suitcase in his truck, but he told me to come have a look with him. It was there pushed in the back under other luggage and surely, did not look blue under the truck's bad lighting. I thanked him profusely and hauled my suitcase best I could up the stairs.
It had started to snow but we decided to brave it for some groceries and toiletries. We were starving. One big bowl of KD later, we all climbed into bed and called it a (long and eventful) day.
Monday, February 15, 2010
It Reads Like A Page-Turner...
Departure: Vancouver to Seattle
We chose to fly out of Seattle because it meant saving about $300. Yes, there are layovers each way, but I'd take saving a few hundred dollars and wandering around an unfamiliar airport any day. I like airports.
We had decided to depart from my house around 4pm Sunday (Shawn, Sue's oldest brother, was awesome enough to give us a lift into Seattle), but plans changed a teeny bit. Sue and Shawn showed up at my house almost an hour early and I was not ready. I was in the middle of checking into my flight and still needed to hop in the shower and pack my laptop. Thankfully, I have an awesome boyfriend who is always the face of calm when I freak out (and vice versa; we've yet to both freak out at the same time, but I seriously hope that never happens) and he finished my packing for me.
We took off at our intended time of departure and crossed the border with no problem. As we neared Seattle, it started to rain and I started to drift off to sleep.
The drive was uneventful, and our original plans to have dinner along the way never came to fruition. Shawn dropped us off at SeaTac at about 7:30pm. Did I mention Sue and I had red eye flights? Yeah....
So, we checked our big suitcases, got our boarding passes and sat down for a snack before entering security. Completely expecting to twiddle our thumbs for another four hours, we were quite excited to notice a guy holding some flowers in the awaiting arrivals area. Yes, we stalked and I don't think we were overtly discreet about it either.
Having witnessed a happy reunion, we finally checked through security and wandered in some gift shops. Nothing was bought, but we decided Ivar's was a good choice for dinner. They sure know how to do fast food clam chowder right!
I'd like to take a moment to profess my love for SeaTac airport. Aside from the awesome little gift shop I always pop into now (but still forget the name of), the cool art installations, and the decent seafood selection, THEY HAVE FREE WI-FI! Every airport ought to embrace this. Seriously.
Sue and I killed some time on my laptop (looking at silly t-shirts) and before we knew it, it was midnight and Sue had to board her flight (we got separate ones out of Seattle but the same connection in Minneapolis). By the time I boarded mine half an hour later, I was quite ready for bed.
I have no real complaints about flying, but waiting around with no idea what's going on is the absolute worst. For anything. So, guess what? We were sitting around with no idea what the delay was! I'd diligently turned off my cellphone about five minutes after sitting down and buckling up, so I had no clue what time it was at this point, but I'd definitely noticed we were not ready for takeoff. I'd guesstimate at about 1am (when we were supposed to take off) the pilot finally announced that we were waiting on about 20 to 30 more passengers to board. Where were these people and what could possibly be delaying them at this hour?!
Maybe another 15-30 minutes later - after we'd noticed that no one new had boarded - the pilot made another announcement. Oh, it's a good one!
Three days prior, a cleaner accidentally unplugged the computer system that is used to keep track of flight lists/passenger information, so the computer was running off the backup battery the whole time and JUST DIED part way through the boarding of our flight.
Whomever needed to be scrambling, scrambled to get that computer back up and the remaining passengers finally boarded. Another long wait. Oh hello! It's the captain again! It's well past one in the morning and not many people are working, so there's only one push crew for the entire terminal. Another flight - fully booked - that is on its way to Memphis needs to take off ASAP or the whole flight would have to deboard and get cancelled. Well, since we've already been delayed and aren't fully booked, that other flight gets priority. Hooray!
At this point, us passengers were definitely getting antsy as most of us had connections to catch in Minneapolis. I appreciated the captain being a no bullshit kinda guy: it wasn't looking like we'd be able to make our connections. He asked everyone without connections or immediate ones, to stay put and let others off; he told us where the flights screens were outside our arrival gate, etc. He tried really hard to get us there on time. We didn't make it on time.
I was supposed to have a 45-minute layover in Minneapolis. By the time we landed and got out of the gate, it was 6:50am - I had 15 minutes to book it to Terminal C from Terminal F.
Text message from Sue: 'Where are you? We're boarding and we're not at Gate C1 anymore. We're at Gate C11.' OH FUCK. The flights screen was not updated.
I like airports. I can't appreciate strange new ones when I'm running like a madwoman trying to make my connection though.
I hadn't slept much. I hadn't eaten since Ivar's the night before. Putting my body through a 7am sprint with a laptop strapped to me was definitely torture.
I finally saw Gate C11 and I also saw a completely empty check-in desk.
A worker nearby told me to just 'go.' I ran down the walkway and almost collided with an airline worker. She barely looked at my boarding pass; just asked for my name and told me to 'RUN!'
I think I literally made it seconds before they were going to close the door. When I got inside the plane, all the flight attendants were checking seat belts and closing overhead cabinet doors.
The flight's highlight was seeing the plane getting sprayed with antifreeze. It looked mighty cold in Minneapolis.
You may've figured out that because I'd barely made my connection flight, there was little chance of my luggage having made the connection.
We chose to fly out of Seattle because it meant saving about $300. Yes, there are layovers each way, but I'd take saving a few hundred dollars and wandering around an unfamiliar airport any day. I like airports.
We had decided to depart from my house around 4pm Sunday (Shawn, Sue's oldest brother, was awesome enough to give us a lift into Seattle), but plans changed a teeny bit. Sue and Shawn showed up at my house almost an hour early and I was not ready. I was in the middle of checking into my flight and still needed to hop in the shower and pack my laptop. Thankfully, I have an awesome boyfriend who is always the face of calm when I freak out (and vice versa; we've yet to both freak out at the same time, but I seriously hope that never happens) and he finished my packing for me.
We took off at our intended time of departure and crossed the border with no problem. As we neared Seattle, it started to rain and I started to drift off to sleep.
The drive was uneventful, and our original plans to have dinner along the way never came to fruition. Shawn dropped us off at SeaTac at about 7:30pm. Did I mention Sue and I had red eye flights? Yeah....
So, we checked our big suitcases, got our boarding passes and sat down for a snack before entering security. Completely expecting to twiddle our thumbs for another four hours, we were quite excited to notice a guy holding some flowers in the awaiting arrivals area. Yes, we stalked and I don't think we were overtly discreet about it either.
Having witnessed a happy reunion, we finally checked through security and wandered in some gift shops. Nothing was bought, but we decided Ivar's was a good choice for dinner. They sure know how to do fast food clam chowder right!
I'd like to take a moment to profess my love for SeaTac airport. Aside from the awesome little gift shop I always pop into now (but still forget the name of), the cool art installations, and the decent seafood selection, THEY HAVE FREE WI-FI! Every airport ought to embrace this. Seriously.
Sue and I killed some time on my laptop (looking at silly t-shirts) and before we knew it, it was midnight and Sue had to board her flight (we got separate ones out of Seattle but the same connection in Minneapolis). By the time I boarded mine half an hour later, I was quite ready for bed.
I have no real complaints about flying, but waiting around with no idea what's going on is the absolute worst. For anything. So, guess what? We were sitting around with no idea what the delay was! I'd diligently turned off my cellphone about five minutes after sitting down and buckling up, so I had no clue what time it was at this point, but I'd definitely noticed we were not ready for takeoff. I'd guesstimate at about 1am (when we were supposed to take off) the pilot finally announced that we were waiting on about 20 to 30 more passengers to board. Where were these people and what could possibly be delaying them at this hour?!
Maybe another 15-30 minutes later - after we'd noticed that no one new had boarded - the pilot made another announcement. Oh, it's a good one!
Three days prior, a cleaner accidentally unplugged the computer system that is used to keep track of flight lists/passenger information, so the computer was running off the backup battery the whole time and JUST DIED part way through the boarding of our flight.
Whomever needed to be scrambling, scrambled to get that computer back up and the remaining passengers finally boarded. Another long wait. Oh hello! It's the captain again! It's well past one in the morning and not many people are working, so there's only one push crew for the entire terminal. Another flight - fully booked - that is on its way to Memphis needs to take off ASAP or the whole flight would have to deboard and get cancelled. Well, since we've already been delayed and aren't fully booked, that other flight gets priority. Hooray!
At this point, us passengers were definitely getting antsy as most of us had connections to catch in Minneapolis. I appreciated the captain being a no bullshit kinda guy: it wasn't looking like we'd be able to make our connections. He asked everyone without connections or immediate ones, to stay put and let others off; he told us where the flights screens were outside our arrival gate, etc. He tried really hard to get us there on time. We didn't make it on time.
I was supposed to have a 45-minute layover in Minneapolis. By the time we landed and got out of the gate, it was 6:50am - I had 15 minutes to book it to Terminal C from Terminal F.
Text message from Sue: 'Where are you? We're boarding and we're not at Gate C1 anymore. We're at Gate C11.' OH FUCK. The flights screen was not updated.
I like airports. I can't appreciate strange new ones when I'm running like a madwoman trying to make my connection though.
I hadn't slept much. I hadn't eaten since Ivar's the night before. Putting my body through a 7am sprint with a laptop strapped to me was definitely torture.
I finally saw Gate C11 and I also saw a completely empty check-in desk.
A worker nearby told me to just 'go.' I ran down the walkway and almost collided with an airline worker. She barely looked at my boarding pass; just asked for my name and told me to 'RUN!'
I think I literally made it seconds before they were going to close the door. When I got inside the plane, all the flight attendants were checking seat belts and closing overhead cabinet doors.
The flight's highlight was seeing the plane getting sprayed with antifreeze. It looked mighty cold in Minneapolis.
You may've figured out that because I'd barely made my connection flight, there was little chance of my luggage having made the connection.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Pre-Trip Backstory
I almost wish I had decided to start a travel blog sooner, but alas....
So, the first trip I shall blog is New York. This is my second pilgrimage to the Big Apple - the first being three years ago with my design & illustration class - and I'm hoping to fill in all those touristy gaps I missed the first time around.
We decided on this trip because Megan had received some travel points as her bonus from work and also, she had wanted to visit some close friends in Montreal. Initially, I also really wanted to make the trek to Montreal, then New York and back, but decided my financial state wouldn't allow for that type of spending.
Instead of trying to find an affordable hotel, I'd remembered a friend had rented an apartment for a week when he'd visited New York, so I set about looking for some and seeing what the prices were like. I was so excited to see that they were totally affordable with some awesome locations as well! (Hello, Upper East Side!)
We managed to rope in my friend Jenny while some others sat on the sidelines undecided for weeks. We definitely wanted four, as Megan and I wanted to hit up some museums and galleries that Jenny was afraid would not keep her entertained for long (Megan and I went to art school together and run a small design studio; Jenny works in human resources and as a pharmaceutical technician) and it would be best if she had some company. (But also: watching the wallet.)
Without much luck finding a fourth to share the apartment though, I considered asking my sister-in-law (that is, my brother-in-law's younger sister) Sue. I wasn't sure if she'd be able to take time off, but New York seemed like something she'd love to do. Luckily, whilst chatting with my sister (marathon phone calls are our thing), I found out the date for her hand surgery had been set and her boss had given her clearance for almost a month off in February. It totally coincides with our visit to New York and without too much hesitation (she was in the midst of planning a Vegas trip with her friends) she hopped on board.
Just as things were (finally) going smoothly (flights booked, apartment booked) and with about four days 'til departure, Jenny bailed.
Her boss had scheduled a training week during our time in New York and Jenny was forced to choose work over leisure. I can't say I'm not choked but am incredibly thankful she is willing to pay for her share of the apartment still.
Oh yeah, did I mention New York's in the middle of a big snow storm? This should be awesome!
So, the first trip I shall blog is New York. This is my second pilgrimage to the Big Apple - the first being three years ago with my design & illustration class - and I'm hoping to fill in all those touristy gaps I missed the first time around.
We decided on this trip because Megan had received some travel points as her bonus from work and also, she had wanted to visit some close friends in Montreal. Initially, I also really wanted to make the trek to Montreal, then New York and back, but decided my financial state wouldn't allow for that type of spending.
Instead of trying to find an affordable hotel, I'd remembered a friend had rented an apartment for a week when he'd visited New York, so I set about looking for some and seeing what the prices were like. I was so excited to see that they were totally affordable with some awesome locations as well! (Hello, Upper East Side!)
We managed to rope in my friend Jenny while some others sat on the sidelines undecided for weeks. We definitely wanted four, as Megan and I wanted to hit up some museums and galleries that Jenny was afraid would not keep her entertained for long (Megan and I went to art school together and run a small design studio; Jenny works in human resources and as a pharmaceutical technician) and it would be best if she had some company. (But also: watching the wallet.)
Without much luck finding a fourth to share the apartment though, I considered asking my sister-in-law (that is, my brother-in-law's younger sister) Sue. I wasn't sure if she'd be able to take time off, but New York seemed like something she'd love to do. Luckily, whilst chatting with my sister (marathon phone calls are our thing), I found out the date for her hand surgery had been set and her boss had given her clearance for almost a month off in February. It totally coincides with our visit to New York and without too much hesitation (she was in the midst of planning a Vegas trip with her friends) she hopped on board.
Just as things were (finally) going smoothly (flights booked, apartment booked) and with about four days 'til departure, Jenny bailed.
Her boss had scheduled a training week during our time in New York and Jenny was forced to choose work over leisure. I can't say I'm not choked but am incredibly thankful she is willing to pay for her share of the apartment still.
Oh yeah, did I mention New York's in the middle of a big snow storm? This should be awesome!
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