DAYS 31 AND 32 -
HE'S THE ADONIS OF ADAMS - The Santa impersonators genially straggling the streets of New York for the barminess of Santa Con, kick-started my day with a big smile. Some were far too scantily-clad and binge-drinking hours before midday which Mr Claus would not stand for; I'm trusting his judgement that they received lumps of coal in their stockings for crimes of naughtiness. I for one, do not involve myself with phonies. At NBC Studios I endeavoured in vain to take a tour but the tickets were all sold out for the remainder of my stay :( Consequently, I had to be content with taking a spin (I say 'spin' but it is immobile) in The Voice chair 'I WANT YOU!' inside the gift shop of the Rockefeller complex. This was no doubt the closest I'll ever be to the ever so handsome Adam L ;) I'm coming for your job next season, Blakey!! Rianney needs to let go of these fantasies.
In the spirit of NYC tourism, I twisted and turned to process the fun house of Time Square's usual pandemonium. Though the craziness bubbles to the surface, it does have a sorta dazzling appeal all of its own. No, it doesn't smell of daisies but neither is it as repugnant as it is reputed for being. I happen to think it's rather awesome that 330,000 (ballpark figure!) pass through the commercial hub, known to some as the centre of the universe, on any given day. Revlon's interactive #loveison campaign imposingly overhangs this intersection with its kiss cam (now switched back on after a spell of pervs seizing the chance to grope unsuspecting women) but is intended to invite the world to choose love. All are encouraged to upload pics of love using their hashtag in order to be featured on their website.
DISNEYLAND IN A DISPOSABLE STYROFOAM CUP - Yet another fruitless search was had for Mum's nativity figurines that she has her heart set on, this time at Union Square Holiday Market. Disliked the squashiness much like that on the underground as I want to avoid getting intimate with strangers, ta very much! The Pretty lanterns at one of the stalls were like Aladdin's cave of wonders but you have to root through some tat in order to unearth such treasures. My mouth thanks the creators for their No Chewing Allowed hot chocolate with their splendid blend of a truffle melted inside, for what would be my daily hit-me-up if I were a Manhattanite. All aspects of this chocoholic beverage are ardently steamy, that in those minutes I had an intense love affair with it and it can sugar me anytime, baby! Alas, all chaud chocolat must come to an end! :(
Little did I know that in China Town, I was about to enter a non-sterile environment. Squalor and sketchiness abound in this craptacular suburb so this part of earth is not the place one should split to for a picnic, put it that way! I was startled and scandalised by the drab, run down, defaced territory of the Lower East Side, wishing that the grunginess was all an illusion. Still, I 'survived'. I broke away to Little Italy.. which wasn't much prettier as another district that isn't a real 'charmer'.. A smidgen of rain fell from the sky as I examined the Statue of Liberty patriotically coloured mural and the commemorative wall at Most Precious Blood Church honouring over 400 veterans from the area. The significance of the purple and green muscular alien babies was lost on me but surely the street artists think before they ink. Just as was the STAY FURRY black and white cartoony wall sketches; these too could well be some eloquent metaphor.
COULDN'T ENJOY MY CARBS BECAUSE OF UNREALISTIC CHEESE-LESS EXPECTATIONS - Pegged it into Casa Bella for pasta and the scemos put cheese on my meal after requesting multiple times that they did NOT. How poop of them!! It's like they've never met me to rudely not remember my formaggio intolerance. Quickly, I came to my senses and called for it be boxed up mid-way through, feigning having to meet a friend, so as to not offend but then Usain Bolted it out and promptly discarded it into the nearest trash can. It was not a loss to mourn!!
One more tick off The Big Apple list was so Marilyn! I searched out the Lexington subway grate where the iconic Miss Monroe paparazzi shot was captured.. though I'm not 100% I had the exact one as several line the sidewalk and the numbers on the surrounding buildings ran out. For all I know, I was stood on a lesser, unremarkable grate that Madame never graced with her billowing gown. New York, New York is a Narnia of the weird and the random; I never guessed I would see a Prayer Station adjacent to Central Park or hunky bell boys in shiny crimson and gold blazers become mannequins in a store window in real Ken doll boxes. Wherever, I went in the city I was constantly on the look out for camera crews shooting movies but the closest I got to this was Parking notices warning residents of forthcoming filming for Netflix's original series, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
QUEEN BEE HEADQUARTERS - Immediately after, I trudged along close to 40 blocks in slow motion and all to get to Blair Waldorf's Gossip Girl penthouse at #1136 5th Avenue. This highly sought after duplex claims extraordinary views of Central Park and is worth an estimated $30 million! I'd like to go live with her there and although she is a fictitious character it won't be at all strange. Google now informs me that Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid also live/lived in this handsomely classic, pre-war apartment house. Taxied back out of laziness but you're not undergoing a genuine New Yorker's way of life, unless you do! Plus, one pulled up directly before me and I figured why the H not? I've done my fair share and then some of exercise in this here town. It might cost me some calorie-burning but so be it.
Karina and I banqueted at Metro Diner cos dining in diners is very All American Girl. Just when I needed some, I was able to order root beer (old schooling it!) and chicken souvlaki with salad and chips. For the root beer alone, I will be writing a very favourable online review particularly as my food didn't go up in flames, in addition to being cheese-free as it ought to be.When we got back to our bunks, another more mature women had checked in and I swear she and the other oldie are living in their beds, not seeing much of the island at all! Which is insane, especially at the height of the season to be jolly!!! I'm not the most lively, partying girlo as I'm too old for shenaniganising but my joie de vivre is lunatic-level. Tomorrow, I'm not only painting part of this town red, but orange and neon green too! xx
THE ULTIMATE BROOKLYN BRUNCH - Half the day was spent with with two ripper chicks and I knew it was going to be one of those magical New York City days. We weren't successful in our hopes to meet up with Jutta again before she left, as I didn't have wifi to contact her :( Maddie, Karina and I brunched in Brooklyn - Williamsburg to be exact and it was so fabulous to be out of Manhattan, away from the hectic bustling, if only for a change of pace and scenery. Parts are a dirty dive but it is 'hipper' and full of trendy joints like Trix - which scores full cool points from me. 'Tis the season for brunch with friends' so said the blackboard outside and Rianne Montigue *knows* brunch! As good as I intend to be, I fell into the clutches of croissant french toast and let me tell ya, that is what deliciousness looks like.
Many of my adventures have been very Gossip Girly, have they not? This was no exception as we set off in search of The Humphrey Loft on Water Street, home to the sexy Rufus! We knew we were in the right radius but for the life of us failed to find the number; however as we recognised the view on TV with the Manhattan bridge next to it - we photographed in the knowledge that the apartment would be in the frame somewhere. Liking the painted message sent to 'spread love it's the Brooklyn way' as it doesn't cost anything to be nice and what looked like Jackie Chan doing some kung fu moves illustrated on the face of a church.
DO YA MIND? ME AND BROOKLYN ARE HAVING A MOMENT HERE - Sat by the East River on Brooklyn Bridge beach, admiring a newly wed bride and groom pose for professional pics on the rocks as her elegant dress gradually became distinctly less exquisite due to the dirt underfoot. The radiant couple were going for a timeless look and gave out some sparkling smiles to document their happy day! I hadn't known of the existence of this waterfront yet it was a gem of a find. Kiddywinks photobombed me as they climbed atop the 'YO' fluro letters when my dibs on an individual photo were surely implied.
Our field of vision on a sunny, albeit misty day was wondrous as we could see the Manhattan bridge to the right and Brooklyn to the left. I don't know how you can improve upon an afternoon like this, nor how one could ever tire of seeing this stunner of a cityscape. It took almost longer for the three of us to find the pedestrian steps to actually get on to the Brooklyn bridge, once titled the 8th wonder of the world, than it did to walk across and back. This is no ordinary bridge for it carries 150,000 vehicles and pedestrians daily, over 2 dozen people were killed during its construction, it's been used to advertise Italian chewing gum and nests 16 pairs of Peregrine falcons!!
MY EYES ACHED FOR THE BEAUTY I SAW - The air was ridiculously temperate for December at 17/18 degrees (Celsius not Farenheit) and so the coat-less-ness continued as the temps soared. It felt more like I was on a Jamaican beach, especially compared to some of the Canadian minus degrees I'd 'endured.' A stunning ball of sun started to set early and it felt so warm and wonderful against my skin. One more thing I have now crossed off my NY Bucket list, was our pleasant stroll though it was quick sticks as Maddie had to get back to HI as some of her friends were leaving. It was quite lovely to spend these hours with the 2 chicas, with admittedly amazing views of the sun shimmering across the horizon. The bridge wasn't rickety at all so it's strange to think I was once profoundly scared of ones over water, for a time and now I'm a FREAK for bridges. That's one more thing I can now cross off my bucket list!
Times Square = chaos central aka the streets of STRESS, where bedlam reigneth! Karina and I tried to get tickets to see Aladdin or Finding Neverland but the least expensive seats remaining were $80, so we forced to pass up. Poor Karina tripped onto the road as she hadn't seen the step, grazing her knee and tearing her tights. That's one pesky and perilous pavement!!
I'M A COMPLETE HEAD-OVER-HEELS IDIOT FOR THIS PLACE - For her final night, I took Karina to Ellen's Stardust diner and I love it TOO much! We only waited 10 or 15 minutes to get in; as tables for 2 were taking longer to seat, the couple behind us offered to let us sit with them to make up a group a 4. Root beer was guzzled, pulled chipotle chicken burrito with waffle fries were chomped down and followed up with an ice cream sundae - but this could not be fully consumed. Aladdin came to us as we weren't able to see the popular Broadway show with 2 of the waiters duetting to A Whole New World. Our Tinkerbell-like waitress did a twinkling rendition of Wicked's Popular, while the hottie who sang Bohemian Rhapsody stole the show as he hilariousy snatched cell phones to get close ups of his face while wiggling his tushy at a Granny! The lovely Mr and Mrs Jones, who shared a table with us, sneakily paid for our meal without letting on to us. They left before we did leaving our waitress to inform us of their generosity - in this day and age, we couldn't believe it!! I could have cried as I couldn't get over the kindness of total strangers; it's a huge shame we weren't able to show our appreciation without having contact details for them. The only way to thank them is to pay it forward and do something meaningful and altruistic for others xx
In the spirit of NYC tourism, I twisted and turned to process the fun house of Time Square's usual pandemonium. Though the craziness bubbles to the surface, it does have a sorta dazzling appeal all of its own. No, it doesn't smell of daisies but neither is it as repugnant as it is reputed for being. I happen to think it's rather awesome that 330,000 (ballpark figure!) pass through the commercial hub, known to some as the centre of the universe, on any given day. Revlon's interactive #loveison campaign imposingly overhangs this intersection with its kiss cam (now switched back on after a spell of pervs seizing the chance to grope unsuspecting women) but is intended to invite the world to choose love. All are encouraged to upload pics of love using their hashtag in order to be featured on their website.
Little did I know that in China Town, I was about to enter a non-sterile environment. Squalor and sketchiness abound in this craptacular suburb so this part of earth is not the place one should split to for a picnic, put it that way! I was startled and scandalised by the drab, run down, defaced territory of the Lower East Side, wishing that the grunginess was all an illusion. Still, I 'survived'. I broke away to Little Italy.. which wasn't much prettier as another district that isn't a real 'charmer'.. A smidgen of rain fell from the sky as I examined the Statue of Liberty patriotically coloured mural and the commemorative wall at Most Precious Blood Church honouring over 400 veterans from the area. The significance of the purple and green muscular alien babies was lost on me but surely the street artists think before they ink. Just as was the STAY FURRY black and white cartoony wall sketches; these too could well be some eloquent metaphor.
QUEEN BEE HEADQUARTERS - Immediately after, I trudged along close to 40 blocks in slow motion and all to get to Blair Waldorf's Gossip Girl penthouse at #1136 5th Avenue. This highly sought after duplex claims extraordinary views of Central Park and is worth an estimated $30 million! I'd like to go live with her there and although she is a fictitious character it won't be at all strange. Google now informs me that Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid also live/lived in this handsomely classic, pre-war apartment house. Taxied back out of laziness but you're not undergoing a genuine New Yorker's way of life, unless you do! Plus, one pulled up directly before me and I figured why the H not? I've done my fair share and then some of exercise in this here town. It might cost me some calorie-burning but so be it.
THE ULTIMATE BROOKLYN BRUNCH - Half the day was spent with with two ripper chicks and I knew it was going to be one of those magical New York City days. We weren't successful in our hopes to meet up with Jutta again before she left, as I didn't have wifi to contact her :( Maddie, Karina and I brunched in Brooklyn - Williamsburg to be exact and it was so fabulous to be out of Manhattan, away from the hectic bustling, if only for a change of pace and scenery. Parts are a dirty dive but it is 'hipper' and full of trendy joints like Trix - which scores full cool points from me. 'Tis the season for brunch with friends' so said the blackboard outside and Rianne Montigue *knows* brunch! As good as I intend to be, I fell into the clutches of croissant french toast and let me tell ya, that is what deliciousness looks like.
DO YA MIND? ME AND BROOKLYN ARE HAVING A MOMENT HERE - Sat by the East River on Brooklyn Bridge beach, admiring a newly wed bride and groom pose for professional pics on the rocks as her elegant dress gradually became distinctly less exquisite due to the dirt underfoot. The radiant couple were going for a timeless look and gave out some sparkling smiles to document their happy day! I hadn't known of the existence of this waterfront yet it was a gem of a find. Kiddywinks photobombed me as they climbed atop the 'YO' fluro letters when my dibs on an individual photo were surely implied.
I'M A COMPLETE HEAD-OVER-HEELS IDIOT FOR THIS PLACE - For her final night, I took Karina to Ellen's Stardust diner and I love it TOO much! We only waited 10 or 15 minutes to get in; as tables for 2 were taking longer to seat, the couple behind us offered to let us sit with them to make up a group a 4. Root beer was guzzled, pulled chipotle chicken burrito with waffle fries were chomped down and followed up with an ice cream sundae - but this could not be fully consumed. Aladdin came to us as we weren't able to see the popular Broadway show with 2 of the waiters duetting to A Whole New World. Our Tinkerbell-like waitress did a twinkling rendition of Wicked's Popular, while the hottie who sang Bohemian Rhapsody stole the show as he hilariousy snatched cell phones to get close ups of his face while wiggling his tushy at a Granny! The lovely Mr and Mrs Jones, who shared a table with us, sneakily paid for our meal without letting on to us. They left before we did leaving our waitress to inform us of their generosity - in this day and age, we couldn't believe it!! I could have cried as I couldn't get over the kindness of total strangers; it's a huge shame we weren't able to show our appreciation without having contact details for them. The only way to thank them is to pay it forward and do something meaningful and altruistic for others xx
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