So, as you know from previous posts, I love visiting A&K in NYC…first and foremost to see them and just hang out enjoying their company….but also to roam the city and discover something new. There’s always a new exhibit or restaurant to try and this weekend trip was no different.
I came in, as usual, on the redeye and the plan was to head up to a cool sculpture park up North called Stormking. So, we hopped in the car, the gps took us through the city and it ended up taking 3 hours and by the time we got there they had just closed it due to capacity limits. UGH…what to do now?! We decided to make the best of it and stopped up the road for a quick drink overlooking the Hudson….then moved on to another cute place for lunch…and then back to the city. A little adventure, with some beautiful leaf-peeping. We’ll get to Stormking another time!
My niece, Erin, just started her freshman year at Barnard and I’d heard it was a gorgeous campus. We had reservations for dinner and a play, so instead of heading back to Carroll Gardens, A&K indulged me and took me past Barnard (which is closely tied to Columbia University) to walk around a bit. What a gorgeous quad and it really feels like a college campus in the city…whereas, I think NYU just doesn’t have that “campus” feel. I love that she’s going there and so proud that in her first month of college, she was selected to join the staff of The Spectator, Columbia’s newspaper.
It happened to be parent’s/family weekend at Barnard, so my sister was in town too…bonus! We had tickets for a show and there was a restaurant I’ve had on my list for awhile that I wanted to try.
My new favorite restaurant in NYC is RedFarm. The core of the menu is Asian influenced, but the array of sauces and combinations are mind blowing…and so creative! Since we were going to the theater, we went early to the upper west side location. Our waiter gave us an exhausting, fast talking, run-down on the menu and the chef’s concept in creating the menu. We needed a nap after listening to him! Here are some pics of our yummy dinner….
….then it was on to see Desperate Measures, starring Conor Ryan, the son of a friend of mine. It was a fun, lively, production at the intimate York Theatre…and the play has been extended twice. He’s awesome! Go see it if you’re in NY before Nov. 26th….the ticket price is so reasonable compared to other shows.
Sunday was an early visit to the Morgan Library ’cause they had an exhibit of “Master Drawings…” from a bunch of famous artists…Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and many more…that I really wanted to check out. Didn’t disappoint (on view until Jan. 7th). Next, back to Brooklyn to meet Kate, the great, for lunch at a new place called DeKalb Market. It’s reminiscent of the Grand Central Market in downtown LA or the European markets, like Copenhagen Street Food…although it’s in the bottom of a mall, so a little different environment. Great vendors, like Katz’s deli, a cheese shop, charcuterie, paella, boulangerie, frites…and more. Cool vibe!
We went back to A&K apartment, where Austin built a rip-roaring bbq fire, grilling steaks and vegies, while we sat enjoying the beautiful evening and yummy food.
Monday was my day in the city…subway into the city with A&K, roaming and reading in my favorite spaces in Central Park with some beautiful fall foliage here and there…and then playing a game of mah jongg with a very large group of ladies. It’s another thing I’ve had on my bucket list “Mah Jongg Mondays”! It was fun and I look forward to playing the on one of my future visits (it’s a commitment of 12-4, but Linda was nice enough to let me drop in, play a game and see what it’s all about….I’ll be back for a full session in the future!)
this was only one of the two rooms where mah jongg games were goingThe highlight of the trip, by far, was going to the doctor with A&K and seeing a sonogram of the baby…the Dr. would only show the head area, so I still don’t know the sex…but I offered to bribe her…she wouldn’t budge! It was amazing!
As always, a great visit with A&K, experiencing city life through their eyes and day to day life. I love their joie de vivre and sense of adventure…and can’t wait to see that little baby in 6 1/2 weeks…give or take a few days/week.
(next stop, Charleston & Savannah…)
