Staten Island Ferry
Breakfast today was at a busy delicatessen called Curve on the cnr of West 47st and 7th ave. (Ha, listen to me sounding like a New Yorker already). We decided to attempt the New York Subway/Metro again after our successful ride back to the hotel the evening before. We bought a Metro Card after a few failed attempts at the machine.
We took the red line from west 50th st down to South Ferry. We walked straight into the ferry terminal and took a free ride to Staten Island and back. This is the closest you can get to The Statue of Liberty without paying. When we got back we walked along the esplanade for about ten minutes and paid about $6 for another ferry over to Brooklyn. This ferry docks at Dumbo, which offers great views of the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge. The Time Out Food Market is also there and is a dream for foodies like me. Just outside this building is Janes Carousel, a restored original from the 1930s. Debi jumped on enthusiastically, going back to her childhood for a few minutes.
We got the metro straight back to Times Square and got into our glad rags ready for a trip to Birdland. This is an upmarket jazz club along the lines of Ronnie Scotts in London. My Dad used to visit this place in the early 50s. It has obviously changed alot since then and I think it was at a different venue also, but the name and style is the same. We had booked this months ago to see the house band, David Oswalds Louis Armstrong Heritage Band, who said they had been playing Wednesday nights for 20 yes. The service was immaculate and the band fantastic.
On the Metro again after Birdland to 1803, a New Orleans style restaurant in Tribeca. My Seafood Gumbo was fabulous but the other choices were not so good.
Day 4 Central Park
Day 4 Central Park
Before heading up to Central Park, we had breakfast in Hell’s Kitchen, a proper diner called Westways on 9th ave.Huge portions, I never thought Debi would get thru it all. Full of surprises that girl!
Ode to John Lennon
On the cnr of 72nd ave and Central Park West is The Dakota Building. Outside here is where John Lennon was shot and killed. I believe Yoko Ono still lives here. Across the road is a man selling Lennon memoriabilia. He’s been in the same spot for 40 plus years. He tells me Yoko didn’t like the idea of him being there at first, but over the years she has come to accept this and chats to him occasionally.
We spent a few hours walking around the park, which is a respite from the madness of the streets, metro, and pedestrians. It’s called the lungs of New York for good reason. Central Park is green, beautiful and has some interesting sites and sounds, and touts. Some guy tried to sell us a carriage ride for $300 when the carriages have fixed rates and are licenced at around $60. Musicians, info plaques, and statues made it a nice morning out.
A quick visit to The Lincoln Center to check out who was playing at The Dzzy Club and then on to The Turnmill bar near the Flatiron building.
Now the Turnmill is an Everton Supporters Bar. So we went there to watch my team fight for Premier League survival.
What an atmosphere.
Last Day
Sadly we had to leave, or so we thought.
So a revisit to Bryant park. This time along with all the other goings on, a guy was giving a lecture on Beekeeping. What an eclectic green space this is. Grand Central Station never ceases to amaze. Breakfast behind the station in Urban Space was mediocre.
After we checked our bags in at La Guardia, we realised our flight had been delayed until the following morning due to bad weather. ( Not a lot wrong with the weather, I think the Americans are over cautious. We weren’t about to spend the night at the airport, so I talked Delta into getting us a room for the night. They put us up in New Jersey!!! Paul Simon lied when he wrote the lyric “counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike” because there are to many, it’s impossible to count them.
Memphis next.
