New York City in pictures: Part Three (or the Upper West Side)

*DISCLAIMER: This is Part Three because I’m trying to establish some sort of chronological order. I didn’t write down what I had done after each day, and I’m trying to remember what happened during the week as I go. I was halfway through this post and realised this came later in the week…but happy reading all the same.*

A certain restaurant in the Upper West Side has had many famous diners come through its door, including US president Barack Obama and 2008 Republican presidential hopeful John McCain. But it is most famous for being the exterior of Monk’s Cafe in the NBC series, Seinfeld.

Though Tom’s Restaurant’s (located on Broadway and 112th Street) interior does not resemble in any way the inside of the cafe that put it on the map, it has the atmosphere of being at home. I’m not sure whether it is because of the extremely familiar and friendly wait staff, or if its the little old man sitting behind the cashier counter who reminds you of your grandfather. It might even be the delicious plates of home-cooked food that make it to your table as you catch a whiff of what’s coming out of the kitchen’s doors.

With the walls of Seinfeld memorabilia looking on, I feasted on a Reuben rye sandwich (homemade corned beef, sauerkraut and melted cheese), served up with a bowl of New York clam chowder and a root beer, while W had the pleasure of enjoying a cherry vanilla milkshake and a banana split.

Tom's Restaurant: It is often frequented by students of nearby Columbia University.

The Reuben: The best corned beef I have ever tasted.

Riverside Park: Definitely a park I would gladly take my hypothetical dog for a walk in and/or possibly go for a run in, if I was so inclined. Even in winter when the trees have lost their leaves and the park’s ground is covered with this dry brown foliage that you just have the urge to jump in to hear the crunch under your boots, it’s one of those places you’d find a bench to just sit to hear your own thoughts. It’s a place for reflection.

Tina Fey's character in 30 Rock, Liz Lemon, lives on Riverside Drive, where this park is located.

The Dakota: This is the apartment building the late John Lennon, former Beatle, lived and where he was shot in 1980. It is located on West 72nd Street and Central Park West. Lennon’s wife, Yoko Ono, still lives there. Across the road in Central Park is the memorial dedicated to Lennon called Strawberry Fields, named after The Beatles song. The memorial was opened on October 9, 1985 by Ono and then New York City mayor Ed Koch. This date would have been Lennon’s 45th birthday.

The next post will be Part Two!

An affair to remember

I’m into my fourth day in NYC and I have learnt two things: it’s not as dangerous as you think and most New Yorkers are friendly – despite the stereotypes.

On my third day here, I walked around Soho by myself and went bar-hopping. I met two delightful New Yorkers in the second bar I went to. They made conversation with me and taught me a thing or two about the game they love so much in the US: NFL. I was told l must root for the Giants not the Dallas Cowboys – who were playing off for a spot in the Superbowl. And I certainly did not want to make a faux pas, so there I was in this bar on Bleecker Street – a popular place for NYU students to hang out due to its close proximity to the campus- cheering for the city’s team with some locals. I was content. I felt like New Yorker.

But rewinding back to day one and two. As promised, I will reveal to you what was behind those cupboard doors of this West Village apartment I visited.

My travelling companion’s friend is currently renting out a couple’s apartment while the photographing pair are away. My mate’s friend, S, and her cousin, D, are living in this quaint and ridiculously laid out apartment. Why is it so ridiculous you ask? Well for starters, their shower is in the kitchen. And behind these cupboard doors lies this…

Yes, this was the most awesome apartment ever in a location that has definite character. The West Village, compared to the noisier and more populated Midtown area we are staying in, has got you covered for a satisfying night out.

We dined at a Mexican restaurant, Panchito’s, that served some really strong sangria and delicious food. Our waitress was this charming, petite blonde who seemed to be high. She was very dazed, had trouble forming words to describe what kind of kick their ranchero sauce had and her lipstick was applied outside of her lip line. All this combined made her seem rather frazzled, but like I said: it was part of her charm.

After getting quite a bit tipsy on the sangria we had, we stumbled across a “Wine Spot”/”Tea Spot” (they are a combined “spot” and are actually named that) on the same street as the restaurant, MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village. We all opted for a warm drink over wine as we were experiencing the full hit of the sangria. I shared some delightful chai with soy milk and honey with S, while D and my mate, W, settled for apple cinnamon tea and a hot chocolate respectively.

Put this down to a little too much to drink and a high you could only get in this city, but we then had the sudden urge to go up the Empire State Building. So we hailed a cab and set off. After paying the cab driver a small amount compared to what would have been a small fortune in Brisbane for the same distance, we went in and found out it would be a one-and-a-half-hour wait. But we persisted and eventually we saw Manhattan in all its glory. The view from the 86th floor is breathtaking, 100 per cent worth the wait. It is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of moment when you marvel at this city at such a great height. An incredible way to end the night.

My photo does not do it enough justice

Day two was NYE. A day we set aside to go to the East Side. We were a little underwhelmed by the Lower East Side. There wasn’t much to see or do except for this large electricity plant we were fascinated by due to its sheer size. Perhaps we weren’t walking in the right places and we had already eaten so we weren’t looking for places to dine. But we found more to do in the East Side, well at least I did. The East Side was full of little boutiques offering a unique knick-knacks, clothing and accessories. We even walked past Katz’s Delicatessen, where Meg Ryan had her fake orgasm in When Harry Met Sally. People were lining up out of its door!

And I stumbled upon these little beauties at a boutique called Reformation, just off Houston Street…

There was also another store which had a hat made from a Native American traditional headress, which I really wanted. But the money for it did not justify my use of it. I really wish I had taken a photo of it now.

And now for a collection of photos from the trip so far…

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Check back in the next couple of days for the next installment of my adventures.

*NB: Also I have a proper camera now, so hopefully the photos will be better quality than the one I’ve been taking off my iPhone.*