nyc lovefest
There truly is not a day that I don't walk outside and say to myself "i love this town". For a big city, it is a very small town. This past weekend was one those NYC weekends where even though we had no plans a million things happened.
Friday night the town was humming from Fashion Night Out. It was great to walk around and peek into the stores and see the parties. Fred and I passed on the events and had dinner at I Sodi. I have been back many times and always walk away happy. Nice vibe, good food.
Saturday I took a yoga class with Fred. I am pretty sure that I have not taken a yoga class in 5 years. I used to do yoga 3-4 times a week many years ago but one day hit the wall. We took the class in Tribeca a few blocks from the site of the World Trade Towers. It was relatively calm except for the lunatic with a microphone. After all, it was 9/11.
Stopping by 11th Street cafe for a salad and a blueberry lemonade hit the spot. Also checked out the two art galleries next door. Jumped on the vespa to go home and take a nap. Unfortunately Josh had something else in mind. After a quick shower, we went down to Soho for some shopping.
After Josh and I helped keep the NY economy afloat, I met Fred and our friends at the Landmark Theater to see Animal Kingdom. An indie movie that ranked 95% on Rotten Tomatoes that had got good reviews. Incredibly well done film. Disturbing and violent. Crime family in Melbourne. We all walked out with our mouths hanging. Woah. Not sure I'd recommend it. It has certainly stayed with me but very dark.
Next stop, Il Buco. Table was calling our name outside. A downtown institution. Pastas and appetizers there are quite good. Nice wine list too. We attempted to get into Pulino but forget about it.
After dinner we walk over to the John Varvatos store on the Bowery where there was a private event taking place. We see someone in line we know and before we know it we are at the event. A concert where Iggy Pop, Alice Cooper and ZZ Top are playing. I am at the front of the stage.
We leave and walk all the home. It is about 130am. A day with no plans turns into an all out fantastic NY day.
Comments (Archived):
wow, sounds like a fantastic day! only in new york 🙂
Exactly. Only in NY
when in new york…I was thinking, maybe the author of the blog could do some kind of gotham gal new york’s favorite’s list. Which we, not living in new york but planning on visiting some day, could use?
It changes constantly but I will start compiling a list.
I’ve come to describe NYC as an amazing town… IF…1. You have money.2. You know people.I’m not saying you can’t enjoy this city if you don’t have one or two, you can, it’s just a lot harder. Because it ain’t cheap to live here. It ain’t cheap to do “things” here and you really do have to know folks (as lame as that is) to get into most decent spots. I used to take it personally as I’m often on the outside looking in. Now I realize, it’s just the city. It helps that Lili’s been here since ’94 and has taught me to adopt the “F ’em attitude, let’s talk a walk together. That’s free.” ;)I love this city. It’s an amazing place no doubt. Just comes with a few caveats.
I totally agree. Some people say you either have to be young or rich. WhatI really think is that you need to know the city. There are so manyfantastic places that are fun and delicious, concerts that are free,interesting theater for good prices, etc.Bottom line: it is an amazing place to live. Just walking the streetsmakes for a great day.
Ah, city life. If you can take it 24/7 it has its benefits. Being from the west coast and living in both LA and SF, I experienced the same thing there. So many restaurants, always a free concert or cheap music. The city feeds the spontaneity gene within us all. Living in the burbs destroys it.I’m impressed you ride a Vespa in NYC.
Best way to get around the city.
Exactly.I don’t have a lot of money nor do I know that many people but have a great time each time I come back to visit NYC. Like you said, there’s tons of great places in each price range for anyone if they’re willing to put in a little work. Paying an extra couple bucks for a sandwich to sit outside the 11st Cafe on a gorgeous day is totally worth it. Whenever friends used to visit me, our entire day would consist of just walking around various neighborhoods checking out cool places, eateries and bars, and meeting new people. There’s just no better city for that.A friend of mine moved from SF to the West Village for the first time last Friday and is going through the bi-polar feelings of loving her new surroundings versus being nervous about being by herself in a new place.I’m sending her a link to this post and your blog in general to speed up her learning curve.
Thanks for sending the blog to your friend. I am sure she will fall in love with the city like we all do!
I’m still reeling and smiling at your Yoga class! Yay, always makes me miss NYC even more when I read your posts Joanne! Couldn’t agree with you more, walking the street made my heart fill with joy many many times! Hope yoga will appear here again sometime,
Might become a weekly event with Fred. We will see. It was good…
Joanne:I was in NYC this week and I guess partly inspired by this post I had my own perfect NYC on Wednesday. I was staying with friends in Harlem and meeting a friend from SF who was in town and staying at the Mercer. I took the subway down to Broadway/Lafayette – wow has Houston changed around there since the 90s when I lived in NYC! Anyway we went to Pulino’s hoping to grab a breakfast pizza but by the time we got there it was lunch only so we slid right into lunch mode and split a pizza margherita and some great salads – I especially found the green bean/hen of the woods salad outstanding. then we wandered around the west village a while, I showed her the Highline and I was totally tempted by the Colchicco & sons cider donuts but having just eaten pizza I felt I had to pass. then we kept walking up to Lincoln Center, bought tickets for that evening’s ballet – I love the fact that the NYCB is now at home in the fall. We also sat around a little at Lincoln Center checking out the Fashion Week folks. Then back down to the West Village, to the Spotted Pig for some drinks and the to-die-for radish salad. Then we walked down to Tribeca and finally back to the Mercer, primped for the ballet and subway back up to Lincoln Center. Fantastic All-Balanchine show, back down to the Mercer for some tasty food in the hotel lobby. IMHO, Jean Georges does amazing things with peekytoe crab. After catching up with her husband too who reported back on the ideas and crowd at The Economist conference, I treated myself to a cab all along the West Side Highway up to Harlem. kind of amazing how much the West Side Highway has changed since I used to take it down to Wall St. in the 90s. Anyway, although it was my perfect day – a lot of the places that made it great were inspired by things you have written about on the blog, so thank you!
That sounds like an absolutely fantastic new york city day!And yes, Houston has definitely changed.
And I forgot to tell you that we had breakfast at Joseph Leonard’s on Thursday morning and it was fantastic.
Wow! You hit all the high notes.