Took the train from Albany after the South Coast Classic. Very nice train ride;
quiet, uncrowded and was able to setup a time lapse shot on my tripod. Should
have set the interval for 5 seconds instead of 10 as it was hard to see the
changes in the landscape. Got into Penn Station station Wednesday right at rush
hour. Immediately felt the sweltering heat (not unbearable) as I got out of the
train and was underground in the subway system. When I hit the surface streets
it was MAYHEM. Hundreds of people crossing crosswalks in the middle of the road
and I, with a fairly large pack, am trying to get through these people
perpendicularly. Not too bad thought but definitely "welcome to New York"
feeling. Hailed a cab at the cab line and this guy just RIPPED me up to Central
Park South where Ames lives. I mean ripped! Honked multiple times at other
drivers and almost hit two cabs. Cheap fare and quick was there in 10 minutes.
First night Robbie and I headed to John George's restaurant at the bottom of the
Trump International and I met Hannah for the first time. Very proper and
sophisticated woman who was genuine and charismatic. Also met crazy Amy who I
never saw again. Ames and I then briefly stopped into Mickey Mantles right by
his condo to grab a quick drink then we were off to the SoHo House. Hannah is a
member at the SoHo House so we were able to get in as guests with her which felt
very VIP. On the elevator up I look up and the famous Olympic Speed Skater Ono
was across from me with a blinged out Olympic ring dog tag necklace. We ordered
vodka tonics and hung out by the pool on the rooftop which was glamorous and
fine. Reminded me of the rooftop at Kress in Hollywood but with a bit more
celebrity and important person feel. Hannah cabbed home and Robbie and I went
to the Gansevoort Hotel which had a good view on the top floor. After that we
headed back to Ames' to have night cap and pass out.
Slept in late and went down to the Financial District, or Downtown, to eat pizza
at Harry's and to meet up with a couple of Ames' friends. After we ate we went
and bought a bottle of wine, had it corked, and with two plastic cups headed up
top of his old Gold Street apartment building. Overcast and a bit of a drizzle
but overall incredible view of the entire city of New York. Could see the
Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge,
and the Queensboro and Manhattan bridge. Watched the city come alive as the sun
went down and the lights on the buildings came on. Finished the bottle of wine
and went back down to Harry's to meet up with Ames' old roommate Jeff and Mike
Torres. Had some beers and then headed to Down The Hatch which was in a more
middle class area of Midtown. Here Ames and I proceeded to DOMINATE the only
foosball table in this dive bar and never lost a game. We mainly played this
big white guy partnered with this short darker skinned kid. The music was
incredible everything from Bon Jovi's Living On A Prayer, to Sublime, to Journey.
We bet pitchers against these guys the first game and obviously won...from
their the big guy just kept buying pitchers as they kept losing so Ames and I
were loving it. Ames also had a quick trip the bathroom to release himself of
some beer that hadn't digested yet. Ames projectile vomited right as a
gentleman was exiting the bathroom door and hit him square in the chest. There
was no avoiding it and it was a direct hit unfortunately for this unlucky
gentleman. After the patron shouted in a shocked state of disgust before
running out the exit to notify security, Ames finished his work in the bathroom
and after quickly cleaning himself up, returned to the Foosball table to
continue the McLeod/Ames domination and pounding beers. Security tried to pin
one of us down on who did it but we just kept playing Foosball and air
guitaring. It was awesome. Left at 4am and went home to crash out.
Woke up late again and after Rob was done with work we decided to go get lost in
Central Park. I packed up the camera and frisbee and we headed out. We hit up
Pop Burger before which you get two little mini sliders, fries, and a soft drink
for about $14 dollars. We then jumped to FAO Schwarz to see the toys and to see
the BIG PIANO that was in the movie Big. It was cool but I didn't like that the
piano was now a tourist attraction with ropes blocking it off where kids were
jumping on it and a security guard had to allow you to go on it after waiting in
line. Lame, left quickly. We headed into the south end of Central Park and
found a large field to setup an area for our stuff. Oh yeah, we also bought a
little half pint of Southern Comfort to sip on during our park adventure. We
threw the frisbee around and I took pictures and at some points just sat and
talked. Cityscape in the distance of Central Park South was nice including
seeing the Essex House sign which is apparently where all of the Jews live in
the area. In the field there were lower class citizens of New York that would
haul a buggy with ice cold beer in it. One guy even had foiled up limes for my
treat on a hot day in the middle of a park. I would have paid $6. One guy
loved my frisbee so much that he would stop his cart and throw with us. "It is
so much fun...I just love it so much" he said as he hucked it to me with decent
spin and distance. After the time spent in the field we went further in to the
park to go to the Central Park Boathouse to have a couple of drinks. Rob was
nice enough to pick them up and treat me which was a very nice gesture and I
appreciated it very much. Left the park and stayed in that night. Had Thai
food at a Thai Basil about a mile away from his condo. It was good Thai and not
too expensive. The red curry was the best dish and was a good call by Rob. We
stayed in that night and did not go out.
Saturday we met up with Hannah at Red, a Mexican restaurant with outside seating
in the Seaport area where Hannah was nice enough to buy lunch for everyone which
Rob and I appreciated very much. Her refinement is classy and well traveled and
it is an enjoyment talking with her. I took some pictures around the port and
the Brooklyn Bridge and then we stopped in at Nelson Blue where I picked up a
round of drinks for the group and we continued to talk. The owner was very
cordial and wish me a good journey as he was from New Zealand. Then we cabbed
to Savore in Soho, Hannah's neighborhood, where I was treated by Robbie to the
best prosciutto I have EVER EATEN. It was so salty and fresh I couldn't believe
it. Hannah convinced me to try the Lambrusco wine due to this establishment
being one of the only places in New York that imports it from Italy and serves
it. It was good, a red wine with a little bubbly to it...as Hannah said, very
refreshing in the summer time which it was. After that we went a block up to
Blue Ribbon where we had oysters and more drinks. Victor was the shucker and is
known by Hannah as she lives right around the corner. I had a Manhattan in
honor of grandma due to the fact I was fine dining in Manhattan, NY.
Overall, the four things I will remember from New York City; is that there is no
J Walking, people are in a hurry, you should always wear your seat belt in a
taxi; that is, unless you want to break your nose on the plexi-glass divider,
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