Friday, January 28, 2011

New York minutes

Where was I?


Oh yeah, it was snowing.

A lot.

Two feet of snow dumped into a city of over eight million people.
Plus all the surrounding boroughs too.
Plus all across nearby New Jersey.
On top of the umpteen inches already on the ground.

Walking around I was amazed at the amount of work it takes to keep the city operating when it snows. Besides the plows there were literally hundreds of people working to shovel sidewalks and crosswalks all around town.


The intersections where road meets curb were trickiest and often deep but everyone seemed to tread carefully and managed to hold on to an extra measure of patience which is not always the case even on a sunny day in NYC.


Don't let that blue sky fool you...it lasted all of about thirty seconds.
The Empire State Building looks lovely though, don't you think?

Wednesday evening we had reservations to dine at one of Bobby Flay's restaurants, Bar Americain. If you don't know who Bobby Flay is you must not watch the Food Network because he's all over the Food Network.
We were supposed to have three friends join us but only one ended up making it due to the pesky weather and cancelled flights.

That was disappointing.

So disappointing in fact, I was forced to order an amazing and ginormous piece of German chocolate cake with coconut whipped cream to keep from completely falling to pieces.


You know you would have done the same.

I really loved the menu at Bar Americain...modern flavors combined with a splash of comfort food. I had rack of pork with double apple butter and brussel sprouts and it was all fabulous.
Bobby's dishes were beautifully presented too, and yes we're on a first name basis.
Well, I'm sure we would be had he made an appearance at our table.
Course if I were Bobby Flay I would not be in my midtown Manhattan restaurant in the middle of a January snow storm.
I would instead be checking up on the staff in my Mesa Grill, which just happens to be located in the Bahamas.
I'm positive that restaurant would require checking on in mid-January every year.

Thursday morning hubs once again had to get to his meeting and oh guess what?
There was more snow.
Seriously, it's been ridiculous.
I did my part and hung out at the hotel until things dried out a bit and then I headed down Broadway towards Times Square.


I wanted to take more pictures but I was carrying my purse and a tote bag with some things I wanted to work on and walking thru the slippery slushy intersections really did require my complete and undivided attention.


I did not want to be that person falling awkwardly in front of millions.
That could so easily be me.


I did a little shopping and then parked myself in a window booth on the 8th floor lounge of the Marriott Marquis overlooking Times Square.
A perfect place to have a light lunch, to write and think and people watch.

Hubs and I decided to have dinner before leaving the city since we knew traffic would be a nightmare. We let the commuters get out before we made an attempt and really had no trouble with the roads.
Our front porch was another story altogether.
Once home I opened the front door and saw this....


My front steps are under there somewhere.
And then I looked up and saw this...


I surely hope no one needs to knock on my front door.
If they don't slip and fall on the skating rink that is my porch they might be knocked out cold by a falling icicle.

And the back door view wasn't much better...


Who else thinks we're a long, long, long way from al fresco dining here in Northern NJ?
That's my table under the cover which is under at least a foot of new snow.
I'm out of adjectives when it comes to describing this stuff.

Hubs did what all good husbands do and donned his snow gear and cranked up the snow blower and cleared the walkway and the porch and a space in the backyard for the dog and a path off the deck and called it a night.
I'm glad there are some things husbands just do.
Well, my husband anyway.
Had he not been home I would have done it but oh I would not have liked it.
At all.
He didn't complain and as such thinks he should be rewarded with a brand new mega monster snow blower.
Wouldn't a week on a beach someplace warm and sunny be a better reward?

18 comments:

  1. Oh yeah. I sure wish I were on a beach somewhere sunny!
    My Hubby says he takes care of the outside work and I take care of the inside work. Which was fine, until he had knee surgery and then later on a small stroke. Then I did both for a while.
    I sure appreciate my guy even more now that he is back to handling the snow plow!

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  2. Yes, the beach would be a great reward. So who watches the dog while you are gone? Even though you had a lot of snow in NY I think it's awesome how you forged ahead and did some shopping. Love the pictures of the city. Those icicles are something else!! Glad you made it home safe and sound. Enjoy your weekend.

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  3. WOW...the pictures are beautiful until you think about all the work it must take...yikes!
    Sounds like a beach would be great for you guys!
    Blessings,
    andrea

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  4. Knocked out by the icicles?...what about skewered?...eeek! Thanks for the picture of dessert...oooo...ahhh! Yes, *chuckle* I'm sure that Bobby Flay is totally with you on your Bahamas versus NYC logic! Hehehe!

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  5. Have some snow, why don't ya? Wow! And yes, you were certainly justified in ordering that cake! I would have done the same!

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  6. Wow that is a lot of snow! NYC sounded like a great time....food and sights! Have a wonderful warm weekend!

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  7. Now THAT is a LOT of snow! Crazy! But I´m sure you enjoyed your time in the city, even with snow. It all looks very beautiful!

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  8. it sounds like you had an amazing time - so JEALOUS (especially of your dinner!). You should get some pretty awesome pics of the icicles in the daytime with the sun!

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  9. I vote for the beach as the reward ... but then the beach is my favorite place to be! ;-)

    Those icicles were SCARY looking! Yikes!

    Sounds like you had an awesome time in The City. I'd like to visit NYC one of these days ... it's on my list of places to go.

    Hope the rest of your weekend is a great one.

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  10. Wow! That is a lot of snow!
    Will you take me to New York someday?
    Thanks. :)

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  11. Wow, you guys have really had a lot of snow. We are sick of the snow down here too. Luckily we missed the snow this week and we only got rain. Praise God!! Our teasing of warm weather today and then tomorrow is giving us a taste of early spring time. Although cooler temps are on the horizon for later in the week. Oh well, we will enjoy it while we can. Glad you had a great time in NYC. That dessert has my name written all over it. Hope you enjoyed it! Love & blessings from NC!

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  12. The way y'all run into people, I'm very surprised Bobby wasn't there and didn't come by your table! I'm fascinated by icicles...they are so cool!

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  13. I will now be craving that cake all week. It looks fabulous.

    You should definitely check out Bobby's Bahamian restaurant next.

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  14. Your pictures are beautiful. NYC is on my bucket list, just so I can say I have been. What a city! And snow, I was thinking about you this last week in fact I mentioned it to hubby, telling him you were there. Yep I would say your hubs is a definite keeper! Glad you made it home safely and had a great time.
    until next time... nel

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  15. I so enjoyed this trip through New York city! You know, when I was a teenager I lived in NJ - Madison! Loved it...Such a perfect little town!
    But oh... this is a lot of snow! Come to think of it... there was a lot of snow when I lived there too!
    I'm following along - so looking forward to your posts! Please join me at my history blog - I'd love to have you along!
    Blessings!
    Ann

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  16. Book the trip to Aruba and present it to him as a gift!

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  17. Oh, my goodness, as pretty as it is in the pictures, I want NO part of it on a continual basis. One snow a year is plenty for anyone. :o) You seem to be keeping a good attitude about it. We'll hope and pray that the Groundhog doesn't seen his shadow on Wed. Blessings for a "snow free" week!

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  18. You guys really have been having a crazy, snowy winter to say the least. How wonderful that you were able to be in New York and take all those lovely photos and enjoy Bobby's food. Yes, we're on a first name basis, too. :-) I do enjoy him and his amazing abilities with food. "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" is a neat show. And the man can grill some food, can't he?

    I love reading about all of the great things you and hubs are able to do.

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