New York

Arrive in New York 29 June 6:30pm
Staying in Nolita (Little Italy) above an Italian Restaurant!!

Wonder if the Pies have had a win against Port!!

Not going to talk about the footy.

Anthony, Annette and Eva Rose came to the airport to farewell us.

 Had a wonderful flight to LA. Qantas A380 is the way to go!! Caught up on some much needed sleep.Arrived in New York at 5:30pm their time. Taxi to Nolita. We arrived and it was a buzz. Restaurants packed to the rafters, streets busy and such fun. The apartment is old and above an Italian restaurant that was opened in 1919, It is just what I imagined and quite a good space for the 3 of us. Kad and I had a short stroll and ate at Pulgia the restaurant below. Had a seafood pasta platter to share. Yum Yum Yum - clams, mussels, prawns,calamari, lobster and the wine was made by them. Nice way to start. No photos, as we didn't take our camera.
Farewell to the scarves and coats!!

Today Anna arrives in the morning and we plan to go and explore Brooklyn as they have a Sunday flea market.

30 June 2013

Anna arrived at 10:00am and all of a sudden it was like old times. Drama, talking out loud, typical Fogarty girls, just missing Jess.

Headed off for the day with plans and no maps....plus sleep deprived/jet lagged girls.

The plan was to walk the Brooklyn Bridge.Saw where Todd lived and worked.

Tick and done




Go to Brooklyn Flea market. Whoops, missed by a day especially after an hour catching an express train that went right past our stop...............

Must say, that we enjoyed walking the streets of Brooklyn and the trendy area.

Successful shopping. We all bought pj's at Marshalls!!

Also, planned to go to Smith Street, but fell in hole and headed back by train to Little Italy for a very late light lunch and cocktail.

Late evening sleep, then trying to wake up the girls for a late dinner. Finally out for dinner at 9:00pm. Went to Parm recommended by James; relaxed yummy food. Now sharing a glass of red and crackers back at the apartment (Kaddy advises that Anna and I did not share the crackers).
Just past midnight, and we are wide awake!!!

Shopping day tomorrow in Soho and Nolita.

Go Cadel already in the top 10 and finished 2nd in stage 2.

Two Australians in the 10 and a winner in Simon Gerrans and first for an Australian team.

1 July

We have slept in until 11:00am this morning. Oh No...............pouring rain and lots and lots of puddles......... Oh No..........What to do in New York on a day like today? We probably needed the sleep to survive each other.
Shopping day. Kaddy had the most success especially in one gorgeous boutique. The girl looking after her was an Aussie. Viv did not spend one dime!!

Home to get changed and back on the Subway to Meatpackers district. Meeting Kad's friends at a one star Michelin pub.Amber works with Kad at Epworth and her and her partner Luke have been travelling for the past 3 months. They are off to Ireland tomorrow for a friend's wedding in Dublin.
Had a wonderful night, great food, wine and lots of chatting. Very noisy pub!! It was after 1:00am before we went to bed....

2 July
Up and at it earlier today. Went to a little cafe for breakfast and again being served by an Aussie!! We seem to be everywhere.
We three girls are getting used to the subway and travel mostly around New York this way.
Off to the Rockerfeller Center. Anna hit the shops, whilst (hung over) Kad and I did the tourist thing. Although a bit misty and cloudy; incredible  views of this enormous city (no of buildings in a small space). Great way to get your bearings and of the layout of New York City.

 

Singing in the raain

Hot dog for lunch (cures a hang over)

Next, Times Square to stand in line for discounted tickets to the musical Once.
If you don't know, Once is one of my favourite movies and I listen to the music all the time. Fantastic Irish movie done on a shoestring.
After 1 and 1/2 hours the girls and I finally got tickets for the night session.
Didn't hang around Times Square after that, but headed back to do some shopping. Today Anna successful and Viv has yet to spend a dime shopping............
Back on the Subway and so excited to be going to Broadway to see Once. Didn't let us down. Kad hadn't seen the movie and she cried. I just cried because I was so excited hearing this beautifully written music. The play has some very clever, funny lines.Simple, but no wonder it won so many Tonny Awards.
Back to the apartment with some take away. It is almost midnight and we have just finished dinner. This is what it is like in a city that never sleeps.



3 July

Just woken up to Anna stressing. She realises she should have confirmed our booking for the 3 Michelin star restaurant today for lunch. Just on the phone now seeing if we can still go......fingers crossed.  She didn't sleep all night. Kad still trying to sleep!

Yay! we are still going to lunch. Will let you know

Shopping before lunch on 5Ave. Success for Viv this time.... Have loved Camper shoes forever and now have a pair. Also bought a black and white coat!!!

Lunch at Le Bernardin, absolutely delicious. Specializes in seafood

Entree: Anna and I had the scallops and Kad the cod
Mains: Kad - Salmon; Anna - Hallibut; Viv - Lobster
Dessert:; Yum

Left lunch, and pouring rain, so just did some more shopping on 5th Ave.

Back to apartment to unload and headed towards the high line by subway. Arrived to more pouring rain. Still went and by the time we finally found it, the rain had stopped for most of the walk. Lovely peaceful walk with lots of greenery  in New York.

At the other end is the Standard Hotel. Went to the rooftop and then the beer garden. Such extremes in clientele.

Unisex toilets with a view. Can't stand too close!!

Had a very late dinner at the Stardard Grill and Taxi (cab) home......
In bed around 1:30am

4 July in New York

A bit of a late start. Headed to Katz's Deli for Pastrami on Rye for lunch (where Harry met Sally). Yum! Did some shopping on the way.

Sorry, just need to interrupt: GREAT WIN BY THE PIES, ESPECIALLY OVER THE NAVY BLUES. I have been quietly barracking them on as the girls are sound asleep!!

They might not like this photo on the blog

So, I have been watching the screen intently for updates of the game;whilst listening to the sounds of Little Italy waking up. The rubbish trucks, the water trucks, the Italian and Chinese morning greetings!!! They all love my girls and have got to know us as we were locked out of the apartments on our 3rd night (another story) Lucky we have got to know 'Single' who assisted. Has worked at the restaurant downstairs for 41 years.

Back to photos from yesterday the 4 July in New York

4th generation owner

Thought as it is 4 July, great way to spend an afternoon would be to go to Central Park and wander.

Park area where you can throw a Frisbee/ball etc and have a picnic. Finishing our sandwiches from earlier.

Great shot Kaddy!!!

Back to the apartment. Exhausted. Quick nap and decision time. Anna googled and found a place in Meat Packer district, so off we went and waited in line to join other New Yorkers/visitors at the roof top lounge of some swanky hotel. The plunge lounge. Here we are with our drinks, dangling our feet in the pool waiting for the fireworks!

Fireworks around 9:15pm

Another very late dinner. Unable to hale a cab (so busy), so back on the subway and home at around 1:00am.....

Bit behind in the blog department. Very busy and discovered that with any spare time, I could watch the footy replay as Anna and James have the AFL package!!

5 July - Weather hot, 34 degrees
Off to Staten Island (I kept calling it Stanten Island).
Subway travel to Battery Park and onto the free ferry to the island and back.
It gives you a different perspective of this massive city and you could just imagine immigrants arriving and seeing the Statue of Liberty and their thoughts of the life they had left behind and their hopes and dreams for their future.

Some more shopping in the afternoon at Century 21.Back to the apartment to freshen up, book tickets for Ground Zero (9/11) for the next day and then off to the Baseball, or so we thought!! This time we were locked into the apartment block. The lock had broken and we could not get out!

Well, stuck inside the building, hot and stuffy and not quite sure how we can exit.

Staff from the restaurant try to help and another guy comes from upstairs, but none of us have a key to slip under the door!!!

Luckily our mate ‘Single’ arrives and assists with his key.

As the lock is broken, We put signs on the door before we left to make sure nobody touches it.

By the way, ‘Single’ calls me barbeque. Couldn’t work out with his strong Italian accent at first what he was calling me, but Kad worked it out. He says I am a ‘hot’ mama!!!!!! So I am the only one of the 3 of us that has had someone flirting with them!!

Right, on the subway and off to the baseball. Anna managed to get $20 a ticket for 3 and 1 free ticket.

The Blister seats!! Thought we would be way out the back, but actually good seats. Only thing they didn't have a back, just bench seats. Baltimore vs New York

Anna’s friend from Uni joined us as she has just moved to New York, so those two chatted and chatted.

Got ourselves a hot dog (not quite an Italian hot sausage with peppers and onions) and Kad got a beer.

Left at end of 7 innings as decided to beat the crowd. Wished we had stayed as close finish and the Yankees ended up winning.

Back home on the subway and an early night for us as we hit the hay just before midnight.

Final R H E BAL (48-40) 4 11 0 NYY (48-39) 5 10 1

6 July

Kad and I had booked tickets night before for the ground Zero (9/11) memorial.

It was moving and everyone was very respectful and very quiet.

A volunteer told us some stories, including why some trees are in a straight line. This is to represent the symmetrical lines of the buildings and some trees are planted randomly to represent the random loss of life.

Returned to the apartment and picked up Anna for a shopping day.

Hit Hester street market and I bought a lovely necklace.

Then the shops at West Broadway. Kad managed to buy 3 pairs of runners and other shopping done by Anna and I.

Saturday night and the girls went out to a bar at the Lower East side with their friends from Melbourne.

I spent a well earned night in. Dinner from the local Asian store = Sushi and roasted duck.

Watched some of the Pies vs Blues replay and had an early night, not like the girls.

The only tree to survive!!

7 July

Anna and I went to brekky at Ruby’s. Café we stumbled across that I had read about in ‘Little Australia’.

Owned by Aussies and the best coffee you can find, together with yummy Bircher muesli.

Went to MoMa shop in Soho this morning. Dear family, would like to let you know that I bought 2 lovely necklaces with your birthday monies. Bought some other goodies and did a deal. I am now a member of MoMa, so if you want to shop online let me know as I get a 20% discount and free entry in MoMa with visitor’s passes at $5.  As we left the shop, Anna asked if she could have one of the necklaces when I pass away!!!!

Kad and I left Anna to shop whilst we headed to MoMa. Kad ran into her friends who were about to enter, so they also got $5 entry too.

Spent a lovely afternoon wandering around the museum with superb art and a great display of architectural drawings.

Next stop, was Central Station. What a beautiful station this is. I expected to see wooden seating in the middle, but there was none. Does anybody remember the seating in some movies of old???

Kad and I arrived back just in time to farewell Anna who was flying out back to Vancouver.

(cannot locate any photos from today. Will check other cameras and update!!)

We had dinner back downstairs at Puglia, where 'Mama' was given free bread. Lovely relaxing night.

8 July

Finished packing and went back to Ruby’s for brekky.

A quick shop and here we are sitting in the airport waiting for our flights to Vancouver via Ottawa.

Below is photos of the Hester Street and the building where we stayed. As you can see, we were smack bang in the middle of Little Italy. Such a hoot!! Also, photos of subway - Wall Street station

Our apartment block painted red,white and green.
The infamous entry door is just to the right of the stacked white chairs and our apartment is just where the Puglia white sign is!! See Kad is just about to enter the building after our morning at Ground Zero

10 July
Apologies for the lack of blog updates. I had typed up word document at airport where we were flying from New York to Vancouver via Ottawa. Well, we have just finally arrived in Vancouver after missing two flights at Ottawa - so 24 hours later we finally left Ottawa for Van. Will explain tonight, when I get a chance and try and upload some more photos!! 



OK, ready to finally catch up and update blog. Go to Canada link for new updates!!