Today I started off with one of the most Christmassy things to do in New York, the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. I got tickets right up at the back for the 11am show, but the seats were fine and I even got into a nice chat with a couple from DC. The show itself was awesome, so much xmas fitted into it. The Rockettes are very talented, considering some of the dances they were doing, I was very impressed. The last act the bring out live animals for the nativity scene which I thought was very cool. My favourite part was the toy soldier one, which Im sure was the same with most other people.
I had a food eating tour with Ziggy at 3.40 that afternoon, so I stayed close by after and decided to do Top of The Rock. Lines were very quick for a midday planned viewing time. The thing with TOTR is that you get three viewing points (all consecutive levels) with more inside spaces at the bottom and total outside on the top. The view is certainly amazing, I mean you see all of Central Park and you see everything else during the day. Compared to when I went to ESB at night, you could spot different neighbourhoods in Manhattan and see everything else in all directions. I had a blast just sitting at the top level looking North and South, it was just amazing that I was seeing it all in person. The size of Central Park, the Upper East and West sides, a large cloud covering Harlem, it was all just amazing to take in. Then the South you can see Lower East Side and the East Village and how it is so small compared to the towering Financial District at the southern end of Manhattan. I think that the debate of ESB vs TOTR is pointless, both are amazing and if you have the time do both (just do times when it isnt so busy so you don't waste time lining up).
After a long time up there, I made my way to Hells Kitchen where I would meet Ziggy and some others for the food tour. I wasn't sure what to expect except trying some amazing foods and meeting some food like minded people. I was wrong, Ziggy and the rest were all so nice and knew so much about the town and the great food to try. We tried an amazing pastry with sundried tomato and goats cheese in it, with some home made hummus, absolutely amazing. Then we went to a small thai place where we ordered up some appetizers, ribs, curry puffs and fried tofu. All really good, my favourite being the ribs, in a thick delicious sauce. The entrees we ordered was a something pork and a special thai fried rice. The pork was so tender and had these small circular vegetables cut up (I recall them being called japanese eggplants but I could be wrong), but the best part of the dish was they put in bamboo sprouts but made them absolutely delicious. We then went to a small taco place, where I got beef tongue and pig skin tacos. The tongue cooked to such tenderness, if you didn't know what they were you would have thought them to be a high quality cut. The skin so flavourful and a very different texture, which made them delicious. We finished off at a bakery to get some deserts. After this we did walk to the Press lounge but there was a function so we couldn't go up; then over to Gotham Street Markets to check the place out, but too full to eat (I subsequently revisited press lounge on another night and ate at the Cannibal one of the vendors at the markets, at a later date). It was an amazing night, I was so happy I had a chance to do this. If anyone is in New York look up eating with ziggy for some great food advice in Hells Kitchen.
Day 12
On this fine day I decided to visit the neighbouring state of New Jersey. Firstly I went to Hoboken, home of the Cake Boss because I had too. This was one of the big reasons I wanted to come to New York. The place looked exactly as I imagined, not too crowded so that helped. I got a cannoli and lobster tail and a red velvet cupcake. I at the cannoli and lobster tail outside opposite the bakery at the city hall. Each pastry was so good, flaky filled with delicious cream, it made for a perfect brunch eat. I saved the cupcake for later on to eat in the day. I walked down Hoboken taking in the difference in the neighbourhood, so vastly quiet and smaller than what I was use too. I went to the edge of where there was the old housing and the new high rise apartments on the waterfront. I sat and took in mid and upper Manhattan from across the shore. I walked along the Hudson back towards the Bakery, eating some food along the way (nothing worth noting). I then walked across towards Newport. Along the way I saw the differences from New York, there was so much more space, it felt more homely more of a suburb. I saw some of the big shopping centres and supermarkets I was expecting to see in the US. Once in Newport I went to walk along the Hudson again, taking in the magnificent views of lower Manhattan with not that many people again. Took my time and ate my cupcake, which was so good.
After this I went back to the city, as per usual was hungry but didnt know what to eat. I remembered that I was supposed to try the Pig Heads Cuban that I didnt get to try the night before, so off I went to the Cannibal. The cuban was amazing, you could taste the pig head meat and its texture and how it was different to ham. The sauce was amazing and went so well with it. I just sat and ate and had a lager to accompany it, all whilst there were a couple afternoon flicks playing, what more could you ask for. After this I wondered up to the New York Public Library (the famous one with lions out front). It was really half library, half museum, the place had exhibits and the architecture itself was amazing. A really cool place to check out, but sadly the main reading hall was closed so I couldn't see that part made so famous in movies and tv.
Day 13
Today was a day to visit Queens, in particular the lower part so Queensboro and Long Island City. I took the train up walked to Queensboro Park to get some views of the Manhattan. From there I walked down through the Industrial Area to I got to the Long Island City area. From there I walked to Gantry Park, got more pics of Manhattan and the giant Pepsi sign. Walking around there is definitely a difference between LIC and Queensboro. Lunch was planned for M. Wells Dinette at MoMa PS1. This is a modern arts museum that has a restaurant in it, the restaurant being a former classroom which they converted. The menu has traditional things and the more adventurous items, which was what I was there for. I got the pre fix menu, and choose beef tartare (which I really liked) and blood pudding (was not my most favourite meal). I was happy I tried it out, expanded my horizons and ventured out of the box.
After that I took the opportunity to walk around Greenpoint and some of Williamsburg, taking in the gentrification of those areas. It really is astonishing to see how industrial and family surburban areas can change so drastically. That night I had Apollo Theatre tickets, so I went slightly early to get some soul food up in Harlem. I ended up going to a buffet where I got fried chicken, jerk chicken, ribs, ham, mac n cheese and collard greens. It was so good, and the coolest part was that you pile it on and it gets weighed so you pay for how much you want to eat. The Apollo Theatre is iconic so it was very cool to get a chance to witness what goes on in it. I was there for a christmas event with all the past children winners. They were all very talented, the most impressive was a blind 13 year old kid who stunned everyone with his piano skills.
No comments:
Post a Comment