NYC 2nd Greatest City In America!

First off, let me say, if there is anything on the animal/fish that can be used, the Chinese have thought of it. They have dehydrated everything on this planet that can be dehydrated.

It is soooooo much fun to go into oriental markets in Chinatown and mosey thru the isles and look at all the products, and things in jars, and things hanging, or stuff in corners in crates stacked to the ceiling. I mosey every isle I could get C to stand long enough to allow me to. I found dried lily, and dried chrysanthimum to steep. Mix with my Irish tea.

As soon as we got to town, we rushed to Herald Square and went to Daffy's.

Friday night we saw All shook Up on Broadway. It was great. It was a campy play about a "Fonz" kind of character that ends up in a small town with a broken down motorcycle. And of course he turns the town upside down with his leather jacket, blue suede shoes, and guitar. Lots of Elvis songs.. great dancing, good lines.. Thought it was a real cute play.

We went to Coney Island and had hot dogs and french fries and beer under one of those tacky umbrella's.

We walked the Boardwalk, and sat on a bench and stared out to a hazy horizon. It was like 78 on the shore, and 90 in the City. We rode the wooden rollercoaster, Cyclone.
What an adventure!
We took the last seat on the coaster, and that was not a good thing. That first shot down a steep drop snapped both our necks.. Man that hurt. We weren't expecting that. But to grade the roller coaster, these are my comments...

That roller coaster is one of the very best I have ever been on.. And all the dips and drops, and it was built at the turn of the century. I think the front row would have been a better thrill, but if you like whiplash rides, the rear is for you.

We saw the most specatcular firework display either of us have ever witnessed.
The Southport Seaport had some children's event and put on this 20 minute firework display that was outstanding. The didn't skimp on effects. That was down by City Hall. What a nice place to see. It's one of the prettiest architectually decadent displays of old world European charm. Outstanding craftsmen. City Hall is a beautiful building.

After the fireworks, we had to go to Little Italy to get a gellato. And of course it was the hottest night of the year. As fast as we received our cup full of gellato, did it start running all over C's hands. We ran into an Italian market and bought a bottle of water to wash her hands and shorts. And of course everything in there looks beautiful. Blocks of italian cheese.. Oh yummmmm...

Sunday morning, we rode the subway up to 96th street, West side (to avoid the parade going down 5th ave) to Central Park. We walked all the way thru the park to Columbus Circle. When you're deep inside the park, under those massive trees that are hundreds of years old, you do not hear any sounds of the City.
It's so quiet, and so much wild life, and birds.. And there are lakes everywhere.. I got a nice photo of a couple in a row boat. I was standing on the edge of the lake, and a weeping willow framed the photo. I think it will be lovely.

And then, just before we got ready to hit the airport, we had lunch at Juniors in Grand Central Station. They had the biggest, juiciest, tastiest burger I've had in a very long time. And they cooked it perfectly MR. It was huge. and the onion rings were in a corndog batter. and my french fries were extra crunchy. the beer was cold. and I enjoyed every single bite on my plate.

When we got in last night, we settled down in our jammies, turned on QAF, and I heated up the last of our scallion pancakes from the Excellent Dumpling House in Chinatown, with a delicious bottle of Pinot Noir (from Oregon), C bought at a Grand Central Wine Shop.

Another thing I need to comment on. On the down side of NY, I would say that when it gets hot, like it did this weekend, the city smells. Everything smells. The subway stations smell, the stairs smell, alleys smell, streets smell, buildings smell. The city has a bad odor. When we were there in Jan, there was a blizzard, and tons of snow. It was quiet, pretty, (lots of yellow snow) and no odors. People were nicer. Entirely different views from two different seasons.