Back to New York City! — Patti Part Two

There are at least two - maybe more - cities I could go to 100 times and never feel like I’ve seen it or done it all. One is Paris, and the other New York. So when I saw that there was a special Andy Warhol exhibit at my favorite New York City museum it seemed like the perfect reason to make a visit. Visiting Tom and his girlfriend Anna was another great reason - so I am going to take a break from my Marie Kondo inspired Tidying Up to do my second favorite thing - recap my travels. My favorite thing is actually taking the trip, but reliving everything through my blog and sharing it with anyone reading is up there too. Like much of the country I have been watching the Marie Kondo show on Netflix, but all that I’ve accomplished so far is making my place look like a tornado has gone through it. Once you’ve dragged every item of clothing, shoes, purses etc out of all your closets, there’s no way I’m just going to put it all back again. I’ve discovered that none of my clothes really bring me joy, but cleaning the cobwebs and dust bunnies out of my closet does! So at least there’s that! Back to the NYC recap😊

Its been a pretty tough winter in much of the country - especially the Midwest, so no surprise that my initial early morning flight to New York was cancelled due to snow here. Luckily I was able to reschedule for a flight later in the day. I missed part of the day I planned for New York, but got to get up at a more normal time and had no trouble getting out to the airport. Anna’s mom Kim had decided after much encouragement from Anna and I to join me for a Mom’s Weekend of fun, so with my rescheduled flight I was actually able to meet her at LaGuardia and Uber into the city together - bonus! It was great to see Tom and Anna and of course wonderful to reunite with my favorite ball of fur.

People tell me all the time that they get so hungry when they read my blog. I love to post pictures of food and this trip might top it all. We ate at so many great places! You might want to go eat a snack before you keep reading.

We headed to a cool Mexican restaurant in the West Village for dinner called Tacombi. It was pretty dark inside for pictures. I would describe it as mexican street food. You order taco’s as singles - chicken, beef, carnitas, fish, vegetarian, and Mexican roasted corn to share etc. Great interesting fruity cocktails too. We tried some of everything and shared.

We were so hungry I just got a picture of the guacamole, chips and corn. When the tacos arrived we all just dove in. It was all good.

After dinner Kim and I headed to our hotel in Bryant Park. We had a long travel day and a packed agenda for the next day. We were sharing a hotel room and while we had spent time together before, we had never shared this close of quarters. I had no doubt we would get along fine, and the proof was when we got to our room and pulled out our slippers.

First on our list Friday morning was a little shopping. My favorite store is UNIQLO and there was one really close to the hotel. Great prices, good quality and pretty basic with a bit of a trendy flare. We both found a few things we liked and then headed over to say a quick hello to Anna at her office by Radio City Music Hall before meeting Tom for lunch at Westville.

Westville has a couple of locations around the city and they have lots of healthy options. Kim got three kinds of delicious vegetable, Tom got a wrap and fries, and I opted for a brown rice and veggie bowl. They also have some interesting teas. This… — Westville has a couple of locations around the city and they have lots of healthy options. Kim got three kinds of delicious vegetable, Tom got a wrap and fries, and I opted for a brown rice and veggie bowl. They also have some interesting teas. This one was fresh ginger, cinnamon, mint and lemon. So pretty too.

After lunch we headed to the Whitney Museum for the initial purpose of the trip which was to see the Andy Warhol special exhibit. I wouldn’t say he’s my favorite modern artist but I do like his work and know that he was extremely influential for the time. Who hasn’t seen his famous Campbell Soup painting? We got the audio guide and that’s always in my opinion important to get the most out of an exhibit. He worked in so many mediums, not just painting but video, movies, commercials, and portraits. The exhibit was spread out over three floors so took a couple of hours to see it all. From NY the exhibit will travel first to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art May 18-September 2 and then the Chicago Art Institute October 20-January 26, 2020. Check it out!

After the museum we were so close to the Chelsea St Market that we just had to stop and let Kim see it. I posted stuff on my blog before about it so if you’re interested refer back to my New York posts from August 2018 for more pictures. It’s in the old Nabisco factory and is filled with cool little restaurants, food shops, kitchen stores and odds and ends. The Food Network has its studios above so if you know who the chefs are (which I for the most part don’t) you might see them shopping for ingredients I hear. From about 11 to 2 it’s insanely crowded but if you get there before or after it’s quite pleasant. Right across the street is one of the new Starbucks Reserves. A new upscale concept they started in Seattle (of course) and moving to somewhere close to you hopefully soon. Lots more food options, a roastery and coffee accessories to peruse.

That’s Tom inside Starbucks Reserve. We opted for coffee at the Chelsea Market from the Ninth St Espresso.

I love the interesting streets of New York. This is right outside the Chelsea St Market facing west.

New York’s version of the Bridge of Sighs?

We haven’t eaten in hours! Time to head back and meet Anna and get to our dinner reservation at Emily’s. Also located in the West Village Emily’s is very popular so a reservation is a must. Tom describes it as Detroit pizza. I didn’t know there was such a thing, but it was delicious!

We shared a brussel sprout salad with cashews, and a vegetable pizza and one with sausage. It was all delicious. The pizza is square so every piece is an outside slice that has the most amazing crispy cheese. I saw no evidence of a sign that said Em… — We shared a brussel sprout salad with cashews, and a vegetable pizza and one with sausage. It was all delicious. The pizza is square so every piece is an outside slice that has the most amazing crispy cheese. I saw no evidence of a sign that said Emily’s so you just need to apparently know that this is it!

For dessert we walked to Soho to try out Eileen’s Special Cheescake. A mini cheesecake bakery - what’s not to like?! Tom was shocked we hadn’t been there before but I assured him I would have remembered.

So hard to choose but I went plain with raspberry on top. Yumm! And the perfect size.

Saturday morning the Mom’s were up and out the door heading to the upper east side and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Kim had not been before and since I like to go pretty much every time I’m in New York she definitely did not have to twist my arm. The weather was clear but chilly and windy so we decided a stop at a cool coffee shop was first on the list. Found one!

Good spot and after going I started noticing a few more locations around the city.

The Met! Hi Kim🙋🏼‍♀️

We spent most of our time with the Impressionists. I could spend hours just walking through the beautiful building. — We spent most of our time with the *Impressionists.* I could spend hours just walking through the beautiful building.

We were there about 2 hours and then headed to meet Tom and Anna at The Plaza Hotel for tea. Yes tea! High tea to be exact, and something I have wanted to do there forever. It was high on Kim’s list too - actually her idea, and I jumped at the chance when it was suggested. Definitely a memory maker. Reservations are essential.

So many wonderful special touches. If you know me at all you know I love to write notes. They bring each guest a Plaza postcard and suggest you write a note to a special someone and they will mail it for you. On the back of the card it says “Once upon a time, before cell phones, guests visiting The Plaza would send postcards, a little touch to commemorate a special stay. Tradition is the new trend, so pen a postcard from The Palm Court. Postage on us.” I LOVE THIS! 💕💕💕💕💕

It was a lot of food. Finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, lemon curd and jam. Lots of tiny desserts and tea. I ate it all! There I am mailing my postcard💕

We rolled out of the Plaza and headed back to check on Penny. As I said it was chilly so she needed her sweater and booties to take a walk.

We relaxed at the apartment and got Kim hooked on The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. I don’t have Amazon Prime but binge watched the first season when I was Penny sitting in New York in August. A little birdie told me Kim went home and has already watched BOTH seasons in their entirety. She’s a smart lady and it’s the best show ever!

Tom and Anna had a prior commitment so the Mom’s went out to a restaurant each of us had been to before but both loved. Market Table is in the West Village and the food is great. We weren’t super hungry after our lavish tea so shared the amazing chicken entree and a side of roasted broccolini with garbanzo beans. The perfect amount of food. I forgot to take a picture but we did get this one of us signing the guest book.

We’re already planning the next Mom’s weekend!

If you’re in New York on a Sunday then the law says you must do brunch. Well maybe an unwritten law but everyone does it. Tom and Anna picked out a place that they had been wanting to try that had gotten lots of great press called Loring Place.

Very cool open space which is rare in the city. Typically you are sitting almost on top of the people next to you

Just thinking about the food is making my mouth water. Fantastic!

We shared appetizers of apple fritters, tater tots and pancakes with lemon curd. Then everyone picked an entree. Waffles with ham and cheese in the batter topped with eggs, a breakfast pizza that was savory and sweet, toad in the hole with avocado a… — We shared appetizers of apple fritters, tater tots and pancakes with lemon curd. Then everyone picked an entree. Waffles with ham and cheese in the batter topped with eggs, a breakfast pizza that was savory and sweet, toad in the hole with avocado and eggs scrambled with crepe fraiche. And bacon😊

Shortly before I should have been heading to the airport for my return flight I got a text that my flight was cancelled. Seriously? That happened on my way to New York, and the weather in both New York and Kansas City was fine. Every flight was booked for the rest of the day, so looks like I’m staying till Monday. I wasn’t too upset - more time with Tom and Anna!

I needed to get a hotel and the best tip of this whole post is hoteltonight.com. If you find yourself needing a hotel at the last minute it’s a great option. Hotels list their unused rooms on the site at deep discounts - usually half price or better. Not available more than 7 days in advance. I got a nice room at a cool hotel called the Arlo close to Tom and Anna for half the price. That was easy!

Since I had some extra time Tom and I walked back over to the Whitney again to see what we didn’t have time for when we went to see Warhol. I love their permanent collection and they had another exhibit focused on digital art and computational art. Their words - not mine. Interesting!

We walked the entire High Line and saw how the new Hudson Yards business development is progressing. I had seen something on TV regarding an interesting sculpture and we saw it at the very north end of the High Line. Turns out they are calling it a vertical park. It will open in the spring and while it’s free you will need a reservation to get in - so I’ll put that on my list for next time.

Initially called The Vessel, now The Staircase. Final name yet to be decided.

Back to the apartment to have take out Asian with Anna and over to the Arlo Hotel. A good nights sleep, morning coffee and croissant at a cool coffee shop a block away and I’m off to the airport to return home. Another great trip to one of my favorite places. Thanks Tom, Anna and Kim for such a fun time. I already can’t wait to go back!

Well Marie that adorable little Japanese lady is nagging in her sweet way for me to get back to finding joy with tidying up - so I’m grabbing more large trash bags to keep filling. I’m planning my next BiG trip so check back soon 😊