Exploring the West Side!

December 29, 2015 by Patricia Farmar

Another fun action packed day in New York - today mostly on the west side, My phone tracked me at 11.7 walking miles - not bad! Started by walking to the Clinton St Baking Company to pick up a delicious scone. I knew it would be delicious because it is maybe the most desirable place in NYC to have breakfast - famous for their blueberry pancakes - but everything is great! Monday morning at 8:30 AM and there are already 30 people waiting in line to get in. Luckily I was just picking up a scone to eat at home with my Cafe Grumpy coffee.

Then I walked over to Soho which is less then a mile away to do a little browsing before meeting Tom at his office for lunch. I went to my favorite purse store which only has brick and mortar locations in NYC but available online. It's called MZ Wallace and I love the bags. I found exactly what I was looking for - a cross body relatively (for me) small bag perfect for travel. And it was on sale - SCORE! Grabbed a latte and people watched a bit before taking the subway over to the west side where Tom works.

Tom's building with a Starbucks right in the lobby! So he can think of Keeley every morning :)

Ever heard of Eataly?? That's where we had lunch. The original one is in NY, but now there is also one in Chicago. Very cool place with multiple restaurants, coffee bar, gelato, pizza and all things to buy Italian. We indulged in a 3 course lunch that was phenominal! For me salad, pasta and an amazing dessert!

Next up we headed over to the Whitney Museum but were shocked to see the biggest line to get in - so decided to delay that to another day. Instead we walked on The Highline - a park above ground that runs along the west side and was made from an old train track. It's like a boardwalk with benches, landscaping and pretty overlooks of the buildings and streets.

We stopped into the Chelsea Market for coffee to warm up a bit - another very cool place on the west side with all kinds of shops and food markets - the Food Network has it's studio's there and I can see why. Amazing fresh meats, fish, fruits, veggies and breads. We stopped and browsed at the coolest Nike store too - saw a great new running jacket for $500 - which I did not buy! Then we headed up to Union Square to grab a salad from one of my favorite places - Chop't and saw the movie The Big Short. Excellent movie!

Broadway!

December 28, 2015 by Patricia Farmar

Today was our day to see a show on Broadway - look at windows on 5th Avenue and see Rockefeller Center decorated for the holidays. Mission accomplished! We have really lucked out on the weather - Tom didn't even wear a coat today! It started to rain just a tiny bit when we were on our way home last night.

Started the day having a light lunch early at 88 Orchard. It's a cute little restaurant close by and we timed it right before the big rush so managed to get food and a seat. We took the subway over to Rockefeller Center and saw the tree, skating rink and Radio City with the beautiful holiday decorations. It was pretty crowded but Tom had been there a few weeks ago and said it was much better now.

Then we headed over to see the show!

Highly recommend it! Best dancing I have ever seen in a musical!

After the show we walked back over to 5th Avenue and saw more of the Windows - Saks and Lord & Taylor. We walked past the huge library and right behind it is Bryant Park. If you have ever watched Project Runway then you have heard of Bryant Park! Well for the holidays they have set up lots of cute pop up shops and a skating ring and a beautiful tree. I think while it was a little smaller then the Rockefeller tree it was actually prettier - in my opinion.

Since we had such an early light lunch we were starving so walked over to have some comfort hearty fare at S'MAC in Murray Hill. Only in NY can you go to a restaurant that only sells Mac & Cheese - 12 kinds! Small veggie for me and a medium for Tom. Then a little shopping at Uniqlo in Soho and we were ready to call it a day. Another fun time together and clocked in at 7.5 miles of walking so pretty sure I burned off that Mac & Cheese!

Brooklyn!

December 27, 2015 by Patricia Farmar

We had a really fun day - mostly in Brooklyn - but I didn't do as well taking pictures as I should have. So just mainly a recap. I successfully took the subway to Brooklyn to meet Tom and see his new apartment. Loved the apartment - perfect size and a great feel to it. All of Tom's books and DVD's fit - which he has a lot of! We walked over for brunch (one of my favorite meals to eat) at a great spot called Side Car. Tom had chicken and waffles and I had corned beef and poached eggs - also French press coffee - a good sign of a great brunch spot! Then we walked all over his neighborhood which is called Park Slope. It remind me a little of Lincoln Park in Chicago as far as the style. We browsed through lots of cute interesting unique shops. No main stream retailers in Brooklyn - at least we didn't see any. We took a little break back at his place and watched the movie Tommy Boy - a classic! Our plan over the trip is to see quite a few of the new movies out as we both love movies - so headed over to Manhattan to see the movie Joy. We took the subway to Union Square and had dinner at a new to me salad place called Sweet Green. One of my favorite places to eat in NY is a salad place called Chop't and we tried to eat there but they were closed early due to the holiday weekend - but I loved Sweet Green so no worries!

My salad had roasted brussel sprouts - Win!!!!

We both loved the movie Joy with Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. So that's one crossed off our list. After the movie we felt like a little dessert - after all I hadn't had dessert since I arrived! So we walked over to one of the most amazing bakeries in New York and maybe the world! Yes this picture does not lie - in business since 1894! The hardest part is deciding what to get. They have cheesecake as big as a tire - and will slice off a piece as big as you want. Baskets and baskets of the most delicious cookies that melt in your mouth - some dipped in chocolate- Yumm!

Carrot cake for me and a bag of cookies for Tom. Worth every calorie!

I checked my fitness app and we walked over 9 miles! The weather has been incredible for December. Overcast but really warm. Having such a great time!

New York City Christmas!!

December 26, 2015 by Patricia Farmar

Hello from NYC! Going to start my post with a few pictures from the studio apartment I am renting here through VRBO. I have had such good luck using that site! And no exception here. It is exactly as I expected. The location is on the Lower East Side which is an area I am somewhat familiar with as Tom lived close for 2 years during school. If you watch the HBO show "Girls" then you know the area. First a pic of the entrance.

You can't see that the entrance is a green door but that's it! It's between an accordion shop and a barber.

Now here is the apartment - has absolutely everything I need. And very clean and updated kitchen and bath.

It's on the second floor and the bed is super comfortable.

I arrived last night and Tom met me here and we took the subway for a great Christmas dinner at a restaurant on Park Ave. called Wolfgang's Steakhouse. No relation to Wolfgang Puck! Delicious dinner - BIG steak for Tom and Sea Bass for me. We shared fries and sautéed spinach. No room for dessert! Not even I could squeeze it in!

Food was wonderful - best Sea Bass I've ever had!

Then we went to see my favorite movie "It's a Wonderful Life." It's shown here in NY every Christmas on the big screen. The story is so timeless and I always tear up at the end when Clarence gets his wings. I was actually reading an article online before I came out about how this movie is shown here every year, and Donna Ree's daughter lives in NY and comes on Christmas every year to see it. It was Tom's idea and was the perfect way to wrap I up a great day!

The theater is right by NYU - pretty good crowd of people there for the 9:40 show!

Today I had my morning coffee from a great coffee shop just a few doors away called Cafe Grumpy. Such a great name and I love their logo so will post a pic. Coffee and pumpkin bread - a great start to day 2! Now heading to Brooklyn!

More Great Places in Kansas City!

December 14, 2015 by Patricia Farmar

Kansas City has come a long way since I moved here in 1992 - great museums, restaurants, shopping and live performance venues. I am working my way around the city to visit as many as possible. This past weekend I was invited to a jazz concert taking place at the American Jazz Museum at 18th and Vine. That is also where the Negro Leagues Museum is - the one and only! I'm embarrassed to admit I have never been there - but that is no longer true!

Entrance to both museums - very well done!

The concert was excellent and we had a big turnout of my running friends - the W3! We usually see each other at 7 AM or earlier and when it's finally light out we are sweaty - so great to see that we all clean up nicely!

We have run a lot of miles and races together! Beautiful inside and out!

In my birthday post I mentioned The Webster House as a very cool shop and restaurant so thought I would post pictures. It was originally built as a school in 1885 but opened in 2002 as it's current business.

I wanted to make sure and get the bell in the picture and I did!

The Webster House is located just south of the world famous Kauffman Center. It's a beautiful building designed by Moshe Safdie and opened in 2011. Not only is it beautiful but one of the finest venues for the performing arts in the world - true!! The smaller theatre is Helzberg Hall and seats 1600. It is where the Symphony performs and other musical performers or groups. I saw John Legend perform there last May. The larger theatre is named after Muriel Kauffman and seats 1800. It is used for the ballet, opera and broadway type shows. I have been to both numerous times and always feel so fortunate to have access to this amazing place.

To be inside and looking out at the city through that amazing glass wall is spectacular.

I can't believe it is mid December and we are still having such great weather. Enjoying it as long as it lasts!