2005.08.24
Back from NYC
I got back from New York late last night. I’m kind of tired today and grateful I had the presence of mind to take the day off from work. I had a wonderful time, though it ended on a sad note with Ann leaving for Austin to begin grad school. This is long so it probably won’t interest most of you, in which case just know that I’m back and the posting will continue from here. Otherwise read on intrepid visitor.
We took the red eye out last Friday night and got in on Saturday morning, arriving at Newark International around 7:30AM or some such. While waiting for the train to pick us up and carry us into Penn Station we endured about half an hour of a broken announcement repeating, “Train approaching on track 8, please stand back.” I think it’s a testament that not a single person went mad with the thing going off at one second intervals.
Knowing we wouldn’t be able to check in where we were staying we went straight to Sarah and Mike’s hotel room to drop off our luggage and get a shower. We were both dead tired having not slept well on the plane. Still, we got to the wedding in Hoboken right across the Hudson from NYC. The wedding was short and sweet, and Nick and Angela looked supremely happy.
They did, however, find the very worst DJ I’ve ever heard. The guy seemed very amateurish and kept changing the style of music for every song. Even when he managed to hit a song a few people liked and got up on the floor to dance the style would change and he’d clear it just as fast. In the end we all went out on the deck and hung out. I was so bloody tired I fell asleep in my chair twice, but after the second “nap” I felt tons better.
Later we went on Toad’s Wild Ride back to the city with some of Nick’s friends. While I never felt like we were going to die there were times when I was surprised we never wrecked! We eventually picked up our luggage and headed to the Chelsea Lodge Hotel, which I can highly recommend. We took a further nap, then later in the evening went out to a bar in Soho called Milady to meet Angela, Nick, Mike and Sarah (and others).
Unfortunately for me I was starting to get grumpy at this point, possibly from tiredness, possibly from hunger, and possibly for my weird social thing. Anyways, I decided it was time to eat. About an hour later others finally decided to come along. Mike decided he wanted to eat at this pizza place he’d been to once before but didn’t know exactly where it was. In the very long walk that ensued I got grumpier, then let it go.
We did find the pizza place. Stromboli’s on St. Marks near Avenenue A. We sat outside because it was freaking hot, even past midnight. Two guys were at the table next to us making fun of all the people walking around and making comments on the police busting guys for having open containers. Yes, you gotta love New York!
The next day, Sunday, we met Mike and Sarah again along with a woman named Cary that Ann and Sarah new. We wandered around a bit, had some food and then the three of them left for Boston, where Mike is from. Ann and I continued to walk around the Soho area and slowly back up to our hotel. At one point in Greenwich she said it would be nice to stop in a bar and get a drink and there on the corner was a bar. The Cubby Hole.
I’m a lightweight, as is Ann, but we had more to drink there than I’ve had in a very long time. Between the two of us we had two Bloody Mary’s, four Dirty Martinis, and two shots of something the bartender gave us. I have no idea how long we were there, and I’m not terribly positive of how we got back to the hotel. I do know we took a nap. Then at around midnight again, we went questing for food again and found a place called the Empire Diner. This place had more metal and mirror surfaces than a science fiction show. The food was good though. In fact I’ll just say now that I ate more on this trip to NYC than I have in a long time.
Yesterday, Monday, we got up and checked out. The people at the Lodge were kind enough to let us leave our luggage there so we could continue running around the city unburdened. We went to the newly renovated MOMA. I actually enjoyed myself given how much I like to make fun of modern art. Ann had the presence of mind to skip the floor that would have elicited the most criticism from me.
Then we wandered up to Bloomingdale’s where they tried desperately to pawn of some new Polo stench on us. In the end we decided to simply head back to where we’d already spent the most amount of time; Soho. Again we just wandered the streets, stopping now and then to look at the architecture or a cemetery. I wonder how many residents of NYC simply take it for granted the history of their city.
Finally it was time to leave. This was a sad point I know I had tried not to think about too much; from the airport I would be flying back to San Francisco and Ann would be heading off to grad school in Austin. I don’t know if it was a good or bad thing that by the time we got to my gate the plane was already almost boarding. It didn’t leave us much time for our unhappy parting. Yes, I was and am sad.
Then I flew back. I was lucky enough to have a couple women in my row who were friendly and interesting coming back from their vacation in Toronto. Ann called as I was getting off the plane to say she got in safely and was already in bed. Scott picked me up and we gave the couple a ride home. In typically predictable fashion I hung out with Jonny, unpacked and went to bed.
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One Response to “Back from NYC”
- NHK says (August 24th, 2005 at 08:18:20 )
1: I’m glad that you met some nice women on the plane; it always helps to have friendly (yet not annoying) people sitting next to you…especially when you actually want to be distracted, as I suspect you might have.
2: I am aghast that you quested for freakin’ Stromboli’s. Bleech! I mean, it’s *okay* as a greasebomb when you’re loaded, but never worth hunting for. Two Boots on Avenue A near Houston…just a short walk from St. Mark’s…good (if odd) pizza there. Try it the next time you go if you get the chance.
3: Don’t be too sad - grad school isn’t forever! And Austin’s just a hop from S.F.
4: I’m slightly jealous of the fact that you two got pie-faced at the Cubby Hole…something I meant to do years ago but never got around to. Bastard.
