Chapter Four

Back to New York!

Greenwich Village took up most of our time on Thursday. We did the Murry’s bagels, then quickly took the subway to the village, where we walked around Washington Square Park, NYU’s campus, and the cute lanes of the neighborhood. We went to Peanut Butter & Co. for really filling sandwiches. I got the Elvis: grilled peanut butter, honey, and banana. They offer peanut butter everything and crazy straws for your milk! We took our full stomachs over to the Brooklyn Bridge, where we walked across. I don’t think I ever appreciated the architecture until I was actually on it, looking through the suspension wires and onto the cityscape. We followed the Brooklyn promenade down to the waterfront, where we relaxed and watched the boats go by. We got the best pizza at Grimaldi’s, right under the bridge. The place was crowded beyond belief – so we knew it was going to be fabulous. We caught the subway home to Chelsea.

Friday might just have been our busiest day. We woke up walked several blocks East, past the Flat Iron Building to the 6 train. We rode that up to the museum district of the Upper East Side. We first visited the Guggenheim. I really was going for the buildings architecture- a good thing since the exhibit wasn’t worth it. The artist had a unique technique (gun powder and explosives) to create his work, and I appreciated the theme. But floor after floor of his ridiculously similar pieces turned into one giant blur. The coolest part was at the entrance (see the picture of the cascading cars) you don’t even need to pay to see it! After the Guggenheim, we walked south along the park to The Plaza. The hotel has got to be one of the most magnificent places I’ve been. I have a huge wish of having the entrance way chandelier! We waited in line to be seated for tea – everyone before us was turned away- and then shocked when we were seated… silly “adults” you should know to make reservations! High Tea was fabulous and worth every penny. We both ordered pots of the Apple Spice Tea- it proved a great choice. Plates of mini sandwiches, scones, fruit, and pastries later we were stuffed. The best part was the passion fruit tart, I wish I could order boxes of them… alas I cannot. After the Plaza we walked north to The Met. We went through a lot of exhibits at The Met, but it would take a full day to go through them all. Highlights included Greek armor (complete with nipples), Egyptian Temple, the mural of Versailles, and all the modern art. We took a lamplight stroll through the park back to the Upper West Side, and took the 1 back home to Chelsea.

Saturday did major damage to the wallet. MademoiselleChampagne and I journeyed down to Soho to hit the shops. We were on a mission: first stop pick out an Easter gift for An American Girl in Paris, second stop get me a bag. We popped into Vosges for what we thought would be a quick purchase. Instead MC ended up getting a hot coco, which is served in a super tall shot glass- keeping it piping hot for very long. So we lazed about and took out time picking out her gift. We decided on a cute Easter bunny that is trimmed with green. It screamed springtime. Next we walked to Longchamps were I went straight to the Le Pliage wall. Lucky me- they had one left in the navy! I scored it and with the bags starting to pile up, headed in and out of some of the designer shops: Burberry, Coach, La Perla, Barney, Ares, Kate Spade, etc. One of my dear friends back home is having a baby- so I had to stop by Giggle and pick her up a gift. The winner: a white swaddling blanket with pink polka dots. She’ll love it. We stopped by Betsey Johnson were I found the cutest party dress- on sale! I should have bought the leopard print concoction… but maybe it’s for the best. We headed south to Canal Street, where we waded through knockoffs and people selling baby turtles. We walked up the main street of Little Italy, and stopped by a cute café. The food was okay, the service was the worse I’ve ever had. We headed back to Soho and peeked into Agent Provocateur then refueled at Jamba Juice. We headed back to Chelsea to unload. Then we took the 1 up to Columbia University to look around. I wanted to look at Barnard’s campus- get an idea as to how the other Seven Sisters run. Barnard is a block, one solid block. No more, no less. No wonder they depend on Columbia for everything. Columbia is a big campus for the city, but I don’t like how dense it is. Then back to Chelsea for bed.

Sunday we packed up and took one last stroll through Chelsea, then hailed a taxi (MC’s first) to take us to Port Authority. Five hours later we were back in our sun-drenched suite at school.

Cheers!

<3 CrownRoyal

Skyline from the Brooklyn Bridge

Cascading Cars at the Guggenheim

High Tea at the Plaza

Leopard Prints at Betsey Johnson

Central Park is so ornate!

Chapter Three

I ventured into The Big City for spring break, along with MademoiselleChampagne! It made for my fourth trip to New York, but nevertheless was amazing. I would have updated this during the trip, but my mac was being repaired!

We stayed in Chelsea, in a friend’s historic brownstone. They have the top 3 floors, so it was really spacious and relaxing. Everyday was packed full of activities, and we rarely slept in. I guess you could say getting up before 9 am during break is silly, but I love getting an early start to the day! Here’s how the first half of the week went down:

Saturday March 15th was the first leg of the trip. MademoiselleChampagne and I boarded the bus at nine in the morning and were off on a four hour journey through three states to get to our destination. Arriving in The Big Apple just past the lunch hour, we hailed a taxi and headed to our home for the next week, right in the heart of Chelsea. After climbing four flights of stairs in kitten heels, toting my luggage remind you, we collapsed at the door of our lovely hosts. After unloading our baggage, and a cool glass of water – we were refreshed enough to take an evening stroll along the lovely Chelsea Piers. We headed south to the Meatpacking District, turned right at Helmut Lang’s studio crossed the ‘highway’ and walked over to the waterfront promenade. It was a beautiful scene to be walking along the Delaware as the skies darkened into night. We headed into Negril for some delicious Caribbean food – I suggest the coconut shrimp and mango hot wings! So good!

After a well deserved sleep, we got up and took the 1 train to mid Central Park. We wandered through the park to the Loeb Boathouse, one of my favorite places in all of NYC. We had a delicious brunch (see pictures) and after stuffing ourselves we took a long stroll through the north end of the park. I think we covered every part of Central Park there is to do. We did the reservoir walk, the lawns, Strawberry Fields, the Boat pond, Belvedere Castle, the Mall, and everything in between! We walked south out of the park to the New York Public Library. The library is one of the prettiest buildings in the city, I especially love the lion statues that seem to guard it. We stopped at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral- which now stands as the prettiest religious building I’ve ever been into – before heading home to Chelsea.  

Monday was Saint Patrick’s Day! Murray’s Bagels – the favorite bagel shop of Chelsea – filled our tummies with delightful bagels( where we went back morning after morning through the rest of the week). MademoiselleChampagne and I spent the late morning freezing in a crowd of people that had gathered to see the parade! We had a decent view, but most the fun was watching the crazy mob of people decked in all their Irish gear. I actually felt like I wasn’t Irish enough (a crazy thought for those that know my spirited Black Irish self). We skipped out early to miss the crowds (and drunks) and went to the Top of the Rock. Having gone to the top of the Empire State Building, I think I have to recommend the Rock, it’s cheaper and I think it has a better view. When you’re looking at the city skyline you want to see the Empire State Building- not be on it! We did some minor shopping at the Rockefeller Center, but headed over to Times Square to do real damage. We rested in Bryant Park, and day dreamed about attending Fashion Week. We were feeling Mexican for dinner, so we headed south along 8th Ave to find this awesome burrito place called Benny’s – after wandering around lost for a couple blocks, we finally located it! The food was great, but it was the service that made me love the place. We walked home to the beat of a city that never sleeps. 

Tuesday was spent on a ferry, the Staten Island Ferry. Our friend suggested trying it out instead of doing the one that goes to the Statue of Liberty. I’m so glad we took his advice! The Staten Island Ferry is free, and goes right by Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty! Win! Besides, once you’re on the island, you can’t see the statue, and it’s not like you can go inside it anymore. As we were picnicking in Battery Park, the company that runs the ferries to the Statue and Liberty announced that it was out of passes for the day- lucky us for beating the crowds on the free ferry! We walked up Broadway to the Financial District, which has some cool old buildings, and stopped by Trinity Church. We headed east to the South Seaport area, and after stopping in the tourist driven mall on the piers, we headed back to Chelsea. My host said we had to go to her favorite Spanish Seafood restaurant. The lobster dinner was fantastic, as were the Alaskan King Crab Legs. To bed on a full stomach! 

Wednesday was really low key, running around Manhattan in kitten heels can do some major damage to the feet! We lazed around this amazing patisserie on 9th Ave. I experienced possibly the best chocolate croissant of my life, along with a generous bowl of hot chocolate. We went to the movies, and shopped around the neighborhood. 

 I’ll write about the second half in the next chapter!

Cheers!

<3 CrownRoyal 

Top of the Rock

West 23rd

My favorite part of the city!

Boathouse Brunch Take One

Boathouse Brunch Take Two

In the heart of the park

Gorgeous!

Top of the Rock