HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Met Hannah at her place Saturday afternoon and we walked to Soho.  On the way, we passed John Derrian's stores.  Very nice, candles, scarves, books, cushions and decoupaged plates.  We make it to Broadway and walk down one side of the street and up the other.  Hannah is looking for some bits and pieces to add to her Halloween costume -  she plans on being a troll.  We think of the Fab 5 as we walk past the loft they rented while here.  We eventually make it back to Houston and the Bowery where we share a pizza in a very nice Italian place - Pultino's.  As we are leaving Terry calls from Toronto airport.  Hannah heads home and I head to the subway to head home.  Terry gets home around 8pm and we have a quiet evening at home.

                                       HANNAH IN SOHO
SUNDAY

We get up and head further up the Upper East Side to 90th Street between 2nd and 3rd to  "Our Lady of Good Counsel Church.  A quick note here to my friend Marion in Newfoundland - I have been looking for a Newfoundland connection while here in Manhattan to no avail.  I am thinking this church is my  connection to you and I know that you will get the connection......  It is such a beautiful church.

                                        OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL

                                   OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL

                                   INSIDE OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL
This truly is a beautiful church and to those of you who may be interested the blog
catholicmanhattan.blogspot.com is worthwhile checking out the numerous photos "Andrew the Sinner"  has of this church.

After  Mass Terry and I share  a Subway sandwich before heading to the MET.

                  This is the display at the information desk in the Main Hall of the MET

It is our Sunday visit there.  We do the "highlights tour" Every highlights tour is different.  It depends on the volunteer who is giving the tour. They pick their favorite things to "highlight". We head to the Roman exhibit, there is lots to see but I am taken by the tile floor.

                               BEAUTIFUL TILE WORK

                              MORE BEAUTIFUL TILE WORK

Next we get to see some beautiful Tiffany windows.

                                        TIFFANY WINDOW AT THE MET

After the MET we head home.  We really enjoy these "Highlight Tours" at the MET A and may, in fact, be learning something.   My feet are hurting and I am happy to return home to rest.
As we walk home via Madison Avenue there are lots of kids out "trick or treating"  They are going into all of the stores.  I guess it is hard to "trick or treat" in Manhattan and going into the stores is like going house to house.

Hannah arrives at our apartment and all three of us go out for dinner to Serafina on 61st at Madison. It is always a treat and a thrill when we get to spend time with her.   This is the restaurant that Kate and I had supper a week ago.  After dinner we walk Hannah to the subway and she makes her way to school where she will work on her project for a couple of hours.  Terry and I return home.

Talk to you soon.

Apple Store

This morning I "Skype"with Julia.  It is always a thrill to chat to girlfriends.  When you are away from home, having contact with friends is like a lifeline.  We had a lovely chat.  Terry will not go into the hospital this morning as he is off to Toronto this afternoon.  He has a meeting there.  He will only be gone one night - thank goodness.

We decide to go for a walk over to 5th Avenue and 59th Street - the Apple store.  We are checking out the new Mac Book Air.  They are so small and light, would be great when traveling.

                               THE APPLE STORE ON 5TH AVENUE

The Apple store on 5th is a huge glass rectangle with a glass staircase going down one level below the ground.  It is amazing to me how many people go there.

                   GLASS STAIRCASE LEADING DOWN TO THE APPLE STORE


Directly across from the Apple Store is the Plaza Hotel.  It has been in the news recently thanks to Charlie Sheen.

                                             PLAZA HOTEL

I am hoping to explore the Plaza Hotel one day.

Terry and I walk home and he packs up and gets ready to leave.  A car picks him up at 5pm to take him to the airport, his flight  to Toronto is this evening.  He has a meeting to attend there but will be back tomorrow night.
Hannah is off to Long Island with Franky to watch the Islanders take on the Montreal Canadiens.  I remind her she is first and foremost a Canucks fan.

Terry insists on taking a photo of our MBT's

   Mine are the cute ones - ok I know it's hard to think any of them as cute.




Talk to you soon.

Winnie the Pooh

Today I woke up and the pains and aches are not so bad.  I don't now if it is because I have rested for a couple of days, or what, but I am happy.  It is 74 degrees today and the sun is shinning.  I am back in the capri's and heading out to enjoy.  It is supposed to be down in the 50's tomorrow.

My first stop is the New York Public Library on 5th Avenue.

                                NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY ON 5TH AVENUE

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY      

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

Imagine my surprise when I discovered  that  THEE  Winnie the Pooh and friends now live in the New York Public Library.  They are kept safe and sound in a beautiful case in the Children's Centre.          

WINNIE THE POOH AND FRIENDS

WINNIE THE POOH AND FRIENDS    

I leave the library and head to Union Square.  On the way to Grand Central to take the subway I see my favorite building looking so beautiful against the blue and cloudy sky I have to take another photo.

THE CHRYSLER BUILDING

 I am looking for THE STRAND bookstore which is on Broadway and 12th.  It is advertised as having18 miles of books.  "Julie" in "Julie and Julia" has a scene  filmed at the Strand.                                                                         

                                      THE STRAND BOOKSTORE

            
                                       THE STRAND BOOKSTORE


After the "Strand",  I pop into "Shoe Mania" to check out the MBT's for Terry.  One of Terry's concerns is that the MBT's are not waterproof and living in Vancouver, you need waterproof.  Well, lo and behold what do I find when I get to "Shoe Mania"? - waterproof,  black leather MBT's and they are in his size!!!!
I also find a pair of "Mary Jane" style MBT's for me - I know,  I can't believe I bought them either.  I come home with both pairs.
After all of this - I need to go home.   I go back to Union Square to get to the subway and this is what I see.

                                         A SHOE CAR ADVERTISING "MARSHALL'S"
                                      
Marshall's is now open on 6th and 18th - might have to check it out one day.



talk to you later

                          

OUR LAST MONTH IN NYC

Our last month in New York has started slowly.   I decided I would rest my weary body - I am full of pains and aches.  I am now rethinking this strategy as the pains and aches continue.  I now think I need to get out walking again.
Decided I should show you some pictures of our neighborhood.  This is the Food Emporium where we do most of our grocery shopping .  It is directly under the Queensboro Bridge.  It gives a beautiful ceiling to the grocery store.  Reminds me of Grand Central Station and also the ceiling at Ellis Island.  We visited Ellis Island on our first visit to New York, many years ago.

                                       FOOD EMPORIUM UNDER THE
                                         QUEENSBORO BRIDGE

                                       CEILING INSIDE THE FOOD EMPORIUM

                                       CEILING AT GRAND CENTRAL

                             CEILING AT ELLIS ISLAND

                   APARTMENT BUILDINGS  ON 1ST AVENUE

These buildings are kitty corner to the Food Emporium and 2 blocks from our apartment building.  I love the colors and the architecture.

                                     NEW YORK WATER TOWERS

One of my favorite things to see in NYC are the water towers.  All building higher that 6 floors have a roof top water tower.  The newer buildings have covered the towers so you only see them on older buildings.  This photo is from 2nd Avenue and 60th Street.

  Our  Canadian visitors have gone and we have enjoyed spending time with everyone of them.  New York is a fabulous city to share with friends.  We had a list of things we wanted to do while here, we have accomplished most of them and hope to finish the list by the time we leave.  We have, in fact, added to the list while living here.  I think that is another beauty of this city - you never run out of things to see or experience.

Hannah came for dinner last night - always a thrill for us.  Terry had a conference call with folks back in Canada so Hannah and I sat on the bed painting our nails.  Those of you who have daughters know how special that it.  We then all watched "Glee"  It is the simple things that amuse us.

Today was quiet, I did check out the new  TJ MAX that has just opened on the Upper East Side.  It is, in face, right next door to the Food Emporium.  I did find a black leather Kate Spade bag  for a third of the price.  I thought of Pat while shopping there and remembered us shopping in the TJ MAX on 6th avenue when we were here in 2008.  Another great thing about coming to New York, every time you come you make more memories.

Heavy rain tonight although still 73 degrees.  Supposed to be nice tomorrow before it drops to the 50's by Friday.

Talk to you soon.

SUNDAY - STATEN ISLAND

Sunday, we have our usual weekend breakfast of a mushroom omelette and a large pot of coffee while we make a plan for the day.  One of the things we have always wanted to do, but have never done is to take The Staten Island Ferry.  It is free - which is amazing.   Anyway, we take the green line on the subway to "Bowling Green" which is in Battery Park - the southern most point in Manhattan.  From there we head to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal.

  
                                       STATEN ISLAND FERRY TERMINAL

We make it to Staten Island and do not intend to stay there, but once we arrive we decide to walk a little on the boardwalk - am I glad we did.  We discover a 9/11 Memorial to the people from Staten Island who were in Manhattan and lost their lives on 9/11  Apparently there are a lot of people who live on Staten Island and commute to Manhattan every day.  The memorial is beautiful.  It is supposed to resemble a postcard that has been folded and thrown out into the wind.

                                       STATEN ISLAND 9/11 MEMORIAL  WITH
                                         MANHATTAN IN THE BACKGROUND

Inside the memorial are the names of all of the Staten Island residents who lost their lives on 9/11

                                          THE NAMES OF THE VICTIMS


We take the return ferry back to Manhattan and head home for a quiet evening in our apartment.

Talk to you soon.

SATURDAY IN MANHATTAN

Friday was a quiet day for me resting my foot - not sure it helped.
Saturday I meet up with Kate.   We decide to meet outside  F.I.T.  -  the Fashion Institute of Technology.  I know she will know how to get there,   Dani, her daughter,  graduated in May from  F.I.T.  Terry and I travel together to F.I.T. but we part ways there and he heads off to the Apple store on 14th and a walk up the west side of Manhattan along the Hudson River.   Kate and I head off along 25th street  to check out the Antique Garage,  we also check out a thrift store.  Kate loves "vintage" and  I love a bargain,  it works for us.
We have a bite of lunch and head off to Union Square.  Kate introduces me to a couple of stores I have not seen before.  "Fishs Eddy" could be trouble for me - it is full of dishes and kitchen accessories.  I am a recovering crockery buyer. I LOVE dishes.  I get out of there unscathed but promise to return. Check out www.fishseddy.com    Across the street there is "ABC Carpet and Home".  I would not have ventured into this store thinking it would be furniture and carpets.  It is fabulous and again I will return.  Lots of accessories even some imported clothing.  Check out www.abchome.com

                                             KATE IN UNION SQUARE

We pick up a latte and  do some people watching in Union Square, we chat with Dani.  She is on the bus from Philadelphia To Manhattan.   She is an Assistant Designer for Urban Outfitters.  She will spend the night with Kate in Brooklyn.  We decide we will all meet for dinner in Little Italy.
Kate and I pop onto the subway together.  She gets off before me to go meet Dani at the bus terminal and I continue home.
Terry and I make it to Mass at Our Lady of Peace Church - this is the first church we came to when we arrived in NYC.  This is the one with the wonderful chandeliers.   It is 2 minutes from our apartment.

                                    OUR LADY OF PEACE CHURCH

                                      INSIDE OF OUR LADY OF PEACE CHURCH


 After Mass we take the "F" train down to Hannah's and meet up with her.  We walk to Mulberry and Houston where we meet up with Kate and Dani.  We have a lovely meal at a restaurant in Little Italy, "Da Nico Ristorante".     Dani and Hannah have eaten here before with the York House Art Department.  Every year, in November, the Art Department at York House bring the art students to New York.  While they are here, they invite the girls who are at University here in Manhattan to join them for dinner.  The students and teachers from York House will be in New York on November 11 th this year.

                                          HANNAH, DANI AND KATE
                            

                                          DANI AND KATE

After dinner we say good by to Dani, who will return to Philadelphia tomorrow and Kate, who will return to Vancouver tomorrow.
Terry and I walk Hannah home.  She has another "event" to attend tonight.  One of her friends, Sammy, has a band and they are playing at a venue in midtown this evening.  "Sammy Miller and The Congregation" is the name of his group.  Terry and I take the "F" line home again and collapse - it has been a long - but great  day.

talk to you soon.

Kate

Kate arrives at our apartment around 2.30 pm.  We have a lovely visit catching up before we head out to Bloomingdales.  Kate is on the look out for some Steve Madden boots.  No luck in Bloomingdales.  We check out the Steve Madden store but the boots she wants are only available in the Soho branch of the store.  We go to DKNY on Madison where Kate finds a beautiful silk and cashmere cardigan.

                                          KATE IN HER DKNY CARDIGAN

We decide to have some supper and pop into a restaurant that I have walked by often so I am happy to try it. Serafino on 61st and Madison.  Kate loves the Rigatoni and I the Ricotta stuffed Ravioli with a butter sage sauce is SOOOO GOOD. Might have to bring Terry here one day.  We walk back to our apartment before
Kate heads home and I chat with Hannah on Facebook.

Kate Spade Handbag and Dinner with Hannah

Wednesday was a quiet day.  Although I did receive a package from Kate Spade. Yes a handbag.  I am on their email list and their facebook page. There was a 2 day period with 25% off and free shipping. I could not resist.

                                          NEW KATE SPADE HANDBAG

Thursday I decided to rest my foot this morning,  don't know if I have plantar fasciitis but the sole of my foot really hurts.
Terry manages to get away from the hospital at lunch time and we head off to Grand Central Terminal to take the "tour" put on by the Municipal Art Society of New York.  It was quite interesting although most of the information we received we had already discovered from our own investigations. It is such a beautiful building.  We did find a lovely restaurant called The Campbell Apartment  that I have suggested to the Knutsons we have lunch there next time.  The Knutsons and Phangs have had lunch together in Manhattan the past 2 years - must mean it is a tradition.  The Oyster Bar Restaurant is also in the Terminal and is quite famous - I don't do oysters  -  sorry.

                                    GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL

                                           GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL

                                                     INSIDE THE TERMINAL

                                            OYSTER BAR RESTAURANT


We come home and have a rest before getting ready to head out to meet Hannah for dinner.  We did not get to see her this past weekend as she was very busy with 2 midterms and a project due this week.

                  HANNAH AND TERRY AT GEMMA'S IN THE EAST VILLAGE

It was so good to see her, it seems like such a long time since I last saw her, it has only been a week.  I was spoilt for a few weeks when I was able to get together with her a couple of times a week but now that she has started her internship she works Thursdays 10 am - 5.30 pm and Fridays after school from 2 pm - 6 pm.  She seems to love what she is doing, and doing well at it.
Supposed to be chilly and windy on Friday . I hope to meet up with Kate O'Brien who is here until Sunday.


talk to you soon

Surprise Visitor

Tuesday 19th was a quiet day cleaning house and grocery shopping.
Imagine my surprise when my doorbell rings.  What a lovely surprise I got when I opened the door (I did check the peephole first) and saw my Curvy friend Patti standing there.  I knew she was coming to NYC.  She is here with 6 couples from Canada and I did not know if she would have the time to get together.  She tried to call but had my old NYC number. There is now a message from her on someone else's voicemail.  Her hotel is about 10 blocks away so she decided to walk over. I am so happy I was home.  We had a lovely visit.  We also managed to "Skype" with Roision who had just returned from lunch with the other Curvy girls celebrating Peggy's birthday.  All seems appropriate.
Terry and I had a lovely quiet evening with lamb for dinner.

Monday 18th September

It was my friend Peggy's birthday yesterday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY PEGGY.  The Curvy girls are all meeting for lunch today at The White Spot.  This is a tradition that the Curvy girls have had for a while - lunch to celebrate birthdays.  I am sorry I cannot be there but I am with them in spirit.
Terry goes off to work and I do the housework thing.  I do manage to make a quick call to Sola, a friend of ours who lives here in Manhattan.  We plan on getting together for dinner sometime in the next couple of weeks.

I took some photos over the weekend of decorated townhouses in our neighborhood.  Some scarier than others.

The folks on the Upper East Side seem to be getting into the spirit of the season.

Till next time.

The Weekend

We have a pretty lazy Saturday morning and then decide we should do something.
We head off to Times Squares to look for a walking tour of Midtown.  It is really cold today, no rain but very windy.  The tour guide does not show up - in fact, it looks like no one has shown up for the tour.  Makes me think I should call and  make sure these walking tours are still available.  Well, we are already in Times Square, we may as well "hang out".

                                                             TIMES SQUARE


 We decide to walk down to Macy's,

                                                            MACY'S

                                          THE ORIGINAL WOODEN ESCALATOR

 I am looking for a pair of earings and Terry is looking for a pair of light weight gloves.  On our way to Macy's we pass by a small but beautiful church and decide we will go there for Saturday Mass.

                                            THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS

                                                       INSIDE THE CHURCH OF
                                                        THE HOLY INNOCENTS


We return home and cook salmon for dinner and catch up with the pvr.


Sunday is another quiet morning - boy I love these lazy mornings, this could become a habit.
We do, what has become a tradition for us here in Manhattan, go to the MET on a Sunday afternoon.  It is a wee walk to get there.  From 62nd to 82nd (about a mile) and from 1st Avenue to 5th Avenue (a bit more that a mile)  The weather is lovely today but will get chilly tonight.

                                           THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

We had hoped to meet Hannah tonight for dinner but she has a lot of work to do with 2 midterms this week and a project to finish so we take a rain cheque and plan on getting together midweek.   Terry and I take the subway down to "Eataly" the new place on 5th and 23rd owned by Mario Batalli.  It is 50,000 square feet of "Italy".  Restaurants, take out, stores and anything Italian.  It is so busy, we have a walk around and then leave.
We walk up 5th avenue and pop into a little corner place and have some Teriyaki Chicken before heading home.


Till next time