Montauk, The Highline

August 2013

Montauk

We took a day to do something completely new-visit Montauk, NY (nickname The End).  One reason is that we wanted a day of relaxation and since it is a 4 hour train ride in each direction, we got a lot of reading and relaxing in the process.  You get to see much of Long Island, including the famous Hamptons.

Well, sort of see.....

On arrival we simply grabbed one of the cabs and asked to go out to the lighthouse, the first to be built in New York state.

Just our luck that it was a windy damp day, unlike the perfect day on the brochure.  But at least it wasn't winter cold as well.  I love lighthouses and always like to think about the keepers-what a mentally tough job to be so cut off from everyday, 'normal' life.

I love that they want you to know about the Fish of Montauk.

It is a very small lighthouse and only ~15 people can be up in the tower, so we waited 30 minutes just for our chance to climb just a few flights.  

But the view is lovely and you can see some of the the original iron work.

Of course there are exhibits at the bottom.  There is a nice Fresnel lens and this model of the bay and  lighthouses (Montauk is the bottom right corner)

You can also walk the grounds to get close to the ocean

and the beach

Part of the area is Camp Hero 

where you can spot some old radar dishes.

Our cabbie arrived exactly at 1 to pick us up where he had dropped us off and for lunch recommended Shagwong.  It is an old school restaurant a bit past its heyday, but with a great set of old photos on the wall.  

We ate the local seafood because who knows when we will be back?!

Cute downtown pack, very relaxed atmosphere.  Actually, I can see how it would be pretty awesome to come here for a week and really just learn the area inside and out in total vacation mode.

The Highline

The Highline seems to be one of those things that we do almost every time.  It is so simple, but always so refeshing.  

They provide good spots to look back into the city but surround you with nature.

There is always some fun art.  

This is a 2 minute recording listing 'good' and 'bad' animals.  I found I had a real problem when they listed sharks and bats as bad-I started to protest to E-....hey that is good art!

We also got to see art in progress

And always the people watching

We also had good people watching at Times Square

and at the Barclays Center where we watched a henna tattoo in process and hot-roding motorcyclists (is that even what they call it these days???).  A good time was had by all-till next time NYC!

A

Coney Island, Empire State bldg, Central Park

August 2013

Coney Island

During our week in New York City we did a bit of nostalgia and a lot of new.  Somehow we had never made it to Coney Island before, but after hearing a few stories on NPR about how it was bouncing back after hurricane Katrina I figured it was a good time to go.  We ate hot dogs and ice cream, rode the Cyclone, stepped in the Atlantic, and walked the boardwalk.

The Cyclone was only so-so for me.  It is a classic, so it is good to ride once, but I don't think I will ever do it again.  The first half is actually delightful and smooth, but the second half is one of the most jarring (even for a wooden coaster) I've ever been on.  There were a number of interesting rides I haven't seen elsewhere, but they are all pay by the ride-meaning you have to choose, or be okay doling out a bunch of cash.

 Turns out the actual boardwalk is much longer than you think (2.5 miles, but we didn't know that when we started).  The rides are sort of in the center, so first we walked all the way east and walked back through Little Russia.

 Then we walked all the way west and back to the center.  Way fewer people, if you want a nice beach experience you can totally do it here.  So we ended up with a nice 5 mile walk that day!

Empire State Building

We had visited the Empire State building way back in the day but they recently renovated and opened up the very top floor. 

 They have kept the classic art deco style throughout and added lots of history in the waiting areas.  A big poster of one daily work schedule listing what every single worker would be doing made my Project Manager heart warm and fuzzy.

 From the first overlook you can see downtown

 east

 west

uptown

 and up.  We also went to the top floor-just cause-would love to be here in a big breeze to feel the sway.

The Guggenheim also had a Turrell exhibit-this was the summer of a Turrell Trifecta (we missed the exhibit in Houston, but saw LACMA and Guggenheim, there is a good You Tube Art Talk by the curators).  He wrapped the entire rotunda and illuminated each level, but only on the inside.  To see it you had to be at the bottom-they had a giant gym mat in the center for people to lay on.  What I found very different from the LACMA exhibit was how many folks used the space as a backdrop for regular conversations,  I heard 15 minutes about a book club drama, while contemplating the slow color changes.  Turrell is a new favorite of mine and I am excited for him to finish his big crater in the desert project.

Central Park
We just missed the Shakespeare in the Park, but it is always nice to walk across the park and take a break from the city.  We did some solid people watching and then checked out the turtles in the pond by Belvedere castle

NYC Bike Share
We also gave the bike share program a try.  Overall it was successful.  Hiccups were the first station we stopped at had a broken kiosk, the UI was crap-you have to accept different T&Cs three different times and the percentage of broken bikes was too high for me.  Pluses were that the bikes are sturdy, stations are relatively close together and lots of people were trying them.  If I lived in the city I would definitely get an account so you don't have to log in for every transaction, you just get a key.

New York City Food and Theater highlights

August 2013

When in New York, you can't help but eat well.  The competition is so fierce that anyplace that is below average dies...raising the average.  We had both new and nostalgia eating on our recent trip.  New to us was Grimaldi's pizza-pepperoni pizza in a classic New York style (thin crust, not too much cheese).  They are apparently super busy in Brooklyn, but we ate out in Long Island and were able to relax while waiting out the rain.

Even had time for cannoli

Also new to us was Nathan's Famous hot dogs

This is the place that sponsors the hot dog eating contest and indeed the dogs are classic.  They are all over the city, but we went to the one at Coney Island-good people watching as tourists and locals of all types eat here.  Are the dogs really all that special?  Sadly I am going to say no, the street vendors are just as good I think.  But maybe I am not that picky about my dogs.

We were staying with friends Em&M and together we ate and drank VERY well at Fatty 'Cue, Surfish (Peruvian), and especially at Ma Peche (part of the Momofuku group).

sorry bad photo!  But I had to include something from the Ma Peche dinner which is one of my top 3 best dining experiences of all time.

And then momofuku cookies to go.

Our final food was Dallas BBQ, purely for nostalgia.  During college we used to go in a group to the one in the village to drink lots of frozen drinks.  This time the two of us hit the one in Times Square which still has the frozen drinks.  The food is not bad, but it is not the healthiest and come in GINORMO portions so adjust accordingly.

While in New York we were able to go to the theater a few times and got in a nice variety pack of experiences.

Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike was totally new to me.  It is a drama/comedy about getting older/growing up, your own/your families/societies expectations about your like.  It has a nice balance between the thoughtful and the funny and it didn't hurt that we got to see David Hyde Pierce in a staring role.  This is something you could see with your parents and everyone would be happy.

Avenue Q on the other hand you should never see with your parents or kids.  It is also about growing up and expectations but includes puppet sex.  And Gary Coleman.  I won't spoil the plot, but if you can handle a little off color humor this is one of the funniest musicals around.  The themes are universal enough that I can imagine college kids putting it on in 50 years and it still being funny.

Potted Potter was a last minute TKTS purchase.  This is definitely kid friendly and best for fans.  If you haven't at least seen the movies you will be lost.   If you are even a casual fan like me (read the books through twice and seen all the movies at least once) it is pure enjoyable silly (British) humor.