New York - Day 4

Just in case you've missed the previous New York Blogs please click below

Day One
Day Two
Day Three


New York - Day 4

Our first weekend in New York started with a walk towards the Hudson River so that Mike could see The Intrepid, a war ship and museum. On the way we stopped at what looked like a nice All American diner called Balilo on 11th Ave and West 56th  for breakfast - turned out to be a grotty little place with rude staff and bad food - these guys did not get a tip!

On 12th and West 46th Street is the mighty Intrepid Sea, Space and Air museum. It is humongous, imposing and yet majestic. There is a historical audio tour, interactive exhibitions, a space museum on the top deck and an impressive collection of jet’s, planes and helicopters - Mike was in his element!

Mike with the mighty Intrepid



The top deck and main museum floors are accessible but of course there are many sections you cannot get to in a wheelchair, Mike said that in some parts he; 6ft and strong built, had problems getting and around the ship. Despite its vast size I couldn’t fathom how 3,000 men during in World War II lived together on the Intrepid, also known as the floating city.
 

Gorgeous day at sea!

Unfortunately we didn’t have time for Mike to go into the Submarine floating next to the ship - luckily he has been on many a ship, plane and submarine so he wasn’t too bothered.

As part of our New York City Pass we were entitled to a 3hr boat tour around the entire Manhattan Island with Circleline. As I’ve mentioned I’m a History geek so a tour guided cruise around the city I was falling in love with, was, for me, exciting!

Business District





Our camera’s got a good work out but about 90 minutes into the tour a lot of the people, also on the cruise, became restless and bored, drowning out the captains historical facts, jokes and local knowledge - I was a little disappointed but the cruise was still a lot fun, we had nachos and beers, sat back and enjoyed the stunning views.

Lady Liberty

Manhattan Bridge



Day 4 Had been nicknamed “The Boy day” - boats, beer, planes, so what would finish the ultimate boy’s day?..... Steak of course! We had made reservations to go to the Westside Steak house. A twenty table restaurant, Westside was a small, dark, yet cosy place with lovely staff and an impressively stocked bar.

We’re in New York...we thought, we’re on holiday... we surmised, so let’s go for the best... we agreed, so, we decided on the Porterhouse for Two (The King of Steak!) and I have forever ruined my love of steak! As the back end of a whole cow arrived to our table, smothered in blue cheese and coupled with grilled asparagus, garlic mash and creamed spinach - I.was.in.Heaven! Dark brown yet a perfect medium cooked middle I will never look at steak on a menu ever again. If you get the chance try Westside - you will not be disappointed!

The cause of my meat coma



Feeling fat and satisfied we headed back to the hotel to chill when I actually passed out fully clothed in a steak fuelled coma - “The Boy Day” ruled.

L x  

 

New York - Day 3

Just in case you've missed the previous New York Blogs please click below

Day One
Day Two


New York - Day 3

With jetlag lifting we got up early to move hotels our new home: The Manhattan Club a time share hotel - a huge thank you to Mike’s Mum and Dad for letting us use their points to stay there for 7 whole days! Two minutes from the huge Central Park we were in a prime city location.

My New York tip of day is invest in a New York CityPass - you will save a small fortune. Buying a city pass gets you amazing discounts on big tourist attractions and money off in some of the city’s biggest and well known stores. We decided on a 7 day pass and we made the absolute most of all the discounts saving us between $400 and $500!

Using our pass we went to The Bodyworks: Pulseexhibition being held at the Discovery (Channel) exhibition centre on Times Square. Made famous by Anatomist Gunther von Hagens Bodyworks is collection of real human bodies stripped bare and shown artistically through the process of Plastination. It’s weird, although you know you’re looking at real bodies, organs and bones they are so well preserved and clean you forget that they were once alive and you feel that you should be grossed out but it’s a beautiful exhibition.

BodyWorks Exhibition

Next we went to New York’s Madam Tussauds. I’ve never been to the London branch of the wax work museum but we thought we’d hobnob with the likes of Brad (Pitt), Barack (Obama) and 1Direction. Some of the figures are brilliant, so good in fact, I kept looking round wondering who people were for them to suddenly move - they were actually fellow tourists - doh! Despite it not being a national holiday or a school half term it was incredibly busy, I found myself queuing to hold hands with George Clooney!

Making friend's with Mr Clooney

 

Chillin' in my Yellow Taxi

 

On the other hand some of them were awful - Julia Roberts looked skeletal and James Dean looked oddly melted!

Because of the success of Marvel comic films there is now a 4D Avengers show at Tussauds where your chair moves, wind blows your hair and water rains over you, I think I jumped more than the small children present.

It's only frickin' Iron Man

I had a lot of fun at Madam Tussauds and treated myself to a 2 inch Academy Award (closest thing I’ll get to the real thing!) and we headed to Macy’s.

I was sooo disappointed by Macy’s world renowned and featured in countless film’s Macy’s is meant to be a top New York store - it was dirty, expensive, run down and the staff were incredibly rude - I wouldn’t bother going if you’re in town. We left Macy’s and did some clothes shopping instead; Mike bought more than I did!

Dropping off our bags at the hotel we decided in New York we couldn’t leave without seeing a Broadway show. Now I’m happy to see most shows and musicals - I’m a luvvy at heart! Mike on the other hand is not a theatre lover but I thought he’d like Jersey Boy’s. I’d seen the show in London’s West End - great music, comedy and a touch of sauce - it is an amazing show.

We headed for the August Wilson theatre and we were not disappointed! If you get the chance whether it is in London or New York - give it a go!

Jersey Boys

After the show we headed for a midnight dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe. Mike’s loves this chain of restaurants and Mike’s Dad collects their much sort after pin badges.

We both plumped for juicy and giant burgers washed down with strong sweet cocktails - we found in New York barmen don’t measure shots - bonus! Half way through or meal this happened....

(Before I get messages, I’m aware this video is a year old but it’s the same bartender in the same restaurant). Amazing I think you’ll agree!

Another fun filled and busy day in New York - done!

L x

New York – Day 2

In case you missed Part one of the New York Blogs please click here!

New York - Day 2

Jetlagged, we were up by 6am and having breakfast in the Hotel’s Gingers Restaurant. Deep red walls, beautiful lighting and huge photos of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers all over the place - Gingers was a lovely way to start our day!

We feasted on complementary breakfast pancakes, French toast – which by the way is heavy but very moreish - granola, sausages, bacon, fruit, yogurts, chocolate milk and strong coffee – I had decided that despite my waistline I would not deny myself a thing on this holiday!

We decided that we would start slow and have a wander around Greenwich and Soho with a few stops on the way.

Mike and I are big film fans, we own hundreds of DVD’s, we go to the cinema 4-8 times a month and spend boring moments (think - waiting for a train or bus) playing 6 degree’s of Kevin Bacon and of course New York plays the slick set to many films, TV shows and music videos . We spent a lot of time this trip taking photos and saying things like “Tom Hanks stood here” or “Carrie Bradshaw sat there!” which is why I squealed with delight when we hit Madison Avenue, any guesses why? ....Because that’s where Daryl Hannah’scharacter in Splash! chose her name! – Sad huh? ....Bothered! We loved it!

We stopped to admire one of the most iconic buildings in the city for - the Flat Iron building - smaller than I had thought but majestic and striking never the less.

The Famous Flat Iron Building 

We visited Washington Square, Madison Square Park and Union Square along the way, camera’s clicking constantly only stopping for a few minutes in each to drink, read guide books and yes you guessed it... take more photos!  

Washington Square

Greenwich and Soho are these incredibly hip, fashionable and artistic neighbourhoods with boutiques, patisseries’ and designer shops. Mike was not so enamoured with all the fashion but I loved window shopping not allowing myself inside many stores as 1.) They were designers – think Vera Wang and Prada and 2.) The majority shops were inaccessible – but it saved my bank balance and the weather was gorgeous the walk, or journey in my case, warmed up my poorly legs beautifully!

Still so full from out mammoth breakfast we stopped at the Magnoila Bakery for an afternoon cupcake treat and since Carrie and Maranda ate cake’s there, in an episode of Sex and the City – it would have been rude not to! 

Afternoon Treat

After our sugary refuel we headed for the Highline. TheHighline is a length of elevated train tracks that were due for demolition when a trust and committee of New Yorkers saved it and turned it into a city haven. The only way I can describe it is as a long thin Central Park with art, street performers, ice cream stalls, wonderful planted areas next to built in sun loungers and seats - Tip of the day do not start from the middle. Find the end and just keep walking until there is no more track – you’ll be cheating yourself out of a lovely experience otherwise.



A Glimpse of The Highline

 

I’m not really a fashion follower, I appreciate quality but I wear what I feel best in and I hadn’t realised that as we arrive in New York the city was preparing for NY fashion week so we spotted many stunning Amazonian girls clutching their portfolios.

Because of our early wake up and full day we were very tired by dinner time but pootled over to Planet Hollywood, I’d never been to one before and Mike was looking forward to a humongous burger of some sort. I made the mistake of plumping for starters and when they came out I vowed no more starters in America because they were huge! I had a massive plate of nachos as did Mike but he also had chilli on top. For my main I had a lasagne rolled meal and Mike the burger he craved, his was lovely mine was awful, so I just ate the other half of my starter instead!

We headed back to the hotel via yet more photos of Time Square – no photos or descriptions can do it any justice, and I was in bed by 10 – passed out like a toddler after playschool!

L x