New York at a glance
November 30th 2006 20:39
NEW YORK at a glance.
I arrived at Newark airport on my first visit to New York. It was a smaller airport than I imaged and I was told it is often used as an addition for international flights with the larger one. I joined the taxi queue as I had seen in many a movie and was allotted mine. On the way to the upper West Side, I couldn’t help noticing the graffiti covered walls of neighbourhood basketball courts- everything was coming to life from magazine pages and TV shows a la NYPD Blue! The heavily reinforced screen around the driver brought home the possibility of city violence.
As soon as I arrived at my destination my friends were keen to show me around. When they mentioned a walk in Central Park I baulked at the idea- in fact it took them a week before I would venture in. When I finally did, it was quite pleasant.
Best of all was the Boathouse restaurant overlooking the lake. Always popular, my friends booked a table before I arrived to be sure of getting one with a good vantage point. Watching the rowers lazily traversing the lake one could easily be any place in the world. I was lucky to enjoy some ‘Indian summer’ warmth as well. The food is quite good at the restaurant that serves snacks as well as full meals.
Afterwards we strolled around the park always where there were many other walkers. I don’t fancy wandering about in deserted sectors- too many stories of muggings have kept me very aware on my regular travels around the world. It is sensible to be cautious.
My visit coincided with a few street festivals. We always made use of them to wander along the many stalls providing produce, food and clothing. I decided to tackle snacks each time- that way I would not miss out on goodies further along the way! The first festival we tried Indian samousas- curried snacks of vegetables or lamb encased in fried triangular shaped pastry. Next it was a slice of thin crisp pizza smothered in hot Italian salami and mushrooms. We then ventured to try some spicy chicken pieces, and finished with a tasting of assorted cheeses! At lunch time (!!) I returned to an interesting stall selling circular spicy sausage with sauerkraut. I placed my order and the stall holder picked up a French loaf, slicing off a generous piece. He reached for a sausage and sliced it in half to place on the bread. Upon my request for sauerkraut- he piled what seemed a small bowlful on top of the by now creaking bread! I hastily asked for half the amount, which he reluctantly cut. My two friends and I feasted magnificently on this.
I have heard jokes about the size of food portions in the U.S. and it soon came to light on a visit to Carnegie’s the famous diner. A long time lover of salt beef, I went with the aim of trying it. The waiter asked if I wanted cheese and (yes again!) sauerkraut; I asked for both with a request for Swiss cheese. I kid you not, when my order arrived I counted 9 finely sliced pieces of salt beef, under a mass (the only way to describe it) of sauerkraut and 6 slices of Swiss! I began laughing out of shock? disbelief whatever. My friend’s amusement at the size of my meal was lost when her order of fried chicken arrived. It looked like a half of a turkey! There were so many pieces of chicken on her plate that it looked like a serving plate at a club function!
I must say I lost my appetite completely at the sight of the mounds of food, and ate just one slice of my salt beef. I asked for the rest to be packed to take home.
(It lasted three of us a week!).
My visit also included strolls around the Greenwich village, Chelsea and Soho districts and surrounding areas; stopping to browse around the specialist shops and galleries. My friends were renovating an Art deco apartment and I enjoyed looking around the antique furniture shops some reminiscent of those in London, England. We also did serious damage to our livers by trying nearly every coffee shop along the way for comparison!
We had to take the subway to get there, which while quick, I found very grubby and dark. My friends told me not to look directly at people which was hard as I wanted to take in all around me. At one stop, some quite hefty teenagers came aboard with the sole reason I think of annoying passengers. One came up to me and pretended to punch me in the face that I found extremely disconcerting! The group then laughed and jumped off at the next stop. At another stop, a poorly dressed woman came on and went down the rows of passenger seats asking for money. She leaned particularly close to me and breathed her demands closer than I preferred- I like my personal space!
I pointed out to my friends after those experience a preference to travel by taxi or bus!
One day we took in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and then the Whitney Museum of American Art, after which we went for a stroll in the park to watch the skateboarders go through their paces. I was also shown a smallish enclosed area where owners could bring their dogs for a little ‘socialisation’.
On another occasion, I accompanied my friend for one of her weekly work out sessions at the Reebok sports club on Columbus Avenue where some famous personalities go. I occupied myself reading magazines while others got fit! After the club, it was (again!) almost time for lunch so we went to a nearby bistro. Imagine my surprise to see Billy Baldwin- my first movie star spotting!
My friends were having company one evening so I offered to cook something different having spent some time travelling in Asia. Imagine my disappointment not to find the most basic ingredients in the Upper West Side. I went to so many gourmet shops and only indigenous produce they seemed to stock was Italian-not an Asian noodle to be found- shame on them! Too lazy to travel to Chinatown for ingredients, I opted to cook Italian food!
Speaking of Italian, I found a wonderful little bistro in the upper West side that made the most mouth watering Tagliatelle Vongole. Plump little molluscs steamed in their shells, stirred in olive oil, butter and white wine then served on al dente strands of golden pasta sprinkled with parsley and parmesan- yum! I went back again for an encore before I left NY.
I have to also mention a fantastic patisserie coffee shop also on the upper West Side (whose name escapes me). Set in a dark painted façade with French featured posters in a terraced building up a flight of stairs surrounded by wrought iron sidings- you will see an amazing array of mouth watering cakes of all kinds.
We always found an excuse to return if only for a coffee to gaze at the wondrous selection if we were too full to eat anything!
I also liked street stalls selling back copies of old American magazines and posters- a great souvenir to take home.
To finish off my evaluation of ‘typical U.S food-Yes, I did see street vendors selling warm pretzels and hot dogs but didn’t get to try them. I walked past a shop selling ‘the cheapest dog in NY" which was packed out I guess as the price was under a dollar.
I did visit a famous steak restaurant that was very good- the aroma of meat on entering the place was very ‘more-ish". A hamburger at a simple lunch place was great- a good beef patty, crisp fries and fresh salad with just the right amount of dressing.
I found New Yorkers either effusively friendly and very interested in my accent, or pointedly aloof. Oh yes, I also found time to buy some casual wear- always a good buy in the States.
Have I returned to New York- you bet!
I arrived at Newark airport on my first visit to New York. It was a smaller airport than I imaged and I was told it is often used as an addition for international flights with the larger one. I joined the taxi queue as I had seen in many a movie and was allotted mine. On the way to the upper West Side, I couldn’t help noticing the graffiti covered walls of neighbourhood basketball courts- everything was coming to life from magazine pages and TV shows a la NYPD Blue! The heavily reinforced screen around the driver brought home the possibility of city violence.
As soon as I arrived at my destination my friends were keen to show me around. When they mentioned a walk in Central Park I baulked at the idea- in fact it took them a week before I would venture in. When I finally did, it was quite pleasant.
Best of all was the Boathouse restaurant overlooking the lake. Always popular, my friends booked a table before I arrived to be sure of getting one with a good vantage point. Watching the rowers lazily traversing the lake one could easily be any place in the world. I was lucky to enjoy some ‘Indian summer’ warmth as well. The food is quite good at the restaurant that serves snacks as well as full meals.
Afterwards we strolled around the park always where there were many other walkers. I don’t fancy wandering about in deserted sectors- too many stories of muggings have kept me very aware on my regular travels around the world. It is sensible to be cautious.
My visit coincided with a few street festivals. We always made use of them to wander along the many stalls providing produce, food and clothing. I decided to tackle snacks each time- that way I would not miss out on goodies further along the way! The first festival we tried Indian samousas- curried snacks of vegetables or lamb encased in fried triangular shaped pastry. Next it was a slice of thin crisp pizza smothered in hot Italian salami and mushrooms. We then ventured to try some spicy chicken pieces, and finished with a tasting of assorted cheeses! At lunch time (!!) I returned to an interesting stall selling circular spicy sausage with sauerkraut. I placed my order and the stall holder picked up a French loaf, slicing off a generous piece. He reached for a sausage and sliced it in half to place on the bread. Upon my request for sauerkraut- he piled what seemed a small bowlful on top of the by now creaking bread! I hastily asked for half the amount, which he reluctantly cut. My two friends and I feasted magnificently on this.
I have heard jokes about the size of food portions in the U.S. and it soon came to light on a visit to Carnegie’s the famous diner. A long time lover of salt beef, I went with the aim of trying it. The waiter asked if I wanted cheese and (yes again!) sauerkraut; I asked for both with a request for Swiss cheese. I kid you not, when my order arrived I counted 9 finely sliced pieces of salt beef, under a mass (the only way to describe it) of sauerkraut and 6 slices of Swiss! I began laughing out of shock? disbelief whatever. My friend’s amusement at the size of my meal was lost when her order of fried chicken arrived. It looked like a half of a turkey! There were so many pieces of chicken on her plate that it looked like a serving plate at a club function!
I must say I lost my appetite completely at the sight of the mounds of food, and ate just one slice of my salt beef. I asked for the rest to be packed to take home.
(It lasted three of us a week!).
My visit also included strolls around the Greenwich village, Chelsea and Soho districts and surrounding areas; stopping to browse around the specialist shops and galleries. My friends were renovating an Art deco apartment and I enjoyed looking around the antique furniture shops some reminiscent of those in London, England. We also did serious damage to our livers by trying nearly every coffee shop along the way for comparison!
We had to take the subway to get there, which while quick, I found very grubby and dark. My friends told me not to look directly at people which was hard as I wanted to take in all around me. At one stop, some quite hefty teenagers came aboard with the sole reason I think of annoying passengers. One came up to me and pretended to punch me in the face that I found extremely disconcerting! The group then laughed and jumped off at the next stop. At another stop, a poorly dressed woman came on and went down the rows of passenger seats asking for money. She leaned particularly close to me and breathed her demands closer than I preferred- I like my personal space!
I pointed out to my friends after those experience a preference to travel by taxi or bus!
One day we took in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and then the Whitney Museum of American Art, after which we went for a stroll in the park to watch the skateboarders go through their paces. I was also shown a smallish enclosed area where owners could bring their dogs for a little ‘socialisation’.
On another occasion, I accompanied my friend for one of her weekly work out sessions at the Reebok sports club on Columbus Avenue where some famous personalities go. I occupied myself reading magazines while others got fit! After the club, it was (again!) almost time for lunch so we went to a nearby bistro. Imagine my surprise to see Billy Baldwin- my first movie star spotting!
My friends were having company one evening so I offered to cook something different having spent some time travelling in Asia. Imagine my disappointment not to find the most basic ingredients in the Upper West Side. I went to so many gourmet shops and only indigenous produce they seemed to stock was Italian-not an Asian noodle to be found- shame on them! Too lazy to travel to Chinatown for ingredients, I opted to cook Italian food!
Speaking of Italian, I found a wonderful little bistro in the upper West side that made the most mouth watering Tagliatelle Vongole. Plump little molluscs steamed in their shells, stirred in olive oil, butter and white wine then served on al dente strands of golden pasta sprinkled with parsley and parmesan- yum! I went back again for an encore before I left NY.
I have to also mention a fantastic patisserie coffee shop also on the upper West Side (whose name escapes me). Set in a dark painted façade with French featured posters in a terraced building up a flight of stairs surrounded by wrought iron sidings- you will see an amazing array of mouth watering cakes of all kinds.
We always found an excuse to return if only for a coffee to gaze at the wondrous selection if we were too full to eat anything!
I also liked street stalls selling back copies of old American magazines and posters- a great souvenir to take home.
To finish off my evaluation of ‘typical U.S food-Yes, I did see street vendors selling warm pretzels and hot dogs but didn’t get to try them. I walked past a shop selling ‘the cheapest dog in NY" which was packed out I guess as the price was under a dollar.
I did visit a famous steak restaurant that was very good- the aroma of meat on entering the place was very ‘more-ish". A hamburger at a simple lunch place was great- a good beef patty, crisp fries and fresh salad with just the right amount of dressing.
I found New Yorkers either effusively friendly and very interested in my accent, or pointedly aloof. Oh yes, I also found time to buy some casual wear- always a good buy in the States.
Have I returned to New York- you bet!
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