Monday in New York
Central Park
Ah, the beauty and serenity of Central Park. How I have missed thee.
One of my favorite spots- Bethesda Fountain
A memory popped up in Kim's Facebook feed from 7 years ago. We set out to recreate it, in the same spot in Central Park, near Loeb Boathouse, sans kids.
Then I made a quick dash to the Hans Christian Andersen statue, where I used to perform storytelling during the hot Summers.
I jumped on a bus down Fifth Avenue, to meet up with a friend from my NY days.
We had lunch at Maison Kayser, a throwback to my last trip to Paris. Mary and I started working for the New York Public Library around the same time, and were travel buddies. We have visited Paris, Ireland, and Italy together. As well as some more local places.
Then I had to visit the library!
Can you name the lions that guard the library entrance?
Hey, it's the name of my blog!
Visiting Pooh and Friends in the Children's Room. I used to work with these guys. They get visitors from all over the world! They are the original animals owned by author A. A. Milne's son, Christopher. A bit bedraggled, but hey, they are a hundred years old!
The main reading room is so quiet, like libraries used to be.
After I went in search of some macarons, I met up with the girls again. They were headed to Tiffany's for tea, but I popped in to the Plaza Hotel to visit my old friend, Eloise!
My friends know me so well, they found me downstairs in the food court, next to Lady M Cakes. lol. We shared a slice of matcha crepe cake.
Then, we headed up through Central Park, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art!
Side note, one of the reasons I always wanted to live in New York as a girl, was because of the book, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. The protagonist runs away to the Met, and ends up staying there. Those images stuck with me, and eventually, I ended up living there. In NY, not the Met. I read on Wikipedia, that the characters in the book did research at the Donnell Library Center, and ironically, that is one of the places I worked!
We then went downtown... for some Izakaya grub. Yum yum once again!
The chawan mushi was amazing, the buttery fatty tuna melted in mouth. I tried uni for the first time ever (not a fan, but I could tell it was high quality). Once again, my belly was full and happy.
We were heading to my favorite dessert place, but Michelle wanted a second dinner. :-) We stopped for some noodles at Xi'an Famous Foods in the East Village. I was in my old library neighborhood, so I went to visit it while the girls got their spicy on.
The Ottendorfer Branch, NYPL
This little library was the second branch I worked at after grad school, and the first children's room that was "mine." I ran the budget, programming, storytimes, etc. For a brief time, before I was assigned to work at the Central Children's Room. Ottendorfer was featured in the movie "Bed of Roses" with Christian Slater.
Next stop, Veniero's!!
I have many fond memories of this place. When I lived in NY, my friends and I would end up here after dinner, no matter where we were. We would walk across Manhattan for a treat, and the price is reasonable. When I visit NYC, I make it a point to stop in, if only for a box of butter cookies or mini pastries for the trip home.
Slice of chocolate mousse cheesecake, and chocolate banana strawberry shortcake. YUM!!
Took the subway back to the apartment, and admired some subway mosaics in the station.
OK, back at the rental, packed up the next day, took some pics, and headed out...
Left our bags at the MOMA, and went to V's favorite coffee spot...
Flat white was calling her name. At Little Collins
Then, our final lunch at le Pain Quotidien.
We had a blast just hanging out, eating good food, being silly, and sharing deeply. We are now back home, and back to reality. We are already dreaming and planning our next getaway together. I treasure these friendships. Friendships like this are rare. I feel blessed and refreshed!
I will leave you with some silliness.
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