Scott suggested the name "tourist with opinions" or TWO when I asked for some help describing my weekend. I went to the big apple instead of a girls weekend in Montreal, which I had originally planned with Kate. Since leaving New York in 2007 I really spend only fleeting moments dashing to one or two destinations in the city. I decided in my big solo trip that I would find ways to enjoy New York on my terms. I had two: I wanted to take advantage of the entertainment (world's best) and I wanted to relive some moments from my time here.
For point 1, Kate suggested we play "broadway roulette," which of course is the latest cheap way to see a show. For $49 (a steal!) you choose 5 shows and in the day one with availability would be chosen for you. Perfect. We saw Matilda which truth be told was only ok - a little too kid focused but with great talent and good music. We had dinner at a Greek place which would have been good, but the service was terrible (it turns out the staff were more focused on their failed broadway aspirations than our dinner order.) We left the show halfway through, just because we could. It was a good night.
On my other term, I decided to meet Kate after spending a few hours on my own in the Village. Here I was able to meander through years, no decades of old haunts. First stop, Joe's pizza for some slices. A real NY pizza joint: standing room only, pictures of random celebs with the owner on the wall and good, classic pizza for cheap. After that I stopped to pick up canolis which may or may not make it home to Hayden. I walked along Bleeker street for a bit, which still had many of the tourist trap yet charming restaurants and bars. I stopped at a little boutique on Thompson st. that always has the cutest dresses. I purchased some cute shorts.
I walked through a Washington square parked filled with NYU students, a Hare Kristna festival (seriously) and passed a doppelgänger for Caril Kane's character on Kimmie Schmidt, except crazier and on a child's BMX.
I made it to Astor place which was sadly unrecognizable with now a second skyscraper. I got to St. Marks, which is gentrified, but holding at least with some sort of balance between crappy smoke shops and sushi restaurants. As I approached Second avenue I saw a street festival, which is always the bane of residents: annoying, tacky stuff that you don't need that slows down foot traffic. Only sadly, because I am now a TWO, I confess I enjoyed some of the stalls. I waded through and got to my old block. As I was about to reach my building I passed a little toy shop that had always been there but of course I had no use for before. I bought Austin a ball that he will love for exactly 5 minutes.
After remembering in front of my old door, I walked through my old deli that is literally the best deli in a city of awesome delis. I walked toward 14th and stopped and got a pedicure (oh yes I did). I made a brief pit stop at trader joes to grab some wine and then headed to Brooklyn.
Upon disembarking in Williamsburg, I über-ed to Kate's kooky kooky neighborhood. It's so Polish that everyone on the streets is speaking Polish and all of the newspapers are in Polish.
On Sunday morning I woke up early and went to buy coffee and donuts from Moe's donut shop, started by a guy who left "the best donut shop in New York" to start his own place after he fell out with his partner. Classic New York.
We met Cora and Inti and their brood, discussed aging and children and had a very Brooklyn lunch at a beer garden: cheeseburgers and ironic curly fries, milkshakes and PAC man.
And then I hopped on the 2 train to penn station.
Just what I needed!
