We've only been here 24 hours?
Jul. 10th, 2009 11:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
catkoThe apartment is great in daylight, big skylight over the bed. Did some business with the apartment management company RE: wifi. Next time, ask them for the modem--it's going to be around $45 for the month instead of $45 for 10 days via Natural Wireless. Alex at the mgmt company was very helpful. (Hey, I know some of this is dull, but it's for future reference.) Strolled out for breakfast at Balthazar (pics and links for restaurants at blog). On the way, bought six $5 pashminas. Balthazar is just lovely and very civilized; bistro-style. They sell french cigarettes at the bar. (I know my pics suck, but like my "concert" shots, the point is to feel like you're there. Not art or anything.) Wandered around SoHo trying to get our bearings. Shopped at CVS Pharmacy which is on the ground floor of our building. Big break in NYC tradition to not go to Duane Reade. Spruced up the apt a bit with pashminas.
Made plans with John S. to meet up on Sunday to see him play bluegrass at a friend's apartment on Sunday. I told him I tell everyone, "He's a former student of mine who's now a DOCTOR." He sounds exactly the same as he did when he was an Alcohol/Drug Peer Educator. Also plans for Saturday brunch with Joe; he and his partner are closing out their Chesea apartment and moving full-time to SF. Headed down to Chinatown to find cheap housewares at the 25c. Store. Didn't find that, but of course found many other cheap places. Chinatowns are pretty much the same everywhere, with the crazy-looking fruits and vegetables out on the street, sausage stores, and pervasive smell of fish. Stopped at the much-recommended Joe's Shanghai for a snack of soup dumplings (they're not on the menu, so you just gotta tell the guy whether you want pork, or crab and pork. The soup's in the dumplings! Great rejuvenator for $6.95 between us. Checked out the not-quite-opened new Museum of the Chinese in America (yeah, the name is a little awkward I think), because we're thinking of going to the First Asian American ComiCon tomorrow. Apparently the new building is designed by Maya Lin, and it looks it. Very austere which goes without saying I suppose.
After so much Only In New York stuff, had to do the chain store thing: Sur La Table and Crate & Barrel. By the way, HAH to all the people who, when I told them my plans to come here 9 months ago, said, "New York in July, do you know what the weather's going to be LIKE?" Yes, I know: bright and sunny with a nice strong cool breeze. We were looking for towels since the ones they provide are cheesy, but at C&B it was too damn expensive. Got a cute little rug and tablecloth though. I figure, I'm gonna be living there for a month, might as well have it be pleasant.
More resting, then decided that nice but cheap towels would be the goal. There's a KMart in Manhattan! So, 8 pm, headed out to Broadway and 9th. Again for the future reference (do you see that I'm planning to come back again?) that the entrance to KMart is actually up the block from Broadway. Next we decided to follow the adage "Eat dessert first!" and went to Chikalicious, which Lori had been to with Bo, Joe, and Lisa. You have to look at the link, because words cannot describe this experience. It's a little dinky place on a side street. The line's outside and the sign says "Wait may be 20-60 minutes." But we scored and got in after about 10 minutes. (Get there before 9 is my advice; there was a huge line after us.) You have to sit at the counter so you can watch Chika and Mike assemble these amazing desserts, assisted by the sweet gay (I think) black dude who brings French-press coffee and pours water with a darling smile. Everything is beautifully clean, precise, with vibrant simple flavors, and a leisurely pace. Chika is a Japanese woman who looks to be about 60, and while we were sitting there watching them flow back and forth, I was thinking how cool it would be to have your little dream place, putting together these special delights on a mixed assortment of lovely china that you hand-picked yourself. She's my new role model.
After, we felt so good, like we just got a massage or psychotherapy or been to an oxygen bar. Zig-zagged back to Bleecker Street, stopping at a Japanese grocery for bento and other snacks, because that dessert was like an appetizer and made you want to eat more. The night-lifers were already filing the streets. I'm trying to figure out what kind of "fashions" are in; nothing too appealing in my opinion, but how would I know. I can't imagine trying to go out to bars or clubs. The days are too full as it is.
And thus ends ... well, I'll call it Day 2 in New York City. Man, I don't know if I can keep up this pace. Hope my future accounts are shorter, and more interesting, than this one, but at this early stage I feel compelled to record everything. I'm sure that'll pass.
Made plans with John S. to meet up on Sunday to see him play bluegrass at a friend's apartment on Sunday. I told him I tell everyone, "He's a former student of mine who's now a DOCTOR." He sounds exactly the same as he did when he was an Alcohol/Drug Peer Educator. Also plans for Saturday brunch with Joe; he and his partner are closing out their Chesea apartment and moving full-time to SF. Headed down to Chinatown to find cheap housewares at the 25c. Store. Didn't find that, but of course found many other cheap places. Chinatowns are pretty much the same everywhere, with the crazy-looking fruits and vegetables out on the street, sausage stores, and pervasive smell of fish. Stopped at the much-recommended Joe's Shanghai for a snack of soup dumplings (they're not on the menu, so you just gotta tell the guy whether you want pork, or crab and pork. The soup's in the dumplings! Great rejuvenator for $6.95 between us. Checked out the not-quite-opened new Museum of the Chinese in America (yeah, the name is a little awkward I think), because we're thinking of going to the First Asian American ComiCon tomorrow. Apparently the new building is designed by Maya Lin, and it looks it. Very austere which goes without saying I suppose.
After so much Only In New York stuff, had to do the chain store thing: Sur La Table and Crate & Barrel. By the way, HAH to all the people who, when I told them my plans to come here 9 months ago, said, "New York in July, do you know what the weather's going to be LIKE?" Yes, I know: bright and sunny with a nice strong cool breeze. We were looking for towels since the ones they provide are cheesy, but at C&B it was too damn expensive. Got a cute little rug and tablecloth though. I figure, I'm gonna be living there for a month, might as well have it be pleasant.
More resting, then decided that nice but cheap towels would be the goal. There's a KMart in Manhattan! So, 8 pm, headed out to Broadway and 9th. Again for the future reference (do you see that I'm planning to come back again?) that the entrance to KMart is actually up the block from Broadway. Next we decided to follow the adage "Eat dessert first!" and went to Chikalicious, which Lori had been to with Bo, Joe, and Lisa. You have to look at the link, because words cannot describe this experience. It's a little dinky place on a side street. The line's outside and the sign says "Wait may be 20-60 minutes." But we scored and got in after about 10 minutes. (Get there before 9 is my advice; there was a huge line after us.) You have to sit at the counter so you can watch Chika and Mike assemble these amazing desserts, assisted by the sweet gay (I think) black dude who brings French-press coffee and pours water with a darling smile. Everything is beautifully clean, precise, with vibrant simple flavors, and a leisurely pace. Chika is a Japanese woman who looks to be about 60, and while we were sitting there watching them flow back and forth, I was thinking how cool it would be to have your little dream place, putting together these special delights on a mixed assortment of lovely china that you hand-picked yourself. She's my new role model.
After, we felt so good, like we just got a massage or psychotherapy or been to an oxygen bar. Zig-zagged back to Bleecker Street, stopping at a Japanese grocery for bento and other snacks, because that dessert was like an appetizer and made you want to eat more. The night-lifers were already filing the streets. I'm trying to figure out what kind of "fashions" are in; nothing too appealing in my opinion, but how would I know. I can't imagine trying to go out to bars or clubs. The days are too full as it is.
And thus ends ... well, I'll call it Day 2 in New York City. Man, I don't know if I can keep up this pace. Hope my future accounts are shorter, and more interesting, than this one, but at this early stage I feel compelled to record everything. I'm sure that'll pass.
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no subject
Date: 2009-07-11 05:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-11 10:28 pm (UTC)Yeah, we're splurging a bit now while my sister's here, but once on my own I'll probably be ordering in pizza and grabbing deli food. And a few more $5 pashminas.