New York
View from the balcony
of the Intercontinental Hotel
Thursday May 10th, 2001
First leg of our trip to Saint Martin on the flight to New York. 'Never been to NY. Quite excited. And these blankets in first class are not only packaged, but they're also thermal! Coffee's good, too. I miss my babies already, but have brought pictures of the little ones. I was going to wear my jeans (befitting of most traveling occasions), but Howard suggested slacks. I still wore my sneakers. Black slacks (my faves), white sneakers and a white tank under an oyster silk jacket. Summer fare.
New York is FABULOUS! Howard gave me the abbreviated whirlwind tour by Cadillac short limosine backseat. By day we checked into the Intercontinental right across the street from Central Park (!) then we walked a block and a half to the Petrossian for salmon, caviar, and champagne for a light intake. The place was covered in rose mirrored glass, with gorgeous rose arrangements and French waiters.
Atop the World Trade Center Building
It was still early afternoon and our dinner reservations weren't until 6pm, so we decided to dress for dinner before taking our car tour, saving us from having to double back later in heavy traffic. I donned my black knit block-color dress and black low heels. Howard seemed to like the outfit, a new acquisition. He didn't seem to like the other new outfit I had gotten specifically for our NY outting: a red top and pant knit combo. Well, it does make me look pregnant and I do work out hard to keep myself looking svelt. So, black dress it is!
We met the driver downstairs and he whisked us off (okay, traffic prevented whisking so we crawled), to Park Avenue. We pass by all the shops; there were lots of shops everywhere. This place is just like Seinfeld and Friends, Sinatra and Darren, Will and Grace!!! We were in need of a caffeine spike, so we had our eyes peeled for a Starbucks. As we went "down" into Soho and Greenwich Village, I spotted this old man walking the streets. I don't know if he was homeless, maybe lots of guys do what he was doing and were perfectly capable of taking care of an apartment or condo flat. Maybe he had a home out in the country, like Connecticut. Anyway, he is shuffling down the street, totally engrossed in his own little world, oblivious to the strolling folk along the sidewalk, when he comes upon a corner garbage receptacle. He bides his time until the area is clear and he is somewhat alone, then proceeds to look through the garbage on the top. He finds a clear plastic cup of what looked to be someone's discarded Starbucks coffee. It was about half full, so he picks it up and starts drinking out of the straw. He commences his shuffling, going about his way on the sidewalk. Unaware that he had been watching, too, Howard leans over and says "that's what happens when a guy gets separated from his limo driver." Hey, I guess he has to take whatever Starbucks he can find.
Another view from the balcony
We continue on to Wall Street then Broadway and, finally, we found a huge Starbucks. Howard hops out of the car and grabbed Venti Frapps for us, a single espresso for our driver. It was a gorgeous day, sunny and somewhat temperate for riding about town in the back of a Cadillac. Right at 6, the guy drops us off at Patria's, a restaurant Howard had been to a couple of years before. He had known the original owner/chef who, we were told, had moved on to other horizons, but the food was still excellent. I had seared Tuna Limon on lemon rice, Suckling Pig for Howard, with a great Chardonnay between us. We split an all-too-rich Cinnamon Tres Leche for dessert along with our cappuccinos. Taste sensations.
We met the driver out front and he took us to the play. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was one of the best I have ever seen. Gary Sinise and the Steppenwolf group were splendid, intense, electric (even before shock treatment) and alive. I was duly impressed. Afterward, we took a ride through Central Park and Lincoln Center on our way back to the hotel, where we stole 4 ½ hours of much needed sleep. We had been up since 4:45 that morning and it was almost midnight!
Who is this guy?
Friday
We were up at 4:15am. The phone rang in the room, startling both of us out of a rather deep slumber (me out of a dream), with a loudness that clanged in my head, wretching my silent serenity loose. We're at the airport having coffee, and bagels with cream cheese out of a pouch & strawberry preserves out of a plastic tub. We're in the Presidents club. Jersey's a smelly place, but the airport isn't as bad as its cracked up to be. On the plane I discovered gum on my favorite slacks right on the thigh. GUM. On black slacks. I'll just be glad to trade them in on a wild floral bikini...
View from the Bedroom