When we started planning this last leg of Faux Birds Season 3 back in January, Larry suggested that maybe we spend a few nights in New York before heading to Asia. I was beyond thrilled but made my puppet hand say: “Be cool, Kim, just be cool.” I replied casually, “Sure, if you want to.” But he laughed because he knows who he married. Asking me if we should go to NYC is akin to him still courting me after all these years. It’s one of my love languages. He knows that when given a chance, I will always choose New York.
We chose a meandering way to get there. We left camp, caravaned to Pennsylvania for a quick visit with Milan, continued the next morning to Virginia, where Larry brought Louie to stay with Kevin for hurricane season, and I brought the CR-V to Dave’s. Then we each caught a train to DC, where we were able to catch up with Bryan for dinner in Dupont Circle. The next morning we caught the Acela from Union Station to NYC. This way we were in position to catch a flight to Singapore in a few days.
This time we positioned ourselves in the West Village for the 5 days, staying at the Washington Square Hotel. We typically don’t stay in hotels, so that felt a little new. And while the room was pretty small, it was roomy by Louie standards, and it was very quiet and comfortable. Steps from Washington Square Park, it is familiar ground and it made for an easy arrival and daily navigating.
We were a little earlier in the year than we typically go, and we were smack in the heart of NYU at the beginning of the school year. Undergraduates were everywhere trying to figure it all out. Some lingering parents were milling around too, making the most of the drop-off season by spending a few more nights in the city. There were plenty of tourists too. The city and all its neighborhoods were bustling. The weather was mostly lovely. One day of intermittent rain, but otherwise perfect fall weather. Of course there was still the ever-present wafting of piss and pot, but not nearly as bad as some neighborhoods in the sweltering summer.
I always enjoy this part of town. I love walking the village side streets. And in a mostly gridded city, I love the meandering tree lined, slanted and squiggled parts. It’s easy to wander, looking at brownstones, store fronts, people on benches, strollers, dogs, coffees to go. Businessmen talking over bluetooth. Kids watching reels with their heads together, laughing. Every language bouncing around you. Taxis honking, sirens wailing, hawkers beckoning. It’s all there. A cacophony of life in the city. And I love it.
As Auntie Mame said: “Life is a banquet, and most poor sons of bitches are starving to death.” With only 5 days/4 nights we really focused on walking, eating, and drinking. We decided to target many of our favorites as well as folding in some new interesting places. We caught the 12:30 am show at the Comedy Cellar, and Kim visited the Frick Collection, but other than that, we did no live music, live theater, museums, or performances. We kept it simple. A couple bookstores, a couple clothing stores, a couple self care appointments, a round of laundry, and lots of great food and drink. We had good intentions about hitting the gym daily, yet somehow that never manifested. But we walked and walked and walked, averaging about 20,000 steps a day. And we lived. I’m sure Mame would be proud.
What we did that was new:
10West10
Sip and Guzzle (x2)
Top Thai Vintage
John’s on Bleeker St
Mama Too
The Frick Collection (Kim)
Xi’an Famous Foods (Kim)
Places we made a point to revisit:
Sullivan Street Bakery
NY Public Library (Larry)
Central Park (Kim)
L’Express
George Bang Bang
The Campbell in Grand Central
Dante West Village (x2)
The Comedy Cellar
Prince Pizza (Larry)
Babbo (Kim)
The GMT Bar (Larry)
L’Indistrie
Talea
Don Antonio’s
Txikito
Da Capo
Joe’s Pizza
Until next time, New York. Thank you. xoxo
