NYC Mini-Break Report Day 2

[SBETigg]

Husband and I missed the city and wanted a romantic escape. We used his Marriott points (accumulated from far too much business travel) and checked into the Carlton (on Madison and 28th) for a four day weekend.

May 17-20. Sherri and Sean, romantic weekend in Manhattan.

Day Two (Friday):
We live on a quiet CT street surrounded by woods, so I wasn't sure how we would sleep with the lively street sounds all night long. Apparently, it was no problem. We slept soundly right through morning rush hour and opened the shades to find our friendly neighbor apartment dweller at his computer in the window across the street-- seriously, that man was always in his window with his laptop.

We headed out, grabbed a bagel and some fruit from a little place around the corner from the hotel, and caught the Gray Line tour bus at the Empire State Building. Outside, the guides were saying it was a two and a half hour wait to go up to the top. But we've been there, so not this trip. The day before, we bought the two day pass, $48 per person. But it was a gorgeous day and there were no seats on the upper deck of the bus. It's just not the same riding inside, but we had a great tour guide and we passed some sort of official motorcade, very exciting but we still have no idea who was riding in the limo with the police escort. After a few stops, some riders on top cleared out and we got their seats.

We passed the Flatiron building, Madison Square Park (Shake Shack and Mario Batali's Eataly), and down to the World Trade Center memorial area. The Freedom Tower is nearing completion, now the tallest building in Manhattan. It's really not as impressive as I've been expecting, but I can still see the twin towers in my mind and it's hard to let go of that image. Plus, it just doesn't dominate the landscape like the Empire State building and the Chrysler building do, but maybe it will when it's done.

We exited the bus at Battery Park. Gorgeous day and the park was full of people. One fellow had even stripped down to his Speedo to sunbathe right there on the grass. My husband took a picture of him for me- haha. We looked across the water at Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, but didn't want to ferry out. Instead, we walked around Wall Street and ended up having lunch at South Street Seaport cafe. Afterwards, we caught the Gray Line bus (had to wait for a second bus to get seats on top) and continued the tour by the Brooklyn Bridge, through Chinatown. The history of New York's tenement buildings and immigrants always fascinates me.

We had a bus accident in the East Village. Our driver sideswiped another bus and took the right side mirror off our bus, necessitating our tour to be cut short because our driver couldn't see. Instead of heading back to the madness that is Times Square, we got off at the Waldorf Astoria stop and headed up Fifth Ave to Central Park. Our tradition in NYC is to pop into Trump Tower (another building I love, even though I have little love for the man himself) and have a martini at Trump Bar. Always the same bartender and he actually remembers us now (or he pretends very well). Last time we were there, Donald Jr. came in. He's shorter than I expected. This time, no celebrity sightings. But in the lobby, there's a bike from Paul Teutel, Sr. of American Chopper (and Celebrity Apprentice) designed for Trump and it was pretty amazing.

We headed up to Central Park for some people-watching, and caught another Gray Line to get back to our hotel. We ended up having to change buses in Times Square anyway, which we were hoping to avoid, but it wasn't bad. We bused back down to Madison Square Park, passed a very long Shake Shack line (that place is popular), and headed back to our hotel. The night's dinner was in our celebrated hotel restaurant Millisime. It wasn't bad but we actually weren't that impressed, expected more I guess. But the Oysters Rockefeller was exquisite.

[Nini]

Another busy day!

We're going to have to go into Trump tower this time. I'm sure my husband would like to see that bike.

I too love Oysters Rockerfeller (sp?). They are excellant at The Oyster Bar in Grand Central, but the last time we were there the rest of the meal was very disappointing.

Denise

[SBETigg]

Day 3 report coming up, but if you're looking for a good restaurant the Day 3 dinner was our favorite. It was incredible. Gascogne in Chelsea. The service and food, amazing. Plus, they have a gorgeous garden. We ate in the garden.