Singin' in the rain

Another day very much dictated by the weather!

Morning was a lazy breakfast at the nearby diner, followed by a quick check in Michaels to see if they'd got more stock in.  No, but they did have a sale on, so got some extra goodies!  (MS round the page punch, about £15, give or take, bargain!)

We then decided to risk the weather and headed to Times Square to go to the cinema again, then down to Coney for the baseball this evening.

Despite the earlier rain, forecasts looked good, and the game started on time.  Then the rain started again, the outfielders started sliding, and the tarp came back out - play suspended!  They restarted again after an hour - good match, close game, too, and a great finale to the week!

Subway journey home took about 1 1/2 hours.  Much as we like this hotel, I think we'll be looking for somewhere a bit further south next time!

Almost packed, ready to check out and head home tomorrow.  Some pics of the game here.  Might not get anything added here before we fly, but watch for twitter updates.

Who turned the tap on?!

We started out with plans for a wander round Upper Midtown today, but the weather had other ideas.  When it's sunny here, it's sunny, with temperatures in July regularly topping 90F.  When it rains though, oh boy it rains!  The skies opened and forgot to stop!  We popped into FAO Schwatrz, in my endless search for a Minion, but no luck.  We then dripped into Trump Tower for lunch - something we've been promising ourselves for the last couple of years.  Don't know why we bothered!  Expensive and nothing special.  At least it was dry though!  We made it as far as the Rockefeller Centre after lunch, but decided to give up, and go back to the hotel to dry off.  Chris says he's never seen rain bounce knee-high before.  I thought we'd be coming home in an Ark!

As soon as the rain started, the umbrella sellers appeared on every corner touting their wares.  To be honest, I don't think brollies helped!   We were as wet with them as without.

We did debate whether or not the evening's plans - the Hidden Harbour cruise - would actually go ahead, and if we wanted to be sat on a boat in the pouring rain, but it dried off by late afternoon, so we headed on down.

When we booked this, we were unsure what to expect, and they'd already blotted their copy book by changing the itinerary and not notifying us - we only found out by checking the website.  Initial impressions of the organisation skills weren't good.  A hundred or so people milling about, with no indication of where to queue or even that we were in the right place.  We were lucky, when the crew from Circle Line, who were supplying the boat, did turn up, we were in the right place - others who had been waiting just as long, ended up right at the back of the queue.

Things improved once we got on the boat, and the tour was really interesting.  We saw a lot of bits that we wouldn't have seen on a regular tour, and got background on how New York works!  One of the narrators actually works for NYC council, in the Environment and Development area, so had a real insight into the plans for the river front areas.  Would probably do it again, if we could get a different itinerary.

Last full day tomorrow, sort out a few odds and ends, then off to the Cyclones in the evening.

Loads of pics here and here.

Doing our bit to help pigs reach their potential

Chinatown and Little Italy today, had a wander round the stalls selling "designer" handbags and perfumes.  Didn't buy anything, not quite that daft, but did get some lunch!  Ended up walking as far as 14th Street - total of about 2 1/2 miles. Had a mooch round a few shops, but didn't buy much.  Found a couple of art supply shops, but they didn't really have anything suitable for crafting, not even promarkers or copics.  By the time we got back to the hotel, via Herald Square, it was late afternoon.

Headed north this evening, see what's about, and saw the top half of Central Park, which is a bit more rugged than the southern aspect.

We then headed down to Times Square for some eats, and found Famous Dave's Legendary BBQ, which is new since last year, as far as we can tell.  Good food, good service, and plenty big servings, too!  Wish we'd found it sooner, but it's on our list for next time already!  Went to ToysRUs in Times Square, too, hoping to find a toy Minion from Despicable Me - they've got a massive advert for the film out front, you'd think they'd have the tie in stuff, but no, the lass I asked didn't even know what I was talking about.

Not sure what the plan is for during the day tomorrow - possibly minion hunting! - but in the evening, we're booked on a hidden harbour tour.  Can't believe how fast the week has gone so far!

Some random pics in the Picasa album here, including a fall out shelter sign from SoHo!

Lazy Sunday Afternoon, I got no mind to worry

Sunday, and even New York wakes up slowly, nothing much opens til about lunchtime.

Headed midtown, and found the Hell's Kitchen Flea market - unfortunately, they seem to be the same the world over, with no bargains to be found.

Had lunch in a new place called Scnhippers Quality Kitchen - unusual for Times Square, it's not a chain.  Good food, and the decor is Ikea meets 50's diner!  Odd, but it works!

Headed over to the East Side, and had a mooch up 3rd Avenue.  Found a diner for drinks and sundaes!  I am pleased to say that they used proper whipped cream, rather than out a can stuff!  We did find one of the few Scottish bars, but there was a load of people watching some football game or something.  Anyway, it was busy, so we'll head back for a proper look-see before we come home.

Back to the City Diner for a late dinner, followed by a wander round the area.

Oh, and I know they love Top Gear over here, but I've just heard a car servicing ad (the equivalent to Kwik Fit!) using the theme tune.  Hoping for kudos by association?!

Now that's what I call a burger...

Lunch with friends today, and I finally found the burger I couldn't finish!  We went to Jackson Hole Burgers and I don't think any of us cleared our plates!  Good feed, though!

Headed downtown for some people watching at Washington Square Park, followed by a wander up to Union Square, before catching the subway back to the hotel.

Craft shopping at Michaels this evening, lots of stash to bring home and play with, mostly stamps and punches! :)  Headed back via Subway for eats, and a lazy night.

We're busy doing nothing

Fairly lazy day today - spent most of it shopping.  Started at Century 21 and worked north!

C21 is down at the World Trade Centre site, and boy are they getting on with the building work there.  We passed the FDNY Ladder Co 10 building, which has a bronze plaque on the wall honouring those lost on 9/11.  The oddest detail we noticed, on the collection of badges left by firefighters from around the world, was a (local!) West Yorkshire one.  Funny what you spot!

Went to the cinema this evening - Cineworld could learn a thing or two over here!  Saw Despicable Me, which was very funny, and very well made.

We've not done a lot of touristy things this year, but we're enjoying just chilling out and relaxing

Lunch with friends tomorrow.

Back to the old ball game

Started the day finding the perfect breakfast at a cart around the corner from the hotel - coffee, bagel and bacon and egg roll for under $5.  All freshly cooked to order, too.

Spent the morning looking round Fulton Street Mall in Brooklyn - apparently the third largest commercial areas in NYC.  And has the advantage that stores like Macy's were a little bit quieter than their midtown equivalents!  Some of the bling had to be seen to be believed.

To Chris's delight, we found Arby's - shredded roast beef in your bun, rather than a burger.  He's had a hankering for one since he vivsted the US 10 years ago, and thankfully it lived up to the memory.  Made a nice change, but I forgot that a medium over here is pretty much a super-size back home!  Or as Chris says "It's f@#king huuuuge!"

Coney Island and the Brooklyn Cyclones tonight.  Good fun and, as usual, they won!  This week's freebie was a Baseball shirt each.  And we finally got  a cap to fit Chris's head, too!

To top the night off, everyone that wanted to, got a chance to run the bases after the game.  The footing wasn't too good for Chris's stick, but I ran it anyway.  Yes, I RAN round the field!  OK, it's not a massive distance, 120 yards, I believe, but I did it!

Lazy day tomorrow, mostly shopping,

There's a few baseball pics in the Picasa album.

The Best of Times is Now

Stash shopping this morning, to a tiny place called Ink Pad NYC.  Great idea for a shop, wall to wall rubber stamps, ink pads and stuff.  Little disappointed, though, as there was nothing there that I can't get back home - and the prices weren't that great either.  Oh well, was fun to look round, and saw a bit of Greenwich Village, too.

This afternoon, we had tickets for La Cage Aux Folles - absolutely fantastic!  Who'd have thought that Frasier Crane had such a fab singing voice!  It was absolutely spectacular, and I'd love to go see it again.  And again!  I love "I am What I Am" anyway, but seeing it in the context of the show - the hairs on the back of my neck were trembling.

Dinner at Applebees - we're not food snobs, we like chain restaurants - you know what you're getting - and it was a good feed.  Finished off by wandering round Times Square people watching for a bit.

Thankfully, the weather has cooled off a little - it's 8pm, and only 86F.

Brooklyn and the baseball tomorrow.

Bits and pieces

Half past nine, and it's cooled down to a mild and balmy 91F.  Yeah.

People are strange, the world over.  We went into Barnes and Nobles earlier - not at all taking advantage of their air con, oh no!  Now, we're all used to seeing browsers in bookshops, leafing through the books and magazines.  Some shops now even place armchairs for them at strategic points.  That's fine.  There were guys sat in B&N against the wall, with laptops out, using the textbooks!  Barnes and Nobles, replacing Uni libraries the world over! 

Then when we went for dinner, there was a mother, her son and his friend in the booth behind his.  All was peaceful until apparently mum did what mums all over the world do, and teased her son once too often in front of his friend!  Cue very loud, choice language from him, as ever just as the chat around went quiet.  She threw her drink over him, paid the bill and stormed out.  Leaving her son to borrow off his friend for the rest of the bill, and lament that he should have waited til he'd got money off her before insulting her!

Took a wander along to the Hudson after eating - we're about half way between the Hudson and Central Park.  Spotted an open air performance of Cyrano de Bergerac,  wandered past Grant's Tomb and saw some lightening bugs.  Lovely view across the Hudson to New Jersey, too.

Theatre tomorrow, off to see Cage aux Folles.

102F in the afternoon!

Taken from Broadway, looking to the south-west corner of Central Park.  I love air conditioning!

It's too darn hot!

Arrived last night, into the middle of a heatwave!  Temperatures today are threatening over 100F!

The flight was ok - not the best cabin staff we've ever met on Delta though, and we had to wait ages to get into the immigration hall.  On the plus side, Chris's leg had the same effect as last year, getting us fast-tracked to the head of the queue!  And it was a huge queue - several planes all arriving at the same time!

Bit disappointed with the car service we booked - we waited where we were told, they didn't show up, but phoned half an hour late saying where were we and did we still need the car?!  The taxi queue opposite was empty, so we told them to stuff it, and got a cab!

The hotel is fab - clean, well located, staff are courteous.  Only disappointment is that the diner next door that they rave about - closed for renovations!  We found one of their other venues a few blocks down for breakfast today.  Oh boy, that was good!

Shopping?  The usual suspects so far.  Haven't gone down to Century 21 yet, but since the Queen is in town for a 9/11 memorial today, we figured it might be a bit hectic down there!  I found Michaels craft shop last night - no stash yet, but will definitely be going back and going mad there before we go!

No pics yet, not even Chris's traditional thumbs up.  They'll follow eventually!

We're on our way!

The holidays are here!

We're currently sat in the Radisson Blu hotel at Manchester airport - early check in tomorrow, so less hassle.  Big room, comfy bed, fab shower and great food.

Flight is 11am tomorrow, so we'll be over at the airport nice and early and the weather looks set to be scorching hot all week.