NYC

We took the train up to NYC on Thursday for a fun filled weekend of visiting with friends, celebrating Halloween, watching the Marathon, eating too much tasty food, and reacquainting ourselves with things like the subway, taxis, NYC rage, brisk outside weather and raging hot inside weather etc etc.  All in all it was an excellent visit despite the fact that I mysteriously came down with the bubonic plague (head cold) - which I blame on Andrew since he was sick in Baltimore.  My amazing hostess Stacey did offer me a variety of medicinal cocktails that would impress your average pharmacist- so I'm on fast road to recovery.  

Immediately upon leaving Penn Station, we encountered the following advertisement, which Ben deemed as a very positive omen for the trip.

On Thursday I spent a lot of time wandering by myself and getting lost in the Met, while all those silly other people did something called work.  Suckers.  That night we were lucky enough to get a great crew of people to eat with us at a little place called Niche- which is new since we left- which is sad since it's right by my old apartments and quite tasty.

 

 

Friday was Halloween.  It was also my birthday- so Ben was super sweet and spent the day doing everything I wanted to do.  Which was basically just to wander aimlessly.  We went all through Central Park and I think Ben found a new appreciation for at least one thing uptown.  Everything was really beautiful with all the leaves changing.

 

This is a little dance I like to call- at least I'm not 30 yet...

 

After Central Park we meandered by the midtown Apple Store and the sassy Miss Pink was doing a live performance for the Early Show next door.  Perhaps a little unknown tidbit about me is that I really like Pink.  I think she's pretty awesome.  So we watched her perform "So What" and I got to sing along- so it was quite fun.

  

Our next stop was the West Village- where we visited the one residence that could convince Ben to live in NYC again.  Commerce Street is totally realistic of course.  We later had Miss Swervin join us, there was a brief encounter with Seal and Heidi Klum- where we very un-hip like followed them into a store, only to realize on our way out that it was open for "appointment only," which would explain, among other reasons, the nasty looks the people who worked there shot in our direction.  We closed out the night at Daniel (Ben and I totally heart Daniel and are very faithful to his "After Hours with Daniel" show on the Mojo network...).  The food and service were all impeccable, however it left us full and sleepy and we totally bailed on motivating for a rager of a night and instead opted for champagne and music at the Noell's- which was a great decision in retrospect.

 

The majority of Saturday was spent at Ben's favorite place on the planet.  Spring Street Lounge.  Lucky for us- most of our friends were amenable to joining us there.

 

 

Saturday night there was a 70's party to attend.  My husband apparently keeps a store of ridiculous 70's attire always on hand.  Unfortunately- he appears to have been a scrawny person the last time he sported these pants.

Pat invited us over for cocktails before the party- and that's where I took my leave since my head cold was in full effect (or perhaps I'm just old now). 

 

 

Marathon Sunday was fun as always with the actual marathon, where we got to cheer on Russ and his ridiculous time of 2:36, Ben got to watch the Ravens win an awesome game putting them in a good position for the playoffs, and I got to visit with the adorable Chen family visiting from San Francisco- and ooh and ahh over Natalie reading, Natalie trying to hide from me, Natalie in her car seat, Natalie with her family.... basically I am posting the adorable pics because I can!

 

 

 

And that about sums up our trip- except a big thanks to our generous and wonderful hosts- and a bit of love to Looney their cat.  We didn't get a picture of their other cat Maddy- but since Ben and Looney had a bit of a love connection- I feel she deserves a bit of recognition...  Great to see everyone!