Washington Square Park

Brunch at the Spotted Pig - West Side

Shack Attack

Forget Jean-Georges. Forget La Bernardin. The most exquisite food in Manhattan comes from the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park. Don't be put off by the line snaking a hundred metres around the square - you'll probably only have to wait an hour. There's even a "Shack Cam" on their website so you can check how long the queue is.

I know the philistines won't believe us but they are seriously the best burgers we've ever had.


Thanks to Jon, Bontee and Colin for the heads up :-)

Central Park Rollerblade

Dumpling delights

Huh..?

Think it's said that in America New Yorkers are a breed apart. They're slim and fit from all the walking and constant activity. They're obviously smart to have made it in this town (if I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere). And to a fault have been incredibly friendly.

In reference to the lovely woman who helped us at designer store Kirna Zabete... well, as Meatloaf might say "2 out of 3 ain't bad". Turned out she was very interested in where we came from.

"Oh, Australia! Can you tell me, why did Australia refuse to join the European Union"?

"Um... well... we're not part of Europe and weren't invited".

"Oh right - I guess it's because you're Asian and your currency is so much stronger than the Euro".

"Yep".

Alls I know is I was eating my enchilada.....

We were casually dining at Cafe Habana, (super yum Mexican) and after waiting an hour to be seated and finally receiving our meals, we were confronted with an ALMIGHTY noise, and right in front of our eyes, witnessed a massive car accident..
2 x gentlemen in a car were travelling straight, and a lady accidentally ran a stop sign, it had been raining during the day, so the roads were wet, and the car did a 360 and knocked over a bin right in front of us...... whoah man.. heavy..

In true tourist fashion, we befriended the men in the car and they took photos of the wreckage with Anna's camera, hoping we could email them to them, but of course we realised later that we don't have a cord, anyway, they think we are angels, and luckily are avid car collectors, so aren't short of another vehicle to drive..
here is our mate Frank, and his sexy Cadillac... another day in NYC!!!! and a new pen pal!

No sleep till Brooklyn...

Spent another great day over in Brooklyn. Never knew what a brilliant place this was. Most of our time in Williamsburg today - which is like an extended, concentrated version of Fitzroy. Great designer boutiques, vintage shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, brownstone buildings, lofts, warehouses. Eating was a highlight: Bonita for the best Mexican food I've ever tasted. Chilled in the afternoon with cocktails at Relish. (It's so hot here at the moment). Then backed it all up for dinner at Diner.

Cruised the streets between gastronomic delights and came across the little fella below.

Lest we forget...

New York local's really do believe Obama's the man. It's great to see. Equally pleasing is they're not ready to forget the last 8 years. I saw an old guy tape this up above the door inside the subway train. What did John Howard do it for? Votes? Spite? (NB: Only political posting for the trip).

Home sweet home..

The Standard Hotel has been our home for the past week. It has been such a luxurious treat to stay here. I hope to have an opportunity to stay here again in the near future.

Owned by Andre Balazs, the hotel is designed by Todd Schliemann and straddles the elevated tracks of Manhattan's new High Line Park.

Tomorrow we move to the Lower East Side. A very big welcome to Adriana and Anna! We're meeting up with BJ Rubin and the girls shortly to dine at Freemans Restaurant. Attached are a few pics from our home away from home and a video mural created for the lift inside the hotel by Marco Brambilla titled Civilization. The video is assembled from hundreds of loops of found and original footage.

Just your Standard view...

Check out the views from our hotel. We're staying at The Standard in the Meatpacking district. This area has quite literally been the centre for meatpacking for over a hundred years - but, in the last decade has also become home to design houses, boutiques, restaurants, bars and most importantly us (well, for a week anyway).

It's a seriously underdeveloped area with hardly any hotels, this one itself just opened (think we were the first guests to use the gym which opened its doors yesterday... #lameclaimtofame). As a consequence the views are uninterrupted for half a mile (rapid imperial uptake) in every direction. Not sure I see it staying that way for long, so feel quite privileged to rotate on the spot and see the Statue of Liberty, the Hudson River and the Empire State Building in the Manhattan skyline. Enough name dropping for now... enjoy the view.

(Might edit post in the future with some sunny day shots).
Top: View south to the Financial District and the Statue of Liberty
Left: North to Mid/Uptown Manhattan and the Empire State Building
Below: Looking west across the Hudson River to the Jersey shoreline

Don't spend all your pennies at once

YSL is on sale. How can a girl resist? Especially when YSL items are cheaper then Chloe...

Monumental...

Hit Washington DC today for a little side trip. Hoped to maybe see Obama or one of his crew, but all I spotted were these cacti. In fact, think I did see Obama's car heading into the White House, but would have needed to borrow the Hubble to be sure.

Was going to post a photo of one of the classic monuments on display here, but all the photos came out so cliched. Even got a shot of Capitol Hill with a black, homeless man in the foreground... had to delete. Beautiful day here though in Chocolate town (for real), but looking forward to heading back via Amtrak to the big show tomorrow.

Reds in a coma on the grass...

Phew! Have finally woken up. What a long way to come. I know it's closer than Europe, but somehow seems further away. I think it's the severe time difference that does that. July the 17th lasted about 3 days (mega extended Happy Birthday, Daniela).

Here for 3 weeks so easing my way into seeing the sights. Spent day 1 people watching in Washington Sq Park - it used to be where communists and socialist stood on their soapboxes to spread the truth. Now the park is surrounded by buildings belonging to NYU and populated mostly by earnest students, jazz buskers, sunbathers and one jet lagged zombie.