“Almost” New Years Trip to “Totally” New York City • 12.31.07

sooo, lillis and i headed up to nyc to spend four days leading up to new years (we flew home on new years eve just in time to make it up to drew and blake’s cabin for new years). it was just really a great time together. we were busy and our feet were weary (but not as weary as they would have been had Rod not turned us on to the foot rub place in chinatown) but we enjoyed (almost) every minute of the trip. we got in on a thursday and headed right into the city. we caught the lights show at grand central station (pretty neat and lillis really liked it) and it was at that point when we began our tour of the bathrooms of nyc. i’m not even kidding, i think lillis was able to find about 173 different bathrooms during our 4 days. really amazing given that i only saw her drink 3 glasses of water.

we headed past the empire state building and on south to the flatiron building which i had always wanted to see. lillis patiently waited for me to figure out how to take a picture in total darkness. it was not the only time she would do this.

here lillis and i are headed back northward (btw, we totally rocked the subway system the entire time we were there – except for once when we were late to dinner and i had us get into a cab which was about as useful as if i had had us crawl into a pothole for 20 minutes before we got on the subway). anyway, we stopped on times square to get this picture (which required balancing a camera on a garbage can, something lillis was not convinced i could – or should – do. she smiled nonetheless).

then we made our way over towards st patricks to visit “atlas” a spot i have loved since my first visit to nyc many years ago. luckily he didn’t shrug when i was nearby.

then we headed over to rockefeller center to check out the ice rink and the angels. it’s always a neat area at christmas. the intent had been to skate, but we were both tired of standing up and lillis was starting to get cold, so we walked around in a circle for a bit (accidentally), and then purposefully jumped in a cab to head back to the place we were staying (the hepzibah house – which is deserving of another huge shoutout to rod)

the next morning we just wandered through the park (on a brisk but beautiful morning in nyc). wary of marauding ducks, we made our way past the castle and the ponds to the restaurant at the boathouse for breakfast. it’s a great spot for a cheap breakfast in the park and some interesting juice drinks.

lillis posted no bills as we made our way over to the water tour of new york. it was actually really neat to see the island from the little boat and to get to head out to governor’s island and the statue of liberty. by the way, we went with the tour company that is just south of the tour company that has the mile long line. we walked right up, bought tickets and got on a boat in the span of about 15 minutes (my suspicion is the other one is a one hour endeavor). i think this is the link to the company we used.

and right on cue, there she is….lady liberty. she doesn’t look anything near her age.

here daylight fades on lady liberty as we make our way back to port.

one of lillis main goals for the trip was achieved when i had us jump off of the sub in the chelsea area for a hot dog.

that night we went to jewel of india (which does NOT have their 3 course meal for $21 deal on weekends) and to see “rent”. i actually really liked rent and would rank it one of my 2 or 3 favorite musicals i’ve seen.

the next morning we were up and out pretty early to head down to the brooklyn bridge. lillis and i walked all the way across to brooklyn and back taking more than a few photos along the way – including feeding lillis obsession with taking pictures of me taking pictures. it’s hard to imagine how significant this bridge was when it was first completed, or to imagine the multitudes of people walking from “manhattan’s first suburb” over to the island for work.

after the bridge, we swung back by the flatiron building for a daytime viewing (alas there was scaffolding).

and then on to chinatown for the fabled foot rub. $1 per minute for foot, back, head, hand whatever kind of massage you want (obvious joke left out in a sign of immense maturity). i had never visited any chinatown except the one in epcot, so it was really neat to see all the little shops and the people all over the streets. i was shocked how crowded that part of town is with foot traffic. i bought an ipod touch protector there as i viewed a little rubber sleeve not to be intellectual property.

that night we went to an amazing restaurant (dennis foy). it was maybe the most phenomenal restaurant at which i’ve ever eaten. it’s south of canal so it’s not too crowded down that way at night on weekends. we actually got there at 6 as we had a show that night and were the first people in the restaurant. the waitress showed us around the place and introduced us to the chef’s wife and showed us his paintings. the foie gras, tuna, and lobster risotto were all incredible. i could have just stayed there and skipped the show and been ok.

however, lillis was super excited about the rockettes, so we headed north. the show was actually really neat. they actually don’t do too god-awful-much kicking and it’s not too long a show. we got to wear 3-D glasses and all, so that was cool.

as an uber-gentleman, i always help lillis with her jacket and scarf (sometimes with mixed results).

lillis got her scarf situated and we got a picture in front of rockefeller

but then, like two crafty secret agents shaking a tail, we doubled back into the building

and headed up to the “top of the rock” for a view of the city. it really was beautiful at night. not sure if i like it better than empire state building, but would love to see either of them at sunset.

then lillis and i headed over to kashkaval on the upper west side (a recommendation from julie). it was a really neat little wine and cheese place run by a very funny macedonian man who caused lillis and i to lament that there just aren’t many small owner/operator places in atlanta.

the next morning we got up and went to “the met”. it was my first visit there and it is a place lillis really likes. her favorite was the egyptian ruins. here we have an italian sculpture in the classical style from the renaissance. i think the boy drank something that made him sick (possibly dead). there is probably a myth that explains this, but i did not think to read the plaque. i liked the sculpture nonetheless.

here are the ruins lillis was excited about.

we spent the rest of our last full day in nyc just shopping and wandering. it started to rain at night as we braved the elements and battery parks nighttime inhabitants to get a nighttime view of the statue of liberty.

when we got back on the train, lillis had what she thought was a great idea. i captured the exact moment that the idea occurred.

this was her idea. that she would do a headstand on the subway late at night. i should not that she did put her knit cap on the ground first for sanitary considerations. still, i’m not sure if it was the best idea, but lillis has now decided that she is going to do a headstand any time we go some place on vacation. so, be on the lookout, she may be coming soon to a town near you.

finally, we have the view from my little 5th floor window on the morning we were leaving. it is truly odd to look out your window and see nothing but rooftops as far as you can see. but that (i guess) is the landscape of new york.

it was a wonderful (albeit whirlwind trip). we had an absolutely amazing time, ate at several great restaruants (including also aurora in soho on broome street) saw some neat shows and just spent a lot of time together. anyone who wants to see more of new york city (via our pictures) can do so here.

we got back to atlanta in time for a quick couple of showers and a drive up to the cabin for guesstures, taboo and some really first rate fried turkeys and pie (thanks to mike). it was a wonderful new years from start (12/27 flight to nyc) til finish (1/1 for brunch at drew’s mom’s place) and was a great end to an amazing year.

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