Road Trippin' Day 1...

We've made it through 5 states, from Brooklyn all the way to beautiful West Virginia...

 The scenery has been absolutely beautiful, the whole way - all the trees changing colour, all the corn fields, the huge blue skies, the mountains... we couldn't have asked for a better first day on the road!

We managed to find out motel just before sunset...

Time for a big sleep before another day of driving tomorrow.

Next stop, Kentucky!

A New Adventure...

We're all packed, the car's loaded up and ready to go - we even managed to sneak in one last Shake Shack yesterday before the off.

It's been the most incredible few years out in New York and Abi and I have so many amazing memories that will stay with us forever - but now it's time for a new adventure.

We'll be leaving Brooklyn in a wee while, headed to our first stop - WEST VIRGINIA!

I'll blog as much as I can along the way, and Abi and I are going to post some pictures to our new tumblr The Way Way West...

You can either click that logo to go there, or click on this link http://thewaywaywest.tumblr.com/

Right then, one last cup of tea and we're off!

See you soon!

Bye Bye Brooklyn...

Del Frisco's...

When we first moved to New York we got in a yellow taxi and saw an advert for a very New Yorky looking steakhouse, then very smiley man on the advert said 'Welcome to Del Frisco's!'. We laughed a bit as there was a shot of André Agasee eating there, and there were towers of onions rings being served, but we both told each other that we'd go there one day.

We were trying to work out where we should go for our last New Yorky meal, and it dawned on us that we should go and get a big steak at Del Frisco's, so last night - that's what we did.

The restaurant is right by the Rockefeller Center, so walking there from the park was lovely, we got to see 30 Rock and the Radio City Music Hall one last time...

 The restaurant was fantastic, it was so New Yorky, with dark wood and big leather seats, fat cats at the bar chomping on cigars, waiters with bow-ties and white linen table-cloths... it felt like we were in a film or something.

The steaks were absolutely AMAZING! They were some of, if not THE best steaks we'd ever had, they were so delicious and tender and they had a bit of peppering on them... Mmmm!!!

The whole thing was perfect, the meal, the staff (we had two visits from the Maitre D - who looked just like Stanley Tucci), the atmosphere, the view (we could see the Rockefeller Tower from out table), everything.

It was such a special way to end our last Saturday in New York, and a great way to finish of such an amazing adventure.

Dancing In The Moonlight...

As we left Central Park we stumbled across a little dance party...

Loads and loads of couples dancing around to some lovely old music, all weaving in and out of each other perfectly without bumping into one and other.

It was just another very New Yorky moment to remember forever.

Global Citizen Concert...

It all seemed to be perfectly time - on our last weekend in New York, there was a free concert in Central Park with Kings of Leon, John Mayer, Alicia Keys and Stevie Wonder playing!!!

We got to the great lawn just as Kings of Leon were kicking things off - they sounded amazing!


I don't know if it's because we arrived later, or because the weather was so lovely, but it seemed like there were more people at the concert this year. Maybe they were all there to see us off?

Even Bono turned up to say cheerio to us (after giving a bit of a speech about Global poverty)...

Alicia Key sung her song about New York - which made us feel a bit funny, but it was the perfect setting to be hearing it be played live. Seeing John Mayer live was great too, he's just as good as I thought he'd be - he's a blummin' great guitar player.

The setting for the concert was amazing, surrounded by trees with sky-scrapers in the background, it looked even more beautiful as the sun went down...

It was the perfect way to end the day, and a perfect way to spend out last Saturday in New York (for now)... but the night wasn't over yet. We had a rather important dinner date to get to!

Sunny Central Park...

The weather yesterday was absolutely amazing, it was just perfect for a last walk round Central Park...

I think Central Park has been my favourite part of New York. We don't go up there all that often, but I think that's helped keep it feeling magical, it's always different, there's always something happening, there's always amazing characters about, and there's always someone who'll offer to take a photo for you...

It was such a perfect day for a wee walk, and a wee hotdog at the Boathouse.

Seeing the park in the summer is fantastic, seeing the leaves changing in the autumn is absolutely stunning, seeing the park covered in a blanket of snow is truly magical and seeing the buds come up in spring always feels exciting.

It always amazes me that amongst all the huge skyscrapers and the noise from the taxis and the hustle and bustle of the streets, Central Park remains a peaceful island in the middle of New York. It's so quiet and calm - I think that's why it's my favourite part of New York. 

That, and because there's always a hotdog vendor about!

Kiosk...

It doesn't look much from the outside, infact it doesn't look like anything but a dodgy doorway with a neon arrow above it from the outside...

Inside isn't much better...

 The walls, doors and stairs are covered in layers of graffiti.

But at the top of the stairs, down the hall, next to the kitchen cooking up Chinese food, is Kiosk...

Kiosk is 'a travel story depicted through objects' (that's what it says on the wall anyway), it's a bit like that tiny museum in the lift that we went to a year or two ago. It has lots of individual items, all selected by the people who run the shop - some of them are for sale, some of them are just on show, but they've all got a story behind them.

They change around the collection of items and give the collection a different name, just like an exhibition would do. The items stay on display/sale for 4-5 months while the people at Kiosk find new products to show from their travels.

It was a great little shop, and felt like a secret cave of trinkets - another hidden gem in New York.

Boxes, Boxes, Boxes...

Our little apartment's been packed up into lots of little boxes (and some bigger ones), hopefully there'll be some people here in a minute to collect them all and get them on their way home!

Bye For Now, Fette Sau...

Last night we went for one last tray of meaty deliciousness at Fette Sau...

We just needed to make doubley sure that it was infact the BEST BBQ in Brooklyn (and New York!)...

... and it was better than ever!

Brisket, Pork Belly, Pulled Pork, Pork Ribs, Sausage and Beans... all amazing!


Bye for now, Fette Sau - we're going to miss you!

Crocheted Graffiti...

Leaving Doo...

Last night was Abi and my leaving doo!

It made everything feel very real having leaving presents and cards and stuff - but it was a really lovely night and we were so touched by the thought that had gone into everything.

It was greatto have everyone from work together for a night out (I can't remember the last time that's happened), and it was even better that it was at one of our favourite places... Brooklyn Bowl!

Bowling, Beer and BBQ chicken wings, what more could we have asked for?

Great Scott!

On Saturday, I was walking passed the Flat Iron Building an noticed a very lovely looking Delorian parked in the pedestrianised area...

As I walked up to it to take some photos I noticed that I walking through the middle of some street theatre...

There, sitting at the tables was Marty McFly and his girlfriend... Doc Brown was trying to tell him that he had to come back in time with him before something awful happened... and then ANOTHER Marty McFly and his girlfriend appeared!

(Sorry the sound's rubbish!)

I think it took a wee while for people (including me) to twig what was going on, but then I noticed that there were lots of cameras set up at different angles, so they must have been filming it for something.


Good ol' New York - there's always something exciting happening somewhere!

Fatty Cue...

On Saturday we were hoping to have a little lunchtime Shake Shack, but when we got to Madison Square Park the queue was longer than we've ever seen it. Luckily though the BBQ God's were looking out for us and had sent a Fatty Cue pop-up tent to save us...

Fatty Cue's one of the Brooklyn BBQ places we've been meaning to try but never got round to going there... so they came to us instead!

They were only doing two things from their little pop-up - pulled pork sandwiches and brisket sandwiches... so we got one of each!



They were mighty tasty, and it was so lovely to be able to sit outside in the sunshine, under the trees and enjoy a delicious plate of BBQ in the park.

Fatty Cue doesn't quite make our Best BBQ list, but I think it's a little unfair to judge based on just two sandwiches... we'll have to come back to Brooklyn and do the rest of their menu justice.