Number 75 and a Half...

On our little adventure we stumbled across the smallest house in Manhattan, number 75 and a half...

It was in an amazing location, on a leafy Greenwich Village street, wedged inbetween lovely looking town houses...

Funnily enough it was for sale!

I'd seen this little house on a programme recently and despite it only having about 3 rooms and being as deep as our apartment, the asking price was still somewhere around $5,000,000 or something crazy!

I think we'll have to save a wee bit longer before we can move it... but wouldn't it be lovely?!

Greenwich Village...

Yesterday afternoon we had a lovely time mooching around Greenwich Village.

We weren't really going anyway, or doing anything, we were just enjoying some people watching and having a little stroll around, taking in the New Yorkiness of the area...

 Sometimes it's just nice to wander around with no where to go, so you can enjoy each road and each building, and just take your time...

(Downing Street!)

There are so many beautiful little buildings in Greenwich Village, there are some lovely little bendy roads that feel like secret parts of the city, then off these little streets are path ways leading to even more secret gardens and courtyards and houses...

There are so many brilliant independant and unique shops around the area too, like this Sockerbit sweety shop we found - with all sorts of wonderful treats in a huge pick and mix section!

We ended up walking up from Bleeker Street (where we had the most deeeeeeelicious lunch at the Mussel Pot - I had an amazing lobster salad and Abi had a mussel chowder) up to work, stopping off in some shops and quiet little parks to do some people watching. 

Sometimes I'm torn, I don't know if Central Park's my favourite area of Manhattan, or if the Village is... 

but I know that both look absolutely stunning at this time of year and I could quite happily spend every day just walking round taking photos, people watching, sitting benches with Abi and watching the New York world go by.

Out & About...

It's been a another busy week getting ready for this big pitch, but luckily I've been able to get out and about to do some research.

I've been able to explore some areas of Manhattan that I'd not been to before, and see some New Yorky sites...

  I love days like that.

New York Cycling Proficiency...

When cycling at night, always ensure you are wearing some form of high visibilty or reflective clothing...

This father and daughter were cycling around Union Square the other night, every inch of their bikes were covered with lights, even they sunglasses and trainers had lights on them!

Piano Across America...

This Piano, that was parked in Union Square on Sunday afternoon, has been traveling across America...

New York is the last leg of the pianos (and Dotan Negrin, the guy playing the piano's), journey. The journey started in Philadelphia and since then has done a lap of America using donations from busking and from the website alone.

What an amazing idea - and an amazing feat, I wonder if I could draw my way round America?

There's more about the Piano's adventures here.

Hold Fast...

I also spotted this sticker on the back of that beautiful old yellow Citreon van that I see around Brooklyn, it was parked by McCarren Park again today... I'd love to own that yellow van.

Mirrorball Moped...

I spotted this rather fancy schmancy Vespa in Williamsburg this afternoon...

Now Abi wants one!

Wharra Scorcher!

It has been red'ot today - it got up to 28 degrees this afternoon!!!

It's October?!

Sunny Skyscaper...

Saturday Cycle in the Sun...

The weather has been amazing this weekend, I think we're getting a little bit of the heatwave you had at home - it's 11 o'clock in the morning and it's already 23 degrees! Not very Octoberish at all, but I'm not complaining.

Yesterday we found a good deal for hiring bikes at Central Park, so we went to the bike shop picked some bikes and went off for an adventure in the park.

Before we went into the park we stopped and had some lunch, sitting by the fountains in Columbus Circle. I think we've only ever sat there once before, it great sitting on this island in the middle of a roundabout, watching all the taxis zoom around while you're nice and calm in the middle hearing the water flowing... it was lovely.

We made our way over to the park and walked out bikes onto the main roady bit that goes all the way round the park, where all the horse and carts, pedi-cabs, roller bladers, skate boarders, runners, walkers and other cyclists go, and set off on our way...

I think everyone had had the same idea, and were making the most of the beautiful weather, as there seemed to be LOADS of people out, but it was good fun weaving in and out of the horse and carts and getting out of the way of all the serious cyclists who were whizzing by shouting 'On your right!'

The route was great, it takes you around the outside of the park, but not right on the edge, so you still feel like you're in the park, surrounded by all the trees and greenery. It crosses over bridges and goes by the reservoir, up passed the Gugenheim and in to Harlem. There's a blummin' steep hill in Harlem, and then it there are some great downhill bits afterwards.

After a two loops of the park we stopped for a little rest, and for a spot of people watching. We found a nice little spot under a tree, on a rock enjoyed the afternoon sun.

Central Park must be one of the best places to do some people watching, it's just so full of characters, from all over the place, all doing different things. I absolutely love it.

After we'd had enough entertainment from the people of New York we saddled up and big one final lap of the park... by this time our bums were pretty achy, but the down hill section to the finish felt so good.

In all it was just under 18 miles, and I think now we've done it once, we'd be able to squeeze in another lap next time...

It was a fantastic way to spend our Saturday, it felt like the middle of summer again, and it felt like we were on holiday. It was perfect.

Monks in Manhattan...

Red, Blue, Purple, Orange... it's been a good day for colours, and a great day for people spotting.

I've spent the day out and about in Manhattan doing a bit of research for a big pitch we're doing, it's been a busy day but it's been a fantastic day for getting inspired by this amazing city and all the sights and sounds that go with it, and all the fascinating people and places there are to see.

A Vision in Purple...

Blue on Blue...

Red Bricks, Red Car, Red Scooter...

iThank You...

I found out about Steve Jobs last night on Twitter, and later saw the reports on the news. The sad has had a very profound effect on the design industry, as Steve Jobs not only revolutionised the personal computer, but he revolutionised the way the design industry works - after all, we all use Macs all day every day. So it was a bit of an odd evening, thinking about everything that he changed within his life. He was a true visionary.

The press were camped-out outside the Apple store in the Meatpacking District today, as people were leaving their tributes to Steve Jobs on post-its on the windows of the shop...

It was annoying me last night, reading people putting 'iSad' on twitter - it felt like it was trivialising the whole thing, and almost joking about things already, within minutes of the news breaking - but someone had written 'iThank You' and put it up on the wall, and that seemed a little more thoughtful, maybe not the most fitting thing either, but still...

I sometimes forget that not only was he responsible for turning Apple around, but he also set up Pixar!

What an amazing legacy to leave behind.

A Little Lunchtime Rainbow...

Brilliant Buskers...

The highlight of our journey back to Brooklyn each evening is hearing the different buskers at Lorimer Station, there are a few that we love, like the accordian player, or the girl with the ukelele, but within the last couple of weeks there's been some newcomers and I think they've taken to top spot on my favourites list...
 

The guy on the left (with the hoodie) is especially brilliant, he played on his own the first couple of times we saw him, but he's started pairing up with this other guy, and they sound fantastic.

They sing this song each time they're there and I can't get it out of my head for the rest of the evening, that's a sign a pretty bloody good busker if their own songs get stuck in your head...

Hopefully they'll start selling CDs or something, who knows they might become famous one day?!

Whether they become famous or not, they manage to take away the annoyances of the day and make that last bit of our commute faaaar more enjoyable.

Moving In On Myrtle...

On the way to the supermarket this afternoon we spotted a few new places opening up on Myrtle Avenue. It's great to see new restaurants and bars opening as there a fair few empty shops along our road - it must be a good sign!

Just opposite the supermarket, near the Pratt Art School, there's a strip of shops that used to just have one or two places open, including Pillow Cafe (where we've been for breakfast a few times), but now there are at least 5 restaurants there. 

We popped our heads into one of the new places, called SoCo to have a nosey...

It looks great, there's a nice long bar with fantastic lighting, and tables in the front and back to eat at (the menu looks really good) and it looked like there was a back garden too.

As you walk in the wall's covered in a great big Brooklyn mural...

It looks like a great place to come in the evening... we'll have to give it a go.

Next to SoCo is another new place serving breakfast called Fork, and next to that is another restaurant bar called Dee & Ricky's with a veeeery simple shop front...

A little bit further down Myrtle there's a new pub called the Emerson, and then a little closer to us is a new place (not quite open yet) called the Brooklyn Tap House, which is going to be a beer hall and restaurant serving 'no crap on tap' - so that's going to be a fun place to go. There's also a new hot dog place that's opened called Wicked Good Franks, which looks a bit temporary so we might not give that a go for a wee while - they can't be as good as Crif Dogs anyway!

So it seems Myrtle Avenue is the new place to be - word must have finally got out that we live in the area. In fact, there was a Time Out New York article saying that Bedstuy is one of New York's up and coming neighbourhoods (they actually said 'nabes' but I can't bring myself to say that). So Bedstuy might becoming the next Williamsburg!

Hopefully our rent won't be as much as it is in Williamsburg though.

Fish Shack...

Last weekend, when I was walking to the Williamsburg Waterfront for the Fleet Foxes gig, I walked passed some lovely looking places, some cozy looking restaurants and great looking bars and thought that it'd we'd have to go back to them some time. So last night, as a pay day treat we went to the Fish Shack for a little Saturday night date night...

It's a lovely little place, joined to a tequila bar, so you have to walk through one bar/restaurant to get to the next. The tequila bar feels very snug and cozy with dark wood and golden lights, and then you walk through into the Fish Shack and it feels like you've been transported to Jersey or to somewhere in South America or something, right by the sea.

It's not a very big place, so I think we were lucky to get a table when we did, as if filled up by the time we left. All the tables are candle light and they have fairy lights and boat lights around the place, they even have lobster claw lamps in the corners. There's lovely weathered wood paneling on the ceiling and beautiful hand painting lettering on the windows, there are buoys hanging up outside, and there's a big raw bar, with oysters and shrimp on ice as you walk in.

All the staff were so friendly (which makes a nice change!) and there was just a really lovely atmosphere in there, which made our night even more special.

The food was deeeeeeeeeeeeelicious! We shared one of their 'hot dogs' to start, which was octopus wrapped in bacon in a bun with homemade coleslaw... it was amazing. I could have just eaten those all night long. Then Abi had some garlic grilled shrimp (they were HUGE) with some very tasty rice and I had seafood enchiladas that were mighty fine.

It was such a lovely restaurant and a really lovely treat. Maybe next pay day we'll go the restaurant over the road that looked nice and cozy too.

Drive...

Yesterday we went to go and see Drive...

It was brilliant! It was the best film I've seen for a while, and really different from anything I've seen for a while too. There's not much dialogue (well, not for the main character) and it's incredibly atmospheric, the music's brilliant and some of the scenes are beautifully shot. 

It is way more gory than I thought it was going to be though. We overheard someone in the queue saying that it was supposed to be gory, but we didn't realise how gory... the whole cinema (which was packed) were yelping at some parts.
 

I want to go and see it again!