ryan's log

Back from NYC

I'm back from visiting New York City and, as usual, I had an awesome time. I was a bit wary at first because it's the first time I've traveled there alone (for non-business reasons, at least), and was wondering if I could find anything fun to do at night. I mean - during the day I could certainly wander about by myself, but there's something strange about a guy drinking by himself at a bar or lounge. Anyway that was quickly put to rest...

Thursday - 10/13
Arrived at JFK pretty early in the morning. Booked a Super Shuttle and made it into Manhattan by 8AM where I met with the guy whose apartment I was subletting for my stay. He had a striking resemblance to Lex Luthor ala Smallville. Anyways I took a nap for the next few hours because I was tired and it was raining cats and dogs outside. Walked down a few blocks to Greenwich Village and then to SoHo just to do some exploring. Had a late lunch at a place called 'Grub'. I bought a few DVDs on the way back because the apartment didn't have a TV. Figured I'd call Mary to plan things out for the weekend. Then I called my friend Ed and we met up and had dinner at a Mexican restaurant. Ed's got this really swank suite complete with marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors and a nice view of the Flatiron/Chelsea district. Nice! Anyways after dinner I called it an early night and watched the Family Guy movie before I fell asleep.

Friday - 10/15
Woke up early because I was visiting the Met that morning. I was feeling ambitious so I figured I'd walk. Sixty blocks. In the rain. Bad idea! Halfway through, my jeans were soaked and I'd broken two umbrellas. I wanted to quit and take a cab back but I figured I'd tough it up and slogged my way through the Upper East Side. Finally made it and I got to see some awesome collections. They had a new Van Gogh exhibit, and the Arms and Armor, Islamic Art, and Egyptian collections were astounding. I couldn't take any pics though because my camera was acting up - must've been the rain. Mid-afternoon I set things up with Mary for the night. I forgot that I packed 'lightly' so I needed to find something to wear. In New York? That's easy. Met up around 8PM and we went to this place called Cuba in the village that I've been to many times before. It didn't disappoint. We had a nice dinner, good wine, and got to listen to some live Cuban jazz. Topped it off with two desserts. Afterwards we went to a lounge I've frequented in the past called The Cub Room. It wasn't so great this time for some reason. The DJ wasn't playing the usual blend of down-tempo hip-hop, the crowd was sketchy and they had an awful Sauvignon Blanc. We called it quits there without even finishing our glasses. Checked out this place called Bond that I read about. We get there and it's a total hipster joint. The bartender didn't know how to make a Captain Morgan's Sunrise so he needed to be schooled. Otherwise it was okay. The only problem was the real action at Bond is in the bar DOWNSTAIRS and we were sitting at the small bar in the restaurant UPSTAIRS. The jerks at the front desk didn't even tell us about that. Lame. So it's about 2:30 in the morning now and Mary gets a hankering for milkshakes. We hop in a cab to St. Mark's place which we think is a distance away, but it was only 3 blocks. Anyway this placed called The Original New York Milkshake Company has the best in town and was featured on FoodTV. Took a bus to her apartment midtown-east. We were going to pick up her parents at JFK at 6AM so we figured it wouldn't make sense to sleep and thus spent an hour assembling, or rather, disassembling furniture. I gassed at 4AM and decided a nap was in order. Woke up in two hours and we caught the E train to the airport. Didn't make it back into Manhattan until 9:30AM and by the time I got to my apartment at 10AM I was a zombie. Slept.

Saturday - 10/16
Woke up at 2PM and met up for a late lunch in Chinatown. I never really got a chance to walk around this area much, save for Canal Street, until this trip. Compared to SF, New York's Chinatown is huge! I decided that a pair of foam nunchuks were needed. It was then that I developed an addiction to Chinese mini-cakes. They sell them on the street, 20 for $1. I'm going to have to try to make some of these sometime. The rest of the afternoon was spent walking, talking and shopping. Didn't mind at all. Mary's family made an awesome Chinese dinner back at her apartment. Also got to meet her roommate, Juliet. Yes, I said Juliet. We were going to a lounge in the Lower East Side that night, so I went back to my apartment and got ready. Caught a cab and met up with Mary and her friend Abigail at this placed called Verlaine. Inside was hopping. The area in front of the bar was packed three-deep and I thought it would take me a while to get my order but some nice folks let me slide in. I got a couple of lychee martinis for the girls (they swear they are the best - ever) and a gin and tonic for myself. We found a table to sit at pretty quickly. It was then that I met a few more people. Abigail had a friend Steve who was from San Mateo but visiting with his friend Brian. In turn, Brian knew a girl named Amy, who went to college with this guy named Mike who was married to this girl named Erica. We grabbed a bigger table in the corner and the drinks and convo came flowing. Everything from (now inebriated) Steve's "Yo... so .. you two.. I know you two are digging other why... why don't you just *hic* get together" to talking about the perception and roles of Asian American males in today's society, interracial dating, and why the Better Luck Tomorrow was good, but just too contrived. Caught a cab with the girls back to the east side for some 4AM breakfast and then I returned to my place for some much needed rest.

Sunday - 10/17
Alright so Sunday morning I wanted to get all the shopping out of the way. And I tried. I really did. I went from Chelsea to Midtown to SoHo, back to the Flatiron but I couldn't find anything for my sisters for some reason. Anyway Mary calls at 2PM and said they were heading for dim sum. And I never pass up dim sum. Caught a cab to Chinatown which was stupid because the traffic was so bad I jumped out halfway and walked it. Met up with Abigail outside and Mary and her family soon after. Dim sum was off the hook because I didn't have to worry about any language barriers and I just ate whatever came to the table. Afterwards we went from Chinatown to visit Wall Street, then the Statue of Liberty, then the WTC Memorial, then Times Square. We were going to head to Rockefeller Center but I think everyone was just too tired. Had another fantastic home-cooked Chinese dinner. Oh I also got some DVDs earlier that day - The Lord of War and The Corpse Bride. Little did I know they were screeners until later. Hate screeners.

Monday - 10/18
Had I not called Song Airlines the night before to fix my itinerary I would've had to leave NY at 8AM instead of 8PM. Good thing I did because I really needed to finish up a few tasks. Woke up bright and early (really this time) and went to the Original Penguin store midtown, then I made my way back to SoHo where - thanks to my sisters - I had a 'list' of stores I had to check out. Well I did, and they were awesome but I couldn't risk buying something for $200 that they wouldn't like. Good thing for stores like Scoop, H&M and Zaras. On the flight back I really wanted to sleep, and I usually have not problem knocking out once I buckle-up, but not this time. No - this time I had the seatmate from hell. Fucker kept making that sound that you make when you have something in your teeth but are trying to take it out. Oh and this dude kept yawning and yawning and I was thinking - bitch, go to sleep if you're that tired! To top it off he was an armrest hog too and if there's one thing I hate is when strange people are physically making contact with you for extended periods of time. Overall I had an awesome time and frankly I was really bummed when I got back. Hopefully I'll get that resolved soon.

PICTURES

The Chrysler Building on a nice day

My apartment

Another view of the apartment

Really really good Cantonese cooking. And Moet. Who knew they went together so well?

Abigail and Steve stealth cam shot

Mary and I. Don't ask about my expression - I have no idea. I think she was dissing me about drinking 'wussy' drinks. Gin and tonic wussy?!

Nice shot from Bryant Park

That thing in the background is the Statue o' Liberty

A view of Chelsea/Flatiron from my fire escape

The Uptown 6 train

Posted by ryan at October 19, 2005 5:07 PM