Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Epic start to 2012

Heroic. Massive. Impressive.

Long.

Words that could be used to describe this post. What I'd like to accomplish here is two-fold: 1) cyber-dump the description of my last week for the internets to enjoy, and 2) have something for me to look back on as I will inevitably forget the details.

Details? Oh yeah - another recent discovery. Not only do I need more cowbell, but apparently a lot more walnuts as well.

I'd like to capture the best parts of what it was like to spend 5 nights in Manhattan with our 11 year old and just turned 7 year old. A nice family, bonding, city vacation. NYC was such a blast for me solo in November - and because we have extremely fond memories of the last time we took the kids around the same time of year in 2006 , we were pumped about this trip.

As I said, I could make this an epic post. But I won't. I'll need to break it up - for my sanity and for yours ...

Day 1 - New Years Day 2012

2:15 PM flight was very civilized. According to the flight attendant at check-in, the morning was an absolute zoo at the airport. We apparently avoided it all. A+ to me for planning the timing.

Side note: This allowed us to enjoy some New Years' Eve activity the night before (at a friend's house where, had my kids not had their friends to keep them busy, I would have embarassed them to no end dancing to Rush, the Cars (come on- "Just What I Needed?" - just have to bop to that...) - oh there was Radiohead too and some Green Day too - little G did great but had a meltdown at about 11:50 PM as there was too much of this old people stuff and LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It" did not come on again as quickly as anticipated). ANYWHoooo...I'm rambling...I hope not to digress so much as we move forward.

We arrived at LaGuardia about 4:30 PM- I keep forgetting what a yuck airport LGA is- at least we didn't have to wait in the lounge here. Different story later when coming home.

We picked up a taxi very easily, and hit the road for the Upper West Side.



I had booked the Hotel Beacon, a couple of blocks around the corner from the Museum of Natural History. Seeing as we'd done midtown last visit, the UWS seemed like another great part of the city to explore.

Hotel Beacon is adjacent to the cool Beacon theatre that has hosted the likes of such acts as The Cure (incidently, Robert Smith is almost looking more Divine than anyone else these days -I know, so cruel, but it's hard to continue rocking the look of Goth when you're in your fifties, I suppose...) Morrissey, Louis CK ... who knew. Unfortunately, no great shows were on while we were there - although Peter Frampton is apparently "coming Alive" again in a few short weeks. Him and Myth busters - now THAT be would be cool.

The hotel is a converted apartment building - (in fact it appeared as if there was an original tenant just next door - very elderly )but it was perfect for a family - with a small kitchenette, pullout in the living room and a completely separate bedroom with King - an ideal space. Bonus with Fairways market across the street and a 24/7 Duane Read two buildings up.



The kitchenette, because you know, I've got a thing about kitchens...




We took it easy on our first evening, to energize for the next day of exploring. So that evening we had a delicious steak dinner at the Fairways Cafe, complete with amazing onion rings and reasonably priced wine.

All settled in to start our fantasy of living like an UWS family. Well, one can dream, right?
Next stop, Central Park.

6 comments:

Kamis Khlopchyk said...

Sounds fabulous already! I am so with you on the kitchen thing...when we travel we always book a suite with a little kitchen. Breakfast in rocks!

Can't wait to hear about the rest of the trip!

Anonymous said...

Long time so see, stranger! Happy New Year, doll!

I'm loving this series of posts already, can't wait to read all about your NYC adventures. xo

~ Jen (Huckdoll)

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to hear more!! I'm jealous - I really would like to go to NYC some day!!!

Nancy said...

It looks like you guys had an awesome time. The last time we were there, it was just Steve and I, so went the vacation rental route. We were in midtown and blocks away from the United Nation and Grand Central. It was so nice to not worry about being disturbed by housekeeping and we had a kitchen to cook in if we wanted to (or at least heat up leftovers). The best part? The cost was a quarter of what a hotel would have run us for the same span of time.

Can't wait to hear more.

MARY G said...

Keep the epic coming!!!

Tara R. said...

I had a hard time getting past the 11 and 7 year old part. When did that happen?!

Glad you all had such a fun time in NYC.

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