Three Days in New York, Day 3

I was not departing from New York until Monday, but Sunday was the last full day in the city. I decided that I needed to do something absolutely cliche and go on a bus tour of the city.

There are a few choices as far as tours go, but I had to go with the TV and Movie Tour. I purchased my tickets online, but I think you can buy them in the city. On your tour date, you meet a tour guide at the designated location, pass over your confirmation and away you go.

Day 3: Acting Like a Tourist

A good chunk of the tour is on the bus, listening to the guide and viewing clips on mini TVs before passing by key spots around the city. Occasionally, you will stop and get out to take photos at the more popular locations. The information and anecdotes from the tour guide are great, but flying by the sites in the bus is not the most pleasant experience. Between the film clips and trying to lean up against the windows to catch the smallest glimpse of each location, you feel like you miss out on a lot. I tried to remember as much as possible so that when I return to New York - and believe me, I'll go back very soon - I can seek these places out on my own and have a closer look.

This is a perfect example of the kind of photos that are taken while driving past each location. This, just in case it is completely unrecognizable, is the statue of atlas that is shown in the opening of Saturday Night Live.

This is what it actually looks like....

I can't fully discount the experience because we did get out of the bus fairly often to take some photos. Below are a few of my favourites:

This was actually near the end of the tour, but I can't start talking about favourite sites without mention of the Friends building. When I was growing up, Friends was THE sitcom. As you'll see from the picture, there is no way that the exterior shot they chose was appropriate to the plot of the show. Anyone who has watched Friends knows that they spent a lot of their time out on the balcony. Well, I'm embarrassed to say that before seeing it the flesh, I never realized that there is actually no balcony on the outside of the building. 

Our tour started at 11am, so I was pleased to find out that there was a stop for lunch - of course, they wouldn't stop just anywhere. This is Ben's Pizza, featured in Men In Black II (hence the movie poster in the background). If you remember, this pizza place was where Rosario Dawson's character worked and, ultimately, where Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones solve the mystery...I won't give away anymore than that.

Who you gonna call? 

This seemed to be the most popular stop for everyone on the bus tour. Except for lunch, only because it took time to eat, this was the longest stop on the tour. This is the fire hall from Ghostbusters, and they certainly do not hide it - note the Ghostbusters emblem in the background. Surprisingly, this is a fully functioning fire hall, though I'm not sure how the firefighters feel about having tourists lounging around throughout the day. We were peering through the windows and blocking the door the whole time...and we were warned to get the heck out of the way if the sirens went off. I would imagine that nothing has gone wrong thus far, since they are still making this stop on the tour.

This was the final stop on the tour, and may be the least obvious. This bar was the inspiration for MacLaren's Pub, a set on the show How I Met Your Mother. The guide told us that the show's writers used to hang out here, inspiring this major aspect of the show. For those who have not seen HIMYM, the cast spends most of their time at this pub, probably more than any other setting. The (real) pub has certainly latched onto this - they have a number of stills from the show all around the interior. I was so hoping to make my way back here at night for a few drinks, but alas, it didn't work out, so this is something else that will have to be saved for my next trip.

As frustrating as it was to miss so many locations along the way, I really think that tours like this are a great way to check out the city. When the weather is warmer, I would definitely try to get on a double decker when you can sit out in the open, free to see the buildings, statues and other sites in their entirety.

Little did I know that my TV and Movie Sites tour wouldn't end when the bus was parked.

That evening, after dinner at the Olive Garden in the middle of Times Square, we ventured to another darkly it pub in Greenwich Village. The Slaughtered Lamb, at 182 West and 4th Street, is one of the locations in the film, New York, I Love You. If I'm not mistaken, Bradley Cooper's love story starts here...don't quote me on that, it's been a while since I saw this film.

As far as dark pubs go, this one is pretty dingy...and fantastic. But, I have to say that Jekyll and Hyde from night #1 stole the show. 

I didn't head into Greenwich village on my first trip to NYC, but this experience has made this area of the city one of my favourites. If I were to ever live out one of my dreams of moving to Manhattan, I think I would have to settle here. It's so fun and so full of character and life. What a great way to end my trip to the Big Apple.

New York, I REALLY do love you!

Three Days in New York, Day 2

Going to New York in February can be a gamble. Coming from Ontario, I figured I could handle whatever weather NYC had to throw at me - snow, sleet, hail, rain, whatever. And I was prepared.

Truth be told, we really lucked out as far as weather is concerned: Friday was warm enough that I didn't even need a coat to wander around; Saturday was fairly mild; and Sunday was a lovely sunny day, though a chilly one; and Monday was one of those beautifully snowy days that allow you to stay out all day in blissful wintery comfort.

But there was one element I was not prepared for - the wind!

Day 2: Sightseeing, Statues and Getting Swept Away

Saturday was our day to go around to our chosen sightseeing destinations. My traveling instincts told me to walk everywhere, stumble upon things along the way and make new discoveries. Under normal circumstances I still believe this is the best way to do it. However, after about two steps outside on Saturday morning, it became very clear that walking was out of the question; 40mile/hour winds were whipping through the city, making walking comfortably completely out of the question.

We bought metro passes for the weekend, so into the subway we went. The New York subway system is fairly easy to navigate, and it will get you anywhere you want to go. I definitely suggest grabbing a system map  for quick references. I was traveling with a group of six, so deciding what to see, and when, posed a bit of a problem. We all agreed that Ground Zero was a must, and I was gearing for the Statue of Liberty. From there, the plan was to walk through Chinatown to see locations from a much-loved TV show, Flight of the Conchords, grab lunch in Little Italy and head up to the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art. Well, we never made it to the Museum...but it was a great day nevertheless.

At first, I wasn't particularly excited to go to Ground Zero, but I didn't check it out the first time I was in this city, and it should be on your NYC to-do list. After all was said and done, I'm glad I went. The site itself is really just a massive construction site and if you didn't already know what it is you wouldn't think anything else of it - except for this large mural dedicated to the victims and emergency response workers of that day.

Though not in this picture, there were a couple of guys polishing this thing up the whole time we were there - I got the feeling they didn't really do much else. The size of this was pretty overwhelming, and all of us took a few moments to absorb it. With all of the 9/11 materials that have been published, distributed, produced, etc., it's easy enough to look past something like this. But, I actually found it a completely appropriate piece honouring those individuals who dedicated themselves to helping others that day.

One of my favourite things at this site really had nothing to do with 9/11 - there was a little church that sat just across the street from Ground Zero. I can only imagine the destruction to the area around the twin towers, but somehow this old church remained unscathed. I love finding spots that have a bit of history and substance to them....

This is St. Paul's Chapel:

I love this - I wish I took the time to go through and explore the tombstones, maybe check out the interior and see what else is to be discovered in this courtyard.

Seems like this little church has been through a lot. 

After being blown around Ground Zero for a while, my friends were not so keen to go all the way down to Battery Park. I'm usually easy going about things like this - if we're at least seeing something, I'm okay - but I really had my heart set on the big green gal. Again, I suggested walking there (and side note, it's NOT that far a walk from Ground Zero to Battery Park), but my troupe wanted to take the subway. Easier said than done. It took us a while to figure out exactly where to get off and we looped around the station for a while trying to figure out how to get going. South Ferry seems logical, but you actually want to go to Bowling Green. (Take a closer look at the subway map here). 

As I knew we would...we eventually made it. Now, I've said numerous times...it was windy. No way in heck was I getting on that ferry to go to the island. Thankfully, you could see the statue well enough from the mainland...

I think I'm still brushing out those knots.

From there, we decided to head out for lunch. Another hard-fought battle against the wind brought us to the edge of Wall Street, just within sight of the infamous Wall Street Bull - quite obviously a symbol of the energy, strength and aggression of the financial industry in Manhattan - and we descended to the subway once again.

This brought us to my favourite part of the day...pasta and Flight of the Conchords. Famished as we were, we decided that lunch was the necessary next stop. We had no plans, so it was a waltz through Little Italy, a few glances at posted menus on the sidewalks and a desperate attempt to follow some sort of budget that brought us to a little restaurant with a $10.99 3-course lunch special. Garlic bread, soup or salad and an entree sounded like a great midday meal to me.

The garlic bread was buttery and so satisfying. I chose the salad - nothing special, but as expected it had a nice light house dressing. All of the entrees were exactly what I was looking for from Little Italy. Huge portions and a frenzy of carbohydrates that would keep us going for the afternoon.

Are you kidding me with this thing? It was a rice ball, covered in marinara sauce with cheese inside and resting on top...I'm a little embarrassed to say, I ate it all! So fried, so cheesy, so ricey, so good! Little did I know, we had more Italian fare and flare coming to us later...

Recharged and refueled we went on our way to our own sightseeing must - the stoop from the HBO show, Flight of the Conchords. We each took our turn in front of the building, striking a pose  and playing air guitar whilst humming the show's theme song.

This location is smack dab in the middle of Chinatown. This wasn't an area I originally had in my travel itinerary, but it sure is something to see. If it's possible, Chinatown is even more jam packed than the rest of the city. The street are cramped and, though there weren't tons of people, there were produce carts filling up at least half the sidewalk everywhere you go. There was also the typical roasted duck hanging in the store windows. One thing I feel I missed while in New York, especially considering our tryst through Chinatown, was trying a real, honest-to-goodness Chinese dumpling. But, after that hefty Italian lunch, I don't think I could have taken anymore dough!

This brought us to the end of a very long and windy day. We headed back to the hotel for a catnap before facing Saturday night in Manhattan. Turns out, the night before and the wind of today did us in more than we had anticipated. A nap turned into ordering pizza, which turned into watching Titanic on TV, which turned into card games and cocktails in pajamas. I know, I know...what a waste of a Saturday night in the big city. Truthfully though, this night provided some amazing and conversation we didn't have time for during the day. If you can't enjoy your friends while traveling, trust me, you won't enjoy anything.

Plus...the pizza was unbelievable....as if I didn't pack in enough carbs at lunch.

We ended day 2 with full cameras and full stomachs. Can't ask for much more than that.

Three Days in New York, Day 1

I'm homesick for a place that's not even mine. It's a strange feeling; I've only spent a total of six days here in my whole life and I have no family or friends to call upon. What is it about New York City that just gets to me?

This February I spent three unbelievable days on the streets of Manhattan. I escaped into the night to more secluded spots to hang with the locals and took in the more "touristy" destinations, creating a perfectly balanced vacation in the city the never sleeps.

Day 1: Checking in, a French bistro, Times Square and Jekyll and Hyde

We arrived in NYC, ready and rearing to go! Airports being as they are, we were delayed about an hour and a half before finally taking off. This put us at JFK at about 4:00 p.m. - rush hour. It took us a cool 3.5 hours to be shuttled from the gate to the hotel; the only saving grace was that we got to see a lot of Manhattan on the way. However, it goes without saying that we were delighted to finally arrive to our hotel.

The Hotel Pennsylvania is located at 401 7th Avenue, just across from Madison Square Garden. The exterior and lobby are quite impressive, but the rooms are nothing to write home about...

However, the view was quite nice (definitely a step up from the brick wall that was my view during my first trip to NYC). We were just blocks from Times Square and the Empire State building and just a kitty-corner away from Penn Station.





We landed on my birthday, so a special dinner on the first night was in order. We chose Pigalle, a French bistro located at 790 8th Avenue, just between 48th and 49th streets.

A hop skip and a jump through Times Square revved up our appetites.

Times Square is the epitome of tourist spots in Manhattan. It puts your senses into complete overdrive and you just start to feel the city enter your veins; the lights, the people, performers and tacky gift shops litter the streets and sidewalks and give this strip a certain charm. I love walking through here.

I have to admit, I was kind of nervous to go to a French restaurant day one, but it proved to have a very casual atmosphere - definitely inviting. I learned later that Pigalle is certified "Green" by the Green Restaurant Association. I don't yet know what exactly that means, but I do know the food was great; roasted duck with wild rice and a pomegranate sauce was the perfect introduction to the great food adventure that is New York.

I usually go with wine if I'm going to drink while out at dinner, but this was New York and I needed to get more adventurous. This drink was named after Picasso and featured the green fairy - Absinthe - how very very French! This drink was super heavy on the anise flavour and inescapably pungent; it may not have been the hallucinogen drink that Picasso dabbled in, but it was certainly an experience for my taste buds.






Well, this is New York and a night out does not end at dinner. I'm not into the club scene and I wanted something with more character where I could rest my weary feet and chat with my dear friends. We wandered into Greenwich Village and stumbled upon an eerie pub called Jekyll and Hyde - sounds intriguing...

I love it here! The decor is a mishmash of campy props - a stack of skulls, a werewolf head and mummy casket - this is definitely a collection you would expect of Dr. Jekyll. 

The best feature, by far, are the washrooms! The staff will direct you into Dr. Jekyll's library, but there is nary a washroom sign to be seen. What you need to do is feel your way along the bookshelves until a doorway gives way to a push, revealing the washroom behind - how great is that?!

Jekyll and Hyde was surprisingly relaxed; they had some great rock playing, old monster flicks on a TV in the back and they offered a menu full of creative (and nerd-friendly) drinks to choose from.

 

Are you a champion?

Day one in the Big Apple started with a (gentle) bang; a great dinner, a fantastic walk through Times Square and a browse through Dr. Jekyll's library was our remedy to a long day of traveling.

More New York adventures to come...

Green Reviews

So, it has been well over a month since my green smoothie experiment began - it’s time to review.

It’s always unusually calming to work in threes; three recipes resulting and three realizations.

I may like stinky cheese, but I don’t like stinky drinks.
My water bottle still smells.

I don’t know what it is about crushing up veggies and greens, but by the time I got to work the first day with my green power, it had done something wrong to my water bottle. Now, I didn’t toss this beverage in an old water bottle, this was a legitimate BPA-free Nalgene container - but something permeated through that plastic and it wasn’t pretty.

I found myself doing the old plug your nose and chug ordeal - that’s an okay look when you’re 5 and being force-fed cough medicine OR in first year of university when some “friend” bought you the most disgusting shot at the bar…but not in your mid-20s when you’re trying to exude a cool, “look how healthy I am” façade in front of your colleagues.

Without an exorbitant amount of fruit, it‘s yucky.
This conclusion is a direct result of a kale mishap. I started my trials with a spinach/arugula blend for recipe #1 (see below); it was vibrant and light - okay this wasn‘t so bad. I used a mixture of peaches, pineapples and melon to balance out the earthiness of the greens.

Well, kale is not spinach and it will not be overshadowed by measly berries and juicy fruit. Kale is a soldier on the front lines for leafy greens. The bright green colour of my previous smoothies was long gone, and was replaced with a deep purple/brown hue resulting from a blueberry/kale mixture. Okay, well appearances can be deceiving, let’s give this a try.

I just have one thing to say - you should not have to chew a drink.

Apparently, kale does not blend as willingly as some of the lighter greens - it turned into this sludgy, chunky mess that tasted nothing like the hearty greens nor the sweet fruit that accompanied it. Smoothie fail.

If my smoothie must be mostly fruit to make it edible, then I’m just going to have a fruit smoothie and enjoy myself.

Am I the only one that is unsatisfied with a drink as a meal?
My reasoning behind jumping on the green smoothie train was to find something that was convenient, fast and filling to get me through those tough parts of the day. These mixtures are supposed to keep you from feeling hunger pains, from feeling that 3:00 p.m. drag and from those doughnuts that always seem to look much more appealing than the apple you threw in your lunchbag. Well, I tried the drinks in the morning, at noon and at night and can’t say I felt much of a difference. Subconsciously, I’m sure I felt better about myself for ingesting so many healthy ingredients all at once, but in reality it was still a drink and, apart from my chewy beverage experience mentioned above, I have concluded that I’d prefer to eat my meals rather than sip them.

I suppose if you truly have problems stabbing a fork into a bowl of salad or grabbing some carrot sticks, then the liquefied versions will offer a solution. But, otherwise, I think it’s a bunch of hooey. There is something instinctively satisfying about biting and chewing to refuel - having the blender chew my salad first just didn’t do it for me.

Conclusions: Just eat a salad and be done with it.

Seeing Green

The Holidays are done, and "Happy New Year!" has been said all around. It has come time to make our claims, and state those dreaded resolutions for the next 12 months. For me, and probably for 99.999 per cent of people, those promises to ourselves are forgotten by the time the first Mimosa is sipped at breakfast on January 1st.


So, what is the expected resolution for a low-metabolizing food-lover?


“I am going to go on a diet, and only eat lean chicken, no carbs or sugar, and exercise everyday!”


Ha, get real!


A strict diet to kick off a new year is just a recipe for failure (mind the bad pun). However, as a girl who perpetually has food on the brain, any resolution I would dare to make is going to surround eating. I am going to try and make this New Year’s promise stick by doing two important things: instead of waiting until the bubbly haze of New Year’s Eve erases my grand plans, I made my resolution while it was still 2010 and, rather than making ambitious restrictions for 2011, I am going to add something to my weekly menu.


Problem - I have taken home a truckload of chocolate and candy this Christmas and, let’s be honest, I am not going to refrain from eating it. In fact, I am enjoying a chocolate mint treat right now. So, what I need to do is include something in my day that tastes great, is easy and quick to make, and will cut down the cravings for sweets without making me change my everything about my regular diet.


Insert: The Green Smoothie


I do incorporate leafy greens into my diet already, but the idea of a veggie-like drink, with the sweetness of fruit and without all of the tomato acidity of a V8 cocktail, sounds like it is the right way to go to boost things up a bit. A green smoothie is typically 60 per cent fresh fruit and 40 per cent leafy green veggies, and can be made in a variety of combinations to suit a many different tastes. Supposedly, the fruit masks strong flavours from the greens - I will wait to pass my judgement on that after I try a few combinations.


Here are a few recipes that I found online and have selected to try over the next few weeks - taken from http://www.smoothie-handbook.com/green-smoothie.html

Peachy Arugula Smoothie

1 banana, peeled

1 orange, peeled and seeded

1 loose handful of arugula

2-5 ounces spinach

1 cup peaches, frozen

1/2 cup mango, frozen

1/2 tsp stevia (optional)

2 cups water

Arugula: I LOVE ARUGULA! There is a fair warning that this smoothie might be slightly bitter, but I already enjoy arugula so I’m not worried!

Beginner Blueberry Kale Smoothie

1 large ripe banana, peeled

2-4 kale leaves

1 cup blueberries, frozen

1 packet of stevia (optional)

1 cup pure water

Pour the water and toss the banana and kale into the blender. Blend. Then add the blueberries and stevia. Blend again until smooth. Enjoy! 1-2 servings

Kale: a SUPER green that helps with anything from digestion to weight loss to skin clarity.

Creamy Tropical Green Smoothie

1 large banana, ripe and peeled

1/4 avocado flesh

6 oz spinach, fresh (I’m just going to add until it looks right)

3/4 pineapple, frozen

3/4 mango, frozen

4 ice cubes

1 tablespoon coconut milk powder

1 packet of stevia (optional)

1 cup pure water

Pour water in first. Then place the banana and avocado closest to the blade with the rest of the ingredients on top. Blend until smooth.

Serves 1-3

Spinach: I don’t think you can try a green smoothie without heading into spinach territory.



My reading and research on these drinks has made me hopeful for two attractive outcomes: with all of the antibiotics and vitamins, they actually lessen the cravings for fatty and sweet foods, and the high-fibre greens are supposed to release the sugars from the fruits into your system at a slower rate. You feel full longer, and you get a longer lasting energy kick rather than a quick high and hard crash.

These drinks are a staple in the popular raw-food movement, and in many vegetarian and vegan diets. I think testing them in my meat-filled, sometimes fast-food indulging, diet will be the true test of the drink's ability to increase energy and decrease hunger.

I am going to give this test one month. I will be returning to my non-Holiday eating habits, save for a few chocolate mint sticks here and there, but will not consciously change much else about my eating. I will see how much of a miracle this bright, earthy drink is and I will report back.

A few other nifty benefits that I have been read about…

• Reduction in body Odor: I hope I am okay in that department already, but one can never be too careful
• Reversing grey hair: really...
• Amino acids: they are the “building blocks” of protein – amino acids combine to form a variety of proteins in the body. I‘m a bit fuzzy on the science behind this, but I guess this is why green smoothies are so popular amongst the veggie crowd (and of course, why Popeye's spinach habits made him so strong)
• An overall increase in vitamin C, K, E, B and iron

:

A New Endeavour

A little bird told me...

Look, if you are web-savvy and are not on Twitter yet, you better make your next surfing stop there and sign yourself up!  Not only is it a great way to get your news and current events spouted out to you in quick succession that can only fit into the busiest of lives, but, as I recently discovered, it can be a great place to find new opportunities.

I recently responded to a Tweet from one of the accounts I was following.  What did they ask for?  They were looking for writers for their new website - a FOOD reviewing website no less - DING DING DING!  That sounded like it was too good to be true; an EXCUSE to go out and eat! 

Now, I am not naive ... I realized that an Internet writing gig, for a new website at that, would not bring in the Loonies and Toonies.  But how could I resist?  I followed their instructions, sent a Direct Message to that account, and got an almost immediate response.  Within a week I had dragged a girlfriend with me for a dinner-date, and we found a great new spot to eat in T.O.  I am in heaven.

I will not repeat my full review here because I have provided you the link to the official site, but I must tell you what my dinner consisted of:

• Picos and Jamon - crispy bread sticks wrapped in ham, with thin cheese slices on top
• Huevos Escoceses - hard-boiled quail eggs, fried in a delicious crispy batter - REALLY GOOD!
• Crab Croquettes - crab cakes on a puree bed (not sure what it was exactly, and I should have asked, but it was starchy [in a good way] and green)
• Patatas Bravas with Chorizo - Fingerling potatoes and spicy sausage toss atop a tomato sauce base
• Ambar - Spanish beer

I think I am going to enjoy this new adventure!

I will not post every review on my blog, although I encourage you to check out the TOFoodReviews site for mine and others' reviews.  But, when I find those hidden gems I will most certainly pass the info along here for you as well! 

Stay Hungry...

'Tis the season to get chubby.

I am a particularly social person as it is, and the Holidays are no exception.  With a full schedule of parties and get-togethers with family and friends, food planning and healthy eating too easily fall to the wayside.  NEVERMIND the added challenge of walking into the grocery store and being confronted with about a gadrillion Holiday favours and flavours  - chocolates, cookies, cakes, pies, eggnog, bacon-wrapped everything, and so on.

In the past ONE week, I have been to a company Holiday party and two full four-course dinner galas, and there are only more to come.  From Halloween to Easter, the high-fat smorgasbord lives strong!

It is easy enough to blame all of this glutinous eating on the current season, and make that promise to get back on track in the new year - pft, don't kid yourself!  The over-eating is just a condition of bad habits that we carry throughout the year.  When faced with a get together, a celebratory or social situation, being conscious about food goes out the window. 

What are we supposed to do? 

First of all, you and I are in charge of our own behaviours.  Say it with me, "I am the one shoving potato chips, chocolate and cake in my mouth and I am the one agreeing to order a party-size pizza instead of going to the grocery store to get a fresh dinner for the group." 

You are going to go to parties throughout the whole year, and trust me, you're going to be eating.  A company party menu may be out of your control, but a Saturday night with your friends is not.  Instead of dreading the spread, use this as an opportunity to eat and share some good foods that are good for you. 

It is just as easy to put together a fruit tray instead of a pastry tray, provide lean meats instead of the typical high-fat antipasto spread of cured meats and HUGE portions of cheese, and to buy a bag of pretzels instead of chips.

Okay, before you start rolling your eyes, I just want to make one thing clear.  I am fully aware that it is okay to indulge every now and then, and parties are the perfect place to eat foods you my not have in your fridge all the time - like pancetta, cheesecake, or coconut shrimp - and I love to eat that too.  But, a social life can be a battleground for those of us who try to eat well.  If you provide healthy options for your friends and party guests, I guarantee you they'll appreciate it!  I certainly would!