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Aug
10
I Almost Don’t Hate New York Anymore
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You would think that after past experiences like my Technology for the 21st century Classroom course I would have learned to be wary about what I sign up for. Alas, I am a sucker for higher pay and so I continue to sign up for whatever they offer, even over the summer, which means that I will be spending the coming week learning all about Movement Activities for the Classroom I Don’t Actually Have from 8 am to 2 pm. I also have a library to put back together after a crew of knuckleheads spent a week painting in there, so that basically equals a full unpaid working week that could be spent watching 2,000 hours of Olympic games.
But I guess all that’s okay because I just spent an awesome four days in New York and I have two weeks at the beach in Maine coming up afterwards so I really don’t have too much to complain about. Until this class starts, of course.
As for the past weekend, Chris and I ditched Boston on Thursday afternoon and drove through hail and Hartford to arrive in Manhattan before dinner time. My cousin and his wife are the King and Queen of gracious hosts and made us dinner and provided us with a special screening of Lost Boys II: The Tribe. In case you were wondering, it rivaled The Ruins as worst attempt at scary movie in recent history.
But wait, there’s more!
- On Friday, Chris and Gabe both had to work so Renna and I hit up the Palisades Mall. As I texted to Noelle, it was dreamy. Four floors of good old fashioned shopping mall, nary an Anthropologie in sight.
- Later that night we met Gabe downtown at his work and hopped on the subway over to Little Italy and Chinatown, neither of which Chris had seen during his previous trips to NYC. There was some kind of festival going on so the streets were closed. We made the unwise decision of ordering the house wine at a seedy bar.
- We had an unmemorable dinner, but still a great time being out in the bustling streets and beautiful weather. I also got to catch up with my friend Alex from college.
- After dinner we walked to Chinatown where Alex sampled her very first bubble tea (the girl may be a New Yorker now but she had never tried bubble tea. How is this possible? And how is it possible that she doesn’t text? WHO DOESN’T TEXT?) We all took the train back and stopped at the corner bodega for the fixings of ice cream sundaes, since our dessert of marzipan clearly wasn’t cutting it. We were all tuckered out and fell asleep immediately.
- Saturday Renna braved city traffic to drive us down to Coney Island so we could see the freak side show. This was my first trip to Coney Island ever and I have to say, I am a huge fan. Beaches? Boardwalks? Rides? FREAK SHOWS AND BEER? What is this place, heaven? The side show was amazing, worth way more than the $5 admission price. They also have a “Freak Bar” where you can buy giant beers and bring them into the show. We saw a dude drill a giant drill bit 5 inches into his nose, a woman breathing fire, a sword swallower that got the drunk dudes in the back yelling inappropriate comments, and an honest-to-goodness lobster man. It was unbelievably awesome. We also had Nathan’s hotdogs from the original Nathan’s stand that were very meh considering how long we had to wait for them (hint: a long time) and cotton candy that tasted better just because it was at the beach. I think this picture sums up our day at Coney Island:
- After heading home to change we took the crosstown to a vegan restaurant where a friend of Gabe and Renna’s was a server. We were starving and tired and the prospect of vegan food after a lunch of hotdogs and candy floss was not necessarily appealing. Luckily, Candle 79 was one of the most amazing meals I’ve ever had, period. I would highly recommend checking it out if you’re ever in the city whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or a raging carnivore like myself. I never knew seitan and tempeh could be so delicious, but if I had someone to cook me meals like that every day I would give up my bacon-loving ways immediately with no regrets. You really must try the Coconut-Mint Frappe because it is no joke.
- When we arrived home we were stuffed full of deliciousness and happily threw on a movie about a giant lunatic crocodile called Rogue. It was fun and ridiculous and featured a too skinny Michael Vartan.
- This morning we watched the US Men’s Basketball team crush China and refused to turn it off until the very end because we were mad that George W. walked out during the fourth quarter. Rudeness.
- Then we climbed back into the car and cruised back up to Boston without even getting stuck in beach traffic. Obviously, we rock at driving.
My previous claims to hating New York City are now null. I won’t be moving there or anything, but maybe now I will at least try to visit more often than every couple of years.
And yeah. I went there with the bullets. So how was your weekend?
Comments
30 Responses to “I Almost Don’t Hate New York Anymore”
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Yay, you’re an NYC lover!
That mustache is genius.
I was in Manhattan a few weeks ago – decidedly not for the first time, but it WAS the first time I spent any meaningful amount of time there near the Seaport.
You know what? It felt just like Boston.
Chris looks like a fine southern gentlemen..alll he needs is that big white hat and white suit.
JG and I don’t text, Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, or any of those techno-noun-slash-verbs I can think of. AND WE ARE PROUD OF IT.
I’ve never heard of the Coney Island Side Show, I’ll have to check it out. And that mustache is amazing.
I don’t text. I also don’t drink bubble tea. And I have never seen a lobster man. My life suddenly feels so empty.
Your weekend was way more eventful than mine! I’ve never had bubble tea either…what in the world is it!?! And I’ve also always wanted to go to Coney Island but never made it there. I feel I am missing out on one of life’s MUST DO events….
And you probably drove right by my exit!
If you had texted me from Candle 79 instead of the Palisades Mall, I would have driven all the way down there to join you. I can barely think of a restaurant that I love more.
Speaking of GDub’s rudeness, did you see the way he was drumming the American flag on his leg in boredom during the Opening Ceremonies? I can’t even believe that guy.
NY doesn’t hate you either.
My weekend was fantastic, but I’m still recovering from the heinous, heinous traffic on the way home. And yeah, I’m a little bitter.
I’ve never had bubble tea and don’t text either. And reading your comments made me feel like less of a loser when I learned I’m not the only one. And I’m with flurrious….I’ve also never seen a lobster man. I think I need to book a trip to NY soon because this sounds way cool. Can you drink bubble tea while looking at the lobster man?
And a good time was had by all.
I am so freakin tired Cuz. After you left it was the dog park, then the couch for the night, and I’m still dragging my butt through the day. Of course a downport today brought down 6 T1 customers so work is crazy busy.
I want more Seitan Chimmichurri and Polenta Fries!
Wow! Sounds like a great weekend!
We went to the most awesome of awesome bike races on Saturday. At night, through downtown. Bikers so fast you can barely seem them. So much fun!
what – you came to nyc while i happened to be away? oh npw, you’re gonna have to come back for sure.
on a side note, i loooove bubble tea. also, insectavora from the coney island side show lives in my neighborhood, probably somewhere very close to me because i often see her walking her dog. i’m too shy to say hello to her.
Sounds like you had an awesome weekend. I love the cotton candy mustache. Classic!
I want to be a sideshow freak too. I just spent way too long on that website…where do I sign up???!!!
One: I don’t trust anyone under 50 who doesn’t text.
Two: Coney Island is high on my list of places to visit, as long as I don’t have to go into NYC. Sorry – LA all the way.
I am WAYYY jealous of your weekend.
I don’t text. I think that is because I am old.
I hate texting. I try to do it as little as I can without coming off as rude to those who text me.
Um, has no one else missed the most important part of your weekend? You got to see Lost Boys II? I’m dying to see (youtube clips of) that train wreck!
And speaking from experience, stay away from texting when you can. It will dumb down your writing.
Lobster man? For serious?
Also, who hates NY? It’s awesome. Mind you, I would never live there, but come on: Ghostbusters, Chelsea Hotel, Ryan Adams, CSI:NY.
Totally kidding on that last one. Also, we won’t talk about the Yankees.
You make my heart hurt a little. The entire time I lived in NYC I wanted to go to Candle 79 and somehow never made it. I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews like yours. A fantastic meal memory for sure!
I’ve never had bubble tea. Maybe it’s because I stay as far away from Chinatown as possible. And South Street Seaport. Blech.
I can’t wait for you to come back to NYC. We’ll have a blast! I know where we can get some really good wine, great beer and delicious food.
Candle 79 is yummy!
I went to NY last year and I didn’t come back too happy. I think I expected more from the city. I don’t really know. But I’d really like to go back and I hope to have the kind of experience you did!
I’ve only been to NYC once and didn’t much enjoy it. But that was because I went with a bunch of tools who wanted to go to bed at 9 PM.
I have also never had bubble tea. And I don’t text because it irritates me. I have a hard enough time using contractions (yes, I am old). And have also never seen a lobster man. You must describe bubble tea in greater length.
Were the two Coreys in LB2? Had a serious crush on Corey Feldman back in the day.
Oh God, I just used back in the day. I am so old.
I have never even heard of bubble tea, and I also do not text. I know, I know.
I had to minimize this quickly at least three times while reading that post because I heard my boss coming around the corner. (Work schmurk.) Hence, I don’t remember just what I was going to say, except that it sounds like you had an excellent weekend. Also, I have never had bubble tea either. Should I??
Candle 79! How I miss the UES already…