Spring Break 2018, day 2, still NYC

Saturday, March 31

Well, I read when I went to bed last night and was quite late in getting to sleep.  Awake this morning at 9 am and just starting to fall back asleep when Anneliese's alarm in the next room went off.  So, up and into the shower.  I had to ask the roommate the trick of the shower since all I was getting was icy cold water.  The hot is on the opposite side (right side) than normal.

Signs of spring--crocus everywhere!

It was over 50 degrees already (!) so all I had to wear was a sweatshirt.  In Minneapolis, their temps are in the 20s today--I got out just in time!  We went to a bagel shop that Anneliese likes in Chinatown.  We got everything bagels, toasted with cream cheese and tea for me, latte for Anneliese.  Yum!!  Love New York bagels!  Then, since it was so warm (prediction was 56 degrees!), we walked for hours around Chinatown, Little Italy, and the lower East side.

You can see the bagel shop behind me--Kossar's (since 1936)

Subway station with stained glass--note the beautiful colors
on the floor from the sun shining in!

classic building

building view

In Little Italy, we went into a deli--great Italian gourmet foods--yum! And a canoli cart--had to try one!  (again--yum!).

Anneliese eating her cannoli

Inside the shop

Outside the shop

In Chinatown, we found a window with stereotypic dead chickens in the window.  We loved all of the green grocers with vegetables out that we've never seen before.

Chinese signs

A bird garden in Chinatown (we could hear the birds as we stood there).

In New York, there is of course Central Park.  But people feel better when they have a connection with nature, so there are many what I call "pocket parks."  Little parks tucked in corners with trees and flowers growing and benches to sit and enjoy it.  We found a few of those as well as traditional parks with soccer games, playgrounds, and gardens.  I even saw one that was only about ten feet by 10 feet .

Little park in Little Italy

Enjoying the sunshine and warm weather!

Anneliese in the garden

A tree sculpture in the bird garden

A soccer game

A park

Then we went back to the apartment since Anneliese had an application due tomorrow for a position with NPR that she had to finish.  I wrote on yesterday's blog and started today's.  We are planning to go out tonight for dinner and to a piano bar.

Well, we went for dinner to a little Italian place that Anneliese had been to before, Villa Mosconi.  It was very nice--tablecloths, cloth napkins, etc (and I was dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt).  The service was nice, an old woman at a table near us had a birthday and we all sang happy birthday to her.  The food was, eh.  I've had better many times.  Anneliese said that hers was the same, but that she's had better on previous visits.

After that, we went to Marie's Crisis Cafe and bar with a piano in the middle of the floor.  We had to stand in line around 15 or 20 minutes to get in.  The piano player plays show tunes and every one there crowds around the piano and sings along at the top of their lungs!  It was really fun!  He played from musicals back in the 50s to present day.  I told Anneliese that my guess was that 90% of the people there had been in high school theater!  I think the wait staff were all would-be broadway stars that didn't make it; they take turns (one each set) doing a solo--and their voices are fabulous!  Some are a bit overly dramatic, but sound wonderful!   Even though we went to bed as soon as we got home, it was another very late night, but worth it!

Me at Marie's Crisis Cafe

The piano player

Anneliese during the piano player's break