New York: the things we did not do

Canon EOS 500N, Kodak Ektar 100

We saw Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps last night, and the only thing I liked about it was the location - New York - which reminded me of this post that I planned to write. New York is an amazing city that I would LOVE to go back to. So here are some things we did not do during our visit in October, that I would like to do the next time we visit:

- we spent too little time in Brooklyn (we had lunch at Grimaldi's and dinner at Vinegar Hill House), so I would love to explore Brooklyn much more
- taste Mast Brother's Chocolate
- see Manhattan from a boat, for example the Staten Island Ferry
- a lot of people have recommended the city tour buses, so I think I would like to check it out
- see a Broadway show
- amateur night at the Apollo
- visit jazz clubs
- visit MoMA again (in the morning, when I'm not already filled up with other impressions)
- visit The Met and other galleries in general
- try out even more of Brian's excellent restaurant tips; Momofuku, Shopsins and Katz's Deli
- check out more of the Michelin guide's restaurant recommendations
- have another meal at Pastis, The Spotted Pig, The Standard Grill and Shake Shack (links here)
- visit Eataly
- see the city from above during daytime (we only did it at night)
- have a picnic in Central Park
- just walk the streets and explore
- maybe visit Coney Island
- attend a Sunday service in a Harlem church
- visit the New York Public Library
- maybe do a little shopping...

Any other suggestions?

good bye, New York City

After that nice West Village walk, we packed our bags and headed to Newark airport. It was nice to see the sunset on Manhattan before we boarded the plane, and it was equally nice to see the city of lights from above.

Good bye, New York, you were good to us. Hope to see you again soon!

PS: Click the New York label to see/read all the New York posts, and here is the New York set on Flickr.

Sunday stroll in West Village

Sunday October 31st was our seventh and last day in New York.


We went for a little walk in the hotel neighbourhood; West Village. Of course I had to photograph these fire escapes - they are so New York!




We bought pizza at John's Pizzeria in Bleecker Street and ate it in the little park next to Magnolia Bakery. I had a chocolate cupcake as a starter.



Our waiter at The Modern told us that Sarah Jessica Parker (aka Carrie Bradshaw) lives in Perry Street and that the front of her house was used as the front of Carrie's house in Sex and the City. He also said that it has been closed off because people would always sit on the stairs and have their photo taken. Since we were in the neighbourhood we went to check it out. Sølve took this shot, but we are not entirely sure this is the right place ;-)




Sølve was amazed by this fire truck he saw while waiting for me outside Magnolia Bakery, so he photographed it. Twice.



Film: Kodak Portra 160vc

Oyster Bar

After a bit of exploring it was time for a snack. Well, any time is snack time in my book, but now it was time for a proper meal.






Before we left for New York I asked ex Brooklyn resident Brian for tips on where to eat. He gave us a lot of really great tips (some of them are to be found here), including Oyster Bar. He said:

I think a classic NY experience is eating lunch at the counter at the Oyster Bar restaurant in grand central station (not in the dining room - too expensive).

So, that's what we did. Although we had dinner instead of lunch. The place has lots of character and the food was really great. We also started talking to the woman next to us; a fellow photo nerd who photographed her food and the chefs - just like us. Such fun!

Film: Kodak Portra 160vc, black & white photos: Canon 40D

a NYC Saturday

Saturday October 30th was our sixth and last full day in New York.



We stumbled upon a fashion photo shoot in the Meatpacking District. Sølve took these shots - I was too shy to do it ;-)


Kodak Portra 160vc

We spent hours at the Museum of Natural History. Animals are fascinating. Even the dead ones.




We were excited as kids on Christmas Eve to see the dinosaurs.



In Central Park I saw something I have only seen in movies; a man walking fives dogs at the same time. It feels so New York, doesn't it?


Kodak Portra 160vc

We did not go inside the Guggenheim Museum, but since we were in the neighborhood I wanted to see this famous Frank Lloyd Wright building.

Vinegar Hill House

Friday evening (October 29th) we met an old friend from our hometown Sandnes, his girlfriend and their friend for dinner at Vinegar Hill House in Brooklyn. The first lesson we learnt was that taking a taxi at this hour in New York City is very slow - we should have taken the subway. The second lesson we learnt is that Vinegar Hill House is an absolutely perfect place to meet friends for dinner. They don't do reservations and it was really busy, so we sat for an hour or so in the backyard drinking wine and catching up while waiting for a table. It was a bit chilly (I forgot to check if they had blankets) yet the atmosphere was warm and cozy - and even more so inside.

Vinegar Hill House has such charm and ambiance, and amazing food too. I see why Brian calls it one of his favorites in Brooklyn and why Maria recommended it in Brooklyn Diary. I would love to go back!

hotel room sunset view

The view from room 501 at The Jane was the best. It was just the right entertainment on that slow fifth day in the big city. After this sunset show and naps, we got ready to dine in Brooklyn.

Film: Kodak Ektar 100 and Kodak Portra 160vc

the diner

We were a bit tired after a whole day of birthday fun, so day five in New York started around the crack of noon with a biiig breakfast at The Diner in the Meatpacking District. Carbs, fat, sugar and caffeine. Mmm!

Film: Kodak Ektar 100

view from the top

My 31st birthday was the best! Breakfast at Pastis, High Line, bagel lunch, Central Park, MoMA and The Modern, dinner at The Standard Grill (I didn't bring my camera), and finally; the view from the top of Empire State Building at 1 am. Amazing! By the way, they said the line to get up there can be hours long during daytime - at 1 am there was no line. Hurra!

art & 5th

We stepped out of Central Park and into Fifth Avenue. We felt like tiny ants on the bottom of the forest floor.





Our mission was to see art at MoMA. It was top class. The next time I visit a world famous museum, I will do it first thing in the morning though - before my head is full of a day's worth of sights and impressions.




After MoMA, a late lunch with wine at The Modern is highly recommended. We even saw a Hollywood celebrity; Sandra Oh from Grey's Anatomy.



The photos above are taken by both me and Sølve, with Canon 40D.