We spent a long weekend in NYC. Most of it was family time, but we did go to MOMA to see two interesting exhibits: the Alighiero Boetti: Game Plan exhibit which ended Oct.1 and Century of the Child: Growing by Design, 1900–2000, before going to see War Horse which we enjoyed for everything, especially the horse puppets, except the plot--and the acting was adequate. Between the museum and the show we had a light dinner at Katsuhama on 55th St. (http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&sugexp=les;&cp=7&gs_id=31&xhr=t&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1084&bih=629&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=katsuhama&fb=1&gl=us&hq=katsuhama&cid=0,0,15821953036788997922&sa=X&ei=t-hwUNflIYb9iQKOnICwBg&sqi=2&ved=0CDIQrwswAg ) which, if the 50+% Japanese clientele is an indication, is authentic, and it is very affordable. A big bowl of noodles with vegetables, shrimp and other ingredients costs $11; not bad for midtown Manhattan (two espressos at MOMA came to $10+).

We also ate at Dressler’s (http://www.dresslernyc.com/website/ ), almost across the street from Peter Luger’s in Brooklyn. The food is upscale bistro food, well prepared, and not overpriced (but I’m used to SF prices): $387 for four including tax and tip with a $50 bottle of wine, 4 appetizers, 4 main courses and two desserts. It was the most tender hanger steak I’ve ever had.

We stayed in Brooklyn, within walking distance of the Sunset Park area. We went to a Vietnamese sandwich shop: Ba Xuyên, 4222 Eighth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11232, (http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/ba-xuyen/ ) picked up two sandwiches and drinks ($4.50 for one sandwich, and two were enough for the three of us), and went up to Sunset Park to look at the New York bay while having lunch. The location is obviously out of the way for most visitors, unless one is interested in seeing a Chinatown other than the one in Manhattan.