Fodors needs to put a special section in their next NYC book on how to 'do NY'. This thread would be perfect.

It sounds like you are having a wonderful time in NY and taking advantage of all the city has to offer, looking forward to reading weeks 3 and 4.

Have fun at the WB tonight and keep enjoying this wonderful weather we're having!

If you have time for lunch one day next week, let me know...

Have a great weekend!

I was on my best behavior at Bond 45, since I knew the "spy" would be reporting on me! LOL We made up for it today at lunch at BLT Burger.

Goddesstogo, the 45 is for 45th Street.

Owlwoman, lunch would be great. We don't have a single thing planned next week day times (but shows every single night). Except for our Saturday matinee.

#-O Of course! That makes sense!

Patrick,
Did you ever make it to the Shake Shack? :)

Patrick-I have been thinking about you this month knowing that you and Lee are in NYC but I just saw this thread tonight.

First of all what a scare with Lee! I am so glad he was found in a relatively short time (compared to Las Vegas!) and that the police were so helpful. I can't even imagine going through that.

What a wonderful time you are having. I will be bookmarking this for some of the restaurants as I am hoping to make my own trip with my DD in Sept. I am usually on a bit of a budget especially this year so I love hearing about the great lunches. One of the reasons I am now on a budget is because my daughter just got engaged so we will be saving for a wedding next year. But we do have to come to NYC to see a few shows particularly Gypsy.

Anyway tell Lee hello and I am looking forward to the reports for the next 2 weeks.

Patrick
My question to you is do you research your dining options before you go to NYC or do you just wing it when you get there? Same with the plays, have you planned and bought your tickets ahead of time for the whole month or just go with what you can get when you get there? Seems like a lot of planning for a whole month! And, with a wife whose father that had Alzheimers, I would like to reiterate, that yes, I think you are a saint!
dave

Dear Patrick, thanks for sharing your trip with us again. I love reading your reports; you should definitely write a book! If memory serves, you were an english teacher in a former life, right? You've helped countless people with your detailed reviews and it would make a great read for anyone researching a trip to the city.

So sorry your trip started with such a frightening experience but i'm once again touched by your wonderful relationship with lee. Hope the rest of your trip is fabulous and i wish you both all the best always.

Regarding the planning. I follow New York theatre and pretty well planned what we wanted to see and pre-purchased nearly all the tickets Only Gypsy was full price, ordering great seats way ahead, not wanting to take chances with discounts, which it ends up would have been available, but surely not such good seats. And I also paid full price for the Showboat Concert at Carnegie Hall -- don't think there were ever discounts available for that one night performance.

With restaurants -- I have a lot of favorites and make a list of other places I want to try, but to be honest there are soooooo many options, that I often end up going to Open Table and choosing places that also offer a 1000 point bonus (these add up for free dining, and I'll have about $200 credit just from New York), and also do a few of the restaurant.com places that give you a $25 coupon for $5 or so. I only do those after checking out reviews (menu pages, for example). Even when deciding last minute where we want to go for lunch, I look at Open Table and try to make a reservation there, even when I know it isn't necessary.

A month in NYC can cost a fortune, that's for sure. So we aren't really doing any major splurge places, and I think the most we've spent for a meal so far, was a fabulous dinner at AquaGrill for a total of $144. Most dinners have been averaging around $75 or so all inclusive. Lee not drinking at all these days helps too!

Hi Patrick,
How's Wednesday? E-mail me at [email protected]

WEEK 3:

Monday, June 16:
Mexican lunch at Tacochina just around the corner from us on 9th. We've noticed how popular the place seems to be. Inexpensive lunch, but not so good. Dried chicken and ground, not shredded pork in the enchiladas.

We got haircuts -- the worst ones we've ever had. This fairly young Russian barber kept saying to Lee, "who cut your hair last? This is terrible". But when he was finished, the back of his neck (which is why he needed a haircut to begin with) looks untouched and he has the oddest ridge across his head. Mine is not much better. The sign said "Men's haircuts $15" but when I went to pay him he said they were $20 each because he had to use scissors? Duh? As opposed to sheared buzz cuts only?

This evening took the subway down to the Village and had great dinner at AOC on Bleeker, an old favorite of ours. Cassoulet and coq-au-vin were both excellent. Headed back uptown, and stopped in at Thalia for desserts (well, fresh fruite for me).

Tuesday, June 17:
I had the name of Diva in Soho on my "short list" especially for wonderful thin crust pizzas, so headed down there for lunch. We also split a beef carpaccio (which only reminded me how much better the one at Roberto Passons had been). The pizza was OK, nothing great. Kind of a fun place.

Leaving there we did a major walk along Canal and into Chinatown.

Had drinks before our evening show at BlueFin -- perhaps one of the loudest bars I've ever been in, but they sure knew how to make a dry Robroy.

Tonight was Nathan Lane in November, along with our friend Michael Nichols as the Indian. We were taken backstage after the show to wait for him. Nathan Lane came downstairs and introduced himself, although he had friends waiting, he seemed to think we were waiting for him also. When we said we were waiting for Mike, he said, "and what am I, chopped liver?" Mike is the last one out as he has this elaborate long wig that has to be taken off, then we walked to Joe Allen's together and had dinner and LOTS of drinks. We nearly closed the place down. It was great catching up with him and getting all the "dirt" on the show. Can't believe this show wasn't better received than it was (although it ran over 6 months). It is terribly funny, thanks mainly to what is nearly a monologue from beginning to end. Laurie Metcalf is also wonderful.

Wednesday, June 18:
Did a long circular walk in midtown this morning, checking out some of the new buildings, fascinating architecture -- loved the incorporation of the old facade of the Henry Miller Theatre into a glass skyscraper. Ended up at Virgils for Bar-B-Q lunch. I'd never had their Bar-B-Q Lamb sandwich before, so did this time, but wouldn't have known it was lamb if they hadn't told me.

Matinee of the ill-fated musical, Cry Baby. Enjoyed the show, mainly for the choreography, but it was totally unmemorable for anything else -- particularly the book or the music! The show closed this past week.

Pouring rain this evening, when we took the subway to Soho for a really offbeat play called Three on a Couch at Soho Playhouse. Dinner afterwards at AquaGrill. WOW. This couldn't have been better food. Nice big, corner table in back as we were late -- super service. Split a dozen oysters (6 different varieties). Then (and get ready because I had to copy this down) Lee had pan seared halibut with apple crab salad, white asparagus, sauteed Swiss Chard, and English peas on a warm apple-bacon vinaigrette. I had slow roasted Loup de Mer, with fresh sliced porcini mushrooms, sauteed asparagus, peas, and baby carrots in an asparagus-truffle emulsion. HEAVEN. Lee also splurged (he can afford the calories and the sugar) on an individula peach/blackberry crumble pie with vanilla ice cream and mint sorbet.

Thursday, June 19:
Walked down to the new Nizza on 9th between 44th and 45th. I had looked at the menu online and was ready for a lamb sausage pizza, but it is already off the menu. Instead we split a great white and green pesto pizza (with finely diced asparagus) and split a roasted beet, baby spinach, gorgonzola, and pumpkin seed salad. Really good food -- and quite cheap. No drinks except for an iced tea, and the whole bill with tax and tip was under $30.

Back to the apartment and did laundry today (three doors down the hall which was very convenient).

Met Bugswife and her "theatre bug" husband for dinner at Bond 45. Really liked this place which is huge. We got Lee started on a sliced steak with gorgonzola as we waited for Mr. Bug to arrive -- parking the car when legal at 7. Then I had a special of clay pot striped bass cooked Basque style -- really delicious. We all walked to Les Liaisons Dangerouses, which was quite good, and enjoyed our third (or was it fourth?) row seats they had gotten for us.

Friday, June 20:
Lunch at BLT Burger on 6th, near 12th. Lee had a classic combo -- 5 oz. burger, fries, and a black and white hand made thick milkshake. I had the 7 oz. BLT burger, with smoky bacon on it. Really good, and Lee loved that they had the fattest straws for the thick shakes we've ever seen, you could actually get the milkshake through them.

Did a lot of walking and "shopping" not to buy. Hit ABC Carpet which is always fun, and Fishes Eddy. Did the green market at Union Square.

Headed uptown to meet a guy who had left a message that he found Lee's wallet in the restroom at the Marquis Theatre when we went to see Cry Baby. No money or credit cards are in it, but we'd sure need his driver's license as ID to fly home! This guy is in rehearsal and we met him at the rehearsal halls where they are preparing a concert for the Polish Theatre Institute. We took him a box of chocolates as a thank you, which he didn't want to accept. He had called because we have an "I have Alzheimer's paper in it with phone and address".

Tonight had dinner at Film Center Cafe on 9th. I had a great goat cheese encrusted salmon (when did I start eating so much fish, I wondered?), and Lee had a nice penne with fresh mozzerella, tomatoes, and basil.

Hit the usual After Party at the Laurie Beechman, leaving about 2 AM.

Saturday, June 21:
Slept in this morning almost till noon. We were exhausted. Getting too old for this kind of schedule.
Then headed to the village for lunch at Lupa -- wonderful as always. Shared two starters -- hunks of fresh tuna with white beans and red onions in olive oil, and sliced asparagus with pecorino. I went for the bucatini Al'Amatriciano, but somehow got talked into our getting the two special pastas of the day -- pappardelle in duck sauce, and tagliatelle in pork ragu. Liked the pork one the best.

Saw Adding Machine at Minetta Lane. This new musical based on the 1920's play of the same name by Elmer Rice is DARK and ODD, but very good and well performed. It has won most of the off Broadway musical awards this season.

Dinner on the Upper East Side at Tini's. Took the bus (well over an hour to get there). Good Italian food in a pleasant place --this was a recommendation from friends back home who used to live in the neighborhood.

Sunday, June 22:
Brunch at Eatery -- one of the busiest and best places on 9th Avenue. We got there just before noon and got seated, although larger groups were waiting. When we left at 1:30, there was an hour wait. I had a pulled pork tostado with jack cheese and fried eggs. Lee had chicken sausages rolled in pancakes with maple syrup. Always like this place.

Walked up to Lincoln Center area to see the film, When Did you Last See Your Father with Colin Firth and Jim Broadbent. Very touching movie. It's been described as the equivalent of a "chick flick" for men.

Did a lot of walking on the UWS and into the park before returning home just as it started to rain again. Had dinner at North Square on Washington Square. Quiet, little charming restaurant. I wasn't expecting much, but had a fantastic rack of lamb with grilled wild mushrooms and sauteed spinach while Lee had seared Hawaiin Opah with roasted beets, baby bok choy, and peas. Splurged for desserts tonight also, justifying with all our walking. I had a trio of fantastic sorbets -- lime/cilantro, pineapple/mint, and espresso.

END OF WEEK 3

Thanks Patrick,
Saving to read at leisure with my coffee later today(it's 12:45am & past this little Australian's bedtime!)

NeoPatrick...

A question for you about The North Square on Washington Square...is this restaurant adjacent to the Washington Square Hotel?

I stayed at that hotel last year and seem to remember that maybe the name of the restaurant. We did not have dinner there.

I will be back at the Washington Square Hotel this coming October as a lay-over between arriving from France and continuing home to Savannah and was thinking about trying(I have heard it can be a nightmare) to get a reservation at Babbo (across the street), but with your good comments about the meal at North Square I'm thinking that might be just right, if it's the same place I think it is. Or I can always shoot for Lupa (one of my favorites!)

Hello Patrick, I again am so envious of all of your wonderful meals!

The haircuts sound dreadful and you had to pay $5.00 extra because the barber used scissors? How funny! Well not really, a bad haircut is not funny.

Enjoy the rest of your week and thanks for posting about your time in NYC. BTW, it was strange but I dreamed about you last night. You and I and a group of people were in some large mansion. You went out to the garden and picked peaches off of the peach tree. We didn't share the peaches with anyone else. We sat on a bench in the beautiful garden eating lots of peaches, lol. It was a sweet dream.

Patrick, You pack more into your month in NY than I do in an entire year! Great report.

Next time you come I want you to show me around. :-)

Paying a barber $5.- more to use scissors? Wow, I haven't heard of that one before!

LowCountryIslander, yes, that's the place. I'm not sure if it's connected with the hotel or not. We discovered it last year when looking for Babbo and thought it looked quiet, quaint, and nice and the menu and prices were very agreeable. So we tried it this year. Good choice. I know what you mean about Babbo. We are going next Monday for Lee's birthday, and did the call exactly 1 month ahead, but still had to take 5:30 by the time I could get through -- sort of like the East Coast French Laundry!

LoveItaly, that's funny. Perhaps I've mentioned to you that my favorite pie is peach?

I think NorthSquare is actually connected to the hotel. The lamb there is great, had a craving for lamb one night and that's where we ended up. However, the rest of our meal was fair. So if you like lamb, go.

There are also lots and lots of restaurants in the area so don't limit yourself to restaurants on the block.

It seems to me that you've been eating a lot in the Village this year, much more than last year. Is this because you are branching out, eating near theatres, trying different recommendations from friends? 9th Avenue always seems to have great local neighborhood restaurants so I am just a little curious about your venturing out.

No Patrick, I don't remember your ever mentioning peach pie is your favorite pie. But it is my favorite pie too! Well in my dream we were both sure happy with the wonderful peaches from the peach tree. I woke up with a smile.

Peach pie is my favorite as well.