Thanks, dina. I tried to share the bits that may be helpful to others.

Re: the "seventh/south" - that's my attempt to figure out where I am when I pop out of the rabbit hole. It's always a mystery. On the last trip I really had no idea which way to go in the East Village. When I can I ask someone or I just start walking and wait to see if I called it right or not. The "seventh/south" has worked well for me in the midtown area - but I'm going to take a compass next time (per my comments)

mclaurie, no. The "less than wonderful bits" aren't going to be shared here. But, I'm looking forward to headed back - maybe in March

Starrs, since you are so into hot chocolate, try to have one at Jacques Torres -- I forget where the Manhattan branch is, but it's fabulous.

As for this On the last trip I really had no idea which way to go in the East Village, , when I was a kid, we were allowed to go into the city ourselves on school holidays, etc. (obviously, this was a looooong time ago ). Anyway, I remember being in the West Village where I believe 4th St. crosses 10th St (yes, I'm not crazy - I just checked it on googlemaps). So, where the streets are no longer laid out in a grid, it becomes very confusing. Also, I grew up in New York, and have returned many many times over the years, and I still find myself turning in circles when I emerge from the subway.

oh i get it. the streets are one -way driving streets. (right?)

I was born here and whenever I'm in the village, I get a bit confused. A cousin who lives down there always tells me to 'think in triangles.' Well, I guess I think in rectangles - I just can't get it. Give me a grid, anytime.

Y'all are just trying to make me feel better....


...and it worked! Thanks

""How to get to NYC from LGA, JFK or Newark?

Car service.

Really.

I've tried other options and a car service is the way to go. ""

Amen to that sistah!

Loved the trip report.

Like Le Pain Quotidien but hate that they are a chain also owned by Le Bon Pain. A friend just went to work in management for them. They bake everything in a big warehouse then ship it out.

Like Le Pain Quotidien but hate that they are a chain also owned by Le Bon Pain.

I like Le Pain Quotidien a lot (the fact that it is a chain notwithstanding), and am not much of a fan of Le Bon Pain. I did a little googling, and find no evidence that they are commonly owned. Just wondering where you got this information.

Au Bon Bland and Le Pain Quotidien are not related:


From their respective websites:

Au Bon Bland

In the Spring of 1978, businessman Louis Kane was strolling through Boston’s historic Faneuil Hall Marketplace when he came across a display showcasing a new line of French bakery ovens. The aroma and quality of the fresh breads was enchanting. So enchanting in fact, it gave Louis an idea. Why not make wonderful, fresh baked breads and croissants easily available to everyone in the city?

Le Pain Quotidien

"People still wonder if it's a bakery where you can eat, or a restaurant where you can buy bread," said its founder, Alain Coumont, 47, who professes never to serve food that he wouldn't offer to his family.

Coumont opened the first Le Pain Quotidien in Brussels in 1990.

That's what I read, too.

Well, I love the place.
Our waitress was a jerk.
We were there early for lunch. Maybe 6 other tables seated and plenty of waitstaff ready for customers.
Our waitress was a jerk.
The experience was a disappointment.

My friend just went to work for them in upper management and they are owned by the same parent company.

He is training in Manhattan to open multiple stores in Chicago of which there are none.

Sort of like the way Outback, Roys, Bonefish, etc are owned by the same people.

Different beginings, mission statement, etc but the same company.

It is good but it kind of skeeves me out that they cannot bake everything on site.

I thought Le Pain Quindwhatever baked on prmises and Au Bon Bland baked in a barn.

LOL!

Sorry to hijack your excellent thread starrs!

How crowded did you find the city?

Marathon weekend I found it a little less crowded than it normally is but we stayed downtown most of the trip.

No problem. The conversation was interesting.

The city didn't seem too crowded. Times Square was... well, Times Square. But, 1/2 block off and no problems at all. Well, until the shows were out. But, all of that was normal.

The Natural History Museum was PACKED on the day after Thanksgiving. The line for the ferry to Ellis Island seemed long - but we waited in the ticketed line for only 25 minutes (the guidebook and website said it could be 1.5 hours).

Made reservations for T'giving dinner but winged it the rest of the time.

Not bad at all