Wednesday, September 28, 2011

The Turk Hits New York

Checking out the food in Chinatown..CRABS!
Checking out the food in Little Italy..Sausages!

 The Turk joined me for a week during my NYC stint for my client project.  Because I needed to be there 2 weeks, I rented an apartment.  A months rental was cheaper than 2 weeks in a hotel!  We 'lived' in Chinatown, with a landlord who greeted us carrying a bottle of chianti and beer.  We liked him immediately.

A knitted tricycle - a must have in NYC

9/11 homage to first responder fire fighters
 Being in NYC for the 10th anniversary of 9/11 was interesting.  First, the flight was empty. Second, the traffic entering the city was at a halt as all trucks were being searched - so we took a train in from Newark airport. And, being blocks from ground zero, we saw firemen and police officers in dress blues all day Sunday, 11th.  The first responder firehouses were open and filled with visitors.  The beautiful day was being enjoyed by sightseers, locals and visitors.  And it seemed everyone was connected to the reason for the date.

Our Kitchen, complete with wine and flowers!

Our roof deck, right off the kitchen











Food is always interesting in NYC and the Turk and I were ready.      
An Austrian restaurant - in chinatown! - was the size of a hallway.  The best thing I found was fresh pretzel bread from the oven, spaetzle, sausages and goulash.
We had to try some Chinese food - so off we went to Vanessa's Dumplings which are really pot stickers. Another very small space, but you could see the back room where several potsticker experts were rolling out and filling the dough about as quickly as they were being cooked. We ordered several servings of potstickers, a large sweet and sour soup filled with mushrooms and sesame roll (also made there) filled with sliced duck.  The cost of this feast?  $12.50  wow
There was the mandatory brick oven pizza in Little Italy, complete with accordion player, for a huge price.  But it was fun and delicious.
While I was working, the Turk and the Landlord went to Dim Sum in nod to the landlord, and to a turkish restaurant to have it validated by the Turk.
Wanting to try out the kitchen, the Turk fixed lamb stew for my team one evening.  A fun evening on the roof deck!

We even got to have dinner with our friend Blake from Austin who was in town for work. We had just seen him in Tampa. Small world.

Then, before we knew it, the Turk was heading home. :'(
And I stayed for another week.  While work took up most of my time, I did get to have some fun.
 I saw the sold out Broadway show - the Book of Mormon.    I laughed so hard, sang along with the tunes and thoroughly enjoyed it.  

He was calling to me in the Village

Enjoying his NYC adventure

Man camping in a parking spot - pinecones, tree, sleeping bag

Sitting at outdoor cafe for some wine

Finally a walk on the High Line over the Meatpacking district - old elevated railway tracks. Now a park above the streets.

Pirates on the subway. Must have come up from Tampa

Art in the Meat Packing neighborhood outside the Standard Hotel

Menu for bubble tea/jelly tea shop....don't ask!