When I got to St Patrick’s Cathedral – the highlight of Fifth Avenue’s skyline – tonight, I was disappointed to see the place was filled with scaffolding. Ugh. How was I supposed to see this famous 19th century church in all its glory? But instead of whining, I realized that this was an entirely new …
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December 23, 2013
…saw England’s tallest Christmas tree (lit!)
(First of all – sorry that my blogs have been so late this week! I had no power over Christmas thanks to a big storm in the UK. Bear with me and I’ll pop up the last week’s posts now…) When I was home in Sussex last month, Mummy Warren and I toured Wakehurst Place …
Read MoreDecember 21, 2013
…took the East Village Mosaic Trail
I’ve lived in the East Village for nine months now and I’ve obviously not been paying attention. Today I was looking for new things to check out nearby and came across the Mosaic Trail – quirky mosaicked lampposts just a stone’s throw from my front door. Even though I pass the lampposts every single day …
Read MoreDecember 17, 2013
…met Santa at Macy’s
I’ve seen Santa a few times over the past week but today I decided to visit him in one of his most famous spots – Macy’s on 34th Street. Rachel and I prepared our wish lists and angelic faces before heading to Santaland on the 8th floor of Macy’s, the world’s largest department store. All …
Read MoreDecember 16, 2013
…visited St Bart’s Church (and saw St Nick)
I’d been looking forward to some carolling on the steps of St Bart’s church in Midtown with Ryan and Helen tonight so we scooted up there straight after work. Unfortunately, either we scooted too slow or the singers were too fast because when we arrived, the choir had disbanded and were munching on festive biscuits …
Read MoreDecember 14, 2013
…went to a Christmas carol event – for dogs
You know what? I’ve been seriously selfish this holiday season. The whole time I’ve been thinking about how best to get myself in the Christmas spirit, and I’ve failed to make sure Georgia gets the same treatment. Georgia is Ryan’s eight-year-old Shepherd-mix – and she is such a beauty. I’m sure Ryan is well aware …
Read MoreDecember 12, 2013
…visited the Christmas window displays
While New York lacks some of my favorite Christmas traditions, it also has many of its own. Tonight I went to check out department store holiday window displays and, correct me if I’m wrong, but I’ve never seen such an elaborate or thoughtful equivalent over in the UK. The windows are so cute, creative and …
Read MoreDecember 9, 2013
…saw the Rockefeller Christmas Tree
Tonight I headed to the city’s most iconic Christmas landmark: The Rockefeller Christmas Tree. Ever since 1933, the 100-ft tree has lit up the base of the Rock in Midtown and now it towers over flitting ice skaters and swarms of aimless tourists. Its lights were switched on last week and today was my first …
Read MoreDecember 5, 2013
…learned a lot at the Museum of Chinese in America
Now this is how you do a museum. After last night’s struggle at the Center for Jewish History, I was keen to get back on the horse. Thankfully there are a few Thursday late-night museum openings, so I headed to one right by my SoHo office – the Museum of Chinese in America, or MOCA. And – wow. …
Read MoreDecember 4, 2013
…was overwhelmed at the Center for Jewish History
You know me, I love a good museum. But today I went to one that was far, far over my head. Ryan and I nipped up to West 16th Street to the Center for Jewish History – an appropriate choice, I thought, as Hanukkah is reaching its end. And the building is a nice looking …
Read MoreNovember 30, 2013
…was baffled by the Broken Kilometer
Remember when I saw that bizarre room filled with nothing but dirt a few months ago? Well, I recently discovered there was another permanent art installation right by my office by the same people, artist Walter De Maria and the Dia Art Foundation. So I thought I’d pop by. At lunch time, I danced my …
Read MoreNovember 28, 2013
…saw the world’s largest Menorah
Thanksgiving has fallen very late this year which means that, for the first time since 1888, it’s also overlapped with the start of Hanukkah (giving way to a new holiday: Thanksgivukkah.) It’s such a rare occurrence that it’s supposedly not going to happen again for another 79,043 years – so I thought I should do …
Read MoreNovember 27, 2013
…visited the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons
Thanksgiving may be America’s most beloved tradition, but following close behind is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which bobs its way through the city each year before everyone settles down to turkey and sprouts. I’ll be in the office for Thanksgiving but I didn’t want to miss out entirely – so tonight I headed to …
Read MoreNovember 26, 2013
…saw Grand Central’s ‘dark patch’
After a fantastic trip to England and Morocco this weekend, today I headed back to New York. Whenever I’m back home in the U.K., it never feels long enough and I have to tear myself away. But the minute I land and see that skyline, I realize exactly why I came back. It was late …
Read MoreNovember 24, 2013
…explored a 1,000-year-old church
I’ve loved some of New York’s historical offerings this year, from the Morgan Library to the Frick Collection. But while I’ve tried not to be a history snob, I also know they’re relatively young compared to what’s here in the U.K., so today I got a fix of something a little older – a 1,000-year-old …
Read MoreNovember 21, 2013
…went to 10 Downing Street
I’m heading to the UK tonight, so I decided to start my British-themed activities right here in New York – with a trip to 10 Downing Street. As you know, in London, 10 Downing Street is an immaculate building in Westminster where the Prime Minister lives. While I’ve never been inside, I used to visit …
Read MoreNovember 20, 2013
…visited the Transit Museum’s holiday train show
Tonight I revisited Grand Central station – and the Christmas spirit – as I went to see the new model train display housed in the mini Transit Museum Annex. What seemed like a small-ish display when I first entered the store in fact took ages to look around because it was brimming with fantastic details. Electric trains …
Read MoreNovember 18, 2013
…took a walk at the Irish Hunger Memorial
Down in the Financial District, there’s a bit of an anomaly between the office blocks, neon lights and suits scuttling home: a large sloped patch of grass dotted with rocks and shrubs. This is the Irish Hunger Memorial – a half-acre site at the end of Vesey Street dedicated to the memory of the Great …
Read MoreNovember 18, 2013
…visited President Teddy Roosevelt’s house
Today I headed out to Long Island for an early Thanksgiving celebration with Ryan and, before settling down to mashed potatoes and delicious gingerbread cookies, we decided to stop off at one of its many historical sites. Battling the drizzle, we stepped out at President Teddy Roosevelt’s former home at Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay. …
Read MoreNovember 15, 2013
…visited a Buddhist temple
One of the busiest, noisiest spots in the city has to be the Manhattan side of the Manhattan Bridge, where there are queues of traffic and plumes of delicious pollution. But bizarrely, it’s also the location of one of NYC’s serenest places: a Chinese Buddhist temple. The temple sits on the corner of Bowery and Canal Streets and …
Read MoreNovember 13, 2013
…saw Holiday Under the Stars
It’s not too early to start Christmas shopping, is it? If you fancy hitting the stores at the Times Warner Center at Columbus Circle, you’ll be in for an extra festive treat: Holiday Under the Stars. Suspended in the atrium of the shopping centre are 14 LED stars of varying sizes. From 5pm each night, …
Read MoreNovember 9, 2013
…took Ryan Gosling on the Staten Island Ferry
Today I went on a long-overdue date with Ryan. No, not that one. Ryan Gosling, of course. New York is crammed with celebrities – I’ve spotted Meg Ryan drinking a cuppa, Jennifer Aniston browsing labels and Kelly Ripa heading home after the gym – so occasionally you’re going to be introduced to a recognizable face. …
Read MoreNovember 8, 2013
…visited the Morgan Library
All year I’ve struggled with museum opening times. There are hundreds of museums and galleries across the city, but most close by 5 or 6pm, shutting us workers out. Thankfully I’ve begun to realize that they don’t ignore us entirely, because a handful throw open their doors late one night a week – and entry …
Read MoreNovember 6, 2013
…checked out the ‘Heroes’ mural
This afternoon, kids and community members put the final dabs of paint on a massive 3D mural honouring the city’s 9/11 heroes on the Lower East Side. I had hoped to make the ribbon cutting ceremony, but unfortunately I couldn’t escape work in time. But not to worry because the mural was still waiting for me when I finally got …
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