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 MoreTag / Midtown
…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 More…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 More…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 More…watched Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular
When I met a Rockette at Radio City earlier this year, I promised to return soon for their lauded Christmas Spectacular. Today, with the help of a friendly Groupon, I beat the holiday crowd and settled down for the show. Apart from high kicks and glitzy costumes, I wasn’t too sure what to expect. And …
Read More…browsed Bauman Rare Books
I managed to slink out of work earlier than normal today so I made a beeline for a place I’ve long been eyeing: Bauman Rare Books in Midtown. I jumped off the E train at 53rd and 5th and walked a couple of blocks to the store before it closed. Bauman Rare Books is exactly …
Read More…ate a Moroccan feast
One cuisine I’ve not had in New York is Moroccan, and as luck would have it, there was a deal going for a place up in Midtown. So Ryan and I headed there to fill our bellies. Midtown is an area where I rarely eat out, so I was interested to see if there was …
Read More…visited the waterfall at Greenacre Park
I wore tights for the first time this week and switched to hot coffees. Autumn appears to be winning. This means I need to cram in as many outdoor new experiences, activities and visits as I can – sharpish. So tonight I took advantage of New York’s great outdoors – by visiting a city center waterfall. After work I …
Read More…square danced in Bryant Park
After work today, I was tired and just wanted to go home. But Ryan and I had made plans to go square dancing for my new thing, so I dragged myself to Bryant Park and screamed, ‘I hate todaysthedayi!‘ when I met him. Thankfully, it turns out that square dancing is the best remedy for …
Read More…met a Rockette
I’m back in the city and in full tourist mode. Today I headed up to Radio City Music Hall in Midtown for a backstage tour – something I’ve been unable to do until now because of its mid-day, weekday hours. The venue was the largest movie theatre in the world when it opened in 1932; it seats more than 6,000 people …
Read More…touched the Berlin Wall
New York is packed so tightly with art and history that sometimes it’s easy to overlook a real winner. Tonight I popped up to Midtown to see one of these giant gems: A section of the Berlin Wall. The fall of the Wall is actually one of my earliest memories. I was only three at …
Read More…rapped in Koreatown
Tonight Rachel, Louise, Ollie and I headed to Koreatown to sing karaoke with some NBC folks we met at the bowling league. We went to Gagopa Karaoke – where I actually went out on my first ever night in the city when I moved here. I’ve done karaoke a fair few times and I usually stick to my …
Read More…watched a free concert in Bryant Park
So far I think I’ve made the most of the city’s best-known parks, from Central to Prospect and Tompkins Square. But one I’ve entirely overlooked is Bryant Park. The reason for this could be because it’s in Midtown. I hate Midtown. The sidewalks are swarming and the heat right now means the whole place reeks of …
Read More…auditioned for The Bachelorette
Guys, I’m single and I’m in New York (which I’m realising is a pretty horrifying place to date). There’s only one thing for it. I need to go on The Bachelorette. Okay, this isn’t very true and I’ve never actually watched an episode. But there were open auditions at ABC’s studios in Midtown tonight, so …
Read More…took part in a bowling league
Tonight I headed up to Frames at Port Authority to take part in a bowling league for media types. With several Mail colleagues, I took on the likes of the BBC, NBC and Nickelodeon on the lanes… and did terribly. I’m definitely somebody that requires some senior bowling tips whenever I hit the lanes. We …
Read More…went to Hooters
I’ve been to the top of the Empire State Building, hollered at a baseball game and eaten my bodyweight in nachos while watching the Super Bowl. But there’s one American tradition that I’d avoided until tonight: Hooters. Elektra and I decided to pay a visit after walking past the chain’s New York spot in Midtown West last …
Read More…watched the sun set over the Jackie O Reservoir
Tonight after work, Meghan, Snejana and I popped across the road to Papatzul to fill up on frozen Margaritas and sopes. When we stumbled out an hour or so later, my belly was full – and I desperately needed to walk it off. I decided to head to Jackie Kennedy Onassis Reservoir – an 106-acre, decommissioned …
Read More…fell in love with Japanese desserts
Today’s torrential rain cancelled a tour I had planned and left me craving some comfort. I decided to head to Minamoto Kitchoan, a Japanese bakery by the Rockefeller Center that I’d spotted on my way to the Easter Parade, and which I’d been saving for a rainy day. The store was ridiculously serene and lined …
Read More…rode a mechanical bull
I’ve drunk far too many frozen Margaritas to make sense at this point. Or maybe it’s concussion – because tonight I rode a mechanical bull. With a group of work friends, I headed to Johnny Utah’s – a grimy Midtown spot famous for its bull – and eventually convinced two of the others, James and …
Read More…lost $1 on a game of ‘two-up’
On Tuesday, I celebrated my homeland with St George’s Day, and today I joined Elektra to recognise hers – Australia. April 25th is Anzac (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day, a day of remembrance for the countries’ troops. I met Elektra at The Australian in Midtown West for a bottle of Aussie beer and a game of ‘two-up’, a …
Read More…went to a play reading
It’s been a while since I went to the theatre, and tonight I witnessed it in a format I never have before: a simple reading. The presentation of Father Unknown by Daniel Reitz was held on a stark, dark stage at The Ensemble Studio Theatre (hurrah for British spelling) on 52nd and 10th Ave.
Read More…detected some lies
You all love my blog, right? Well, now I’ll finally know the truth. Tonight I went to a lie-detecting class hosted by The Nonverbal Group in Midtown. The three-hour workshop whizzed through the basics, but here is some of the most I interesting stuff I learned:
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