Tuesday, May 19, 2009
[nyc-oh-nine] day three
Day three proceeds with how day two ended.
And, we were off to see (walk) the city.
First stop: Canal St. so I could buy a Fendi bag with a bad attitude. Jk. I wanted a hat - like my fake kangol or fangol, if you will. Didn't find any. But they had a bunch of.. newsboy type hats and found one quickly and only haggled for a second for them to drop the price from $12 to $10.
Then, we ventured westward to get some vegan dim sum at Buddha Bodai. We ordered... veggie Sesame Chicken, veggie siu mai, veggie pork buns, some chinese doughnut thing, eggplant with tofu, and taro. It was a whole mess of food. And, again, was pretty good. And it was pretty cheap - 2.25 - 2.75 for each dim sum, except the sesame chicken.
Stuffed and having NO ROOM for more food, we headed northeastward to Chinatown Ice Cream Factory where the sample spoons of lychee (was good but nothing spectacular) and black sesame (forced the stomach to adjust to fit in another friend). I ordered the taro and spent the next few minutes and blocks working the ice cream scoop to a proper size so that it wouldn't all drip onto my hand or just fall off if held at weird angle. The ice cream was sorta expensive - but where do you find black sesame ice cream? The was really really good. The taro was good also, but not really memorable. Though I did enjoy immensely.
With tons of food in the bellies, we ventured southward to the Brooklyn Bridge. We spent a good amount of time walking on the bridge and taking photos of the bridge, the skyline, the rust, the wires, the rust, (I took enjoyment in the rust, i guess), of brooklyn, of water, of people in our shots, of each other, of Europeans. Along the way there was some model shoot on the bridge. For what? I don't know. It could've been hair product. Could've been lipstick. It could've been for cereal, but I really don't know.
We got to Brooklyn - and I was sorta grossed out by the huge buildings decorating the foot of the bridge: the Watchtower(s). Okay.
We jumped onto an A-train and headed over to 14th and 8th to look for Chelsea Market and Ninth Street Espresso. We got our bearing when we stepped out of the station and still turned the wrong way. But, the detour landed us at a corner where there was some sort of film set - but nothing was happening. Maybe it was lunch hour.
We found ourselves at Chelsea Market, walked around to see all the bakeries, the food network elevator, overpriced cupcakes and cookies, and coffee (also a bit overpriced). We sat outside, again, to catch our bearings, and subsequently headed north on 9th ave. We walked through Chelsea on our way to the Flat Iron building on 5th and 23rd. I've actually never been to the Flat Iron building - just rode by it once on the way to a bar. We spent a few minutes taking pictures there of the building, of cabs, of each other, and many times using our favorite "ACCENT" setting on our cameras.
We decided to head up to 34th and 9th to see where we would catch the Bolt Bus to Boston the next day. And, before we got too far (the end of the block), we saw Shake Shack, saw the line, saw a burger wiz buy us - and felt compelled to not leave without trying it. We were told to try the double stack - the one with a burger patty and a patty of portobello mushroom stuffed with cheese. Oh. Damn. We split one. And we're going to split another.. or maybe two before we leave.
And, as an added treat - for me I guess - and the Filipinos on facebook - while in line, I heard some girl say something to a friend, gave him an embrace, and said, "this is my friend Paolo". And when I looked, for that brief glance, I knew I recognized the face and the name made sense. But before I made a full assumption, I looked up his name on my internets connected phone - and YES - it was confirmed. I saw Paolo Montalban - of half-Filipino and Cinderella with brandy fame.
After the psuedo-celebrity sighting and not-at-all-psuedo badass burger eating, we continued North to the 34th and 9th - but not before I bought a fresh cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee. I've bought a bag of it before and wasn't all that impressed. Maybe drinking it after the burger didn't make sense. Whatever case.. Dunkin Donuts coffee: I don't get it.
We saw our bus stop and fought through increased foot traffic and eventually found ourselves in Central Park. We walked on the West side of the park and past the lake, onto some bridge, and over the middle portion of the park. I was looking for the Promenade, aka Poet's Walk, and thought of just walking east. Didn't work. Didn't find it. Before all that getting lost sorta stuff, we watched a bunch of elementary school kids learning to play baseball. It was cute. And gross that it was cute. I'm anti-child, remember? I also took some time to take picture of the big rocks at the park as an homage to the lessons I learned about geology on History Channel's How the Earth was Made show. I took pictures of the stryations (created by a glacier). I also chased around a robin for a few minutes, but it wouldn't cooperate.
Eventually, we were running out of time and getting tired so we headed back to the hotel to pack our stuff for Boston and take all of our leftover stuff to Huong's friend's place where we'll be staying after we get back from Boston. After dropping off our stuff, we headed south on 1st ave. On the way, we passed by some "mexican" restaurant and saw tequila on their sign. We headed to S'mac to try some specialty mac n cheese. We ordered the Parisienne: Brie, fig, rosemary, and maybe some other spices. It was good - heavy as you'd expect. If you like Mac n Cheese, you'd probably enjoy it. I'd go back and try one or two of the other recipes. Okay, i'd probably try a bunch of them. But you can order the smallest size and split with someone and still feel like it was enough.
Onward we went - south towards the Lower East Side. We were heading towards Sugar Sweet Sunshine bakery to try out some famous cupcakes. Before we got there though, we stopped into a bar, and followed through on a plan to take a tequila shot for our friend Maria. It was honestly a much better experience than the last shot I took of tequila - at Maria's place, but I still hate tequila.
Sugar Sweet Sunshine had a wide array of cupcakes: our two suggested choices were the Black and White (chocolate and white frosting) and the Red Velvet. So, we ordered the Pistachio. $1.50. "A dollar fifty's not bad at all. Other places charged 3.50 for a single cupcake. The pistachio.. it's good, like homemade cupcakes, " says Huong. With a hint of apprehension. I think she was disappointed. Disappointment happens when other people's tastes get you excited. "I think we'll have to try Magnolia - just to try it."
After the cupcake, we jumped on the brown line to West 4th to grab a slice of cheese pizza at Joe's Pizza (as seen on Spider-man... as seen on a sign on their wall). I pured on some garlic powder, folded it, and chomped away. Huong, who said she wasn't ready for Joe's had many bites and said it was "good pizza" and we'd have to go back. Then, before leaving the west village, stopped at Grey Dog (where I hung out once on a rain-dump day with Trina waaay back when.) I ordered a Lobster Ale, she ordered a soy chai, and she scoped the joint for cute boys or "cute skinnies". Sadly, there were none.
Then, the train. Then, the stop. Then, the hotel. Then, the internet. Then, the sleep. Then.. the boston.
[nyc-oh-nine] day two
Day two started off where day one ended: on the floor of Carlo's room. But the ceiling fan was off. It was a little chillier outside anyway.
Before heading out to Manhattan, we had breakfast with Lola: eggs, corned beef, fried rice, and all the food from the night before and some pasta that dame out of nowhere it seemed. A table full of food. It's never a surprise: moreso a humorous and sometimes endearing reminder where he gets his overzealousness - with food, with caring, and with pleasing.
We get dropped off at Kew Gardens/Union Turnpike to take the E or F out of Queens and into Manhattan. The train ride was short - and now makes me remember how long that damn bus ride is from Glen Oaks to Union Turnpike train station. We transfer at Lexington to catch the 6 down to Wall Street and we made pretty good time to check-in just a few minutes before "check-in" time at 3pm. The hotel was pretty nice - solid bargain for what we had to pay: clean, close to various subway lines, clean, free purified water in the hallway, and clean.
We drop off our stuff and head to the Lower East Side to meet up with Huong's friends at a bookstore. We had a lot of time so we headed over to the Village, first. We got out at Union Square, 14th St. and walked southwest. We meandered onto Broadway and took a right at Waverly as we crossed NYU and Washington Square Park and found Gray's Papaya. First Manhattan psuedo-meal was there. We split a Recession special - 2 frankfurters (with everything) and a juice (papaya) before we headed out to the Lower East Side.
We got there a few minutes early so we camped out for a few at Epstein's bar. I knocked down some Hefe while Huong sipped her Stella Artois til it was room temperature. Eventually her friends Candy and Jennifer arrived and we headed West - to the hallway Jennifer calls an apartment and to Lombardi's for some pizza and more beer (Brooklyn Lager!).
After pizza, we walked further west to Atlas Cafe - a joint that serves a wide array of vegetarian and vegan food to taste some vegan desserts: chocolate cake, strawberry/chocolate cake, and pumpkin cupcake. All pretty damn tasty.
We parted ways after dessert, but not before we left with a long, long, and pretty long list of food suggestions that littered the Lower East Side - some having multiple referrals by multiple people.
When we got out of the Wall St. station, Huong and I decided to walk down to Battery Park in the dark. I remember hearing about the danger at battery park when I was weeee younger. Now, it's much more illuminated and there's some fancypants restaurant next to the Staten Island Ferry building that made it safe to partake in harbor picture taking.
Then, hotel. Then, sleep.
[nyc-oh-nine] day one
Written while using wifi on a Bolt Bus bound for Boston. Day 3.
DAY ONE:
It's been a while since I've traveled to the NYC with intentions of staying for a while. Last year, I was supposed to go on my first baseball trip ever to watch the Mets, the Yankees, and the Phillies. Never happened. Got sick - 103 degree sick - and the whole trip and a bunch of money had to be scrapped.
Before that, there was the weekend quick-trip, which was fun, but all too short. It was the summer of 2007 and Nikki had only a few months left in Albany, Lisa was in Manhattan for a month, and Jen Jen was having her 16th birthday party. That weekend was a whirlwind - and always fun - but, like I said, all too short. I really only had 1 half day and one night in Manhattan. Still made it out to some regular jaunts: Gray's Papaya, Canal St., the Lower East Side to party, Washington Square Park, and it was also the first time I heard of and tasted THE Halal cart.
Okay, so enough of the recapping of old trips.
This NY trip is also different because it's the first time I'm traveling with someone.
Day One starts at home. Union City. And my DVR. And bike. Knowing that I'm planning to stuff myself with grease and salt and cholesterol annd all the stuff that makes anything taste good while eating your body up inside, I made sure to jump on the bike to deal with my guilt.. I mean burn some calories and be heart-fit.
Huong comes by early to pick me up but before we go we catch the season finale of BONES like we scheduled earlier in the week. I'll talk about bones on Livin' Proof.
We leave and head towards San Jose to get some odds and ends done down there including her putting her yoga mat in the washer, me getting some coffee, and we getting some food for the plane. Then we were off - to the airport, to the gate, to the plane, and to New York.
Since last summer, maybe, I picked up and committed to finishing the last half of The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. 2-5 pages at a time, I've slowly worked my way through and thoroughly enjoyed the final part. I had 30 pages left to go before leaving California and I hoped to get it done in San Jose so I wouldn't have to pack it and carry it during the trip. Didn't happen, although I did finish it before we officially left the gate in the plane. More on that later.
We arrive in NY after a.. technically.. 9 hour flight (with time change) and jump into Carlo's GTI on the way home to Queens for a quick overnight stop before we run off to Manhattan. Like always, Queens was about catching up with family - especially the cousins, Tita Ems, and Lola. Like always, there was a lot of food - too much food. Like always, it was chinese food.
The night was nicely warm in Carlo's room with the ceiling fan going and the sound of it playing the nostalgic soundtrack of my past trips.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Sunny Saturdays Return!
Finally - a beautiful Saturday with a mostly clean slate on the calendar. Unfortunately, the only parts of the calendar that were set were somber (a funeral and a visit at the hospital). Maybe it was fitting, since life doesn't just happen - and life is best lived with reflection and with simple indulgences of happiness.
So. With that.. it was a beautiful Saturday.
Saturday lunch happened at Flourishing Garden for Dim Sum. Not exactly sure of everything we ordered, but it was a lot - and it was pretty damn good. We got in right before 12 so we were able to beat any lunchtime rush.
After dim sum, we visited my uncle at the hospital. He's been in and out of the hospital since December and it was my first time to visit. It was humbling. It was sobering. I was caught off guard with his condition. Just a couple of days since his surgery - he was still affected by anesthesia. He was weak. He wasn't speaking as clearly. He was restless. And I talked to my aunt as she focused on her husband's frailty as she attempted to stay strong. I couldn't imagine what she's thinking.
We left the hospital towards no particular destination. She wanted water. I wanted coffee. We were close to De Anza college, so we took that exit and headed towards the shopping center with Coffee Society. The park across the street was hosting the World Journal Mother's Day Festival or something so the parking lot was full. We found a parking spot next to an opening in the shopping center to cut through the inner part of the shops - it's sort of like a courtyard. While walking to the coffee place, we saw people eating frozen yogurt, so we decided to take a detour.
What a great detour. I'm no fro-yo aficionado, but since it was a warm day, I didn't mind getting something sweet and cold. The fruit-named fro-yo joint this time around was The Orange Tree. What surprised me was the flavor of their TARO yogurt. It tasted a lot like the Ube ice cream at Mitchell's in San Francisco. So I jumped all over it. I also got some of the lychee yogurt. She got the same plus some blueberry yogurt that tasted pretty damn good also. Some yogurt places have yogurt with a hint of said flavor. This time around, the flavors were robust. I threw in some ground graham cracker, green apple jelly, lychee jelly, strawberries, almonds, and some walnuts. MMM. Damn. Good. DAMN GOOD DETOUR. It was nice sitting in the courtyard just chillin' with some sun and some shade and sharing some dope ass froyo.
After we stomped through the froyo, we proceeded north on 280. Not having anywhere else to specifically go, we jumped onto the windy ass 84 and headed to Pescadero. I've been wanting to explore the block-and-a-half of the small town since I drove through it on my way to a meeting for work. When we finally got to Pescadero - after the loooong and wiiiinding road - we parked on Stage Rd. and walked said half block. The first Pescadero main-highlight we tried out was the gas station slash Taqueria called Los Amigos and had two carne asada tacos. Pretty good. The carne asada was chopped into small pieces and had some pieces fried so crispy that they were carnitas-like. There was a habanero sauce on the table that I hadn't tried yet called.. I think.. El Yucatero. I put a couple of drops on the first taco and it seemed fine. Not sure what happened with the second taco and if I happened to bite into the motherload of drops but for a few minutes I was sort of TKO'd from the spice to the point that I was tearing. It was good, but it was burning the back of my throat that chips made it worse. It was pretty funny. I'm not all big and bad with spice, but I've never been put to tears. Now I know what it feels like. Good stop.
We mosied over 1 mile to Harley Farms' Goat Farm. It's quite renowned for its great goat cheese. I don't really like goat cheese all that much, but it was interesting to be there. There was some brown sheep. I saw the milking barn. And there were a whole mob of hungry goats congregating towards the barn like they knew it was time to come home. I tried some goat cheese spread that was good but reminded me that I wasn't a big fan of the goat cheese. I also put on some goat milk lotion. I never knew there was such a thing.
After Pescadero, we headed north on Highway 1 and stopped at Pomponio State Beach. The waves were hitting hard. The water was hella cold. And it was enclosed by two huge cliffs that showed layers of generations in rocks. Geology rocks. Yup.
After a lap around the beach taking pictures, trying to be artsy, and me being geologically nerdy - we headed up north to Half Moon Bay. The sun was still out - but we had about 3 1/2 hours left of sunlight as we figured out from a method I learned on TV. We walked around downtown Half Moon Bay for a few minutes and were about to head over the hill before I remembered about Crab Bread. With the beauty of smartphones - we found that the said Crab Bread was available just behind us.
We went to Flying Fish Grill right on Main St. and 92 - next to the fish market and the produce market. We ordered the Cheesy-Crabby Bread, the calamari dinner with grilled vegetables and sweet potato fries. Once again. MMMM. As if it wasn't much of a real epiphany, we agreed: "we've eaten some good ass food today."
We capped off the days proceedings with a quick stop at a fruit stand on 92 and Trader Joe's in San Mateo. Purchases: a crate of strawberries, cherries, two apple pears, grapefruits, and gala apples.
We brought some strawberries to the Fremont Quintanas and headed home where some huge oysters were waiting to be shucked.
And the sun went down. And the DVR turned on. And the fruit was eaten. And all that good stuff. Good Saturday.
