Wrapping up NYC

Highlights to remember from the rest of the trip:

Brooklyn Bridge Bootcamp - An hour work out on the Brooklyn Bridge: running, sprinting, and lunging from the Manhattan side to Brooklyn and back. Ran past Spike Lee shooting a film.

Aurora - best crab meat pasta I've ever had.

Sangria and live jazz on Avenue C.

Spending hours on end getting lost in the Metropolitan.

8:00AM Yoga, 9:00AM Cardio, and 10:00AM Tai Chi in the center of Union Square.

Lunch with Sindhya in Flushing.

Dancing at Rooftop on Rivington.

12 course tasting menu from WD-50.

Queens water taxi.

$10 brunch from Fiddlesticks with a Kir Royale mimosa.

Free Bike Fridays at Governor's Island

NYC: Spa Castle

[One] Brunch at Clinton Street Baking Co. Voted the BEST BRUNCH by Time Out New York in 2007, and BEST PANCAKES by New York Magazine in 2008, we had a not-so-surprising wait of 45 minutes - 1 hour at 2:30PM (on a Monday!!). To pass the time, we strolled around the area a bit, popping in to expensive ass boutiques where I can only pretend to afford the lint on their floor, and lounging on a bench in a children's playground park. The park soon proved to be a war zone because I had about 3 near death encounters with a stray football during the kid's "friendly", non-regulated playtime.

Brunch was fresh and light this time. Chicken sandwich, veggie sandwich, and Thailan's enormous biscuitpalooza. Had possibly the best homemade potato chips in my life - thick, not too salty, and a little greasy, just the way I like it. While waiting for our food, I saw a tiny Asian girl eating alone next to us, with a pile of pancakes in front of her. What is it about pancakes and waffles that are appetizing to people? I feel like they expand in my stomach, 2 bites and I'm full. If you can finish a whole plate, kudos to you.




[Two] Spa Castle. Took the train all the way to Flushing and ran from the stop to the parking lot where a van shuttles people for free to Spa Castle. After Thailan's initial description of the place (a multi-level spa with Korean and European influences), I had no idea what to expect. All I knew was that they had a flat rate of $35 per person to enjoy all of the amenities in the 100,000 sq. feet building.


1. Changing on the Lobby Floor: The lobby floor is the only floor that is divided into sexes, male and female. After paying the entrance fee, I was given a watch that had a number on it, corresponding to my locker. As soon as you enter the women's side, shoes must be taken off and stowed away (all you do is hold your watch in front of the electronically operated locker, and it clicks open... pretty neat). The women at the counter then hand you a pink/peach Spa Castle outfit to change into, and it's on to the next row of lockers to put away your clothes and belongings. My eyes were fixed on the numbers, barely taking in the surroundings, but when I found my Locker #2505 and my tunnel vision was returned to normal, I was taken aback by the stark naked woman standing right next to it. Stark. Naked. Though I'm used to the nudity somewhat because of working in the hospital, it was still surprising. I quickly averted my gaze (after rudely staring for about 10 seconds), and found that the majority of people walking around were stark naked too. I rushed to the bathroom stalls to change (like a wuss) and met back up with Thailan. She pointed out the "Healing Room/Spa" which reminded me a little bit of the Department of Mysteries from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (the ceilings and floors were tiled in all black marble). Aptly nicknamed by me and Thailan as the "Naked Pool", no clothes were allowed in the room that held several spas of varying temperatures, showers, and bathing vanities. Maybe later I would brave the nakedness.

2. Second Floor Outdoor Bade Pool -
Two large spas are compartmentalized into several different sections which are outfitted with jets aimed at various parts of the body. Said to "combine the traditional benefits of hot water immersion and Asian acupressure" the sections each "serve a unique purpose to relieve tension in all parts of the body through the innovative aqua-jets". There are jets aimed at the soles of your feet, hard-hitting jets aimed to massage the muscles in your neck and shoulders, jets soothing your walking muscles in your leg and lower back,
a waterfall that uses pressure to treat tension in your upper body, etc. A bar nearby serves fresh juice and cocktails, and a neighboring Hinoki bath built in natural pine wood provides a warm jacuzzi alternative to the pools. Definitely what I needed after trekking my way through the streets of NYC - my quads were thankful for the star treatment.

3. First Floor - Sauna Valley. The first floor is a multi-purpose level, outfitted with a hardwood floor section designated for sleeping, a "relax lounge" of comfy recliners and individual tv stations, a Food Court complete with chairs and tables, and 7 differently themed saunas off to the side. The seven saunas: 1) L.E.D. sauna room that uses color therapy to improve emotional and psychological health, 2) Gold sauna room which comforts sore limbs, 3) Mineral Salt sauna room that reduces aging, 4) Far Infrared Ray sauna room that reduces fatigue, 5) Iceland sauna room for tightning pores and rejuvenation, 6) Jade sauna room to generally heal the body, and 7) Loess Soil sauna room which provides a place of meditation. This last sauna was my favorite (189 degrees F!), and was most often the quietest. I spread-eagled on the floor, with my head resting on a wooden block, waiting for the sweat to pour. Granted, the heat was suffocating, making it feel like someone was smothering me with a pillow, so I found it easier to take slow breaths through my mouth. I was uneasy and strangely tense at first, fearing that some annoying chit-chatter would break the silence, but after 3 minutes of God-given quiet, I relaxed and let all my weight bear into the mat beneath me.

4. Shaved Ice Dessert



5. Braving the NAKED POOL!!!! I did it. It's just something you have to commit to, all-or-nothing. While yo-yo-ing the idea in my head by my locker, I pushed through the initial embarrassment in the one decisive, and liberating moment that I shed my clothes. Suddenly, I became that stark naked woman I had encountered earlier that day, because now, newcomers to Spa Castle were entering the room, and the nudity issue was still novel and shocking to them. Knowing that I represented boldness to these women was oddly empowering, and all feeling of exposure and vulnerability was erased as I walked smartly into the Naked Pool arena.

Coming to terms with the fact that everyone else in the Naked Pool was just as exposed and insecure as I was, I was comforted in knowing that we were all on the same level. No one would be staring at anyone else - this was not a place of judgment, thank God! The absence of men provided the neutralizing factor. I went from pool to pool, relaxing in the hot bath, and making the brave dip into the cold bath at an icy 64 degrees F. I jumped out of the chilled bath with a stifled shriek and headed to one of the showers that were located in the open along the margins of the room.

Five hours at Spa Castle made the $35 well worth it.

[Three] Frozen Yogurt at Milk Bar, 1/4 of David Chang's Momofuku empire. Billy and Thailan both got a pork bun for a snack, and we all sampled their famed Cereal Milk frozen yogurt. Like Thailan says, "schnozzberries taste like schnozzberries and Cereal Milk tastes like Cereal Milk!"

[Four] St. Marks for Japense tapas at Kenka. With Sapporo's at only $1.50, Kenka is loud, kitschy, and full of red-faced, slightly drunk patrons. At first glance, I mistook the menu for a manga, expecting to see words like "BAM!" and "KAPOW!". Instead, it extensively details their enormous drink and tapas list complete with a "bull penis" gimmick. The crackly, post-war era music in the background sounds like it is playing from an old phonograph in the corner. Though the place couldn't be any more campy, the food hit the spot, and we had a great time.


Butter fried rice with egg yolk, eggplant, toro sashimi, edamame, grilled udon noodles, satayed beef, 4 pints of Sapporo, and 2 glasses of plum wine (which I am now obsessed with).

At the end of the meal, the check
comes out with a medicine cup
filled with pink sugar, one for each guest.
Confused at first, we asked what they were for,
and found out that they were ours to
keep to custom-make our own
cotton candy with their cotton candy
machine located out front.

Thailan making her own cotton candy.

Some rando who climbed down the ladder (pictured)
and striked up a conversation with Billy and Thailan.
He lives in the loft atop Kenka, and claims he's never
eaten there before. I call B.S.!

[Five] Crepes from the cute guy near Astor Place. Cleanest vendor I've seen. An even $5 for any crepe, plus an additional free water bottle. Niiiiice!



[Six] Washington Square Arch from my favorite movie, When Harry Met Sally. I had to.

HOME!

{this post was written after returning home from the trip}

NYC: ALL THINGS FOOD

Today, Thailan took advantage of it being a rainy Sunday and trekked Billy and I all over NYC to sample all of her favorite foods at her favorite places. There was a lot of eating. A lot of "Oh my God, THIS IS SO $&*@# GOOD!". A lot of food-munching/slurping/shoveling onomatopoeia. A lot of good times, in general.

[Round One] Soup Dumplings at some Shanghai restaurant I can't remember the name of on Mott in Chinatown. The three of us pushed through the crowds and puddles with our umbrellas raised up overhead to get to these. I just remember looking down at the ground or at eye-level to make sure I didn't fall into one of those side cellar doors, or poke someone out in the eye with my umbrella spokes. (Obviously, I'm not as good as Billy is because you can see all the soup on my plate that I failed to slurp up during the initial bites. :( They seriously burned off the top layer of my papillae.)

[Round Two] Amaretti Cookies from Little Italy. Dubbed "magical cookies" by Thailan and her friends, these cookies are deceptively chewy.


[Break] Sixth Avenue Street Festival. I bought a purse for myself (for the first time ever) for $28, and a pair of earrings for a bargain $5. Billy and Thailan enjoyed smoothies and corn. Stopped by the Time & Life Building to visit the People Books section so Billy could pick up some reads for subway traveling.

[Round Three] DOSAAAAAS at Tiffin Wallah on 28th St. MY FAVORITE.

"Tiffin is an old English word for a light lunch, and also the name of the multi-compartment metal lunch box that carries it. Tiffin Wallahs originated over a century ago when the many Indians working for British companies disliked the food served at work. Tiffin service was created to bring home cooking to the workplace."

Masala Dosa. Breaded caulliflower tiffin. Take be back. Now.

It was my first time coming up against a dosa. A Southern Indian delicacy, a dosa is most comparable to a crepe though it has a crispier accent to it. Our masala dosa was filled with a mix of potatoes and vegetables, and was accompanied by a coconut curry and some sort of spicy chutney. As the plate was placed on our table, Thailan announced it had an early expiration date, and that the dosa was enjoyed best when it was fresh. This spurred some sort of frenzy, because the three of us soon began to attack the dosa with a newfound fury. The warm filling coupled with the novel texture of the casing made this meal experience one to remember.

[Round Four] Dessert at DOMA Cafe and Gallery (7th Ave and Perry St.). I got the Doma Refresher at a solid $2.25 and watched the girl at the bar pour out Doma's homemade concoction of fresh pineapple and cranberry juice out of a pitcher from the fridge. Billy got fresh lemonade. We split the crepe (abounding with granola, strawberries, bananas, etc.)

2 Refreshers, 1 Lemonade, and me recording the day's events.

Crepe from heaven.

Formerly known as Crepe from heaven.

[Round Five] Dinner at Risotterria. A tight little joint near Doma, the place seats only 6-7 tables, and the majority of those are two-tops. They serve gluten-free pizza and risotto. We got the porcini, sweet corn, and white truffle risotto; and the mozarella, asparagus, and white truffle oil gluten-free pizza. Billy took advantage of their $15 deal for a bottle of red wine.

Something disturbing: See the two girls in the pictures above? They're sitting at two different tables, one in a white shirt, and one in a red shirt with the headband. Red Shirt got up with her friend to smoke outside in the middle of their dinner, leaving their half-eaten pizza on the table. As soon as they leave the door, White Shirt GETS UP AND GRABS said half-eaten pizza and PUTS IT ON HER PLATE, only to return it back to its home because "ew! it has cheese on it!". Seriously?!? White Shirt got approached by the waitress, and later asked her dining partner, "Are you embarassed by me?". White Shirt's friend only laughs, but I know she's secretly dying on the inside.

[Round Six] Gelato from a place down the street, and some R&R in a park nearby.

HOME!

[this post was written after returning home from the trip]

NYC: PS1, comedy

[One] Lunch at Friedman's in Chelsea Market (9th Ave, between 16th & 17th). Had a late start to the day (didn't get downtown until about 2:30 PM), but we made up for lost time. Love the lay-out of Chelsea Market (which is housed underneath industrial giants such as Food Network, Google, etc) -- it's concrete floors, steel accents, and wooden beams provide a strong grounding for the foodie-esque eateries which call it home.

What we had for lunch:


Me: Nova Benny - smoked salmon & eggs benedict on a potato cake

B: Shrimp and Grits


T: Alaskan brunch ( I can't even remember to begin what was in this, but it was damn good)

[Two] Walking around Chelsea Market.

Icecream at Ronnybrook Farms. All their products are organic and they sell everything from homemade icecream to drinkable yogurt, and their pasteruized milk bottles which have NY Times singing their praises. Hate to expose my dork-ness, but I thought of Lon Lon ranch from Zelda! :)

Perusing the counter at Eleni's. "Splurged" and bought an enormous chocolate chunk cookie.



Checked out the iced version of the branzino I had for lunch at Lure the previous day at The Lobster Place. Granted, the fish look a lot fresher at Cross Street Market in Baltimore, but I'd definitely consider doing my Sunday groceries here.

[Three] Walked through the Meat-Packing District en route to the Highline. Caught a couple of misfits rockin' out on the guitar and drums... the Cookie Monster and three pink furry gorillas? WHAT?! Yes. Look.


[Four] The Highline. FREE!! And highly recommended. "The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long elevated, steel structure built in the 1930s to carry freight trains. It currently runs from Gansevoort Street, in the Meatpacking District, through the West Chelsea gallery neighborhood, ending at 34th Street, next to the Jacob Javits Convention Center. The last train ran on it in 1980." (the website). For the past couple of years, the Friends of the HighLine have worked to convert this structure into a park and greenery overpass. I walked past a couple who had just gotten engaged. It's beautiful. There are benches to tan, a sort of fish bowl arena where you can watch the streets below, vendors with shaved ice, and plenty of railings to lean over to catch the breeze.


[Five] The Warm-Up at P.S.1!!!! Probably the best part of the day. P.S.1 is a Contemporary Art Center in Queens that is used more for "an exhibition space than a collecting institution". It's an affiliate of the MoMA, and is fucking amazing. During the summer, P.S.1 throws an all-out dance party where the masses convene to check out the exhibits, drink beer, and rave to the house DJ all from 2PM - 9PM, hence the name of the event, "The Warm-Up". Voted #10 of the 20 Hottest Beach Parties in the world by The Observer (UK), the admission is only $10! All ages are welcome, they only check ID if you are planning to drink. This is an experience that must be repeated.

Leandro Erlich: Swimming Pool.
There's only about 3 inches of water until it hits glass.
You can either look from above...

...Or take the stairs down to look up from underneath.

P.S.1 Warm-up Madness

House DJ: Electronic, Techno, hints of Reggae

[Six] Improv Comedy Show at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. $10

[Seven] Arepas for dinner at Caracas. Split the La Popular with Greg which consists of 3 different arepas, which are similar to gorditas (chicken&avocado, steak&plaintains, veggie&black bean). Ceviche for appetizer, and B & T enjoyed fresh passionfruit and mango juece.


[Eight] Player's in K-town near Herald Square for some drinking, conversation, and smuggled in Pinkberry.

[Nine] Strolled from 34th st. to Columbus Circle with Greg at 3 AM, stopping by a bakery for a chocolate chip cookie and some water.

[Ten] Home! After waiting for the D train for an HOUR.


[this post was written after returning home from the trip]