Most days started with a quick and cheap bagel with a fried egg ($2.50) from the street vendor kitty-corner from the hotel. After the third day he recognized me and we chatted like I was a regular.
When we first got in, Jeremy and I grabbed a quick slice (spinach for Jeremy, brocolli and tomato for me) from Famiglia's ($3-4 a slice), then hopped over to the Majestic Deli for a Greek honey cookie and a cannoli ($5 for both) plus an espresso ($2). Now, the thing I didn't know about the section of NYC where we stayed (53rd and 7th Ave.) was that every three blocks we found a bakery. No lie. I've never seen so many freaking bakeries in my life. HEAVEN! And this cookie--so tender and sweet, paired with perfect ricotta and chocolate chips in the cannoli... Ugh! To die for!
After a long day of conferencing, Jeremy, our friend Jon and I scoped out the dinner scene. Not cheap, but we eventually settled on Kyma, a Greek restaurant on 8th Avenue. Jeremy and I split the spanakopita, skordalia and baba ganoush appetizers, (about $8 each) while Jon ordered moussaka ($18). Jon's mom is Greek, and he thought it was nearly as good as hers. We liked eveything we had, although we probably could have knocked it down to two appetizers instead of all three. Full and sleepy, we mustered the energy for a few beers ($6.50 each) at The Snug before crashing into bed.
After a long day of conferencing, Jeremy, our friend Jon and I scoped out the dinner scene. Not cheap, but we eventually settled on Kyma, a Greek restaurant on 8th Avenue. Jeremy and I split the spanakopita, skordalia and baba ganoush appetizers, (about $8 each) while Jon ordered moussaka ($18). Jon's mom is Greek, and he thought it was nearly as good as hers. We liked eveything we had, although we probably could have knocked it down to two appetizers instead of all three. Full and sleepy, we mustered the energy for a few beers ($6.50 each) at The Snug before crashing into bed.
The next day I was on my own. I pretended I lived in NYC and deluded myself that I would instantly figure out the subway. Sadly, no. While getting lost a zillion times and eventually finding Judy Chicago's brilliant Dinner Party at the Brooklyn Art Museum, I also found some great grub. While the sky was raining to beat hell, I found refuge in Healthy Nibbles. Despite the unfortunate name, their veggie burger ($5) tasted great. Yes, that's an entire edamame in there!
I continued in the rain to Chinatown, my favorite place in all of New York. The lights, the restaurants, the wondrousness of it all. Love it! I shopped for a few cute bowls, sucked down a passion fruit bubble tea ($3), and made mental notes of where to take Jeremy when we returned the next night for dinner.
I continued in the rain to Chinatown, my favorite place in all of New York. The lights, the restaurants, the wondrousness of it all. Love it! I shopped for a few cute bowls, sucked down a passion fruit bubble tea ($3), and made mental notes of where to take Jeremy when we returned the next night for dinner.
Friday night Jeremy, myself, Alicia and Andrea (two friends from Atlanta) walked to Bayleaf, the most affordable Indian place I could find near our hotel. Yum! Veggie samosas, palak dal, tandoori panner tikka, rice and mint paratha ($63 for all, including a giant $10 Taj Mahal beer, tax and tip).....so delicious. No photos of the food, but here's one of us:
Full as hell, Jeremy and I walked through Times Square and took in the brightly light consumer extravagance of it all. We even stopped at the three-story M & M store to soak in the weird. 
I'll finish the story tomorrow....until then, Viva New York!!
