Reed Girls in the City
One short weekend in the Big Apple does not a real New Yorker make, but when Ali spied a rat in the subway, we decided we had earned our NYC bona fides.
In what we hope is the first of many girl trips for the Reeds of Maine, Indiana and Florida, Ali, Jen and I met up in New York for part of the back end of Alison's Spring Break. It's a testament to Alison's thirst for good food, fun and travel that she gave us some of her time, but neither Jen nor I care about why she agreed to hang out with us. We're just glad she did.
Me most of all because I've been plagued lately with leg pain that I'm hoping isn't another fake hip knocking on my door. The pain has found a friend in a nagging pain and numbness in a couple toes on my other foot and the pad of that foot. So between the leg and the foot, I can be bit of a mess. I learned this week that I have a neuroma in that foot, aka an inflamed nerve, which might have been exacerbated by the cute boots I wore to the airport.
I ditched the boots for sneakers and flats for the rest of the trip. I wasn't totally hobbled, but I was never sad to see a bench pop up as we trekked from about 9 am to 5 pm from our hotel room near Times Square through the nooks and crannies of Central Park, through the natural history museum and back home down Fifth Avenue. It was fun to see the Friends' fountain, Rockefeller Square skating rink, the places where Kevin fled the "Wet Bandits" in Home Alone and the carriages all lined up ready to trot you around the 800+-acre park.
It was a long walk and super fun with only a few moments of confusion. Like the time I thought we were going to emerge near the Museum of Modern Art. Ali and Jen were ahead of me as we left the park to scramble across the city street. I was watching for traffic when Ali pointed out that the building was dedicated to Teddy Roosevelt. "That's weird," I thought.
We were actually at the Museum of Natural History. Way fun, but I suspect a different experience from the MoMA. And, reason for a return trip and different exit from the park.
Fifth Avenue was cool. We gaped at the Louis Vuitton building facade like yokels. Well, some of us (that would be me) did.
We saw the Lion King, which was an amazing production. I sometimes think I'm creative, but whoever came up with those puppets, made them work and put that show together is a crazy genius. The actors were tremendous. It's totally worth your time.
We had an amazing meal at Loi Estiatorio on Barbara Lewis Bourgoin's recommendation. A well-timed hair cut and style had tamed my rat's next but poorly-timed rain destroyed it before our wine arrived. But we met the chef, who had a fun Indiana story and were well fed despite my growing frizz.
We also had NY street hot dogs, late-night treats from the Cake Boss and two great breakfasts at cafes we found on the way to here and there. We shopped in Times Square - mostly Ali shopped for anime figurines but also shoes which Jen and I deemed she needed. We stayed at The Muse, which was just two blocks from the theatre and perfect for our needs. I'd definitely stay there again.
At one point, Jen, thinking of our next girls' trip, asked Ali where she might want to venture to next. Among the exotic locales was Machu Picchu, Iceland and Morocco.
"You realize two of us are never going to be in shape to hike to the top of Peru, right?" Jen asked.
We learned that I need to better plan exits because while we all used the same airport, Ali's flight was in a different terminal 3+ hours more than mine and four hours earlier than Jen's. We made it work with plans to subway and bus (about $70 v. $2.90 per) back to the airport and then check out amenities there. Ali's subway trip was even cheaper because she found a subway card with change left on it, which meant she didn't have to spend the $1 to get one. She was certain that given her smaller airline, it would be easier to get through security, so we had plenty of time to stroll for breakfast and figure out the subway.
That adventure included the subway sight that made us real New Yorkers.
"A rat!" Ali exclaimed, pointing and delighted to see the furry back end of a rodent slipping through a narrow opening on the platform across from us. Auntie Jen was happy we were separated by the tracks. If it had a slice of pizza, we could not tell.
We had a longer-than-expected wait for our train, but it was a super easy and clean process. We sent Ali off to her separate terminal (she made it on board with 15 minutes to spare) and set out to explore where we could find drinks and lunch.
We were still way early to my gate, but I'd discovered that I'd failed to snag a seat assignment. (I'm a SW traveler, generally, and unused to getting to pick a seat in advance.) I started to inquire, and the friendly gate attendant said I could just get on board. She saw my face and said, "Oh, wait. This flight is deplaning. It's not for you." Clearly this was the end of her shift, and we were all laughing as she said I'd need to wait for the next gate staff to come along.
Jen set off to get her steps and find dessert as I waited. When the new person came, I waited a bit then went to inquire about my seat assignment. Big difference - huge - in the response.
I was in jeans and a tee shirt - a far cry from my go-to-the airport outfit, but I was clean. Ish. And here, Amy Tokash and Lynda Ruble take note: I got the hand. Literally.
"I just got here," he said with a definite attitude. "I'm only now starting on seat assignments. Don't you have the app?"
"I DO, in fact, have the app. But it's not giving me a seat assignment," I mumbled, not wanting to annoy the guy and not get to board at all.
Jen comes with two pieces of cheesecake. I try to decline, but of course, "help" her with one. I don't know if the other made it home to Peter. It was delish.
Anyway, in between bites, I whisper to Jen about my encounter with the surly gate attendant, who never made eye contact with me again. He left his station to chat with the next gate people, returning only when someone in an airport-related uniform came to the gate. He was less surly with them, but barely, and always returned to chat with his friends.
When he gave me "the hand" though, I noticed that he had the most beautiful nails. I was trying to describe them to Jen as we didn't want to overtly study the guy. They were clear with a red sort of stencil that reminded me of an art deco design.
For the life of me (could it be the drinks?) I couldn't come up with the words, "art deco." I have a weird mnemonic trick where if I can't remember the name of the famous art deco architect --whose name would have instantly convey what I was trying to say -- I start with a famous Broadway composer.
"They're really pretty," I said. "Kind of like the art form that's in the Empire State Building. You know, designs like the guy who's house we saw in the desert."
Jen, who wasn't on that trip, looks at me like I'm crazy.
"Ugh. I can't remember his name. It's like the guy from the Phantom of the Opera."
At this point, she might have moved slightly away from me. But remember, I'd seen the hand up close. It was a nail design worth relating.
I finally come up with "art deco." She starts to laugh.
"You mean Andrew Lloyd Webber and Frank Lloyd Wright?" she asked.
We laughed like the hyenas from the Lion King. No wonder the gate attendant didn't like us. I did get on board, and in a great seat. So maybe we entertained him. Or he figured out I liked his nails. Who can say?
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