$24 for the Island of Manhattan

"....The area that is now Manhattan was long inhabited by the Lenape. In 1524, Lenape in canoes met Giovanni da Verrazzano, the first European explorer to pass New York Harbor, although he did not enter the harbor past the Narrows. It was not until the voyage of Henry Hudson, an Englishman who worked for the Dutch East India Company, that the area was mapped. Hudson came across Manhattan Island and the native people living there on September 11, 1609, and continued up the river that bears his name, the Hudson River, until he arrived at the site of present day Albany.

A permanent European presence in New Netherland began in 1624 with the founding of a Dutch fur trading settlement on Governors Island. In 1625 construction was started on a citadel and a Fort Amsterdam on Manhattan Island, later called New Amsterdam (Nieuw Amsterdam). Manhattan Island was chosen as the site of Fort Amsterdam, a citadel for the protection of the new arrivals; its 1625 establishment is recognized as the birth date of New York Cit.

In 1626, Peter Minuit acquired Manhattan from native people in exchange for trade goods, often said to be worth $24.....'
from Wikipedia


Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd St.
New York, NY 10029

One of those perfect days

Wake up and spend extra half an hour in a warm bed just slowly waking up. Strong coffee and another hour of doing absolutely nothing later you finally leave the house. It is nice and almost warm, hard to believe it is the end of December. Take a long walk with P and stop by to do your nails.

After quick lunch you're off to the Whitney Museum. On the third floor you find Kara Walker exhibit. Groupings of art work featuring paintings, drawings, collages, shadow-puppetry, and video animations are provocative, bit mind mingling. Racial and gender bias, discrimination, monstrous representation of human relations.

Beth Campbell also catches your attention. Mirror or a plain glass, the child's mind perspective and the old mind set in its ways.

"Stupid people should not breed" written on a bench.

You have dinner at Payard. P orders Sirloin Steak with Pommes Frites, Béarnaise Sauce and Green Peppercorn Saucesteak and you have Venison with Juniper Berries, Celery Root Purée, Baby Turnips, Chestnuts and Black Trumpet Mushrooms Huckleberry-Venison Sauce. Bordeau and Pinot Noir complete the feast. For dessert you choose Dark Bittersweet Chocolate Soufflé with Pistachio Ice Cream. P. surprises you with Cartier Ballon Bleu.


Whitney Museum of American Art
945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street
New York, NY 10021

Payard Patisserie & Bistro
1032 Lexington Ave
New York, NY

Back in NYC

You fly back on Christmas day, easily getting on stand by half empty flight. Wednesday at the office is quiet. Have dinner with F and go to see Charlie Wilson's war. Julia looks odd wearing big blond wig; her southern accent is amusing. Get back home pass midnight and fall asleep immediately.

On Thursday you meet B. after work for couple of drinks.

Sweet Home Chicago

You leave your office at 5pm on Friday and arrive in Chicago at 1.30am....God bless the magazine stand at Newark that kept you somewhat busy for 5 hours. Honestly, when you finally sat in your seat the idea of strangling the innocent flight attendant crossed your mind. By the way American Airlines, were the reindeer hats really needed?- her job is sad enough.

R and G come to your house for dinner, Sat night. You shop, you cook, you manage to put food on a table. Having a spacious kitchen is a welcomed change. You actually enjoy cooking. Once in a while it is nice to chop, boil, fry, and serve. You still love and adore Manhattan delivery system, but appreciate what Chicago has to offer.

The Corporate Soiree

Time to put on a black dress and see your work mates dance. Quite lovely ordeal to your surprise. Pretty surroundings, open bar the whole night, dinner, and car service home. Tempted to go on a dance floor, but refuse the temptation. After several glasses of wine any swirl could be deadly.

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

Capitale
130 Bowery
New York, NY

3 day weekend

Friday evening you meet your friends at the Eleven Madison to celebrate the Holidays. Table for 6, champagne, wine, foie gras, venison, dark chocolate desert. Great company of your friends, laughter, beautiful surroundings, attentive service.

On Monday you dump two months of your rent in a pocket of Burberry, LaPerla, Barneys, and Coach. You have 29 coats at home already, did you really need two more? Ridiculous, really. LaPerla at this point is just another collectible item. Coach you don't even like, yet can't resist the bargain. Silly.

Glad you have V around. Makes shopping so much more fun. Couple of glasses of wine later, you consider the money "well spent".

Eleven Madison
11 Madison Ave
New York, NY

Pollock at the Met Museum

B's got the Apollo Circle membership to the Met. B's nice enough to invite you to Jackson Pollock event, she knows you'll love. It is one of the evening you will remember. Walk through empty museum is a thrill. Start with wine & appetizers reception and proceed to lecture & discussion.

The Metropolitan Musem
1000 5th Ave
New York, NY

Off you go to the Opera

Iphigenie en Tauride

"...Before the Trojan War, Agamemnon gathered the Greek armies at the port of Aulis. The goddess Diane sent unfavorable winds to prevent the Greeks from Sailing. Her oracle set a condition for Agamemnon: to earn the right to sail forth and destroy an innocent country, he would have to sacrifice his own daughter. Agamemnon accepted these terms and killed his young daughter Iphigenie on the altar.

In his play Iphigenia in Tauris Euripides imagines that Diane plucked Iphigenie from that altar and delivered her to a temple in distant Tauride, where Iphigenie began to serve the enemy Scythians as Diane's high priestess - all the while Iphigenie's family believing her dead...."

Iphigenie - Susan Graham
Oreste - Placido Domingo


The Metropolitan Opera
Lincoln Center
New York, NY

The Holiday Spirit

You have a splendid, or at least what it seemed at that time, idea of taking a look at the Xmas tree at the Rockefeller Plaza. Afterall it is the holiday season and tree viewing is in order. You forget that literally everybody else who's just happened to visit New York during the Holidays is on a way there also. People are moving in glacier's pace, kids, strollers, dogs, happy couples, sad couples, everybody in pursuit of a perfect photo. You are exhausted from fighting the crowds and in need of a drink. V is waiting in front of the wine bar. The evening finally is looking better. You get a table quickly and order wine along with cheese sampler. Chat away for the next couple of hours.

Sunday is quiet. You run your errands as usuall. B calls and you join her on a short shopping trip. Start with Crate and Barrel, stroll through Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and Prada.

So many pretty things.

Morrell Wine Bar
One Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10020

Drinks after work

Tuesday you spent the whole day in class, nothing exciting, just work training.

You meet B. and stop at Nikki Beach for couple of drinks. Walk home.


Nikki Beach
151 East 50 Street
New York, NY 10022

Lovely

You wake up at 7.30am and 15 minutes later you stand in front of Equinox waiting for the doors to open. You're not sure where is the energy coming from, you still should be in bed wrapped in warm sheets. An hour later, you reward yourself with large coffee, cheese and almond croissant followed by Le Pain Quotidien's organic baguette with Irish butter.

F. stops by without announcements. You don't have much time to chat, trying to get ready for dinner with the girls tonight.

Slip on a black dress and new pair of brown boots, leave the apartment in hurry to meet C. You both catch a cab and head off to Lower East side. Y. is already at the bar enjoying her glass of champagne. You see B. coming through the door.

It is lovely to have your friends around. You get to your table and order. Let the night begin.

Le Pain Quotidien
833 Lexington Avenue
NY10021

Suba restaurant
109 Ludlow St
New York, NY 10009

The weekend is here

Friday passes in light speed. Breakfast at the office arrives around 9am. You take omelet, waffle soaked in maple syrup, bagel with butter, bowl of fruits, and small croissant for a good measure. The only justification you have is that is all free provided by your employer. Besides, breakfast is not only imperative but also helps you loose weight in a long run, you reason with yourself. Starbucks vente carries you through half of a day. You are busy and love it.

You leave and get home just in time to shower, change, and head out for dinner. You meet with D., L's friend. Have a nice conversation, feel uncomfortable at times, but try to enjoy the evening.

Cafe des Artistes
One W. 67th St
New York, NY 10023