Afternoon Tea at the Crosby Bar

 

Yesterday afternoon, a chilly, not at all spring-like day, Srta L and I bustled our way along Spring St to Crosby St and into the Crosby Bar to meet up with Miss H. We plopped down onto the striped couch across from Miss H, who promptly –and very quietly– informed us of Courtney Cox’s presence just behind us, which I confirmed with a casual glance.

 

 

Now I am a big fan of this little bar/cafe, not because it is good for celebrity spotting, but because on a Tuesday afternoon it is quite empty, spacious and calm. And it was here in this elusive New York serenity that we spent the best part of the afternoon chatting over tea, iced tea and chocolate covered strawberries (which I can't guarantee are normally available), as well as a freebie super-cute mini apple sorbet cone. 

 

Of note, due to my concern about appearing paparazzi-like with my clunky DSLR and strange desire to allow other's their privacy, most of the photos shown were taken after Courtney's (aka Miss C's :) departure.

 

Wandering Williamsburg

After an unnecessarily long and confusing subway trip —thanks to weekend metro changes—we (Mr M, myself and our much awaited Aussie visitors Mr K and Miss P) finally emerged from Nassau Station in Greenpoint/Williamsburg, ready for coffee and eager to acquaint ourselves with this very hip Brooklyn neighbourhood.

 

We grabbed some take-away coffees from Five Leaves and strolled down towards the waterfront, on the way to Brooklyn Flea and on the lookout for some locals, or ‘hipsters’.  Mr K, who had been working on his holiday beard, was going to fit in just fine.   

 

Brooklyn Flea, my standard recommendation for any visitor, was bathed in glorious May sunshine and loaded with temptation at every turn. (See a previous blog post on Brooklyn flea). After a wander and a quick bite to eat we made our way up N 7th Street to Artists and Fleas for a little more browsing.  Here, the boys left us —for the first time that day— to find a pub.

 

We joined them not long after.

 

The pub, the rooftop bar at the Wythe Hotel (all the photos) was very nice indeed and not too busy as it was 2pm and had only just opened. Here we stayed sipping champagne cocktails and beer on some surprisingly comfortable slanty blue chairs until shadows stole our sunshine and we got cold. 

 

 

But our outing continued. We did a quick pop-in to Beacon’s Closet (a must for any vintage/thrift store junky) and then followed an SMS trail left by the boys to the Whiskey Bar across the road, where we finished the day with a little more beer. Oh, and a bowl of bacon.  Why? We are still not quite sure. In true American style it came with a side serve of Maple syrup.

 

Best Parks NY - The Highline

 

The Highline is one of my favourite places in New York City. And last week, with Miss H in town, we visited it, not once, not twice, but three times. In one day.

 

That is how good it is. 

 

We had met up at Sant Ambroeus in the West Village where we enjoyed breakfast outside and stole a fleeting glance of Willem Dafoe (Miss H's first celebrity encounter). Then, with the complimentary goals of enjoying spring on the Highline and visiting B&H Camera, we strolled into the Meatpacking District and up the stairs at the corner of Gansevoort and Washington Streets onto the raised old freight railway line – now known as the Highline Park.

 

 

The Highline Park runs from Gansevoort Street to West 30th Street, a hop and a step from B&H Camera, arguably the best camera shop in the world, and a place worth visiting just for the free lollies. After replacing Miss H’s stolen camera, we headed straight back to the Highline to once again enjoy the art, the architecture, the water-tanks, the flowers, the steel and the sunshine.  

 

 

At around 14^th St, we made a quick visit to the Chelsea Market below for a packed lunch, returning again to the Park for a well deserved sit-down.  If it had been a few days later, the Highline’s food vendors would have been open for the season.

 

A good reason to go back. Again.

 

Tips for visiting the Highline

• Go earlier rather than later - The Highline Park is not a very well kept secret and, as with everything in NY, it gets very busy as the day goes on especially now the weather has warmed up.
• Go hungry, or get hungry - The food vendor's are open (or about to open) for the season, also the Chelsea Market, under the Highline at 14th St, has heaps of great food options
• Enjoy a wine at Terroir on the Porch - opening for the season in early May
• Visit the Chelsea Market
• Take a seat and watch New York go by
• Read all about it here

Here is a before photo that I obviously did not take (Source), but love - for more visit the Highline photos.