Eastward. Still NYC

The 2nd Avenue deli corned beef sandwich did not agree with Sharon. The sandwich won. An extra day at Neil’s place.

My breakfast at Jack’s Wife Freda

A good small chain to know if one is in NYC.

started wandering around the city while Sharon was sleeping at the apartment. Ended up again at the New York public library which I’ve never really explored.

Map room
New Yorkey exhibit

upon the third floor is the big reading room. I want to take a picture. No pictures allowed unless you join the tour at a certain time so I got online or on line …

The tour is limited so you’ll line up 35 minutes before it starts and you’re giving a pass to come back 35 minutes or however, minutes later

now accepted inside with guide

typical but professional 20 minute tour. History of the building construction size of the rooms art lots of rules about what we could do pictures allowed don’t take the books, etc..

Ceilings are special here
Rose room one of for such spaces
Entry to big reading area
Books
not all books are downstairs on top of the Croton reservoir space.

Very loud – air pods worked and needed

May day labor rally – part of nationwide.

Almost as many police as demonstrators

easier to read the signs here

Dinner at apartment. Leftovers and WF stuff.

Sharon better and ordered yogurt for dinner.

after dinner walk to an Indian section in New York City on Lexington Avenue and the upper 20s. didn’t know it existed. 

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Eastward NYC

Frick Museum visit

Notes at the Frick

No photographs allowed, seems like every space on every wall needs to be filled

Very many Gainsborough’s and Titians as well as Reynolds, Constables, etc., etc. Frick certainly collected all the great name brands and there were even more upstairs when we climbed up.

The courtyard

At least one guard per room. While photos were not allowed, I would occasionally ask the guard and he would sort of say they’re not allowed, then turn his head the other way.

The staircase to recently opened upstairs

For those not familiar with the Frick, there has been a five year $400 million renovation. The second floor had never been open to the public, but is this time.

This one actually from an artist we don’t know
Ceiling upstairs

There was a very long line to get in, and a separate line for Members. We joined the Members line and got in very early via NARM cards as we are members of San Francisco’s De Young Museum.

Dinner: Neil picked up items from Second Avenue deli:

A little late in the photographing. Formerly a knish

Remembrances of one of the readers of this blog getting sick on this dish at Katz’s

Final stroll in Washington Square, Park on a warm summer evening. And so this long trip or not so long trip comes to a smashing conclusion.

Another glorious day
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Eastward NYC

An absolutely glorious day

Lots of tulips- Abington Square

Above Sharon’s old hood.

Breakfast at market

Chelsea market

The eats
Not too crowded before lunch
Self explanatory
Stuff we didn’t eat, but might have liked

On way to dinner Another longish walk

Cathedral cleaned
Draped for Poe
On 5th and 57th

Bar Boulud- been here before

NYC ballet. Balanchine

The setting

He is just so beautiful
Fab fab fab

A great ballet

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Eastward NYC

Angelina’s with Sara

John’s Pizza

Museum of the City of NY

NYC Public Library …. But not in that order

Bryant park

No, Bryant Park in New York City is not named for William Jennings Bryan.
It is named after William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878), who was a Romantic poet, the longtime editor of the New York Evening Post, and a leading advocate for the creation of Central Park. The park was renamed in his honor in 1884.

Sara at Angelina’sf

A very good meal. Intending to eat here for several years after visiting it in Paris. The food was equally good, the tables further apart and service much friendlier. We will definitely return.

We don’t know the name of Sara’s pastry
Just what it looks like 
Granola yogurt with extreme complications

Public Library

Just an interesting assortment of stuff in the main treasures room.

John Cage music notation
Seemed to be the original bear bought at Harrod’s
Audubon illustration of Carolina Parrot (extinct)
Museum of the City of New York

Some very good exhibits of graffiti art, Urban Stomp and music. No paintings this time, although some graffiti was on canvases

Just one i liked
Fab dance video
Day capped off with pizza at John’s 
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Eastward NYC

A less active day today because Sharon is suffering from the high pollen and is not able to walk long distances.

First Eataly, a fav.

Eataly Pastry view
Cheese and smoked meats
Off to see this exhibit at the salmagundi

Oops, when we get there, we find out it was closed on Friday or unhung as they said. No indication of that on the sign.

A picture I liked at the museum

Then a walk in Washington Square, Park

A new generational mode of dating

Just another decent busker

Murray’s for bagels

After taste test, not impressed 
Thai delivery- excellent

New York thing: eat dinner at home via delivery service

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Eastward NYC

First full day in New York

Arrived last evening and spent most of the time getting a new Apple phone and getting it configured. By then it was too late to eat pizza at John’s. The line was well over an hour

Had a very fine dinner at a restaurant close to where Neil lives. Arte. Very good Italian restaurant which we would go back to again. Professional service, and good menu.

We all had seafood pasta.

Several drinks were consumed

Bagels with cream cheese and lox from Bob’s bagels start of the day.

Then a walk to the pigeon. Sharon has been talking about seeing the pigeon for more than a year.

Giving Oakland a run
High Line shot
More along the way

Finally reached the …..

Big
A lot of pigeon

Then “Marriage of Figaro at the Regal theatre. Outstanding performance. Both the voice of course but also very fine acting.

Carmen was better because it was live and the voices sounded better, but the acting was certainly better at the marriage of Figaro.

Dinner, again local, and good. For our records: Jack’s Wife Freda.

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Eastward London last full day

Carmen (opera) to top it off.

Beautiful expensive French artichokes

Cash only systems down!
Royal Opera House. Restaurant inside.
Piazza restaurant inside the Opera House

Excellent seats

Inside the Theatre
An incredible performance

We had fabulous seats near the Orchestra, listened to some outstanding singing, including a fine Mezzo, but all were splendid.

Roses chez nous via Heelan
Eats!

Day ended rather unpleasantly. Jeff’s phone was pickpocketed on the way to the Tube. Took a while to block the phone and secure information. Apple support was quite helpful.

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Eastward London

Mostly an odds and ends day.

Some shopping, examination of very expensive knives, a walk to the British Library.

We were heading to the British Museum and got diverted. 

Plantations, home work, sex work, prisoners and other forms of exploitation called hard graft at the Welcome collection.

Not a fun show, but informative
A piece I liked 
Important 13th amendment distinction. – not generally emphasized 
All made by prisoners as described

Now off to the British Library. As you will see, many of the displays are not being displayed so I took a few pictures of those that they seem to be re-organizing.

Very many empty shelves like this and display cases
History stuff I like
More history
Magna Carta history
The original British library, which were the books of George the third

After a nice walk back, dinner again with lots and lots of stuff: Leftovers and cheeseburgers.

Split pea soup, chicken curry.
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Eastward London

Regents Canal, an arm of the Grand Central Canal

Points of interest on the Canal:

First, a bite at Gail’s

Gail’s for scone

Started the walk at hotel, then to Merchant Square and onward.

Nice place to stroll 
Just a nice house
…and a nice tunnel
Semiprivate area with good landscaping
Short detour to Japan and back
Graffiti not up to Oakland standard
Camden a bit messy 
More Camden
Camden Lock
Five cranes involved in this project
Kings Cross
Spicy cabbage, rice, Muru’s chicken curry

NYT recipe for beans with eggs poached in it and some cheese on top and chili of course. All for dinner chez Bobbikins
A Mandarin duck
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Eastward London

QB rest day: maybe with some shopping. Boys to the British Museum.

Park Ave NYC from Sarah c

We didn’t see any Easter hats in London

Life time pills
Explanation
Easter Monday is a holiday

museum was very crowded. This doesn’t show it enough.

Reading room refurbished in mid 2024
Siege of Lackish

Due to reading Michener’s “Source” thought I would look into this as he covers this in fictional form.

The Siege of Lachish was a major military event in 701 BCE during the reign of the Neo-Assyrian King Sennacherib. The Assyrian army besieged and conquered the heavily fortified city of Lachish, which was the second most important city in the Kingdom of Judah, after Jerusalem. ..Gemini

Also covered in the bible.

The relief shows the slaves being taken into captivity.

Interesting exhibit.
This is the signature piece of this exhibit
Malaysian noodles by Muru
Short ribs, yum
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