thanks NYC

My Thanksgiving started sluggish due to INSANE traffic…being from LA I can say I have never seen anything like what I saw on Wednesday. Ariel (my co-worker/roommate (later blog)/co-pilot/NYC housing hook-up) and I left DC around 2’ish…we arrived in NYC around 9:30PM. Typically, this drive should take 4-4 ½ hours…never the less we found our temporary home. This fabulous one bedroom apartment on the upper west side of the city, it was about 3 block from Central Park. Well we were not tired so we took a stole around the neighborhood and fell in love with this market called Barzini – we were like kids in a candy store because of the incredible eclectic selection of delicious food. Once we picked up some munchies, we strolled back to the apartment.

Thanksgiving morning – wakey-wakey…up at 6AM to get out to the parade route. Every local said to stake a decent spot one must be there by 6:30/7AM and get near the beginning of the route. We ended up at Central Park West & 75th Street and were about eight people deep and 2 blocks from the start point. The crowds started coming in droves. The weather was perfect! Once the official Macy’s balloon started heading down the crowd started cheering. It was some great energy. The parade lasted for about 90mins; seeing Santa was my favorite. However, many childhood memories started to flood over me when Kermit came hopping down.

Back at the apartment, we turned on the TV and the parade was in full launch. At the beginning of the parade it was so quick and prompt to proceed down the street, that by the time we got home we were able to watch the last half of the parade because of the broadcast delays. We wanted to stay and view it but had tickets to Radio City to see the Rockettes Christmas Special. Off to Radio City…what a beautiful theater. The show was a little corny but still jolly.

After the show, we walked down the parade route to Macy’s. The entire route was shut down to cars so you have to stroll literally down Madison Ave, Broadway, and Park Ave. We got home and had a pleasant turkey dinner while watching Charlie Brown enjoy his with Lucy, Snoopy, and Peppermint Patty.

The rest of our time in NYC was spent window-shopping at FAO Swartz, Bergdorff Goodman (absolutely stunning windows) – went inside and found a new pair of $3500 boots…wonder if Santa will get them for me? Later in the day, we went down to SoHo, Greenwich Village, and dinner (Shorty .35) in NoHo. ***Side note – saw Fantastic Mr. Fox – highly enjoyable, great for adults and kids older then 6.

Saturday…the drive from HELL. Being from LA I’ve seen some bad traffic but this was notorious…what should have taken 4-5 hours took 9 HOURS. We ended up spending a couple hours in Philly so I could watch my boys (UTAH) play in the Holy War…not going to discuss that; it’s over and the sports bar in Philly was delightful.