Wow. It amazes me how much we pack into a day in NYC! Looking at the photos, it feels like much longer than one day.
We started our day at the place of Jake's Birthday Wish, the MoMA...
(Dave, Sam and I, sitting and resting while Jake takes in as much as he can...)
Dave and Sam talking about the ever-interesting and still controversial topic: Exactly what IS art?...
After a couple of hours, we headed out, grabbed a cab downtown, went to Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and then found Bobby Flay's restaurant, Mesa Grill where we had brunch reservations...
This is Sam's photo...
This is a BEAUTIFUL restaurant...we had the BEST seats in the house. We all agreed that this was our favorite dining experience EVER (which is really saying a LOT, because we absolutely LOVE fine, delicious food and eating out and do so whenever possible!)!This pretty drink is my cactus pear margarita...
We all shared appetizers...this is the Spicy tuna and Salmon Tartares, with red and green hot sauces, crispy plantains and blue corn flatbread...
Another appetizer: Goat Cheese “Queso Fundido” with Rajas + Blue Corn Tortilla Chips...(this was FAN-freakin'-tastic!!)...
Dave's amazing burger: Mesaburger with Double Cheddar Cheese, Grilled Vidalia Onion and Horseradish Mustard on a House Roll + Southwestern Fries...
Sam had the Pressed Roasted Pork Sandwich with Grilled Red Onion, Arugula, Ancho Mayonnaise + Southwestern Fries...
Jake had the amazing Cornmeal crusted Chile Relleno filled with Roasted Eggplant + Manchego Cheese with Sweet Red Pepper Sauce + Balsamic Vinegar...
And I had Anchochile-honey glazed Salmon with a Spicy Black Bean Sauce, Tomatillo Salsa
+ Roasted Jalapeno Crema...
Even though we were overly-satisfied (in other words...FULL!...), we had to have a Bobby Flay dessert. Jake ordered the warm cornbread pudding with apple-pear compote + ginger molasses ice cream...and they brought it to him with a birthday candle!! My GOD, that was DEEEEElicous!!!
We decided to walk off our phenomenal brunch, so we skipped public transportation and walked the 2 miles back to the MoMA.
We just happened to pass the Empire State Building...
And it seems we always get stuck in the crowds of Times Square, no matter how we try NOT to (we had to go there to get a cheesecake from Junior's for Jake's real birthday tomorrow...)!
(How did it happen that I am now so small next to my boys??!...)
We slipped back into the MoMA for a few more minutes, to use the restrooms (ah!...member privileges!!) and we just HAD to see the VanGogh exhibit...Van Gogh and the Colors of the Night...
(I didn't know I wasn't supposed to take a photo...shhh!!)And then at about 6 p.m., after a long and really really wonderful and joyful day in the city, we decided to head back home...
Thank you, my dear Jakey, for your birthday wish of this wonderful connecting time together in our amazing NYC...
(And you're not 18 yet!!)
Jake:
Oh, how I love NYC... The variety of things you see, all the inspiration to be drawn from it... I loved this trip.
I looooved this piece. I always re-arrange art in my head to make it look like creatures, and this looked like a group of them to me... SO COOL.
Loved this one too, it was called 'Australia'.'And then I thought 'Why the hell not' and ordered the drink with carrot in it'
It was delicious.'All the points connect to the center'
The funny thing is, I took these last four pictures in the last five minutes we were in the city. I hadn't taken many at all (I was just so enjoying BEing there) and then inspiration struck.
'All the way across town...'
'In case of emergency...'
It's like stop drop and roll. Only impossible.
