Back in the Apple

It was a cold day in NYC.  Some people may doubt my credibility about cold as it's been a long time since I have lived in the city or in Vermont.  Others will have checked out the temps on The Weather Channel and not doubt so much.  To further validate my point, I saw lots of cold weather fashion today on people who would just as soon be taking out their capris and sandals.  There was a charming Tibetan hat with silk cap surrounded by black fur.  I was on the East Side today and there were several full length mink coats perhaps worn by the F-PETA people.  I particularly liked the woman with mink and old sneakers with saggy socks-not leggings-saggy socks.  Most of us were wearing our warmest sports gear-the New Yorkers in black, of course.

I did make an effort to conform.  Jeans are my warmest pants, so I wore the standard blue, but paired with a black turtleneck though it was the Coldwater Creek very thin ones.  I paired it with one of my new Charming Charlie b&w scarves, and if I can get the photo on the blog you might see me or you might just think I was another New Yorker in the photo.  I was very grateful for my smart socks but opted for my regular black Keens rather than my brand new UGGs.  It was a day for cab rides and museums and I did quite well with shoes.  No rain and no snow-otherwise it would have been an UGG day.

I eased into the day with my "do not disturb" sign on my hotel room door and got down for Starbucks-fully dressed though I did see some young women in jammie bottoms and leather jackets in the lobby-at 11AM.  I opted for the Whitney today as I don't  think I have ever been there.  The Calder made me think I might but as I recall it was a Calder exhibit in the Guggenheim sometime around 1977.  So the Whitney was good and entertained me for several hours.  I particularly liked the Whitney Biennial 2014 collection.  The American Legends: From Calder to O'Keeffe was a treat as well.  I sent out several photos.  They are my postcards these days.  I like that I can send quite a few rather effortlessly.  I hesitated to take photos in the O'Keeffe but it was clear you could take them in the Biennial exhibits.  There was one O'Keeffe that particularly caught my eye.  Done in 1960 in blues and it made me think that she just kept getting better and better.

I had lunch at the museum and to my delight they serve breakfast all day.  I had a lovely mushroom spinach omelette sans cheese and English Breakfast tea-perfect for a late riser on a bitterly cold day.  By 3 I was ready for home and a nap.  It was considerably colder outside and I was wishing I might have packed my long johns, but was otherwise warm and there are always plenty of taxi's on the East Side.

I had a bit of a debate with myself about dinner, but decided on Sapporo.  It's just down 7th Ave a few blocks just past Barclay's Bank.  I ate there last year with Carol on a cold day but rather tropical in comparison to today.  I decided to go early to beat the rush and to stop by duane reades for more bottled water and paper towells.  Sheraton gives me one bottle of Dasani per day and it just isn't enough.  The walk over to DR made me glad I hadn't though this through too much as night was falling and the wind was picking up.  I've always thought of NYC as having canyons and the icy wind will sure enough race down them with the enthusiasm of a freight train.  Particularly challenging walking west tonight.  So, DR was a welcome break along the way and only one block out of the way.

People dining alone will often find it easier to be seated-at the bar.  This was true of the museum as well.  The young moms with strollers were faced with a 25 min wait or a trip outside-hard call to make on a day like today.  I, on the other hand, was offered first available and it was fast available.  At Sapporo  I got the seat nearest the door which was surprisingly not drafty.  When I saw people eating in the front window bar I was glad for my seat observing the chefs rather than being the observed while slurping my ramen.  I had the Shoyo whole wheat ramen and a cup of saki.  I'll try to post the photos.  Perfect food for cold.

Walking back I joined the throngs of New Yorkers longing to be in the place where I usually live.  One couple was going to the theater-probably opening night as she was all dolled up in black (of course) with jewels and stiletto heels and with her cleavage getting frozen.  She would have taken a mink in a New York minute.

I'll see if I can  get some photos up now.  Tomorrow is expected to be much warmer.

KG