Category Archives: New York City

Music by Laura Nyro, my favorite singer when I was a teenager, was blaring in the Alvin Ailey exhibit at The Whitney Museum when we entered, surely a good sign. I never connected the two although apparently there was a connection. What it was I never did learn. The exhibit was a bit obtuse that way, with lots of interesting, often provocative, artwork juxtaposed beneath a huge wrap-around wall screen airing films of Ailey dancers, accompanied by various musical scores. I tried to join a tour that might have tied things together but my audio didn’t work so I opted to wander and just soak it all in. I left with more questions than answers but maybe that’s okay? The landscape show on the floor above deserved more than our brief visit but it was time to move onto the High Line for a brisk walk in chilly but bright and sunny weather.

The day’s dining highlight was the fantastic. Spanish food at Mercado, Little Spain, a food hall below Hudson yards created by renowned chef (and humanitarian/anti-hunger crusader) Jose Andreas. Although there are three sit down restaurants, we opted for the food court/hall route, planting ourselves at a table in the center then taking turns going to various counters to pick up a plate or two to share between three of us.

It was Myra Monday, with a visit from my longtime pal, so the food court at 3 p.m. was also a place to sit comfortably for several hours, catching up. A NYTimes story on the 20 best things to eat was very helpful as was a list of the 100 best restaurants in NYC in 2024 which included the food hall!

Highlights: paella with savory brown rice, chicken, grilled artichokes, peppers; a tortilla de patatas, a fluffy egg omelette filled with creamy potatoes, a long narrow baguette with salty dried ham, an empanada de cerdo that was a thin piece of savory pie filled with stewed pork; an orange tangy gazpacho (akin to one of several versions I make), perfect sangria ( not too sweet or alcoholic), light churros sprinkled with sugar and served with a small cup of hot bittersweet chocolate to dunk them in.

There were several more items on my list but we were full, and lost track of what we spent (each item, was $9-12) so it was time to stop. Must return to try: tarta de queso (Spanish cheesecake), pina borrach (“drunken pineapple”), gamba Al estilo de El Bulli (shrimp from the famous chef-driven restaurant) chistorra con patatas frites (potato and sausage bites), pomelo en texturas (grapefruit dessert), lacon con patatas ( potatoes and ham) pan de Cristal con tomate (bread rubbed with tomatoes), and cardinal (meringue plus sponge cake).

I don’t know how I’ve missed going to Old John’s Diner, since it’s been in my relatives’ upper west side neighborhood since 1951. I don’t even remember having walked on the block of 67th street that it’s on (between Amsterdam and Broadway).

But tonight, we got there, with our niece Erika, nephew Jonathan and his girlfriend Calista and it was really fun. I was worried it might be dead on a Sunday night, and more of a breakfast or lunch place but it was busy enough.

And the food was very good diner food, not fancy restaurant. We also had excellent service and a nice big table where we were welcome to linger. My aunt, who has hearing issues, would like it because she would be able to hear the conversation. We enjoyed hearty chicken soup, matzoh ball soup, a tuna melt (alas the tuna had relish in it, which I dislike but Jonathan was fine with), crispy chicken sandwich, Greek salad, fries – all good and some inventive (the Greek salad had romaine lettuce and fried chickpeas) and excellent fries. The desserts were great too especially the lemon meringue pie and ny cheese cake. The carrot cake was tasty but a little dry, according to our table’s expert, dirck. We’ll be back!

In the 70s, near Central Park West, my brother also recommends Yasaka for sushi, on 72nd, and Solid State coffee on 71st between Columbus and Amsterdam.

We took the Jitney (private bus) back from the Hamptons (Water Mill) family thanksgiving on Sunday at 1:35 pm. The bus was comfortable and well-run but packed, and a long haul. It made several stops including near LaGuardia airport, and with holiday traffic took over 3 hours (an hour more than usual/advertised). Next time, we’ll leave Saturday night or Sunday morning to try to beat the traffic.

When we heard (from our favorite private chef) that Wu’s Wonton King is the place professional chefs eat, we were there! We found it on an unglamorous corner in Chinatown/the Lower East Side on East Broadway and were not disappointed, although we probably should have asked what the house speciality, fried crab, cost ($84) before ordering it. Then again, if we had asked, we wouldn’t have ordered it and it was delicious. This will sound familiar to members of the $317 Club. (Inside joke explanation: years ago we got a surprise dinner bill of $317 after eating with friends at another Chinatown restaurant post-Thanksgiving.)

Our other entrees were in the $18 ballpark (which suddenly seemed like a bargain) and also excellent including the #1 wonton soup, stir fried chicken with veg, and pork dumplings. All very fresh, quality ingredients and well seasoned.

On to LaGuardia where we were delighted (not something I’ve ever written about LaGuardia) by the spanking new terminal C, all white walls, wide white corridors, clean modern design, appealing restaurants. And our delta flights were on what felt like new planes with well-upholstered seats and screens to watch TV and movies.

Monday was Myra Day, one of my favorite days in NYC (or anywhere else). We met at Grand Central, which looked a bit diminished without its annual holiday market and the Scandinavian food court, both presumably casualties of Covid, but the rest of the city was hopping with holiday cheer. We wandered through Soho and NoLita (north of Little Italy, east of Sogo, primo streets:Mott, Elizabeth), both pleasant backgrounds for our annual epic get-together. I returned to Dominique Ansel Bakery, this time for a light lunch (chicken salad with pistachios on a delicious croissant) and these crazy “milk shots,” little chocolate-lined “shot glasses” made of pastry dough, filled with milk. They got a bit soggy but were a delicious take on milk and cookies.

The holiday market was ON at Union Square, and full of good gift options, from Scandinavia hand towels to Turkish pottery to Ecuadorian scarves. Dinner was at the very chic Sona, a very different Indian restaurant on 23rd street, with different takes on traditional dishes (and much higher prices.) The butter chicken looked the most familiar and was delicious. The chicken korma was unrecognizable – three conical shaped fried dumplings in a shallow pool of creamy green -colored sauce, served with a cheese-filled naan reminiscent of a quesadilla. The best innovation was the saag paneer made with Swiss chard rather than the usual spinach. All served by attentive staff in stylish surrounds with tables that quickly filled with chic New Yorkers who apparently thought nothing of dropping considerable cash on fancy Indian food on a Monday night. I ❤️ NYC.

P.S.across the street from Sona: a popular new Italian restaurant called Rezdora.