playing hooky on a Wednesday

Ah, Friday night.  We've been to Maestro, we've come home and done some shopping online (thank you, gift cards!), and now, before I head to bed, I should get a blog entry posted.  Why not?  Should be fun!

The reduction in my workload to 90% has meant a lower salary, yes, but it also means more time off.  Given how summer is so so so so so very quiet at work, it was an easy thing to play hooky on an August Wednesday because Van had nothing planned.  Hooray!  A chance to go out and see the city somewhere and do something fun.  Conrad, by the way, was in Chicago, else we would have included him.  Anyway, even after 13 (13!!!!) years in SoCal, there is still so much I haven't seen, and one major attraction on that list was Griffith Park and the observatory.

So it was that very late on Wednesday morning, this handsome chap

and I

were in a car heading into LA and up into the hills separating the coastal bowl from the San Fernando Valley.  Past the Greek Theatre

(I'd love to get to a show there) and climbing up.  Parking was a small trek from our destination, but think of the step count!

Anyway, we enjoyed the observatory itself,

the fine structure inside and out, the Art Deco aspects of it,

the landscaping around it. 

We admired the views of the city on a hazy (not smoggy) day

and even of the Hollywood sign. 

I thought it was pretty cool to see.  We were struck by the variety of languages heard around us, which we took as a healthy sign of not just the diversity of LA but also of the tourism to the city.  I'd like to get back up there, especially now that I know that Conrad hasn't been.  One day!

We drove back down the backside, the north side, and found ourselves in the Toluca Lake neighbourhood for lunch, sitting in a corner booth at Paty's. 

A classic feel to the place, and if the food wasn't anything new or exciting, it certainly was satisfying.  The Trousdale sandwich for me,

turkey and Swiss with cole slaw on it, grilled.  Yum!

I still have some time unaccounted for this year, and that's good.  I'd like another hooky day or two, with Van or with Conrad or with both.  We shall see.  But what a nice summer midweek that was!

Friday in NYC

Alert!  Alert!  This post may be a little photo-dumpy as well.  A little.  Not too bad, I hope.

It was a day in 3 parts.  First up for me, but not those lazy, sleeping-in other two, was a good morning walk. 

5+ miles for me,

heading west across Manhattan to walk most of the High Line.  So nice to have it mostly to myself early in the morning.  I came back to the hotel by way of Madison Square Park again,

and strolled past Wine:30

before stopping at Starbucks.  So here you go:  photo-dump one of the sights on the walk.  Enjoy!

After everyone was awake and out of bed and freshened up, we headed up to the Met Museum. 

It was a holiday Friday, a long weekend, and our cab cruised up 50 blocks without a single red light.  Mind-blowing.  Van had never been to the Met, and it had been years for us, so we were delighted to be able to head there.

The top thing we wanted to see was the Superfine:  Tailoring Black Style exhibit.  We headed past a number of galleries,

barely pausing in our intent to make it to the Costume Institute section of the museum.  The exhibit did not disappoint.  It was so cool to see modern fashion set within a historical and cultural context that spotlighted Black style and artisanship. 

Stunning pieces.

After that, we wandered through various other galleries, taking a few photos here and there, mostly just admiring the art. 

Mid-afternoon we were outside again, heading into Central Park, wondering if we could get a drink at the Boathouse.  Nope!  Very busy on a warm, holiday Friday.  I suggested that we head over to The Mark Hotel for a drink, and so we did.  Spritzes! 

Refreshing.  Don't I look cheery? 

🤣

Dinner that night took us over to the chaos of Times Square and up to the revolving restaurant at the Marriott Marquis.  Conrad and I have watched most seasons of Top Chef, and several years back were able to go to one of the challenges, the first episode of Season 13 wherein all the chefs set up stands in a park below the Hollywood sign.  My favourite bite that day was the lamb tartare with smoked egg yolk by a chef named Marjorie.  She did well on that season, making it almost to the finale, and I was rooting for her.  I had looked her up earlier this year online to see where she was now working and found that she was the chef at The View in NYC.  I booked a table when I was able to.  A handful of days before we dined there, the NY Times critics gave the restaurant a good review.  So it was set, we were definitely keeping that reservation.

Truthfully, I liked the food, but it seemed to me a bit basic, catering to a hotel/Times Square crowd.  It was good, don't get me wrong, I just kind of wanted something more interesting.  Still, we enjoyed the views from the slowly revolving restaurant, and we had excellent service.  Last Words! 

Hooray - it had been ages since we had found a restaurant or bar that could make them (one place had the chartreuse but no maraschino!).  A salad for each of us,

then I enjoyed the prime rib. 

We shared a dessert.

Then it was back into the madness of Times Square,

a cab to the hotel, and while Van headed off to bed, Conrad and I squeezed in a last drink at Wine:30.

A little more to come on the NYC trip, but for a last full day in the city, I think we did pretty well!