Honeymoon

We just got back from our big trip to NYC, New York state, and New Jersey.  

Sunday was the first day, in which we went to the City for a walking tour of the Lower East side, complete with noshes (such as pickles, halva, and fried plantains...to name a few).  We found dinner at a little place called Eatery, and then we went to see Avenue Q, which was light-hearted and hilarious. Most salient feature of the show: Bad Idea Bears, whom I quote: "You need to do something for you. Buy some beer! Yeah, buy some beer!"...and..."Why don't you play a drinking game? They are a recipe for fun."

Monday: We went to Central Park and generally walked around the City.  We also had high tea at the Russian Tea Room, which was a lot of fun and kind of over-the-top.  Our server had a delightful Russian accent, and we enjoyed a wide array of finger sandwiches and pastries...the best scones we had ever had.  We also walked on the Highline and had pizza from a restaurant with a coal-fired oven for dinner.

Monday: Central Park

Monday: Dan in Central Park

Monday: High Tea at the Russian Tea Room

Tuesday: We went into the City for lunch at a ramen cafe and shopped around Soho before going to our cooking class entitled "Vegetarian Dinners for Everyone."  We learned to make four dishes: Ratatouille, Moroccan tagine with couscous, Farro with roasted vegetables and goat cheese, and Smoked black bean and butternut squash soup.  We were introduced and reminded of some good ingredients to use at home, smoked paprika, fancy sea salt flakes, golden beets, and fennel.  We also learned some useful techniques to use at home.

Tuesday: Lunch in Brooklyn at Chuko Ramen (cra-mazing Brussels sprouts appetizer plate)

Wednesday: The plan was to go to a Chinese hot pot restaurant in Flushing Queens for lunch.  I should mention at this point that I had motion sickness for most of the trip.  I got it on the plane, the bus, the subway, and the taxi.  By Wednesday, I was feeling sick just thinking about taking the bus, but I really wanted the hot pot.  Enter Aunt and Uncle Bad Idea Bears, whom I quote: "Borrow our car...Driving to Flushing is so easy...Just take the Cross Bronx Expressway, and then you'll be there...It would be a great adventure...You don't want to be on the bus for 1.5 hours, do you?...Besides, it would be so much fun to drive...YAAAY!"  

So I drove and Dan navigated to the hot pot restaurant in Flushing.

Wednesday: Hot Pot

Thursday: We borrowed the car again to go upstate to Woodstock and Rhinebeck.  We had pizza for lunch in Woodstock.  The weather was beautiful, and we just enjoyed walking around the area.

Friday:  We visited the Roosevelts in Hyde Park.  We started at Eleanor's cottage and went to the FDR presidential library in the afternoon.  We could not get reservations online for the CIA before the trip, so Dan called in the morning.  Somehow he was able to get a reservation for the last table for lunch service.

Friday: Eleanor Roosevelt's cottage at Val-Kill

Friday: Reserved the last table for lunch at the CIA (whole wheat crepes with quinoa chili filling)

After lunch we went to tour the FDR estate and presidential library.  The presidential library is under construction, so we could not see FDR's wheelchair or Eleanor's knitting needles, or any other possessions or memorabilia.  Our tickets will be honored for free admission in the future, but I'm still disappointed that I didn't get to see the knitting needles on this trip.

Friday afternoon: FDR presidential library and grave sites of FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt.

-吴碧芙