New Yorker’s sure don’t know how to handle snow removal.  Last Sunday afternoon we detoured off 5^th Ave to Bryant Park’s Winter Village. We watched four young park workers attempting to clear the sidewalk; shoulder to shoulder they worked scrapping up fistfuls of snow in garden spades that, step by step they flipped a few inches in front of their feet. Then we saw two, more senior, workers ignoring the snowy sidewalk, attempting to snow blow the flower bed??? But for all the lack of experience in snow removal New Yorkers manage to look chic even in the cold and snow. I am still thinking about the young women on the subway, heading to Brooklyn, of course. In addition to her dark wide leg jeans, pointed toe boots, navy and red striped tee and long dark coat she had an awesome oversized tote, like this, but woven. Clean hair, no obvious make up and a few simple gold rings.  I loved it. 

I have been to New York five times. The sights are spread all over Manhattan and the other boroughs so there is no perfect place to stay.  Once I stayed at a historic resort in the Poconos, and we drove in for the day.  Once I stayed at the Y near Central Park (great location but not something I ever need to experience again.) Once, I rented a basement apartment in Harlem.  Once I stayed in the Financial District and last week I stayed in Astoria, Queens.  The Harlem apartment was in a classic brownstone.  It was a full floor apartment with two bathrooms, a kitchen and plenty of room for my family of four. There was not a lot for us to do near the brownstone but like everywhere in Manhattan it was a short walk to the subway and had plenty of bodegas to get breakfast and snacks (wine) at the end of the day. The Financial District is great for access to the Staten Island ferry, the Stock Exchange, Revolutionary War sites, the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn, 9/11 Memorial, Ellis Island and the Lower East Side.  It is the oldest settled part of Manhattan and feels quintessentially New York with its nearness to the water and moody light.   However, because it is a functioning financial district once the workers go home for the night the bars and restaurants close early and it gets very quiet. This trip I found a newly remodeled hotel in Astoria, Queens. The subway was a quarter block from the hotel and got us into Midtown in 25 min for shows, Central Park, and direct connections to the entire island. Plus, because it was in a residential area, when we rolled home late after a show, we found restaurants, grocery and wineshops open late into the night.  

Why five days in New York in February? In New York City there is so much to do the weather is irrelevant. We were there for part of Museum and Theatre Week (2 for 1 tickets) and Restaurant Week. Historic Delmonico’s opened its doors to RW diners. We dined on huge portions of filet mignon and Baked Alaska. We also saw two different shows, renewed our wedding vows in a public vow renewal on Valentine’s Day in Times Square, went to the Whitney for Free Friday, the UN, the Poster House, Gracie Mansion, the Museum of the City of New York, Federal Hall, Fraunces Tavern, The Dead Rabbit, The Penrose, Katz’s Deli, Economy Candy, the Strand Book Store, ate street vendor hot dogs, pizza slices and bagels.  We strolled Fifth Ave with our arms linked and bought a Lucky Cat at Pearl River Mart at Chelsea Market. We rode the tram to Roosevelt Island at night. On our last day we left our bags at the hotel and went back into Manhattan. We went to the Guggenheim, walked across Central Park to Zabar’s where I bought these cute espresso cups, fresh roasted espresso beans and a chocolate babka to take home. We walked up to the Lincoln Center and at the fountain reenacted the scene from Moonstruck then sat on a bench in Central Park until we felt thoroughly chilled, people watching and savoring the last few moments of our trip.