On The Road With Denis & Starr/Day 15 - New York, NY

Thursday, October 15
Happy Birthday, Rosa!

New York, NY

It was raining, it was pouring in the city.  It was splendid.

Today was a work day for us.

Together with all of the driving and drawing and doing and doing, Denis still had to, on a daily basis, direct his attention to the business deals that were developing back home in Atlanta.

Accounting, blogging and general catching up on emails and correspondence were on my list.   One can always count on reliable internet service while in New York so we needed to seize the day.

A walk in the rain to the Starbucks on 49th was the only exercise for us that morning.  Weaving in and out to dodge all of the mostly black, $5.00 umbrellas was a choreographic feat.  You can hear many more "excuse me" and "pardon me"'s on a rainy day in NY.  Weather is a great equalizer.

Our 6th floor room at the Hampton Inn was comfortable and well lit.  We cocooned ourselves in and kept the television on mute, but from time to time tuned in to hear the latest updates about the now infamous "Balloon Boy."

We accomplished a lot that day.  The best of which was Denis' newest sketch.

 A Hotel Window View On A Rainy Day

by

Denis

Was it really 8 p.m.?  So what?  Who cared?  It was NYC.  Every place was still open for business.  A steady rain continued to fall and it was cold.  Seeking a little familiarity, we decided to walk over to an old favorite, Ben Ash, on Broadway, but not before we purchased a $5.00 umbrella for Denis and his very own cashmere "like" scarf from a vendor on the Avenue.

What can we say?

We like what we like!

Dry...  Vodka...  Olives...

We reminisced about the many times we had sat at that exact table and shared potato latkes with Adrien. And also about years past when mom accompanied us on our trips to New York.  Never the vegetarian, she loved their pastrami.

Although always delicious, Jewish Deli food was not what we craved tonight.  So after we finished out Martinis we braced the cold and the rain and did something we had never done before.  Over to 9th we sloshed, and there, we found a whole new side of New York.  Block after block of neighborhood bistros and cafes offering every possible type of cuisine.  Uncle Nick's in Hell's Kitchen fit the bill that night.

This cheery Greek restaurant was inviting and full of locals, always a good sign.  The menu had oodles of vegetarian selections to choose from.  We lived dangerously and had a second Martini.  Then we dug in to the most scrumptious food.

A colorful Vegetable Kebob served over lemony scented rice for me.

For Denis, a traditional Greek dish, Vegetable Mousaka, made with eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes & potatoes all oven baked with Bechamel sauce.

Dessert for us that night too!

Baklava dripping with honey & Espresso

Opa!

Back at you, the love of my life!

WE HEART NEW YORK!

On The Road With Denis & Starr/Day 14 - New York, NY

Wednesday, October 14

New York, NY

It was different for us in New York this time.  Maybe it was because it was fall.  Maybe it was because it was just the two of us.  Maybe it was both of those things.

For so many years we have called our stomping grounds the area in and directly around Times Square.  We know those streets inside and out.

This time we booked a Hilton family hotel up the avenue, 8th Avenue on the west side of 51st, just a mere 5 or 6 blocks from the hotels we usually occupy on our visits.  And yet, this short distance made such a difference in our frame of reference for this sojourn.  We felt edgy and modern.

After a light and sufficient breakfast buffet that was laid on by the hotel each morning, we hit the sidewalk for our first task at hand; procurement of some Broadway show tickets for that evening.  The plan; walk up to 59th and then zigzag our way through the theatre district on the hunt for great seats for a great show without blowing our entire road trip budget!!

It was chilly that morning. The kind of morning where the wind tears through Manhattan's cross streets. The kind of morning that makes you thankful to be walking on an Avenue for one block before heading east or west again.

And then there it was.  The marquee for the show we would see this evening.  Not a big flashy musical, not even a musical, but a one act play with a limited engagement at the Schoenfeld on 45th.  A Steady Rain presenting two actors of screen and television fame, Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman, was the perfect choice for this already different New York experience.  The icing on the cake, Premiere seats for the price of regular seats.  Score!

With these choice tickets in hand, we stopped back at the hotel for Denis to pick up his art gear  Then we descended steps to the subway for a ride on the proverbial "A" Train headed for downtown.  Was it going to be the usual commute to West 4th for us?  No way, we stayed on and made our exodus at Canal Street that day!

Block after block we walked besieged by friendly vendors of purses and watches, but mostly the sought after Pashmina.

We walked through Chinatown and then back around to Little Italy.

We set up household at a sidewalk table at Novella Italian Restaurant at the corner of Grand and Mulberry Streets.

A hearty bowl of Pasta Fagioli was just what we needed.  Brimming with cannellini beans and pasta the base for this delicious soup was a light red, all vegetarian broth.

Fortified, I set off to do some serious bargaining.  Denis prepared to sketch.

I came back with two cashmere "like" scarves, one in a turquoisey blue and one in a carnationy pink.

As for Denis, just look!

An Afternoon At

Grand & Mulberry

In the news over the last few days was the controversy between Filippa Hamilton and Ralph Lauren and the topic of skinny models in general.   Rounding a corner in the village we came upon this lineup consisting of very beautiful, but the skinniest ladies we had ever seen.

 Someone walking behind us exclaimed, "Give them a cookie!"

After returning to the hotel and taking a lovely little nap, we were back on the street this time with all of the other excited theatre goers.  A consistent drizzle accompanied us all the way to the theatre.  Once inside, we delighted again at having such great seats and contained our enthusiasm when a famous person sat right in front of us.  It was Kyle MacLachlan of Desperate Housewives fame, but more fondly to us, Agent Cooper from Twin Peaks.

The play, a modern day drama about two cops living life on a "slippery slope" was set in Chicago and  was compelling, seductive and riveting.  I spent the 90 minutes on the edge of my seat.  The acting was stellar and the simple, almost nonexistent set allowed for the playwrights words to become the focal point that night.  A Standing O was in order.

The after theatre buzz was all positive.  We rehashed the story all the way back to the hotel, again, accompanied by a consistent drizzle.

Sleep tight, Broadway Babies.....

On The Road With Denis & Starr/Day 13 - Cape May, NJ

Tuesday, October 13

Cape May, NJ & New York, NY Here We Come!!!

SNL, I salute you......

YA GOTTA GET SOME

VICK-TOUR-EEYAN WALLPAPER!

Do you want a home that's elegant and bursting with class?

THEN, YA GOTTA GET SOME

VICK-TOUR-EEYAN WALLPAPER!

Do you want passersby to wonder who lives there?  They must be millionaires.

WELL THEN, YA GOTTA GET SOME

VICK-TOUR-EEYAN WALLPAPER!

Come to Cape May's

Totally Over-The-Top, Mix-Up-Every-Pattern-Under-The-Sun, Put-Colors-Together-That-Don't-Match & Hang-It On-Every-Visible-Surface-Every-Which-Way

Outlet For Excessively Exaggerated Wall Coverings

We've got this one...          

And that one......

        

And this one over here.....

Do you want to feel like you live in a mansion?

A palace?

A castle? 

SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

YA GOTTA GET SOME

VICK-TOUR-EEYAN WALLPAPER!

DON'T DELAY!

Get on over to Cape May's

Totally Over-The-Top, Mix-Up-Every-Pattern-Under-The-Sun, Put-Colors-Together-That-Don't-Match & Hang-It On-Every-Visible-Surface-Every-Which-Way

Outlet For Excessively Exaggerated Wall Coverings

and get yourself some

VICK-TOUR-EEYAN WALLPAPER!

Located on Central Avenue

Cape May, New Jersey

(Tea Time with every purchase)

Postscript:  Cape May was for you mom.  You would have loved it, Joanie!

On The Way to New York, NY

We have come to look forward to our driving days just as much as our arrival days on our road trip to Main Streets, USA.  Today was no different.  Our destination, our beloved New York City.

The beautiful Jersey Shore disappeared in our rear view mirror.

Today, more than ever, we were entertained by the many choices available on Sirius.  We boogie-woogied with the 40's on 4; we doo-wopped with the 50's on 5; we purple-hazed with the 60's on 6 and we disco-ed to the 70's on 7.

As we neared the Lincoln Tunnel, we switched to the Broadway channel and we razz-a-ma-tazzed to a few jaunty tunes!  And then....there she was!

On The Road With Denis & Starr/Day 12 - Cape May, NJ

Monday, October 12

Cape May, NJ

Another gorgeous day greeted us and after a breakfast repartee on the subject of the Nobel Peace Prize, we set out to appreciate the surrounding neighborhood that was fully adorned for fall.

Lunchtime found us on the patio at Gecko's in Carpenter's Square.  The menu was very vegetarian friendly offering freshly prepared creations borrowed from Mexico, Central and South America and Native Americans.

The soup of the day was a smooth and spicy Butternut Squash topped with pecans and chopped cilantro.

Denis chose the Three Sister Quesadilla, tortillas filled with the three sisters (corn, squash, beans), onions, jalapenos and cheese.  For me, the Tostada Compuesta, a crispy, grilled tortilla, refried beans and cheese, topped with mixed greens tossed in a pumpkin seed-mango dressing and a grilled portobella mushroom.  Both were excellent.

I strolled back to the Abbey to spend the afternoon blogging.  Two parlors were available for guests to use and  I felt every bit the lady of the house as I sat at a graceful table in the bay window.  Alas, no quill for me, just my trusty MacBook.

Denis perused the beachfront promenade for his next subject.

An Abbey tradition is for guests to gather on the veranda at 5 p.m for tea and tidbits.  During this carefree afternoon get-together we shared our day's activities and offered recommendations for eating establishments.  Jay, faithfully journaled these comments and will use them to guide future guests.

My guess, Jack Nicholson in Easy Rider?

Feeling refreshed, as one always does after a pleasant tea time, we set off to explore the Cape May Lighthouse before dark.  This totally restored, 1859 vintage tower with 199 steps offers amazing views of the Jersey Cape.

Denis wanted to finish his sketch tonight, so we popped in and out of Mangia Mangia where we shared an order of Homemade Crepe Cheese Manicottis Florentine.  Our waiter, Tony, was every bit the Jersey Boy.

www.mangiamangiacapemay.com

The Cape May Beachfront

by

Denis

On The Road With Denis & Starr/Day 11 - Cape May, NJ

Sunday, October 11

Cape May, New Jersey

Discovered by Henry Hudson, the nation's oldest seashore resort, Cape May, celebrates it's 400th Anniversary this year.  Arriving last night, we felt as though we had stepped back in time as we passed block after block of Victorian era houses and Bed & Breakfast hotels.

It was Victorian Week in Cape May, the town's annual celebration of it's Victorian heritage.  We had booked the last room available for miles around.  It was a third floor walk up in what we could only describe at first as a once opulent but now spooky house, the Abbey - A Bed & Breakfast Inn.  After hauling our too many bags up the narrow and winding staircases and landings we just about fell into our little room, named The Saratoga, at the tippy top of the house.  We agreed that it would grow on us and that it did.

In no time at all we were settled and comfortable in The Saratoga.

A Soy Latte in a crystal goblet and all is right with the world!

Unlike the other B&B's we had visited, The Abbey had many rules and regulations.  The parking pass was to be displayed in the center of the windshield at all times when parked on the grounds - not to the left, nor to the right; a secret code had to be memorized and used to enter any and all doors; attendance at breakfast was to be signed up for no later that 9 p.m. the previous evening and prompt arrival for the meal was expected.  Full payment for the stay was collected up front with the tax payable only in cash.

Each morning we arrived for the community breakfast which lasted for 45 minutes.   The table was set completely with Royal Albert's Old English Roses china.  During our three days stay, we were served something called "Scrapple" three different ways.  It was sort of a bread puddingy dish.  On the first day it was dressed up with a raspberry compote, next it was spiced up with pepper jack cheese and finally it disguised itself as French toast with real maple syrup.  It was really quite delicious, my favorite being the cheesy one.  Fresh fruit always preceded the Scrapple and for the carnivores there was always some type of breakfast meat.  The morning with the most attendees included 6 vegetarians out of 10 guests. The other guests were friendly and interesting and breakfast time was always lively with conversation.  Our host, Jay, arrived each morning in a different get up and would join us at the table offering helpful insight into making our visits to Cape May enjoyable.

Jay, appearing as Teddy Roosevelt, I think....

The Abbey's Historic District location was perfect for walking to the Beachfront Promenade, for viewing the blocks and blocks of architectural treasures and for shopping on Washington, Ocean and Perry Streets.  So, full of Scrapple we ventured out.

 Although not a tea room, this adorable shop on Perry Street was chock full of cute accoutrements for a Victorian tea table.

www.teacapemay.com

A knitter's dream at Fiber Arts Yarn Shop on Ocean Street.

www.yarnsrus.net

An ornament for everyone's taste at Winterwood on the Washington Mall.

www.winterwoodgift.com

I chose this one!!

And then off we went to The Fisherman's Wharf.  There, Denis found the subject for his next pen & ink.

A very late lunch for us today at Lucky Bones Backwater Grille at the foot of the Cape May Bridge.  www.luckybonesgrille.com

For starters, our Martinis.

Dry... Vodka... Olives for me.

Denis was daring, trying a Fudge Kitchen - Vodka, Dark Cocoa & Godiva White.

It was sweet, but so good.

Denis chose the Grilled Veggie Burger.  It was topped with brick oven roasted vegetables and herb mayonnaise.  He commented that it was the best he had ever had.

My Rocket Salad combined fresh arugula, olives, roasted veggies, shaved fennel, fresh mozzarella and it was lightly tossed with a creamy green vinaigrette.  It was paired with an order of brick oven focaccia and EVOO, making it the perfect late lunch/early dinner.

That evening we had our weekly Skype session with Adrien.  He is well and thriving at Rice University.

On the porch of The Abbey with our Baby Boy!!

Denis worked well into the twilight hours.....

Ta Da!!!