New Years Eve, and Tasty Travels...

Its been oh so long since I had a post here with a tale of my travels. I blame orcs.

Anyways, here's what I did my New Years Eve to celebrate and bring in the coming year. I went to my forest of steel and concrete, NYC. There I met up with an old friend, and went on an adventure. First we traveled the world via the Met.

Janice and Me upper floor of the Great Hall of the Met.

Me being overly dramatic, underneath a ceiling sculpture in the India exhibit.

Sculpture of a woman dancing in the Eastern Art Exhibit.

I always see this sculpture when I go to the Met, always. I don't know why, and ever picture I or another has ever taken of this one has always come out beautifully. Its one of those works of art that is done to the point that it just always has that captivating look to it. Its arms and legs are broken, which always makes me wonder what it would look like whole. The body is posed in such a way that I am just in awe of the skill the original sculptor must have possessed. I believe this one was Tibetan or Indian, I am not 100% sure.

After me and Janice left the Eastern Art wings, we traveled to Europe via the European paintings wings. As an artist, my favorite works have always been impressionist era and renaissance era, so of course, this was my favorite part.

Degas <3

Monet Water Lilies 1919.

Monet did alot of paintings of Water lilies. I just realized this. Much like Van Gogh, Monet painted certain scenes and places, over, and over, and over again. I've noticed this alot with painters who take work from real life. I mean, I have no problems with it at all, I just wonder, were there really that few places of interest to paint? Something I personally ponder.

Anyways, by the time we found my favorites the Met was closing...early. Cause of the holiday. So Janice and I ventured forth, to find food. We stopped at this quaint little wagon outside the Met for some hot apple cider. One of my personal favorite drinks of all time! After that we traveled down to the Village, and wandered about St. Marks in search of food. We walked into a few shops, one vintage shop with clothing from the 20's. The woman working there picked out a cute flappers dress with lace that she thought I would look good in. Unfortunately my budget was tight. While there I over heard the owner talking about The Great Gatsby, one of my favorite books, so of course I had to bud in. He had apparently played the role of Jay Gatsby in a production, and for his role done extensive research, mean while another actress had been playing Daisy and her research on her character lead her to Zelda Sayre F.'s diaries, which they both believed F. Scott stole the story for The Great Gatsby from. While I could argue this, with the old and true story, of the story is based on one of F. Scott Fitz's failed relationships with an upper crust woman named.Ginevra, who would later marry a man who was pretty much the same as Tom, and who had a best friend, professional golfer and all named Edith Cummings, who Daisy's best friend Jordan Baker is based off of. But hey, its always nice to hear some theories on your favorite books and writers. Though, F. Scott DID take some material from Zelda's diaries. That much is fact, how much however, thats another story.

After that we finally sat down for some dinner at The Dumpling Man. A wonderful treat indeed. Hand made dumplings, right before your eyes. And as a vegetarian, I wound up eating the veggie ones. Which had shiitake mushroom, normally, I hate mushrooms, but it didn't even taste like mushrooms. I almost died because for a moment I thought it was meat! Now, I can't digest meat, hence why I am a veg. My stomach can't break down beef, chicken, pork, and some fish [tuna, and a few others]. Hence why I don't eat it. So Janice and I got worried that I was eating meat. She tried some and assured me that it wasn't meat. But, I can't lie, it was delicious. I also had a cup of miso soup. I love miso soup. Every Japanese or Asian restaurant I go to that carries it, I have to try it. This was the best Miso soup I have had, and I've been to Tokyo! Absolutely amazing, I highly recommend this place to any NYer or person visiting the city. Its right down in St. Marks, just take the 6 down to Astor Place, and towards 1st ave, just a little past that and you're there!

For dessert we went to Spot! which is right down the street. OH MY TASTY TREATS! Aside from having drop dead tasty food, their drinks are incredible too! Janice and me may or may not have pigged out a bit~

Our Cupcakes: Mine, Chocolate Green Tea Fruit Jam, and Janice's, Vanilla Carmel Vietnamese Coffee.

We both got cupcakes and drinks and then shared one of the tastiest tiramisus ever. Vietnamese Coffee Tiramisu to be exact. Its not on the website, but it is on the menu that you get when you go in. To drink I had a Green Milk Tea bubble tea, and Janice had a Thai Coffee Float. Yes, I know, so much coffee! But it was all soooo good. After that we parted ways. Janice went on home, and I made my way to Port Authority to head over to Jersey to get to my Aunts. Unfortunately, the blocks to PA were all blocked due to a certain NYC tradition. I managed to get in there and on my bus at 11:35PM. And made it to my Aunts, who fortunately lives a few blocks from the Lincoln tunnel, at 11:55PM. And rung in the New Years with her, and my Uncle, and a glass of sparkling cider [no alcohol this time!].

A few days later I headed back into the city with my best mate, Kim. We met up with our friend from Moscow Dimitry, and later with Janice. We traveled around the city hitting all the sights, and wound up back in St.Marks for dinner. I bought a jacket from Search & Destroy , sadly it really is too big for me, so I gave it to my sister. But hey, I got it for 20 bucks! Sadly there is no website for the store. But I did manage to find on flickr a picture of the establishment, and a description of it and the restaurant downstairs, which btw, is owned by the same person. Btw, did you know that a member of the NYC based J-band Peelander Z works there ;D Stop in perhaps you'll see him one day. The entire staff there is so friendly though, and I am always happy to visit. Just walking in they always greet me with a smile and curt nod of the head. [And they are uber stylish ;D] A great NYC punk gem!

Before I bought my coat however, we all ate at Zen, a hole in the wall restaurant that is affordable and quiet. Kim who hates any sushi that isn't from our favorite local sushi place, loved it. Thats saying something, considering this girl is picky! Anyways, its a great place to eat at! Most places in the Village usually are though!

After, of course, we went to Spot! I had the Berry Berry Chocolate cupcake this time, which turned out to be too sweet for my tastes, I couldn't finish it, and the same drink as last time. Janice and Kim both had the Chocolate Green Tea cupcake, and drinks. Dimitry ate nothing, he was stuffed.

Picture taken by the lovely Kim. Dimitry, Me, Janice.

The magical end of yet another adventure. Next post I promise to post about my trip to Quebec. Thankfully I have a captains log and nothing will be forgotten! Till then, carry on, and be safe in your journeys!

"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."
C.S. Lewis

-F.