The Plaza

Most hotels that I stay in are only worth writing about for comedy value, in an "If my mother could see me now" kind of way. So staying in a hotel like the Plaza? A little bit out of my league, to say the least.

Here are some facts I gleaned from the Plaza website:

• The Plaza accepts small dogs or cats (approx 15-20 pounds maximum) (Seriously, a 15-20 lb cat? So a small tiger's ok then?)
• 24-carat gold plated Sherle Wagner faucets (because 18-carat gold plating really wouldn't do)

We didn't dare order anything on room service (even tea or coffee) due to the $8 charge for room service + tax + service charge (and that's before the cost of the coffee) but the room itself was lovely and (by New York standards) monumentally large.

How thick is that mattress?



The Plaza reflected on the building opposite



Allow a good half hour or so for the bath to fill up!



Gold-plated U-tube? Did they have too much 24-carat gold-plating?



That mattress again...Zzzz....Zzzzz

Words and Pictures © Louise Heal 2009

South Street Seaport

Now this is my kind of place. Great views (check), urban culture (check), water (check), wooden boardwalk (OK, I'd never considered that but check seeing as it's there).

The South Street Seaport is way down on the Lower East Side (way lower than I've ever been before), with a museum and fantastic views of Brooklyn Heights.

Skip the shopping centre, chill on the boardwalk, admire the Brooklyn Bridge, marvel at how big Brooklyn Heights is then turn around and ogle at the Wall Street skyscrapers.

And if you want more info, it's in a more sensible form here at New York City by Land, Sea and Sky

(If 'Watchtower' rings a bell for you, this might help)



The IKEA Water Taxi. But how DO you get the Grevbäck bookcases back to Manhattan?



The Brooklyn Bridge. Feelin' Steely?



Brooklyn Heights. Bob Dylan, Mary Tyler Moore, Truman Capote and Andrea Dworkin have all called it home. Now THAT would be a dinner party

Simon chillin' on the boardwalk. Rather than under the boardwalk which is, well, in the water. How silly would that be?



The skyscrapers of Wall Street facing Brooklyn Heights. Corporate uniformity vs. Urban Attitude



South Street Seaport Museum. Founded in 1967, this is the National Maritime Museum

Words and Pictures © Louise Heal 2009

Central Park Part Deux

I thought (curse of Hollywood and Nephews) that the Central Park Zoo was a figment of the imagination of Madagascar. Imagine my surprise upon finding that it isn't. (There's a zoo in Regent's Park, so why not in Central Park?). Unfortunately all of the animals had gone inside by the time we passed by, so I'll leave you with this pair of show-off seals (or sealions? I'm not an expert).

Seals? Sea Lions? I don't know. But they were definitely showing off

Oh, and some other pics of Central Park too.

Hot Dogs and Pretzels. As typical of New York as Central Park or Times Square

Where are all these people hurrying to?

To see the Green Lady?



The Pond looking towards Central Park West



Ice on the Water



Twin Towers of Central Park West

Words and Pictures © Louise Heal 2009

Central Perk, sorry PARK

Another must-do on the New York circuit, that walk through Central Park. This, on the other hand, never fails to delight me. In the fading early March sun, it was cold and bleak, but the squirrels and the joggers were still out in force.

I have only ever visited New York in the winter, so I've never seen Central Park with leaves on the trees. The benefit of this is that I've always had a great view of the surrounding buildings. (The downside, obviously, is that it's always cold and I've never walked around in shorts. Or had the pleasure of seeing New York males in shorts. Ahem).

Keep Off The Snow

But somebody didn't...

It even looks cold in the photograph



Ah, to live in an apartment on Fifth



Come over here, take our squirrels

(No I didn't take any pictures of the joggers. What do you take me for?)

Words and Pictures © Louise Heal 2009

The Whitney

After a restorative sushi lunch (so New York), we decided to head to the Upper East Side and Park Avenue to visit the Whitney Musuem of American Art. The main appeal for me was that they own the Edward Hopper Estate.

And what a sad disappointment the Whitney was! Very few Hoppers, 1 or 2 Kandinskis, the odd Lichtenstein and some bizarre 'installation art'. (Seriously - has ANYONE ever gone to a gallery SPECIFICALLY because they're showing 'installation art'?)

My verdict? Don't bother. Unless, of course, they decide to put a few more of the Hoppers on show.

Words and Pictures © Louise Heal 2009

Times Square

Useless Fact #1 about Times Square: it costs more to rent space outside the buildings (i.e on which to hang your advertisement) than it does to rent space inside the building (where you wouldn't be able to see out on account of the huge advertisement hanging over your window). Consequence? Many of the buildings are empty on the inside...only in America!

Useless Fact #2 about Times Square: There's a strange deja vu here the touts offer you tickets for 'Billy Elliot, The Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago'. So, in fact, the exact same shows that are on in London. Globalisation hits Theatreland? Discuss.

Not really my cup of tea, probably not anyone's cup of tea. Yet somehow Times Square feels like one of those mandatory 'must-do' places in New York. And it never fails to disappoint. Hmm.

Chase Me!

Come over here, steal our shows...

So you're saying I can't have a Diet Coke?

Premiered when we were there. Slated by the press. Anybody see it?

Tony Mora. For your every cowboy boot need

Words and Pictures © Louise Heal 2009

Top of the Rock (Part II)

It's awful high up here! But it takes less than 50 seconds to get up there, thanks to some clever lifts (sorry, elevators). There's even a view on your way up, thanks to a cool glass-topped elevator.

One of the best things about the Top of the Rock was (for me) the sight of the Empire State Building. Looking as iconic as ever, with New York melting into the haze behind it, the view of that alone really made my day.

Does anybody ever use these things?

Towards the Hudson

Any idea? No, me neither

Impressive, isn't it?

This, on the other hand, isn't quite so pretty

Words and Pictures © Louise Heal 2009

Top of the Rock (Part 1)

Newly re-opened since my last visit to New York, the Top of the Rock is the perfect place from which to view the Manhattan skyline. For a start, you actually get to look AT the Empire State Building rather than looking OUT from it. The top level balcony is also open (the Empire State is enclosed) so it's a slightly less claustrophobic experience.

The Top of the Rock is part of the Rockefeller Center, which also houses Radio City, NBC (including the Saturday Night Live studios) and the Rainbow Room. It's also famous for its Christmas Tree and the Ice Rink (which was still there in March).

I have to confess that we did the Tourist Thing - in this case posed for our very own version of the famous Girder Photo. Although our feet were fairly close to the ground. The results are currently displayed on a fridge magnet near me ;-)

The Ice Rink (You may, we didn't)

South Side of Plaza

Prometheus

Er, did you say we're going up there?

Prometheus, posing in profile this time

Words and Pictures © Louise Heal 2009

Streets of New York

It's always tempting to be distracted when strolling down Fifth Avenue. You know, the shops (was that Abercrombie calling?), the architecture, the bewildering array of pizza joints. But I tried to keep my eyes at street level and take a look at what was on the ground.

The snow was melting (thankfully) so it was a case of 'Watch that puddle' in addition to 'Look at that building'. Was it just me, or was NY quieter than I remember it? Is that the credit crunch or has it just been a long winter? Even the taxis and the car horns seemed a bit subdued.

How come there's never a cab when I need one?

Spooky. But not the Twin Towers

Don't Walk

Outside Bergdorf Goodman

Off Fifth Avenue

Words and Pictures © Louise Heal 2009