Shake Shack Attack and NYC Trip Wrap-Up

You know how sometimes, you hear about a restaurant that everyone lines up to eat at, but once you actually get the chance to eat there, the food is less-than-stellar? Well, Shake Shack is not one of those places. It was absolutely fantastic!! It tasted just like my mom's homemade hamburgers. Karen shared her cheese fries with me. They were fine, but I would choose to have them plain if I ever have the great good fortune to eat there again.

I walked from Madison Square Park to Grand Central in beautiful, early-fall weather to catch a ride on the New Haven Line to see the SWELL gang. It was so fun to just hang out with Liz, talk to her about whatever, play around with the kids a little and enjoy the afternoon. Check out this picture of the result of the youngest's encounter with Mr. Softee:



I made my plane home on Saturday morning with very little time to spare. I loved my visit with family and friends, but it was so wonderful to come home to my sweetheart. I missed him!

The Improving Invalid

Kiki is really improving by leaps and bounds. She went with me to Chinatown and even negotiated the stairs up and down at the subway station without any problems. It's quite impressive.

Rowdy went home this morning. I think that we could have done some things that would have made his stay more enjoyable, had he stayed longer, but he's not an East Coast boy at all.

Peggy J., Sharon F. and I had dinner tonight at Mercer Kitchen. It was so wonderful to see them and catch up. They are always lively conversationalists, intelligent and fun. Mercer Kitchen's food was delicious, especially their molten chocolate cake with toffee ice cream.

This morning, I ran across the Brooklyn Bridge. I'll have to do it again tomorrow and Saturday, because we're going to Shake Shack for lunch tomorrow. Then I'm off to New Roc City to see the SWELL gang. Can't wait!!

Culinary Successes and Failure

Gray's Papaya Hot Dog


Here's your slice, Julie! Onions, mushrooms, olives and sausage. Yummy!!



Rowdy did not really enjoy the Tour de Upper West and East Sides. Hmmm...guess I really didn't think that through very well. I just wanted to show him where I lived and worked, but for him it was just walking by buildings. I was so excited to find that there was a Magnolia Bakery on Columbus, so I ran in for a cupcake. After all, it should taste like a Buttercup Bake Shop cupcake, right? Well, no. The frosting tasted like whipped shortening, and the red velvet cupcake tasted like sawdust. Rats!




The evening turned out better. Dinner was great, and then we ate ice cream at Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. We all said that we weren't going to have any, but then I caved, then Kiki, then Rowdy.

We did have a celebrity sighting today--Mary Louise Parker was sitting a table over from us at Grimaldi's.

Big Apple Adventures

My sister, Kiki, had some surgery last week, so Rowdy and I are staying with her in Brooklyn for a few days. I'm not sure how much we're really helping her out, other than entertaining her. She's doing quite well, actually.

Rowdy has never really pined to see New York. He only really was interested in seeing the Statue of Liberty and Ground Zero. That was easily accomplished yesterday. Then I made him walk over the Brooklyn Bridge back to Kiki's house. We are going to Grimaldi's for pizza tonight, Julie. We can't wait!

Today, I'm dragging Rowd uptown to see my old stomping grounds. It's going to be weird, knowing that so many of my friends from back in the day have moved away. I am also hoping for a celebrity sighting or two. I have to admit that I have missed them.

Some People Know How to Deal With Their Fans, Some Don't

Rowdy is talking with one of his motorcycle racing heroes, Kevin Schwantz, right now. Mr. Schwantz was totally gracious and nice, willing to chitchat and sign an autograph without being all "I'm one of the greatest motorcycle racers ever. I'm Valentino Rossi's hero. Don't bug me."

Contrast that with Nicky Hayden, who was a big jerk to my friend, Ally, over the weekend. I'm looking forward to hearing that story in its entirety.

Addendum:

Well, according to our friends, Kevin Schwantz got punched last night by a friend of theirs because he wouldn't stop hitting on a girl that works for him. So, he's really good with fans, but maybe you don't want to leave him alone with your sister.

Thanks for the awesome b-day present, Rowdy!

Every day should start with a Diet Coke break

Warm and dry, enjoying the Red Bull Rookies race and the 125cc race.

Hurricane Ike wanted to see the race, too.

Literally wringing wet.

The MotoGP race today was awesome! My boy, Valentino Rossi, put on a great show in horrible weather, biding his time and finally passing Nicky Hayden about halfway through. By the time they called the race at lap 20, he had opened up a commanding lead. Did he know it was my birthday?

The day started off a little cloudy, then there were some sprinkles, then a downpour with 40 mph winds. We stayed put, because I didn't want to go back to the hotel and find out that they actually ran the race after all.

Per Strong Bad, every trip needs a catch phrase, like "jumbo-large", or "the expenseeviest". Our "JL" of the trip so far is "Shamwow!" When the track crew was trying to dry the track out for the GP race, some drunk dude behind us yelled, "Shamwow!!!"

We Don't Like Ike

I hope that the Witch, Warlock, Pippi, Bardo and the nipper-to-be are all okay down in Houston.

Our experience with the remnants of Ike in the next post.