Jersey Boys

Saturday night we had tickets to see the the Broadway musical Jersey Boys. It is the Tony Award winning musical, based on the lives of the 1960'a group the Four Season.

Before hand we headed to the Cuban restaurant, Guantanamera. We enjoyed mojitios, paella, ropa vieja, chimichurri and watched some Cuban cigars rolling.

















What a good looking bunch!

















After we headed to the Jersey Boys - and it was absolutely fantastic!

Greenwich Village & Washington Square Park

On Saturday morning, with the help of our trusty tour guide David, we headed to Greenwich Village & Washington Square Park for a walking tour.


It was great to finally make it don to that part of town, sit in front of the famous arch, and see what everyone has been raving about.

















After a quick lunch and a look at the markets, we headed home to get ready for our night out!

Friday Fun

On Friday Mum, Dad and David and I all headed to our old favourite Carnegie Deli for some lunch. They soon realised we were not joking about towering meat!

Afterwards we headed over to the west side piers to boarded a cruise around Manhattan. The sights we saw included the Statue of Liberty.....

.......Ellis Island, Chelsea piers, the Brooklyn Bridge......

.....and we could even see our apartment from the water! As the clouds rolled in we were thankful that we were under cover!

After disembarking we enjoyed some light refreshment, including a root beer float for David, before heading home to rest our feet.

Parents in Town

On Wednesday my parents arrived in town for a 2 week visit, that was planned somewhat at the last minute. They will be staying with us, and have already paid for their rent in advance with over a dozen packets of Tim Tams and Aussie treats!

They spend their first day wandering round town and visiting the top of the Empire State Building. Last night we celebrated with dinner out in the West village, back at Malatesta Trattoria. We were so impressed on Saturday we headed back for more and were not disappointed!

Brooklyn Bridge & High Line

After a full belly of Dim Sum we decided to enjoy the sunshine and go for a little walk. Given its proximity we decided to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, and then onto DUMBO for some market browsing.




















We then caught the subway to Chelsea, and ventured on to the High-Line. The High Line was built in the 1930s, as part of a massive public-private infrastructure project called the West Side Improvement. It stopped running in the 1980's and was under the threat of demolition, until it the public fought for it to be preserved and maintained as an elevated public park.


The restoration has been highly acclaimed and well received, and perfectly completes the transition of the boarding areas Chelsea and Meatpacking. It is truely an excellent example of how architecture and landscaping can combine the old world with the new.















After a long day we headed home exhausted. In hindsight, given it was 30C it was probably not the best day for a walking tour!

Dim Sum at Jing Fong

After much research was excited to try out a new dim sum place in China town. Jing Fong is the size of a football field with massive gaudy chandeliers and neon lights.

















Heinous decor aside the food was fresh, fast and tasty, and we were all suitably stuffed!

The endless sound of trolleys rattling down between tables and clinking chopsticks against china bowls is music to any dim sum lover!

All over!

Malatesta Trattoria

Saturday night, after some power naps and resting of the feet, Sharmini joined us for drinks at our place before heading out to the West Village.

We went to Malatesta Trattoria, and I can honestly say this is the best Italian I have eaten outside of Italy. Home made pasta, gourmet sausage, excellent wine selection we were spoilt for choice! I had the spinach gnocchi with Gorgonzola sauce - heaven!

Sharmini and Alex then headed off for a night on the Lower East side, and David and I headed home for some SNL and bed!