Posts about unwelcome small rodents are a tough act to follow. Really, the only solution is to go for something BIG. Something STUPENDOUS. Something SO AMAZINGLY SUPERCALIFRAGILISTIXEXPIALIDOCIOUS (and I only had to pause twice while typing that!) that we'll all forget about the shock of the rodents.
Obviously, the only suitable follow-up is a really great travelogue...
"HURRAY!" (I know, I know. You were secretly hoping for this, weren't you? Such fun!)
Without further ado, my dears, here's a perfect day in New York City...
We'll pick up at lunchtime - because obviously you had a bit of a lie to start your day. (That's part of why it's perfect, of course.) So, meet your dearest friends for lunch somewhere really fabulous and yet surprisingly affordable. We recommend L'Ecole, the delicious student restaurant at the French Culinary Institute. (Pssst... Jacques Pepin teaches/taught here, so that alone should recommend it!)
The menu is rather drool-worthy. Hmmm... decisions, decisions...
Even the water carafe on the table is drool worthy. Kind of want to sneak it out in your purse, don't you? "Tsk - Tsk!" We'll have none of that -- no matter how tempted we may be! Just admire it while you eat...
Everyone should order something different, of course. I started with an appetizer of Gnocchi Nicoise with Candied Eggplant. That eggplant, I promise you, was to die for. I would have eaten a dish of just that!
For entree... hmmm... I'll have the Chicken Roulade with Shitake Mushrooms, Spinach, and Sun-Dried Tomato Risotto Cakes. Please and Thank you.
And then, of course, everyone simply must have dessert! It's the most important part of the meal, you know. Especially in a French restaurant.
The Creme Brulee with fresh berries was simple and lovely. And the other desserts were works of art... Peach Tarte Tatin with Creme Fraiche Ice Cream... Milk Chocolate Mousse with Spice Sponge Cake and Apples... Hazlenut and Plum Napolean...
Wow (try not to drool on your keyboard, dear.)
Oh my! Well, after such a DELISH meal, what could you possibly do?
Ummm... maybe cross the street to Muji?
OH. MY. This shop is the kind we like LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.
I know you really want to buy ONE OF EVERYTHING, but restrain yourself, friend. Put at least two things back. Maybe that little model of London, and the one of Paris too. You can keep New York, Tokyo, and the entire set of handkerchiefs. (Not to mention the stencils, the two t-shirts, and the pile of stationary supplies at the bottom of your basket...)
When you're done stocking up on Muji-goodness {happy sigh}, you'll want to stroll up the avenue, chatting with your friends and window shopping as you go. Maybe duck into random oriental trading company stores to try on hats and look at rice bowls?
And by all means, dash across traffic to Check Out THAT SOFA you spy through a shop door...
And while you're at it... buy a new watch (in a shop, not from a street vendor - Yikes!), go in a book store, try those dreamy smelling bath products in that other store, stop here, stop there, stop anywhere! Stroll for blocks and blocks until someone says...
"What's for dinner?"
Really? Is it dinner time already? Well, then you'd best head across the street to Le Pain Quotidien! The chocolate brownie with a fresh mint lemonade makes a great appetizer. In case you were wondering.
That flatbread thingee was tasty too.
Oh, but now you've got to HUSSLE! Curtain's up at 7:30 pm for your most favoritest theatre show E V E R. (oh go on, admit it!) ...
The practically perfect Mary Poppins, of course. Soooo simply delightful that even the menfolk will say they liked it!
End your day with a cocoa and conversation, sitting under the lights of Times Square.
It's been a really great day, hasn't it? Aren't you glad you came along? Hmmm... whatever will you do tomorrow?...
