August 28, 2007

It's my 52nd  birthday today, and my husband, David and I have decided to celebrate in one of my favorite places on the planet, New York City, New York. 



Sat in the Toronto airport awaiting our connection to the Big Apple, after boarding a redeye flight at 1 AM, Mountain time.
Flying a long distance at night (especially headed East) is great.  You can sleep away the time.



I usually like a wing seat.  The view can be quite pretty, although the engine noise can be troublesome. 

If you want to pick one of the best seats on a plane, any plane, try this site:  www.seatguru.com.

We are again staying in Manhattan right on Central Park in the Helmsley Park Lane Hotel on Central South.  (My compliments to Peggy and her staff as they surprised me with a chilled bottle of white wine and snacks along with birthday wishes.  Thanks!)

We loved staying at the Park Lane Hotel in March and we got a good deal on a room through www.hotels.com.

The hotel is only a short walk from both Radio City Music Hall and Broadway theatres.  In addition, Central Park is right across the street, and the CBS "Early Show" is a 2-minute walk away.

If you need groceries, just walk up to Columbus Circle and go into the basement of the Time Warner building.  Great food if you can stand the long checkout line-ups in the Whole Foods store. 

Well worth the wait though. Especially if you are a fan of "Black and White" cookies.  Oh, yummy!

By the way, a taxi cab ride from LaGuardia airport to downtown Manhattan is about $40 including tolls and tip.

Love traveling, too?

Maybe some of my past trips can be of assistance to you while you plan your next adventure. 
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August 28, 2007

After arriving, checking in and picking up groceries at Whole Foods Market, we made our way to Central Park.



We picnicked atop huge rock formations near this playground.

I guess we zigged, when we should have zagged because we missed seeing Angelina Jolie with her baby daughter, who visited the Central Park Zoo.  But we had a great picnic in the sunshine with the sounds of children playing.

Had dinner at a favorite Italian restaurant, Nocello's on 55th between 7th and 8th avenues.  The chef's "carrot and green apple" soup is delicious, but the "beet and goat cheese" salad is just the best.  Not to mention the spinach risotto.
Servings are very generous, and with the table breads and herbed oil dip, it's difficult to finish everything.  Better to share an order.

 We walk a great deal in the Big Apple; we averaged over 20,000 steps A DAY!  David is big on counting, so his pedometer is standard travel gear for us

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We are early risers and so we were up and dressed and walking by 7:30.  We decided to investigate the CBS "Early Show."  What a surprise!  Look who showed up!  Yep, Kevin Bacon was promoting his newest movie, "Death Sentence."

  I turned around just in time to see Kevin Bacon being hustled out of the GM Building flanked by a show producer and a very humorless security guy.  We had no idea he was a guest on the show.  Pure dumb luck!  But our cameras are always at the ready.



Kevin Bacon has aged well; he's quite attractive in a lean mean sort of way.  I became a fan following the movie, Footloose.  But found some of his other flicks too raw and nasty.

Kevin Bacon was very gracious with his adoring fans who had lined the roped-off area on the CBS plaza.
 

Kevin Bacon was interviewed by CBS' Harry Smith.  Harry is a very adept interviewer and must be admired for his poise on camera.  That man could run for president. 

But back to Kevin...

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