Notes from a special NYC trip……

I spent a whirlwind weekend in NYC in March to celebrate my aunt’s 90th birthday and get a quick city fix. I had one day of brisk, icy finger weather and the rest was almost summer like. It was a great trip. I covered a considerable amount of pavement in Manhattan, got to MOMA and to my favorite – The MAD Museum at Columbus Circle but most of my discoveries were in Chelsea as my aunt’s celebration was being held in the brownstone she and my uncle have owned in the district since 1956.

The Desmond Tutu Center from the High Line

The Desmond Tutu Center was my hotel. I know, it doesn’t sound like a hotel but it is. It’s a brick 19th-century Gothic building directly on 10th Avenue at 22nd Street with gardens in the rear. The rooms are large, well appointed and amazingly inexpensive by Manhattan’s standards. It’s difficult to get a hotel room with a private bath and elevator for the price I paid – $155. More amazing is, the room was attractive, equipped with free Wi-Fi, flat screen TV, toiletries, a thick terry bathrobe, free bottled water, a coffee maker and in the lobby were complimentary newspapers and fruit.

Early morning in Chelsea Market

Besides walking, eating is of course a huge part of the fun in NYC. There are so many opportunities! We enjoyed great foods at Bombay Talkie on 9th, The Park a former parking garage transformed, breakfast at La Bergamote, Amy’s Bread baked goods in the Village and in Chelsea Market, and an excellent baguette from the chain Le Pain Quotidien. I didn’t get back to Trestle on Tenth this trip for brunch but I continue to long for another taste of their duck confit hash and eggs and would highly recommend it.

I wandered in to the Appellation Wine and Spirits store on 10th Avenue to pick up a bottle to share with my sister and brother. The selection was amazing, the staff was particularly helpful and the prices reasonable. I purchased a 2010 Gia Langhe Rosso made from a blend of Italian grapes for $16 and it turned out to be a perfect bottle to share over an evening of conversation without food.