Hello,
The trip was fantastic. We started having a plane delay due to lack of oxigen in the deposit (always comforting to hear about that instance before take off.) I was tired due to the 4 am wake up call to get to the taxi.
Monday Dec. 6th I arrived in the city, I went to the rented apartment in the East Village where I met the owner. After the instructions on how to keep the apartment neat (great apartment and location) I went for a walk. The area is full of restaurants, stores, etc. I went looking for a small (tiny) restaurant called PORCHETTA, that I saw in a magazine I am a subscriber "La Cucina Italiana" where they do Pork in a shredded-tender-crunchy-savory way that I had to try. I could not find it and I left because I did not wanted to arrive late to my art class located in West 8th Street & Fifth Avenue at The New York Studio School. It was a long-non-stop three hour class. Before the class, I ran into a Cafe called Le Pain Quotidien, a franchise coffee shop really well done. I ordered a Peruvian Coffee and a pastry of mix fruit with custard, YUM!! Then I was ready to learn and push myself.
On Tuesday the 7th, I woke up tired for all the walking and the art class. I gave everything to those hours and later on the day visiting and walking around Manhattan from midtown all the way down to the East Village. If you are a visitor of Manhattan, you know what I am talking about. I walked towards UNION SQUARE, where I went to the famous Coffee Place Diner. After that I walked around the area. I took a taxi and went to 52nd & 11th Avenue where I was one of the attendees at The Daily Show with JON STEWART. We waited outside for 2 hours at a cold 20 F Degrees (-8 C).
The show was great. It started with the warm up comedian that dialogued (poked fun at the group, pointing to a few individuals and couples to make of) giving great one-liners. We laughed a lot. Then the show came and Jon Stewart was as clever and articulate as ever. It was a short 1/2 hour live taping but it was worth all the way. The guest star was the actor SETH GREEN. After the show was over, I took a taxi home. Then I stopped at PORCHETTA where I snatched a great roasted pork sandwich and I bought a bottle of great Sicilian Red Wine. I watched some TV and went to bed.
On Wednesday December 8th I woke up rested and ready to take on the city. Dunkin Donuts was my typical East Coast fast food breakfast eatery. I walked a few blocks with the Giant Coffee to the Metro Station where I bought my weekly MTA Bus/Metro pass. I hopped in a bus and made it all the way to the 57's street galleries. I visited over 30 galleries, including Malborough. Great inspiring and educating works of art. Exhausted and hungry, THE CARNEGIE DELI was calling me. I ate their huge Pastrami sandwich. After that, I went to the taping of THE DAVID LETTERMAN SHOW. It was also an interesting taping with BARBARA WALTERS and AYMA MAYS who plays counselor Emma Pillsbury on Glee. The jokes where funny in an old school way. The warm audience comedian was a classical old timer. After the show, I walked to the busy Times Square where I bought a toy for our son. On my way walking, I stopped in a favorite book store called KINOKUNIYA, a Japanese bookstore and coffee facing BRYANT PARK in The Avenue of the Americas. After I bought a few Japanese sweet delicacies. From there I walked to the Flatiron District where I stopped a EATALY where I walked in the incredible place. From there I walked home and ordered take out from a Japanese restaurant called TAKAHACHI.
On December 9th, I walked to get a hearty breakfast. I walked from East Village to the Union Square Winter Fair. It was very nice and I enjoyed people watching and arts and crafts. I even had a real Gofre. Rare here. I bought a few things for Julie & Rafael. I had a coffee at Le Petite Cafe, walked through the streets in SoHo passing by Dean & DeLuca. I passed the NYU with all the Students between classes. Very active and busy people all over the place. On my way up to Mid Manhattan, I also stopped at one of my favorite bookstores, STRAND BOOKSTORE where I browsed a lot of art books of different kinds. Then, up in Broadway I made it to the Flatiron and stopped again at EATALY for lunch. I could not eat the night before because there was a wait of 1 Hour and 1/2. I entered the Fish Section bar and waited for a bit. I was lucky to see an opening. Then, another seat next to me opened up and a women sat next to me. We engaged in conversation. She is a Russian living in Manhattan. We had a good talk about the FinnancialWorld (She used to work there), Russia, Spain, Art, Family, her boyfriend and my Julie & Rafael. I had a great wine and the grilled big calamari. We said goodbye and I headed to the Espresso Bar and chatted with a nice couple in their sixties. They told me about their lives, 5 kids done with College. We had a good time. I bought a few items, an apron and left. I took the bus up to my Art Research Day at 76th Street and 5th Avenue where I walked to the Upper East Side. I entered the GAGOSIAN, LEO CASTELLI GALLERIES and THE FRICK COLLECTION MUSEUM. After that I returned walking by the Store Fronts in Fifth Avenue, stopped at the Plaza Hotel, then I turned right towards the Upper West Side in Columbus Circle's Time Warner Towers. There I saw a great SALVADOR DALI Show. Then, back to 5th Avenue to check all the Windows decorated for Christmas. Lot of shopping tourists watching the wonderful displays. I was tired from all that walking and I took a bus to SoHo. I went to the famous LOMBARDI'S PIZZA. It was Thursday and like every place, there was a load of people out to the restaurants. After the delicious pizza, I walked around Bowery where I saw a couple of Art Openings. Lot of research that day. Very productive. I got a lot of photos and literature for me to study. While walking from one show, I saw walking towards me the singer JOHN LEGEND, his girlfriend and entourage. The streets where bustling of energy. It reminded me of Madrid's energy and vitality. It was late, I went home and felt asleep right away. Another busy day was coming.
On the next day Friday December 10th, I walked up refreshed and ready for another day. I walked to the bus stop in Waverly Place. Hoped on M2 Bus and went all the way to 57th and 5th Avenue. Then I went to my Art Class at the ART STUDENTS LEAGUE OF NEW YORK. I had an intense non-stop day, having only two 20 minute breaks from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (9:00 - 16:30)
