Summer in the City! (Part 1)

The two Michaels and Dani have been invited to housesit in NY.
So many goals...They include:

• Have an active, productive month. 
• Explore all 5 boroughs.
• Spend more time with each other, less with our devices. 
• Eat great food every day.
• Did I mention walk 300 miles?

Questions abound.
How will Michael Jr. react to this new environment?
Can we see everything we want to see on foot?
How much can you get in NY for less than $50 a day?
Will we ever want to come back?

Read on to find out...



6/25/16

A day and a night with the Smith Family in Charleston. 

Michael Jr. is in heaven! Lots of play time, attention, and other kids.

At one point they are all sitting on the floor, all talking at once, and he is babbling excitedly at the top of his lungs. 

Wish we had video!

6/26/16

Drive to Dunn, NC, which was the right distance and the right price (Airbnb). 

The cabin is itty bitty and rustic but very charming. It sits on quiet horse farm in the small town of about 10,000. 

6/27/16

We take an early, hazy morning walk.

Michael takes MJ to meet the horses. 

We start the long drive (7.5 hours) to Philadelphia. We mean to take most of the day, with lots of stops. 

The studio apartment in Philly (Airbnb again) is in a great part of town, but completely uninspiring. 

Up 3 flights of stairs in a rickety building, no character whatsoever and completely bare (apparently these "corporate" run apartments are increasingly common and are really ruining the spirit of Airbnb). 

 

6/28/16

8.5 miles 

Michael turns 39!

We walk around Philly with no particular goal in mind. The weather is overcast and cool, perfect for us. 

MJ is the star of the show, as people comment on him in his "litter" everywhere we go. 

6/29/16

The drive from Philly into NY is supposed to be around 2 hours. 

We try to carefully thread the needle by leaving right at 10am: avoid Philly traffic, make it into NYC before the traffic is untenable. We get out on time, but the drive takes about 3.5 hours. 

We enter the city in awe. The masses! The traffic! 

Rachel and Alex greet us in Greenpoint. We visit, get the walking tour of the all the best spots, and do Italian takeout that makes it impossible not to overeat. 

6/30/16

We visit, settle in, and hang out. 

Rachel and Alex prepare to leave. 

Dinner is at Mogador, a Morroccan place nearby. 

We leave the ordering to the pros and we are not disappointed. 

Hummus, couscous, halloumi (fried cheese), falafel that will knock your socks off. 

We learn that the streets in Greenpoint are alphabetical, from North to South (Ash, Box, Clay, Dupont, Eagle, and more!)

7/1/16 

8.28 miles

We say an early farewell to Rachel and Alex.

Pack up and leave around 9 to set foot in the city. 

Walk down to the Williamsburg Bridge. 

On our way, we pass a shoot for crime drama Sneaky Pete with Giovanni Ribisi.

With the traffic, the train, the wind, and the helicopters, crossing the Williamsburg Bridge is unbelievably loud. 

Dani catches a glimpse of MJ in the pack. He is asleep.

Lunch is at Russ & Daughters, a long established hub serving Jewish comfort food. 

Delicious lox, latkes (fried potato cakes), and coffee. 

Kitchen and wait staff are all making faces at MJ (or responding to the faces he is making at them?) This is his first experience in a high chair (he's finally sitting)!

Walked back talking of the growing list of to-do's for the month of July (even a month in NY is not enough?!)

Learned that you could eat at a different place in NY every day for 12 years, and never make it to all of them.

Ate a dinner of random fridge dwellers over a game of cribbage.

Finally got to see GOT finale. E.P.I.C.