I spent my first two nights in Manhattan, sleeping on my college friend Reid's couch - most comfortable counch
ever. I slept so well. Reid and his roommates were great hosts, and I got an awesome view of Manhattan to boot! (midtown? downtown? Not sure which it technically is.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEllVAFPg4lSjK4mY5WdDCj1uxrYjvIQVDbUOpuTE58DgiwD6BfH_pGtQXz8Ckk-N7sJor2oG0G0GlTUB8h2zTtSHIbZeUB4HU1PtvZk0yxLt_Af8tOk5CuCgPSOOteq4gN5ZbrdK9LA/s640/manhattan-view-down.jpg) |
the view from Reid's room |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsCMaCsH5fc9GFdxAhsk5x0CRx8BU6kItk3Wf0zDPF0o-VIQJyZel48UNzrRH5Dqu8sRNe3eZQhf3niwy7c3vA92NvhTEtJ7IS2CHjI6UErlZiKEmLsrrn6Xr_qiDpidxP1qBBRki3Ok/s640/manhattan-view-up.jpg) |
same view, looking up |
I spent my first full day in New York walking
a lot. Fortunately it was a really nice day, so it was great to get a bit of exercise and see a lot of neighborhoods all in one go.
My walk:
View Larger Map
I started off at the Highline - old raised railroad tracks which have been converted into a garden walk that is several miles long. I loved the contrast between the city below and the plants around me. It was noticeably cooler up on the highline.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kLZ82HoHgZrRl8OyEAuwDRkxUmuTiDGAfnsnTQD9-dR64ClXMY3Q0sWw5PXRaywbateLHVbiPVxZZ3S_OJz1bC8edVDQ9xq5OXlJINbCkesRwzTyLQVM9x8F3ih8dHWlTMkOs64vfiw/s640/start-of-highline.jpg) |
Looking down - old framework, new glass railing. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHa1jjTJCtn-MRtac8Jmu_7J8w1x9MzP9D-Z5qsbfrAigG1pOYxMRQxgfZuw3wkIPycOKl3H50B4xAzfi0gVSCnlCJdEBdD9z8Qc0MsOMElb2A30ueSqPRSpj-P0uZgv9gRzTVifLCkw/s640/highline.jpg) |
This is what most of it looked like. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRrSdZPvKqU4c8j0s1hT6rBP2rKuNIZfo_wbSqWVSwBVCM65mbhCUBeI7WEHWn0KGlG6TPOp_X3qZIORMIqLISCH7t9nRz9m7VLtsTe5-bV_KH3XG4n_3dUFNhy25zhLUzGn2Lt-Gj6BQ/s640/highline-path.jpg) |
Looking down at a lower level pathway. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDz73F8cqtxcZ4ljloyxaSjZd7ugfz9AToOqzNarANaazCM2SCYqQ2JJ-ouXR8oGfWeMh5MOkgPV_OI-laxs70Nx3dm_XD_J_S6rB6hg1jG3WdK6i5BiwTvyZs9SoCowxriHM2xFSmJc/s640/highline-glass-windows.jpg) |
Some pretty windows underneath a building that the highline cut through. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4w95sZESsp_gg4tBnojOXrriZ7OPB1zFgxae8J1Wv-lTvx50YMzAeByPP-xAjoixJcihGuo2mWF81OnvoeOo1JZsz5PJqMDZQlJKYgkUYzHvBT7ycvxzIjQ-UvL39u9bh4HfrUEBpbE/s640/fall-on-highline.jpg) |
A bit of fall! |
The highline ended around the Meatpacking District, where I happened to see Law & Order SVU being shot.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpzWk2WfIzRdAmkm0uZYPZh6UG49Ps7-XhIWXUFnrV8l515PKnM9a_VJM6xhEt0cYSJtKGxiauis8u7dp5TB_7DsunNQEWHCQNVmpY624CWJpAIoVy52GLpCgoD8SuJDm749-qH72P-k/s640/law-and-order-filming.jpg) |
You can see a bloody-faced actress and the medical examiner from the show. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZE7HD9tLrGw5wXpQllsZvX6npK7xBnPPjycUFUcPETy2MWkQBIghcEPMJNAYQehVzizqZdABpd28uI9Mxnj_22bvwrsfCCUxA0XEI7AwH0BRh-B5KaTGokE6O8EPMV9ql525-zZNg5fw/s640/law-and-order-svu.jpg) |
I cheated and knew what was being filmed based on this. |
I was getting hungry, so I looked for bakeries in the area and discovered Magnolia, which is apparently famous. I stopped by and got a great iced coffee and the best caramel cupcake ever - little crispy bits of caramelized sugar were baked into the cupcake, and it had my favorite frosting - swiss meringue buttercream. Looks like I have something to aspire to! I probably should have gotten a cute tshirt, but I left before tasting the cupcake and knowing that it was worth getting a souvenir for.
Turns out a cupcake isn't really "lunch", so I found a Greek restaurant on my way to SoHo,
Snack Taverna. A Yelp review recommended the lamb sandwich, so that's what I got - and oh my goodness. The lamb had the consistency of great pulled pork - super moist and falling apart. It was topped with arugula and sweet roasted tomatoes, and the whole sandwich was just
amazing.
As a side note: eating alone in restaurants is something I never do at home - I either get takeout or cook at home. Somehow, though, it has been a lot easier to do this here, even in nicer places. Maybe this is something I can take home with me - the courage to treat myself to a nice dinner out even if no one is around to join me.
I wandered around SoHo for a bit, but I didn't buy anything, as it's mostly pretty pricey and I am, of course, between jobs. I did stop into the cute
Purl SoHo and gaze at the lovely yarns and fabrics. Bonus points for SF though - my local favorite,
Imagiknit, has a
much larger selection of yarns, so I resisted buying anything only to have to lug it home to Cali.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WNYgpiMG1jp9vzEfnxNiIkmox0KIFTvr-1qyTPvu9xg86leJYWBU0P4tA98uN1bsUL8BSIuNwVNnMuaEKoye-tQc6gt-APm2ipgCGe4hRQtUNAqTQK0wokSF0mlkZLCemhgCK_k6vAc/s640/purl-soho.jpg) |
Lots of reflection - the perils of a nice day! |
I walked up towards "home" again, grabbing some roasted nuts in Union Square, and I stopped by some thrift stores recommended by my friend Alex, particularly
City Opera Thrift. It was a nice shop, but aside from a large china cabinet that I wished I could bring home and paint, nothing really grabbed me.
I got back at around 3 and spent the rest of the day in, recovering from my walk and people-overload, until dinner. Reid, his roomies Sophie and Dan, and I went to
Rare, a fantastic gourmet burger restaurant near their home. It definitely continued the "amazing food" trend that NYC has shown me. No photos, but I totally recommend stopping by if you are in Manhattan!