ode to new york
After recovering from our six weeks in Belize and Mexico, we head off in separate directions almost as far apart as possible in the continental US (2,394 miles compared to the longest distance of 2,892 miles from the tip of California to Maine). So, an extreme distance compared to the average of 1-6 feet we'd enjoyed during the past few months. Both of us to visit siblings, have some much needed family time, and enjoy some adventures of our own. Billy heads to Baltimore for his brother's graduation from Johns Hopkins and to meet with some old friends in New York.
My first time in Baltimore mostly centered around family time and graduation festivities, but we did make time to explore the inner harbor, Baltimore Museum of Art at Johns Hopkins, and visit the indefatigable Miss Shirley's Cafe for a rightfully famous and righteous breakfast experience. The walls littered with awards and Guy Fieri giving a thumb's up on his Diner's Drive-In's and Dive's visit raised my expectations, but they were still blown out of the water by the lovingly crafted southern fare.
After a few days, many pictures, and ceremonies, I left my family in the 2pm express Amtrak up the coast to New York. It was my first time on an east coast train, going to visit old friends from middle and high school as we coincidentally planned to meet up while I was just two hours away this week anyway. It was my third trip to New York and first that wasn't preoccupied with college touring or work conferencing.
New York of course has a reputation. I didn't truly get it though until this week. Maybe I'm biased visiting in a week with perfect weather, with my best friends in the world, exploring and experiencing the city, but I started to get it. It is truly a unique city in the best ways and thriving with a youthful energy bouncing back from COVID right now.
We spent enough to experience everything we wanted, but were still broke enough to pile into our buddy's Brooklyn apartment sleeping on cots, beds, and couches which only added to the experience. It was a wholly singular travel experience not just due to the location, timing, and activities, but the very rare and precious companions and people - all of whom we hadn't been united in one place since high school.
Much of our experiences centered around food, and there was no shortage of places that blew our expectations out of the water. Just to name a few, Taqueria Ramirez only has five types of tacos on the menu for $5 a piece and for good reason.
Soothr is new, hip, and the prix fixe menu was a great valuable and elevation far beyond your normal Thai food.
Momofuku Noodle Bar had world class appetizers and shareable plates that had us stuffed.
Birria Landia for late night fixings that probably topped my best three taco joints of all time.
Cafe Gitane hit the spot for afternoon refreshments and people watching.
Red Hook Tavern was out of the way, but beyond worth it for the outstanding ambiance, food, and drinks.
Finally, Moko's new omakase experience was perfection at an affordable 15 courses.
We saw the Yankee's win in overtime, discovered a new artist at Bushwick rooftop venue Elsewhere, shopped downtown, and walked and ate around Chinatown. We packed as much as we could into just over five days, and a week later I'm barely recovered enough to write it up. Above all we were afforded that rare and special time to just hang out and spend time with your best friends. It happened to be in New York, but credit where credit is due to the one and only city that made it special. Something about New York....
Next time, we head off to Sin City at the end of June!