Sally comes to play

With London only 6 hours away and half a week off work for Thanksgiving, it was perfect timing for Sally to come to NY to play - especially with Jake and Loz already visiting and Mel and Paulie living here. One big reunion.

Sal flew in on Wednesday afternoon and we headed to Balthazar for a late lunch. Nothing like a bit of Balthazar and Soho shopping to get you in the Manhattan mood.

For the next 4 days, hanging out with Sal was an awesome combination of eating, drinking, lack of sleep, drinking, eating, delirium, meeting randoms at all hours, drinking and shopping.

Highlights:

Funnily enough, this was the first photo we took an hour into Sal's arrival. But it pretty much sums up how we felt after she left...

Fat Sal's pizza joint.. Chelsea:



1. Dinner at Buddakan and drinks at the Jane Hotel

Edamame dumplings and tuna tartar spring rolls at Buddakan - amazing.

Attempting to negotiate our way down the stairs from the bar into the restaurant with a full cocktail, clutch bag, heels and having everyone stare at you, waiting for you to trip - not so amazing.

What started off as a seemingly civilised dinner at Buddakan and 'just one drink' at the Jane Hotel turned into shots at the bar and then watching a guy attempt to break into the rooftop of his 'own' apartment to show us 'his view'. Why he didn't have the key and why he was trying to kick the door down is now beyond me but at the time, it seemed perfectly normal that maybe he just forgot his key.








2. Thanksgiving Dinner


A gorgeous host, the most amazing pumpkin pie, one fat turkey, stuffing made with cornbread, oversized bottles of Malbec found at the liquor store around the corner and meeting a table full of new people definitely made us thankful and grateful to Paulie for inviting us to dinner. This was preceded by a little 'entree' at Jake and Loren's apartment.. so needless to say, Sal and I rolled home that night and straight into a food-induced coma.



Thanksgiving lunch, first stop East Village:



Second stop: West Village
Stuffing made with cornbread and challah:



Brandi with her turkey:

Brandi's pumpkin pie:

Thanksgiving company:

3. Art of the Samurai exhibition at the Met + lunch at Cafe Habana

Went to the Met to see Vermeer and his Milkmaid.. and came out with a full history lesson on the Samurai, the masters who make the swords and a newfound respect for the 6 month process that goes into making just ONE Samurai sword. Worth seeing if you own a Lear jet and can fly yourself over before the exhibition ends.

Cafe Habana was recommended by Dani, one of Paulie's mates, who we met at Thanksgiving lunch and also worked at Saatchi back home for 7 years before moving to NY. Habana and Cafe Gitane are two of her locals and absolute faves so Sal and I headed to Habana in Nolita for a 40minute wait and delicious quesadillas and tortillas with black beans and rice.

Happy Tourist shot outside the Met:

4. Friday night

Step 1: Started with dinner at a little Italian place (great date spot..clearly why Sal and I went there for a romantic tete-a-tete) called Tre, on Ludlow street, just around the corner from where I'm living.

Step 2: Met up with the others for drinks at Double Crown on Bowery. Awesome secret bar out the back and not-so-awesome-far-too-strong Voddie and sodas at the bar. Clearly, no need for RSAs here.

Paulie and his harem:

Dani and Jake:

Step 3: Starts getting crowded with Paulie and his friends, Jake, Loz, Lucy, Amber and Soph, Sas from Saatchi NY and Sal's friends from London, Kath and Lucy... so we head to Ella on Houston and A for a boogie.

At this point, things got a little loose..a little random.. and a LOT funny. Wish I could share the photos but here a few tamer ones..

"Where dreams are made of.. big lights will inspire you...."

Empire State of Mind, our holiday anthem:

Step 4: Left Ella.. so excited that I could walk 20metres to my front door. Googled the 24 hour diner across the road and seriously considered ordering delivery even though I could see the sign from my window.

(oops can't insert the photo...but just imagine a diner.. neon lights, booths, chrome stools at the bar, greasy cheeseburger and pickles.. you get the picture)

5. Shopping
Lots of walking, lots of crowds, lots of crap to sort through during the Thanksgiving weekend.

6. Cafe Mogador

Amazing. Cured the hangover. Best middle eastern breakfast just up the road. Recommended to us and once again, if you have that Lear jet, fly yourself over for brunch. -

Sadly, Sal had to fly back to Londontown but don't feel sorry for her - she was flying straight into an agency Away Day with a massive suckling pig lunch!

My new abode

Since I've been here, I've been lucky enough to stay in a few places with my ultra-generous friends! Makes my suitcase packing extra efficient and while I've spent most nights sharing a bed, it's been great being able to live in the city and spend quality time with my friends!

1. Hoboken

Hoboken (pronounced HO-bo-ken) is the home of Amy, my switcher. Hoboken is a cute little place which is actually in New Jersey. It's much quieter than the bustle of Manhattan with lots of young couples and families. A lot of people commute from Hoboken as the rent is cheaper and it's a similar distance to Brooklyn - you just have to take a different train system to get out there, the PATH train. Amy has a great apartment with lots of space for her and her 3 flatmates. However, I was lucky enough to have friends living in the city so after my first week it was off to...



2. Murray Hill

This is where my good friend Mel lives with her American flatmate, Courtney and where Amy previously lived. Mel lives in a great apartment on Lexington Ave. .. with some beautiful flower boxes out the front which we managed to flatten after falling into them after a few too many birthday drinks. Must have looked great in front of the doorman! Mel's house has almost become a halfway home for all of her visitors passing through in the last 2 months - my first weekend here, Mel had our friend Jess in from LA, me on the couch and her brother arriving 24 hours later.

Murray Hill is midtown, on the east side, right near Gramercy Park. There are some beautiful apartments, brownstones and a heap of Indian restaurants right near Mel's place (Curry Hill)! It's a little quieter at night but it is very central, feels safe and easy to get around.

Flattened flower bed:



On our way home from frozen yoghurt,
Mel and her brother Julian outside Mel's place


3. Chelsea

Another of my close friends, Micaela, has been living in a walk-up (ie no doorman, walk straight up) in Chelsea for the last few years since moving to NY. Upon my arrival in NY, Mic insisted I stay with her and since then, I've been sharing her studio for the past 2.5 weeks and it's been amazing to walk 15 minutes to work in the morning.

Chelsea is a little like Paddington/Darlinghurst - a gay-friendly area with lots of townhouses and also some pretty little streets. It also borders West Village and the Meatpacking district so there are great boutiques, shops, cafes etc in the general area. Mic often goes for a run around Chelsea and down to the Highline (new 'sky park' they built that also houses the Standard hotel) and the West Side highway with lots of little piers that stretch out with patches of grass over the water, looking across the river. Another benefit to Mic's house was the great location on 14th between 7th and 8th..right near a cute place I found that does proper coffee!

The Highline:


West Side Highway, looking across at Jersey:

After having Mic so generously host me for the last couple of weeks, I packed up my suitcase again, crossed town and went further down to the...


4. Lower East Side

My friend Kerri's place is actually right on the border of East Village and the Lower East Side. Once again, I was so fortunate in that Kerri has gone home for Thanksgiving and is California next week for work. She very generously offered to let me stay at her place for my last 2 weeks here. Part of my Saturday was spent sunning it up on her balcony (yes, sun..and yes, a balcony! A rarity in NY and especially now considering I understand the insane rental market here!) and then watching the sunset and night fall over the Financial District, Lower East Side and the Brooklyn Bridge.

This area feels a bit more eclectic and less Paddington/Darlinghurst, more Surry Hills or Newtown. Kerri's place is also right near Jake and Loren's apartment on 10th and 1st, in the East Village...which was great considering I left my keys (carrying 3 sets around was starting to get annoying!) inside the house on my first night! But a great way to become well acquainted with Tenzin the door man and the building superintendent, the next day!

View from Kerri's balcony, looking down the LES



Kerri

View to the left of Kerri's apartment

Looking across to Ludlow St at night

Same night view looking down Norfolk St and the Brooklyn Bridge is just at the ack

(which you can't see)

Thanks to my amazing friends for making me feel so at home and for having me become a part of the furniture for the last few weeks!! You've made my experience xx

Farewell, Reunion and Double Fisting

I'll start with the more controversial 'double fisting'.. yep. It's an American term for having a beer in both hands.. or being double parked (an achievement to them and a sign of a slow drinker to us). Either way, double fisting is being written down in my 'Just Wrong' American lexicon along with the 'creamy' ROOT beer float (as so nicely pointed out by Aisea) and Tide with a touch of DOWNY.

I had my first Saatchi social event last night and sadly, it was to farewell 3 people leaving the same week. One of whom is the crazy and gorgeous Lolita who works on my team. We were also farewelling the highly entertaining and hilarious Monty, one of Sas, Bri and Travis' 'dinner club' mates, who is leaving the world of mums and babies behind (Pampers) to work on Viagra - always a good starting line with the ladies.

Iams team (l-r): Lolita, Liz, me and Bri (planner now on Folgers)


Farewelling the 3 amigos (Lolita,Monty, Lena)

Gina (my lovely boss) and Bri

We went to Vol de Nuit, a bar just near work, where I was also excited to be meeting Jake and Loren who had flown straight in from home. Jake was already loving the celeb-spotting (stalking?) on the way over, having sat behind E from Entourage at the airport lounge and then sharing the same flight.

First 5 minutes of our reunion:

After a few beers, Jake, Loz and I decided to head to dinner and took Travis as our tour guide. Travis walked us into a little neighbourhood italian joint, Bar Pitti, and proceeded to tell us he often saw a few famous people having lunch here during the week.

Jake was on full alert and 10 minutes later, he was rewarded with Matt Dillon walking in with friends and sitting down. 20 minutes on, cue Ivanka Trump (looking very beautiful) at which point Jake was having serious heart palpitations and ready to declare his love for her.

30 minutes on, Travis casually mentions his friend once made out with Rachel Bilson and was in Twilight playing one of Bella's school friends. By now, Jake is close to going into cardiac arrest while all the while trying (quite successfully) to maintain a cool nonchalance in the presence of Matt and Ivanka. Thankfully, the owner brought over some complimentary sherry (loved our Australian accents.. it's currency here) and Jake was revived.

The end of the night was spent at McSorley's, the nation's oldest bar, located in East Village, with Abe Lincoln's chair hoisted up on the ceiling and a chandelier that hasn't been dusted since the bar first opened. You can only order dark or light beers and the general modus operandi is to order two at a time (hence the double fisting). We then moved onto some dodgy tavern where Jake and Loz's friends Amber, Lucy and Soph met us after flying in from South America and London and Travis' friend James arrived from LA. It was a great night (thank you to our amazing tour guide, Travis) and sadly, I left them all behind at 3am, to get to work the next day.

Dark and light beers at McSorleys:

(l-r) Sophie, Loz, Amber and James

Travis and James

Lunch in the Office

The first week I was here, the cafeteria (and the shoeman) were a novelty. Now I realise that the reason why you have a cafeteria (much like Google has a cafeteria and laundry cleaning services) is because you are generally so busy, you can't leave. (Insert NY times article of the man who passed away at his desk, undiscovered by colleagues for 5 days til the cleaner noticed something was wrong)

In the last 2 weeks, I've managed to get out each day for 20-30mins to try and do some exploring by myself and get some fresh air. However, today was a little more frantic so I headed down to the cafeteria with Nayantara, the team's new intern.

And thus I present to you, a standard Saatchi NY lunchtime:


1. Head down to Level 14 and fill up our swipe cards with credit



2. Peruse the array of buffet options - hot lunch, cold lunch, sandwiches, soups and salads available


3. Decide AGAINST pre-made salads

4. Create own salad

5. Sit at cafeteria tables (Nayantara, the new intern on our team)

6. Admire the view and sunny skies OUTSIDE

(However, generally more common for people to eat at their desks)

7. End of lunchtime. Back to desk for afternoon cup of excuse-for-coffee.

Footnote: AJ, Rob and Dan, you will be pleased to note that I am still the same.. haven't changed. I spill water once a day (usually over poor Liz's desk) and I had an oats explosion on the floor this morning when attempting to open a new packet..

Adding more 'ing' to my NY life

New-age spirituality and self-help are two topics I would normally steer well away from. Not to say it doesn't work for some but I have been sceptical at times and find the advice or guidance given is rarely TRULY insightful and seems pretty obvious.



However, this is not to say I'm not open to listening to what people have to share. And so it was that I found myself sitting alone last night at a lecture on 'Creative Abundance' run by Gabrielle Bernstein.



Gabrielle is a highly successful Gen Y self-help guru, motivational speaker, life coach and author about to embark on a book tour to promote her first book 'Adding more 'ing' to your life'.

I know her as Gaby (one of Micaela's best friends in NY) who, in the two years since I last saw her, has become an absolute sensation here in the self-help and life coach circles. Gaby has done everything from co-found the Women’s Entrepreneurial Network straight out of uni - a non-profit professional organization that connects female entrepreneurs - to launching a social networking site - Herfuture.com - allowing young women to connect with career mentors.

As successful as she is and as supportive as I wanted to be, I must admit I attended the lecture with a healthy dose of Australian scepticism and my bullsh*t radar on full alert. The first half was all about 'vibrations', 'mirroring' and unblocking yourself to release your energies and project what you want into the Universe so it comes back to you. The room was full to the brim with an eclectic mix of women all nodding vigorously and taking notes.

The second half of the lecture I found more practical, relevant and very inspiring. Gaby had invited a panel of 8 women to discuss how they changed careers to become successful entrepreneurs. One such woman was a 9/11 survivor who overcame massive post-traumatic stress issues to become an acupuncturist, now treating the New York Ballet and the New York Giants. It was great being able to listen to each of them pursue something despite the many challenges and objections. Definitely helps you feel even more empowered to do the same without needing to have Anthony Robbins yell out corny motivational psyche-ups before walking across hot coals.

http://www.addmoreing.com/gabrielle-bernstein

Uptown Girl & Quintessential New York

This weekend, I moved further uptown from my current abode (Micaela's house) in Chelsea to stay at the Grand Hyatt. One of our family friends, Sandy, was in town so it was a full weekend of shopping, dining and doing more of the quintessential (tourist-y?) New York. It's fair to say that never have my bank balance or my attempt-to-be-good-for-summer stomach felt so sick..

First up Friday night - Dinner at Gordon Ramsay's restaurant at the London. Service and the atmos were great as was the chef's tasting menu. Food highlights were the poached quail egg with prosciutto, leeks and roast beetroot as well as the cheese plate.

Great cheese plate. Washed rind and salted blue.. yum.


Not so great was the crazy cab driver on the way home who forgot to turn on his meter, asked us what we paid on the way up and then proceeded to shout and yell that we were lying about our previous fare up to the London hotel.

Having spent 2 weeks with friends telling me to harden up and not be so nice to people, I decided to give it back to him NY-style. Except that ten minutes later in the hotel, Sandy realised she'd left her camera in the cab. Oops. Goodbye camera and pretty dinner pictures.. hello potential for scary stalker/cab driver.

Outside the London..Japanese tourist..


Saturday was spent up and down 5th Ave..shopping like a machine for 7 hours despite the rain, general crowd and the hordes of people lined up outside H&M for the new Jimmy Choo collection. I managed to score a great bag at the end of the day when we decided to amble in and try our luck! Dumped at the end of some shelves, it was exactly what I'd seen online the day before thinking I had no chance. However, seeing the 'security area' cordoned off for shoppers with allocated time slots and the number of women scrambling over each other reminded me of that sad 'Only in America' Walmart story about the poor person crushed to death while the crowds just kept stepping over the body.

Jimmy Choo for H&M (minus crowds):


Saturday night we had a pre-theatre (I refuse to write 'theater') dinner at a great Italian restaurant, Insieme, where I gorged myself yet again eating my meal, half of Sandy's and then managing to fit in gelato for dessert..pumpkin gelato! Figured it had to be done.

Pumpkin gelato on the right:


There are so many shows I'm keen to try and fit in over the next couple of weeks (Sadly, I missed out on tickets to 'A Steady Rain' /Droolfest with Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman..) but it was great to kick it off with the very traditional, classic New York 'Rockettes' at Radio City. So New York, So Christmas-y and SO many long-legged dancing girls..love that precision dancing!

Rockettes on stage:


With the weather hotting up at home and having seen Amy's amazing pics from this year's Sculpture by the Sea (sydneyswitch.blogspot.com), it was really nice to get some sun on Sunday especially with brunch at the Boathouse in Central Park. More tourist-y photos and more eating continued..

The Boathouse:

Oops..wrong order..can't figure out how to re-format..

Feeling tired but excited, pre-coffee /food

..before we continued downtown to Soho for an afternoon of more working out (the charge card, that is) and stumbling upon Mercer Kitchen where we rounded off a great weekend.

As much as everyone tells me here to go to a steakhouse, I must say I have been sceptical about finding a really GOOD steakhouse. Mercer Kitchen is definitely no steakhouse but the NY strip steak on offer was spectacular. Made me almost NOT miss the G-nash at home..don't worry Jacq and Cuz, G nash is still the favourite ;)

Mexican, Mac & Cheese and a Speakeasy

(Apologies upfront, I've tried to steer away from food as the common topic. It only occupies 2/3s of this blog.)

As much as fried, fried, fried doesn't necessarily agree with my heart, arteries or the summer I'll face when back home, I have launched myself into making more 'American' choices this week.

Mexican

Unlike at home, the Mexican food here is damn good because, well, there are more Mexicans! So I figured I need to make the most of it while i'm here.

Tuesday night, I headed to La Esquina for dinner with Mel and her brother Julian. La Esquina is an ultra-cool place on Lafayette and Kenmare that has a Taqueria (cheaper takeaway/sit-in), Bar and Restaurant. The restaurant usually has a 3-4 week wait and having decided that afternoon I wanted to go, Mel and Julian happily obliged and we went and had the super cheap and cheerful tacos with all sorts of amazing fillings. I had the stewed pulled chicken option and an amazing beef one with beef guisado, rice, black beans and salsa. We also ate amazing corn on the cob complete wtih cheese and chilli powder. HEAVEN. Can't wait to try the actual restaurant too.

The Taqueria:

Mel and Julian:

Wednesday night, Carine (my old boss from BMF) and Ange (another ex-BMFer) organised dinner for 6 of us at Rosa Mexicana at Union Square. It was big, loud, fun and the margheritas were plentiful. Guacamole is prepared at your table - super fresh and super delicious. As much as I wanted to go another taco or the baked chicken tortilla pie for my 'entree' (American for main..despite the french meaning..), I ordered their "Day of the Dead" special.. a slow cooked cassoulet of duck, chorizo, beans and potato. A-MAZING. Thanks to Ange and Rinnie for organising!

Still not sick of Mexican yet..

A speakeasy
Going to a speakeasy was highly recommended in Amy's switch book for another 'American' experience as well as by friends at home who'd been to a few in NYC. Following our dinner on Wednesday night, Ange led us to Raine's Law Room in the Flatiron district.

At this point, I shall insert the definition from Wikipedia:
A speakeasy was an establishment which illegally sold alcoholic beverages during the period of United States history (and the Canadian history) known as Prohibition (1920–1932, longer in some states). During this time, the sale, manufacture, and transportation (bootlegging) of alcohol was illegal. The term may have come from a patron’s manner of ordering an alcoholic drink without raising suspicion—bartenders would tell patrons to be quiet and “speak easy,"[1] or from the ability of patrons to talk of alcohol without having to fear that government officials would be listening.

So I've heard stories of bars situated through the back of convenience stores or behind nondescript doors in alleways where alcohol is served in teacups etc. Raines Law Room was no different. One minute we were walking along West 17th and the next minute, Ange was pulling open a door that looked like we were heading down to someone's basement apartment.

We were ushered inside into a small, dimly lit bar with intimate booths and a fantastic 'kitchen' out the back from where they serve the drinks. Their cocktail list included classics as well as their own concoctions and the menu even extended to their own handmade chocolates. I loved the fact that they only take as many people as the bar seats so it's cosy and very intimate. Tried to take a few discreet photos...see below. To get a better idea though, visit yelp.com to see their photos. http://www.yelp.com/biz/raines-law-room-new-york

The most interesting part of Raines Law Room however was the wallpaper..

Now take a closer look...

Mac & Cheese

An all-american favourite and after reading Amy's blog (sydneyswitch.blogspot.com) on her Americana night and drooling over her homemade chili dogs and mac and cheese, I figured it was only fitting to try it here myself. Now we're all familiar with macaroni and cheese but I figured I needed to just have it once. (And after battling massive food coma and feeling so sick at work this afternoon, there shall be no more).

Liz took me out to Mae Mae's, one of her and Amy's favourites that's close to work, really cute and serves great comfort food. The weather turned today so it was a good day for a hearty meaLiz ordered the grilled cheese (which they change every day.. today's special had feta, another cheese I can't remember and tomato relish) and I ordered the mac and cheese complete with camembert, blue cheese and bacon.

6 hours later... still feeling sick.

(I can't even put the photo on here it makes me feel sick. Actually, can't figure out how to add it in..should have loaded it first.. argh first-time blogger/technology)

Ok, time to finish up work. 715pm. Off to Bleeker St Bar tonight to hang out with Kerri and meet some of her mates..