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!