LITTLE INDIA...today I felt like I left NYC for a short while and entered another world...

I went with a friend, who is from India, to Little India. We had a wonderful lunch at Bhojan, a vegetarian restaurant and then went for a head massage...Apparently head massages in India are done by people who know what they are doing; not the case here. But I listened to a lot of Hindi-gab and saw my friend in her 'other' world. From there we went to a little grocery where the proprietor fed us figs and 'cookies'  and could not have been lovelier. His parting words were salaam alaikum. Peace be with you. I needed that. What a wonderful day! Oh...I love New York!!!

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok

xoxoxoxo=yes+I'd go back

xoxoJaneoxox

A head massage...that was no massage. I'd love to find a place for a wonderful head massage...any suggestions?

Isn't this gorgeous! So many sweets, so little time. At the restaurant, we had gulag jamun for desert

All the world's food cultures are endlessly fascinating...and there are so many right here in NYC! Where to begin???

xoxoJaneoxox

salam alaikum

PIO PIO on the westside...went for lunch...still full...

Came back from NJ and went to the westside for a walk and lunch at Pio Pio. Peruvian with a twist. The Picantito (the green drink...) was DELICIOUS! The Fried Cali (their word, not mine) was good. Hot dogs and french fries...their idea...not Peruvian. No kidding. Really good, if you like hot dogs and french fries...the seafood was very good.

Fried Cali...

Hot dogs and fries! Oh my aching tummy...I ate TOO much! Plus:Traditional Peruvian yellow corn stuffed with chic hen and peanuts served with salsa and Salsa Criolla

Pan fried Corvina, Scallops, Shrimp and Squid served with "Clasico Salsa Macho" a spicy seafood sauce and a side of yellow rice...yummy!!!

The entrance to Pio Pio with a very 'hot' or very confused guy, eating on the street....

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok

xoxoxoxo=yes+I'd go back

xoxoJaneoxox

Bryant Park...'witchcraft lunch, sitting and relaxing...

Go to Bryant Park! What a lovely setting...privately owned and well maintained. 'witchcraft kiosks and, of course, the Bryant Park Grill. I've not eaten there...but will. My daughter and I went to jewelry caster, Roni Casting and to a place that casts only in pewter, Quest Beads...in between stops we ate food from 'witchcraft, in the park. A perfectly lovely day...xoxoxo

Annie's Feet in the park... Follow those feet!!!

Annie's photo #2. Great photo!

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok

xoxoxoxo=yes+I'd go back

xoxoJaneoxox

Breakfast today. I walked to the westside to go to Roni Casting with some of my charm models and, as usual, got very very hungry. I walked on to M&J Trim for some ribbon and a lovely salesman sent me to Jimmy's American at 990 6th Avenue. The Yelp reviews are frightening. Most reviewers went for dinner. NOT a dinner place. I had a lovely omelet and...the waitress was spectacular. She could not have been more attentive and lovely...

Need an eye opener? Not a problem...

Their lovely sign...small, yet oval....

My yummy omelet...feta and spinach...I eat this a lot for breakfast...feta...I think of Greece...we did have fun!

And then one has to pay...not too bad.

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok

xoxoxoxo=yes+I'd go back

xoxoJaneoxox

Vintner Wine Market, Hell's Kitchen. A very little place with good food and wine and beer...

I ate here yesterday and quite a few times before...I really really like this little place. Service can be a bit slow so don't be in a rush...Hell's Kitchen, again....

Vintner Wine Market... 

A small place...charming.

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok

xoxoxoxo=yes+I'd go back

(I've eaten sliced meat and cheese platters..and a really yummy sandwich)

xoxoJaneoxox

Now you see it...and you won't believe it...Hell's Kitchen...

What a night! While everyone in my building and beyond left the city...I stayed right here and I'm thrilled I did...I went to the Algonquin to see the new and improved Blue Bar. It does not open until June 5th. Almost...Not yet the hip crowd they are hoping for. Not even close...perhaps when the blue bar opens. Ugh. Blue Bar. When I was much younger my father's office was on the same street as the Algonquin. I loved going to lunch there, with him. 'They' loved him and I loved that place. Blue. Why?  I had a drink and moved on...to Hell's Kitchen...

First things first. A Goat in NYC. What? A GOAT! On a leash...of course.
Dinner at The Hourglass. Three floors. Ate on the second, at the bar. Very charming interesting place. Not hip just...charming??? Had pork sliders and my dear son had barbecue brisket sliders...yum.  I would go back...for a drink and appetizer and to gab.

Welcome to Fleet Week...!!!

A Smoking Sailor? Soldier?.....

Two Sailors and a mattress...

Fleet Week Sailor...ahoy matey...I'm sorry, I could not help meself....
Stopped at a wine bar near my son's apartment...for sherry and cheese...I'm stuffed AND  tired!!!
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY one and all...

xoxoJaneoxox

A 'NOW YOU SEE IT' day...if you don't look, you won't! xoxo

I have, for some time, taken pictures of things I see that aren't really there. I want to put them in a children's book...but will I? I've thought about this for YEARS...well over 10. I haven't made much headway but I'd love to show you some! 

And then there's brunch. I didn't take any photos but they were so nice I have to mention: Brabant Belgian Brasserie at 316 E. 53rd St. (near 2nd) I had poached eggs smothered in a wonderful cheese sauce. Yummy potatoes, on the side. The bread, served first, was wonderful. Not for the faint of heart or the high of cholesterol! This meal included a choice of drink...mimosa or bloody mary or bellini...and maybe more??? Or...coffee or tea. All for $19.95...Lovely. Really...

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok

xoxoxoxo=yes!+I'd go back

Not a bug you'd want to meet in a dark alley! Or on the street where you live...

The Ghost Truck...ooooooo....I took this photo of a passing truck, through my car window...I did photoshop the sky...Isn't this scary???....

xoxoJaneoxox

Lunch with friends....

I headed to the westside, with a friend from Connecticut, to meet a friend who came in from NJ...I've known both since I was 9. That is a very long time!!!!.....

It really says 44 & X on the door...the outside space is lovely (we ate inside...it was chilly outside). Of course, the restaurant looks out on a gas station and traffic! I LOVE NY!!!

The indoor space is attractive and VERY LOUD. The LOUD seems to be somewhat universal...loud is ok. Of course when you are older and half deaf...lip reading is a handy skill.

On another (TOTALLY UNRELATED) note: who thought it was a good idea to put Gayle and Charlie on CBS morning news? I cannot bear it! I've had to move on...boo hoo...

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok

xoxoxoxo=yes+I'd go back

Not...inexpensive....

I eat a lot of just...ok food. I'd go back if I happen to be in the neighborhood and don't know where else to go! There are tons of other places to go! The name is clever as it is the address...can't miss it. Spend a lot of time on 10th Ave?....I bet you don't. The 40's in Hell's Kitchen is LOADED with restaurants...a wonderful neighborhood. Ninth Avenue is the best...

xoxoJaneoxox

Making up for lost time...if you Blog...time is never lost! My diary...

For the past few days I have been throwing out rugs (more about that later), rearranging space, entertaining an out-of-town friend, eating and more eating...and there was the graduation...xoxoJaneoxox

The Graduation

The Graduate...yay!!!!!

Proud mother and brother! Brava!!!! 

xoxoMomandCyoxox

Graduation dinner at Esca....

My son ordered these after being told they had a metallic taste...needless to say, he ate all of them! He really liked them...???

Mahi Mahi crudo. Of all we ordered, the best, hands down. Thank you Justin!

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok

xoxoxoxo=yes+I'd go back...I've eaten here a few times...the crude is the best food they serve. The waitress was quite the salesperson. Go with your 'gut'...you needn't order crude, pasta AND an entree. 

Birthday and Graduation Celebration at The Water Club...lovely.

Perfect weather for lunch inside and drinks outside, at The Water Club. Friends and family...a wonderful time.

Could the day have been more beautiful? I don't think so...a picture from upstairs at the H2O club...looking north.

Happy Birthday and Graduation to you...

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok

xoxoxoxo=yes+I'd go back

xoxoJaneoxox

Today I ate breakfast and lunch out...a banner day.

Pain Quotidian for breakfast. The Red Rooster for lunch. 

I waited quite a while for my breakfast. I think of Pain Quotidian as a lovely little chain restaurant...speedy service included. The waiter made excuses. Very nice fellow and apologetic to a fault. Kitchen's fault...too many orders, one chef? Can it be? The older man sitting next to me left a dollar tip. I think he must have waited longer than I did...or he's not from this fair land...and is just a cheap jerk. Don't punish the nice waiter!

Isn't this lovely? $3.50 for a pot-of-coffee...sweet.

I know this is blurry...the reason it's here is so I can say...
CLEAN the damn menu before you give it to me! It is plastic...not too hard. Come on....

My omelet: Mushroom and Goat Cheese Omelet. Pretty good. Too much food. Do I really need salad on my breakfast plate? Takes up space...

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok, really

xoxoxoxo=yes+I'd go back+I really like it, I really do

I actually cut out every article I could about this place and was very anxious to eat there...Lovely street scene...

The lovely street scene....it is lovely if you are sitting where I was sitting!

The owner...right rear. Looked much too serious the entire time I sat and, on occasion, looked up to see his sweet face. Let a smile be your umbrella...at least when patrons are around and paying for so so food! My friend and I shared not-very-good corn bread. How is that possible? It was heavy and not very tasty but very greasy. I've eaten enough corn bread in my day...so take my word for it! We had catfish. It was spicy. Unbreaded naked catfish...at first I thought...this is ok. Blah. Needs to be fried and crisp. Welcome to the world of the thin...Radeberger beer was excellent.

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok, really

xoxoxoxo=yes+I'd go back+I really like it, I really do

xoxoJaneoxox

Hamburger Heaven....Imagine.

I did not eat out today. I walked to the westside of NYC to the 'finisher' (sounds ominous, it's not) to pick up some of the jewelry I make, went to Uniqlo and The Gap...still NO food! My son sent me a link to an article about a young woman with flesh eating disease. She is fighting for her life while having parts of her body amputated. If you pray, pray for her. Count your blessings. xoxoJaneoxox

Need I say more......

The day before Mother's Day...lovely. A friend and I had lunch at The Smith Restaurant NYC, mid-town. We headed west and met up with another friend at the Museum of Art and Design. This is a fantastic museum. Visit...support...join...XOXOXO. After the museum I met my son went to a street fair (he was STARVING) and then we went for drinks at The Peninsula Hotel in TWO bars...and then home, alone, to the dog. It was a lovely day. xoxoJaneoxox

The Smith...VERY loud, very friendly service, expensive and ALWAYS BUSY!

A street fair on Broadway...isn't he cute???

At the roof bar of the Peninsula Hotel...the sky above...

Mother's Day flowers from Annie and John...aren't they gorgeous...

xoxoJaneoxox

Lennys...ubiquitous Lenny's...

Great Prices...NO ambiance...which is Lenny's ambiance.......

Lenny's on 2nd Avenue and 54th St....
Good breakfast, decent sandwiches...
Good prices...
Ok service...I ordered one egg and crisp bacon on a roll...
She heard egg and ham. I repeated myself...and again.
What's up?

Working in Lenny's...
I cannot, I repeat, get crisp bacon.
Why not?

A RATING SYSTEM

xo=eh

xoxo=ok, just...ok

xoxoxo=really ok, really and I will go back....

xoxoxoxo=yes+I'd go back+I really like it, I really do

xoxoJaneoxox

ANOTHER DAY...ANOTHER DINER! and a bike tour.

WESTWAY DINER

I walked to the westside of NYC and joined my son for breakfast in a diner, of all places. 

I am convinced I am either invisible or don't speak the same language the waiter hears. I said, loud and clear, I thought...no potatoes. So why were they lying next to my spinach and feta very very well-cooked omelet? Why? The waiter was friendly...enough.

 I managed to muster up enough will-power not to eat them! Go Jane!!!
Now for the tour...xoxoJaneoxox

I took my own advice and got up and out. What a great day. I met my son at 46th and 8th. Ate (you will see where...) and walked to the westside, by the Intrepid and proceeded north. We walked to past the Boat Basin back down there (79th St.), headed east through Central Park, went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art...and got in a cab back to the westside to EAT. At that point in time...I was spent!!! Nary a picture of lunch...yummy meats and bruschetta with sardines and cheese...xoxoJaneoxox

Lox and eggs and onions with fast friendly service...
Not beautiful (where have I posted that is beautiful...asks
I....)

Broadway Deli & Bagels, New York 
515 W 42nd St (Hell's Kitchen), New York 10036   (212) 564-0503

This morning in NJ...to the dentist.

Breakfast in New Providence...Lovely little place. Wonderful owner...who is about to be a daddy...awwwww.................a baby girl. Lovely

PANINI CAFE