NYC

There is no better way to get the holiday spirit than to visit New York City. The stores are decorated inside and out, the skaters are under the big tree and once again the chance to connect with friends. Dan is doing well and he took me out to Porter's (the village) to see a swanky jazz combo. They were excellent and so was the company. Dan's brother stopped in with some friends and soon we had two tables of friends all separated by only a degree or two. Live music, fresh coffee and a crazy dessert menu made night one a slam dunk. Dan reacquainted me with the subway and I was surprised to see the rat sign out so late in the season. Hmmm. I thought rat season ended November 1st. Can you hunt them this late in the year? If anybody know send me an email.

Day 2 in New York was even better. I checked into the Helmsley Park Lane on Central Park South for the royal treatment. This hotel a has 3-4 staff members for each guest. The rooms are luscious and the restaurant and bar are both world class. I checked in and then set out for 6th Avenue. A few stores pulled me in but I was more interested in the look and feel of New York. Even the Cartier building was decorated like a giant present. People filled the sidewalks and the tree in Rockefeller center was being decorated, all the scenes I remember from holiday's past. It was as if the city was saying hi and welcome back. New York also has the power to say maybe you should come back. Dan felt the pull and returned last year and Alexis mentioned that she felt that sensation when she visited NYC last month.

It was a real New York trip in that I cabbed it, drove it, and trained a bit too. I slept on a friends futon and I slept high up in the sky, I grabbed a slice o'pie for $3.50 and I also ate $30 French toast (pictured below), shopping on 6th Avenue and live music in the Village, I think I did it all. San Francisco is my home but I still love NY and I guess she still has some love for me. My advise is to keep current with your old haunts and jaunts. Follow up to see what has changed and make a trip to see what is the same. You may have many homes over the course of your life but everybody starts out in one place. Don't forget that place. I hope you enjoy the rest of the pictures and have a great holiday season wherever you call home.