A Cold, Cold Spring

I have a need to see my NYC D2 at least every other month, and as the last time was Colombia in February, I planned a trip to see her in April. Wifey HATES cold weather, and figured April was a decent bet, as it was Spring. Well, not so fast...

It was still downright cold in the City.  But we still had a very warm time...

We had probably the smoothest trip ever. Elizabeth, our Kato Kaelin, was here, and she was watching the dogs from Friday until Saturday, when Miriam took over. Miriam enjoys the occasional trip away from her family, and agreed to stay Saturday through Sunday.

Our Uber driver pulled up, and even though we left at 8:30 am, there was virtually no traffic. The flight left on time, after breakfast at the Centurion, and cruised into LGA early. Strangely, no line at the cab station, and the trip to Flatiron took less than half an hour.  Hmm...travel should always go this way.

We checked into the Edition, and then found some quick Middle Eastern food, as dinner wasn't until 9:30. We did walk the half mile to D2 and Jonathan's, where we met them and D1 and Joey. We had a terrific pre game -- I had stopped for a new supply of vodka, Scotch, and tequila.  Then we walked to Carbone.

What a great time. Best veal parm I ever had, as promised. The place looked like the restaurant in Godfather I -- we jokingly asked who was going to the bathroom to retrieve the gun. We ate family style, and had a tremendous dinner -- catching up on D2 and Jonathan's NYC lives. From there, we all Ubered back to our hotel -- it was to D1 and Joey's major approval.

Saturday we reconvened, and had brunch at a place called Jack's Wife Freda -- packed, but we got right in.  To me, one of the nicest things about NYC is that when you have a reservation, it gets honored -- none of this "wait a half hour because we can't really figure out this seating thing."  The place was packed, and each time a person of above average heft passed me, I had to squeeze into the table, but since it seems most young Greenwich Village types are svelte, it happened just a few times...

From there, we walked to my family's ancestral land -- the Lower East Side. We had a tour at the Tenement Museum -- a place Wifey and I had visited, but wished to share with the Ds and their men.  Like last time, there was a funny caveat.  The tour guides are very nice gay men NOT from NYC. Sure enough, ours was from Austin, Texas, and was terrific, as he told tales of the Jewish family followed by the Sicilian one that lived in the building.

D2 noted that the apartments were bigger than hers -- though the rent at the time, $10 per month, was much lower than what she and Jonathan pay.

Jonathan and Joey repaired to J's apartment to watch golf, and we took D1's Miami friend now doing real estate management to coffee.

After afternoon naps, we met again, this time at an Israeli themed place, where we ate great food, again family style. Eating was a major them of the trip.

We plopped on the sofa and chairs of the apartment, and talked some more, and then Ubered back to the Edition. It was a fine Saturday.

Sunday we walked to ABC Kitchen, and were joined by D1's friend Sidney, who is finishing her MBA at NYU.  We ate what we all agreed were the best eggs we had ever had, and shared some French toast as well.

We then walked to the Madison Square Park dog park, and the Ds met a dashing Cavalier Spaniel , and compared Cavalier tales with his dog Daddy. Jonathan had said goodbye -- needed to do some work -- and Wifey and I had our goodbye hugs with D2.  I really, really wish she lived in Miami...

We cabbed it to LGA, and hit the LGA Centurion as well.  We then walked to the gate, and I got a huge laugh. The incoming flight was from MIA, and was FILLED with mostly Orthodox Jews -- they often spend Passover in South Florida.  The plane was easily 75% of them, many looking freshly tanned, at least on the skin you could see...

We boarded, and I noticed a few black hatted guys get on. In my mind I named them "Wrong Way Goldbergs."

I napped prodigiously. I awoke as the plane was descending above the gorgeous Miami skyline. I really love coming home here.  I never tire of the beauty of our city.

If only D2 and Jonathan would join us here full time...