Mark and Gail's Excellent Adventure: Knockin' around New York

In May I was able to leverage a work conference to make my first trip to New York City! Gail and I were lucky enough to be joined by Craig and Louann in Philadelphia! I'll let Gail write about Philly, because I was working most of the time, but I'll do NYC. I decided to write this one "bullet point" style.

May 17th, 2013

Hopped a Bolt Bus at noon in Philly, bound for NYC
AC Broke for the first hour
AC fixed! Arrive in NYC and dumped on the curb five blocks from our hotel.
Drag luggage to hotel and are told our room isn't ready!
Hungry, walk eleven blocks to recommended restaurant only to be told there was a 40 minute wait.
Walked back six blocks and found a nice little Mexican place in Hell's Kitchen. Food never tasted so good!
Back to hotel to check into our little, tiny $400 hotel room.
Went to Times Square and turn into Jekyll and Hyde Club
http://www.jekyllandhydeclub.com/home.html
Weirdest place I've ever drank a beer and drank my first half yard
Rest of the night was a blur

May 18th, 2013

Breakfast buffet, then off to get a tour bus
DO NOT BUY THE GREEN BUS IN NEW YORK
We rode around the island and hopped off at the Circle Line pier, where we were told we had a free pass to ride a boat around Liberty Island
LIES!
Waited 40 minutes for next bus to arrive and pick us up
Past a huge street fair near our hotel and decide to hike back and partake
Yummy street food and, hmm, a bike shop booth
Tracked down the actual shop a couple blocks away and got free bike bottles, and almost free jerseys!
Copped a squat at an outdoor place selling $3 margaritas
Had $25 cocktails at Mamma Mia
Rest of the night a blur

May 19th, 2013

Got up early and headed to ground zero for the 12th annual Police Memorial Run!..in the rain!
Excited to report that I ran the entire 5k without breaking stride....no training what-so-ever
Had a rather lame post run BBQ, we were starting to get cold and thought it best to get back to the hotel for a warm shower and some dry clothes
Then off to TRY to catch the friggin green bus back to ground zero
Miserable cold day to tour the ground zero memorial, but glad we had the chance to visit. Very emotional to be at the site where so many died a senseless death
Left the memorial and hopped a cab to Greenwich Village
Stopped at the Three Sheets Saloon for beer, then went on looking for Extra Virgin, the restaurant that Frank's friend recommended
Food, wine and atmosphere were awesome! Thanks Steve!

May 20th, 2013

Last full day!
Top of the Rock came first. Fog cleared just in time to get a good view!
Wondered around mid-town for a bit and ate some street food.
Two hour bike tour around Central Park
Subway to the south end
Staten Island ferry out and back to see the Statue of Liberty and a view of the city
Over-priced dinner at a swank place in the financial district
Walked over and back on the Brooklyn Bridge
Totally exhausted, we cabbed back and had our last night, room party

May 21st, 2013

Departure day! Flights aren't until after 6pm
Had to get in some last minute shopping
Walked ten blocks to get an "authentic" NY deli sandwich, only to find the restaurant gutted!
Cabbed back to restaurant row and fell into Shorty's for a great meal and three pitchers of Blue Moon
Back at the hotel grabbed our transfer to the airport.
Long drive through Brooklyn to the airport and one last cocktail with Gail and the Tate's before heading in different directions
Gail got to go spend time with Cody and Kayleigh and the rest of the family. but what a trip we had!