Daily Archives: July 23, 2011

Columbia University, Morningside Park, and Zen Palate for dinner

Bailey rows for Tampa Catholic and she wanted to see Columbia University’s boathouse. So, we took the red train to almost the last stop uptown. This train was elevated for part of the way and it was neat seeing parts of the city I’ve never visited. We got off the train and walked a couple of blocks north. After walking west for a few minutes I couldn’t figure out where this dang place was located. Based on the address provided by google it should have been right THERE! There was a lady walking her dog so naturally I asked her for directions. Of course she didn’t speak English. LOL So we walked back towards the Columbia athletic building on the corner. Meanwhile, a golf cart was approaching us from behind and we were in the way. The men were driving into the drive way of the athletic building . . .so. . . naturally I asked them if they knew where this place was . . .well, of course they did and one of them gave us a tour in that golf cart. I was very happy because again, it was HOT and it was a long walk to who-knows-where. He had fun chatting with us and I think Bailey enjoyed seeing the boat area. After the tour we got back on the train and headed south a few stops to the Columbia campus. We walked through the campus and shot a few photos. On the other side of the campus is Morningside Park.

We walked through the park and continued a few blocks over to Harlem and to the train station. In Harlen, across the street from the station, nestled between two buildings, we spotted this green space.

We took the train to our usual stop and walked north a block or so to a restaurant for dinner. The Zen Palate is a vegan restaurant and the food is fabulous. www.zenpalate.com

Battery Park, Wall Street, Flatiron Building, Eisenberg’s Deli – twice!

We walked to Battery Park and did a little people watching. We then decided to walk over to Wall Street and check out the NYSE, the Federal Reserve, and of course, The Bull.

After we walked around there awhile we decided we were hungry. I wasn’t sure when the Liberty tour would end and what time we’d meet the Penney’s. I decided we’d take the train up a couple of stops to Union Square. There is a thrift store a couple of blocks off that stop and I figured we’d find something to eat. It’s NY, food everywhere! Well, I wasn’t paying attention and we missed the Union Square stop. We got off at the next stop and what a pleasant surprise. The Flatiron Building!We looked around and saw a few places to eat and spotted this place across the street: Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop. What a fun place. Their motto: Raising NYC’s cholesterol since 1929.

After this we headed back downtown to meet the Penneys and since we liked this place so much, we convinced them to go there for lunch. I’m not sure they liked it as much as we did but I’d go back.

Thursday morning – Staten Island Ferry and more

Today the parental units and their tour headed to the Statue of Liberty. I took Bailey to the Staten Island Ferry for a ride on the water and a cruise-by of the statue. This is a free ferry that goes back and forth all day between Manhattan and SI. The launch is next to Battery Park, where the boat takes you to the statue, so we all rode the same train down. Well, we were supposed to ride the same train but the group was a little slow getting on. Bailey and I hopped the first train and just waited at the end of the line for them to catch up with us!
Lady Liberty is over her shoulder and looks tiny. In real life you can really see her and also Ellis Island. Here’s a zoomed shot of her: