day 4

yesterday we woke up and got prepared for fire island. we packed up and a 3 train, LIRR train, a cab, and a ferry later we arrived. we stopped for a beer while waiting for the ferry at Nicky's clam shack and had some amazing stuffed clams and broiled flounder.

we arrived at fire island and were blown away. cars arent allowed here so everything is super quaint. we are staying in ocean beach at the palms hotel, very nice accommodations. we rented bikes and went to the beach and a surrounding park. it was called Tumbleweed Tuesday because everyones gone. we went to a bar before dinner, then had a 1.5lb lobster and a lobster roll for dinner. we roamed around the bars and made some interesting friends, all 'locals'. we drank way too much because we got caught up in their celebration of a hard summers work over. the island is so beautiful.

we passed out and woke up with awful hangovers

day 3

yesterday we woke up and got coffee at Jacks Stir Brew, a big black coffee and some vanilla espresso soy thing. we walked around union square, and i took my first ever wheatgrass shot! we shopped for sporting goods and stuff at Paragon then went to Gotham Bar and Grill for brunch.

this place was fantastic! we had a price fixed menu, first course watermelon salad with fresh farmers market grape tomatoes, feta, basil, and something citrus with olive oil. next was a hanger steak served rare with some red jus or something, and some fingerling potatoes, and some peppers and onions.

we went back home, then went to the Standard Hotel biergarten, bought 3 tickets and had 2 wiesbiers and 1 dark amber, very good. we then went to the US Open in flushing. Rebeccas friend was able to get us through the immensely long line and some free drinks. we went to our seats and watched a womens match then saw roger federer assert his dominance over Melzer in straight sets.

we took the subway home, then went to bed

day 2

yesterday we woke up and went to The Roasting Plant coffee shop. we had a black coffee and an americano. we took those to High Line park, a converted railroad track that runs for many blocks around the meat packing district and up into the 20s.

we then walked up to times square in search of broadway tickets. we wanted to see American Idiot, but we were shut out when the box office announced it was closed for the labor day holiday. we walked all around broadway getting disappointed at box office after box office, but ended up with Wicked tickets for this Friday. we had some new york pizza and called it a day in busy Times Square.

we went up to rebecca's moms place in the upper east side to retrieve our US Open tickets and took a nap, then went back to the west village to change for dinner. before we left back to the village, we stopped at Genesis and i placed an order for some ill-advised nachos. we were at risk of filling up before our big Gramercy Tavern dinner, but we powered through and dinner was absolutely fantastic. i had a shrimp polenta butter and collard greens appetizer. rebecca had a cold zucchini soup with fried oysters. for the main course, i had a rack of lamb with pancetta and spinachy-type greens, and rebecca had chilean sea bass with pickled swiss chard and lemon butter with capers.

for dessert, we had bread pudding with chocolate (brioche soaked bread in chocolate) fudge and rebecca had the best sorbet assortment ever. for ever. and ever.

we rolled ourselves home and went to bed

our first night

we went to morandi and had:

arugula salad with parmesan, raddish, and lemon vinagrette dressing

minestrone soup with lots of basil, cauliflower, and some other good stuff

fried olives stuffed with sausage!

pollo alla diovalo with green chilies and lemon butter

saffron pasta with spicy lamb

ricotta fritters in cinnamon sugar