i’m back from my stupendous tremendous
visit to nyc! i can’t imagine having had a
better trip–except for more time to spend
with my friends and explore the city. but
considering how long i was there, i had a
very full and lovely visit.
last week started badly. i found out i needed
to drive near two hours to the court up in OC
for my speeding ticket. while spending too
many hours on hold to try and understand the
situation, my website got hacked. thankfully,
it didn’t seem to be malicious (so we hope!) but
more vanity related.
honestly, i feared for my trip to nyc. i was
afraid my bad mojo would follow me like the
pungent scent of durian. but the day started
wonderfully when i got an email from one of
my favorite authors, megan whalen turner, that
she had just finished silver phoenix and really
enjoyed it. of course, i squeed and wished i
could throw cupcakes at her.
then i got picked up for the airport but instead
of the 10 person shuttle i had hired, i got my
own personal town car!! free upgrade! wOOt!
i even forgave the driver for opening the window
and shouting MORON at a pedestrian when we
got to the airport. =O
couldn’t have had better weather when i arrived.
had just missed the showers. loved my room in
the murray hill boutique hotel (tho i didn’t take
a foto of it, boo!). on friday morning, bright and
early, i wondered out at 10.30am (ha!) to go pick
up some treats for my visit to harpercollins and
meeting the greenwillowites who worked so
hard on my debut in one aspect or another.
my writing friend wendy had recommended
crumbs and what a great rec that was! the
day was gorgeous and i really enjoyed walking–
something i don’t do enough in san diego.
i was so excited to visit my publisher that
i totally failed to take ANY fotos. haha! i got
a grand tour, saw my book in a case with
neil gaiman’s (eee!) and had lunch with everyone
at greenwillow. we intently discussed bunnies,
flowers and cupcakes–important topics in
children’s publishing. 8)
i also got a very very early glimpse of possible
ideas for the sequel’s cover. no matter what,
i know that chris will do a fantastic job with it!
very exciting!!
i then went to the silk spa near union square
for a massage! it was a very nice spa and i’d
highly recommend it. then i toodled over a few
streets east and had dinner with my friend, chris.
then groom to be, now a married man. and his
honey. i’ve known chris since i was fifteen so
over two decades. his now wife, lane,
had recommended ippudo which was DELICIOUS!
see for yourself!
pork buns! like cha shu!
my personal favorite–agedashi tofu!
deep fried potatoes with a delicious
dipping sauce.
i ordered the miso ramen. SO GOOD!
very hearty and def comfort food.
lane got the same.
chris ordered the special, wasabi ramen!
i then went to visit their new home in
williamsburg, brooklyn.
the next morning, stumbled out of the hotel
again bright and early at 10.30am (ha!). i
had a date with my friend juliet and had chosen
to meet at the le pain on 84th and madison. this
is one that the love and i used to walk to and
was a favorite place of ours to eat.
we started with a bread basket and i slathered
everything i ate in a nutella equivalent spread. YUM!
we also shared a fruit salad and a veggie quiche,
but we were so engrossed in chatting i forgot to
take fotos! =O
they have amazing breads and pastries as
well as soup, salads and sandwiches!
i really really really wanted to buy one
of their pastries but knew i had a brunch
date the next morning and all my other meals
set. *stares longingly at foto*
ten fotos and that is my first day and a half
back in new york city since 2000–when i
graduated from nyu! more posts and fotos
to follow!! =D
16 Comments
Wow, Cin. Your photos and comments make me miss NYC — and I live here! :) But you did more stuff in two days than I do in two weeks.
And . . . BLAH at showing me that pic of Crumbs! Now I feel obligated to buy some humongous cupcakes. Thanks Cindy.
Bugger…now I want to go to New York :(
I love your food photos, Cindy. Your posts about food and your unholy obsession with cupcakes just makes me smile.
xxx
The food photos are my favorite, too :D! Congrats on the author calling you up, and for being next to Neil, even if it’s in a bookcase ;). WOO HOO!
david, did you have treats at wendy’s? tell me you did! if you do get a gino cupcake, please tell me which flavor! they look insane!!
sue, i hope you get to visit soon one day! unholy obsession with cupcakes. haha!
rebecca, it was an email from MWT, i would have died if phone call! ;*) but still a great way to start the GOOD MOJO flowing!
Yes, I had a few of the treats during Saturday’s get-together. I’m all too familiar with Crumbs. Lisa and I have been getting those full-sized cupcakes from them for almost two years now! They’re way addicting.
More and more Crumbs shops keep opening up around the city, too. It’s a conspiracy, I tell ya!
The cream puffs at Le Pain. OMG. Get one next time.
I’m amused that you were too excited to take pictures of people, but do not lack in pictures of food!!! Haha. Why am I not surprised, Cindy? But oooh, look, cha shao bao! (Is that how you phonetically spell it?) =9
Glad NYC was a good time for you!
steph, haha! =D and it sounds like
you said cha shao in mandarin. i think
cha shu is perhaps cantonese? i speak mandarin, tho.
wendy…MMM! i want to go back!
i love that you live near where the
love and i used to roam!
I’m so traveling with you, because you clearly understand the importance of the next meal. Yum! Glad you had fun.
=DD
traveling is all about the food!
it’s the best way to learn about a new
place / culture!
Sounds like you had a fabulous time in the City, Cindy! I grew up in NYC and don’t think I ever did as much in 2 days as you did. Must definitely try CRUMBS next time I’m in the City (I live in Jersey); those cupcakes looked SO YUMMY! :)
Also, did you do a booksigning or anything? I didn’t hear mention of it . . . would have loved to have seen you; your book is an AWESOME read!
I am so jealous. That food made me so hungry! So what is the name of the place with the wasabi ramen? That looks so good!!!! And how cool is that to see your book in the same case as Neil Gaiman’s? So awesome!
Ack! I’m so hungry now! But then again so happy to see all that yummy food.
Looks like a fun and delicious trip! =D
crystal, such a fun time! it’s what happens when you are playing “tourist”, you squeeze as much in as you can! =D
are you in nyc? as you see in next post, i couldn’t do a public signing alas. def for sequel. thanks so much for reading my debut. so happy you enjoyed it!
ello–visit to publisher was all sorts of awesome!!
natalie and joan, a delicious trip is my favorite kind of trip! =DD