I think it finally dawned on me that I was in New York when the police closed off the block around my hotel so that a giant bottle of Snapple Iced Tea could be bolted to the side of a building and a grandstand erected for people to look at it. It was all part of a launch for a new range of diet teas that would culminate with a set from a well-respected international DJ and spotlights criss-crossing the sky. All for a new iced tea. I wondered what they would if the President visited.
Luckily gala ice tea extravaganzas hold no appeal to your average reader of travel and there was a really good turn out for my event at McNally Robinsons down at Soho. It could have been the offer of free wine rather than a free diet drink that swung them but they laughed at my jokes and bought my book. That’s more than any author can ask for. My publisher and the bookstore were also happy with the turnout which is another good thing.
After the event my publicist took me to Williamsburg in Brooklyn. From the TV shows and movies I watched back in Australia (i.e. Welcome Back Kotter) I was under the impression that that was a bad thing. But I think it’s now my favourite part of New York. We went to this really funky Thai restaurant with security monitors you could watch while you used the urinal and had a beer in a bar that was cooler than anything I’d seen down in Soho. I decided immediately that I wanted to live there.
I’ll have to figure out the subway first though. On the way back to my hotel I went Downtown at Union Square instead of Uptown and spent 45 minutes watching the rats play at Canal while I waited for the N to take me back.
[No cabs today. Just the subway.]
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WOW Peter – you’re in my favourite city!
I love NYC so much I am going there on honeymoon in 3 weeks – yeap
that’s right, I get married on June 10th and then we are off on a 4 week jaunt across America.
Craig and I are going to Las Vegas, Hawaii and on the way home we are stopping off in NYC. My hubbie to be is a pretend surfer dude so we had to go to Hawaii .. I’m the gambler and shopping kind, hence the trips to Las Vegas and NYC.
If you are still in Soho, check out the most gorgeous bakery in the whole of the city. Its called Once Upon A Tart
http://www.onceuponatart.com/ and its on Sullivan St. They sell THE best cup cakes.
There is also the Sullivan St Bakery which is Yum with a capital Y. http://www.sullivanstreetbakery.com/
They sell the best Panettone outside of Rome, its delicious – maybe you could get some to take home?
Also, if you fancy a trip up the Empire State building, go to The Playwright Bar (202 West 49th St, between Broadway & 7th Ave) and speak to Geoff (or is it Jeff) he’ll make your trip even more special!
Ciao Ciao!
Millie
Hi there. Welcome to NYC.
Sorry I missed your signing on the 22nd. Only one in NYC??