Friday, August 30, 2013
Slept in. Breakfast at Doughnut Plant (379 Grand Street, New York, New York): cafe con leche grande, peach yeast doughnut, creme brûlée doughseed, $9.25 and worth every penny. These doughnuts are amazingly and seemingly perfectly delicious. I ate the doughnuts in the shop next to French lesbian tourists then took my coffee to go. Walked to and sat in Seward Park. Decided to visit MOMA today. Rode the subway M train from East Broadway to 47-50 Streets and Rockefeller Center. Along the way I got lost in the subway, and I also purchased bandages from Rite Aid for the scratches on my leg from the Chicago bike tour. Decided to abandon the MOMA plan and instead visit the Top of the Rock ($27). The experience was breathtaking. Today was a bit hazy but the view is astounding nonetheless. Also fun were the surprise entertainment in the elevator and the lighted, interactive installation in one of the rooms at the observation decks. I took lots of photos. Wandered around Rockefeller Center. Purchased a saturn peach and a pear from a farmer's market vender at Rockefeller Center. He accidentally failed to give me the correct change, but I persisted and got all my change. Snacked on garlic sea salt sunflower seeds which I had brought with me. Took an M4 bus a few blocks south along 5th Avenue and exited near the New York Public Library. I explored the library a bit and also sat in the Rose Reading Room to charge my phone and plan my next move. Back to the hotel. Changed into long pants and a polo shirt. Late dinner by myself at Yunnan Kitchen (212-253-2527, 79 Clinton Street, New York, New York): grilled tofu shao kao ($5) with spices on the side, stir-fried mushrooms (sawtooth herb, Benton’s ham, peppers, $11), Alphabet City Easy Blonde ($6): $28 after a $4 tip. My fortune: Winning starts with beginning (30, 43, 15, 23, 5, 1). Back to the hotel for a nap. On the walk home I stopped in front of a sushi restaurant that had no name. After a minute or so a chef emerged and gave me an introduction and a very sexy matte black with gold foil business card: Sushi Ko. Chef's choice meals starting at around $70. Nap. I had wanted to go to FairyTale Lounge (500 West 48th Street, New York, New York) because Cazwell was supposed to have been spinning, but I left what I felt was late and didn't think I would make it early enough, so I didn't try. Instead I barhopped in West Village, viewing from the outside or stopping only briefly at various places along Christopher Street and Grove Street.