Day 341 - Steak and Huge Action

A Bobby Van steak for lunch today courtesy of Mountbatten, followed by the Wolverine screening courtesy of Bafta.

Not a bad day for freebies! 

Day 340 - Tired Tourists

Today was not the day to be doing a hundred block walk around New York. I think we were all still full from the all you can eat at the Mets game from the day before.

I met Dad and Jack on the steps in Times Square, where we pottered around for a while, then made our way back to the hotel.

We settled in and watched 42. The story about Jackie Robonson, the first black baseball player. Incredible story and a great film. To prove that it was such a good film, Dad was awake for the whole time! 

Day 339 - NY Style Birthday

A Birthday in New York, a multitude of choices, endless possibilities and 24 hours to do it in.

To start, we went 102 floors up to the Empire State Building to look over our options. 

All that thinking made us hungry, so we headed over to Madison Square Park for a ShakeShack.

Then we headed over to the Mountbatten Office to hijack their Internet. After introducing Dad and Jack to all the staff, we started flicking through StubHub. We eventually opted for Mets Tickets.

They weren't just any Mets tickets, they were all you can eat, Hyundai Club tickets.

It's fair to say my Birthday tea was vast, fried and never ending. The baseball was pretty good as well, as the Mets one (which supposedly lose all the time) won!

A great New York Birthday!

Day 338 - The Last V.I.Vs

Big Kev and Jacky Boy have arrived to play!

The last of all my amazing visitors. Lets have some fun...

Day 337 - Bucks Sunday

A quiet Sunday today. Just myself, my laptop, my dissertation, Starbucks and alot of Venti iced coffee's.

Don't forget the awesome view and inspiration to work on a Sunday.

Day 336 - Sarabeth's

I met an old University friend today. He has just culminated a huge road trip round the states by finishing in New York.  

He asked to do something that a typical New Yorker would do on a weekend. Simple answer. They Brunch.

It worked out really well actually, as it gave me an excuse to go to one of the restaurants that I have been hankering towards for a while.

The one I chose was Sarabeth's. A New York born and bred eatery that has developed from a small bakery. 

I went for the grapefruit and orange sundial with yoghurt to start, followed by the salmon eggs benedict. It was definetly worth the wait. 

I am beginning to realise that I am starting to run out of time when it comes to adventuring to these places. Maybe a year wasn't long enough!

Day 335 - Bryant Park Tekkers

Now this chap had the skills when it came to flicking a tiny ball around. 

One move he did was flick the ball high into the sky, then catch it on the front of his other foot as if it was magnetic. He was lying on his back!

For someone that is not naturally gifted when it comes to football, I was very impressed.

I didn't want to disturb him when I was taking my picture so stood well back. Far back enough that it looks like you actually can't see him. Hopefully I will see him on my Bryant Park travels again and take a better picture.

Day 334 - The Conjuring

At the croquet match the other weekend, I met a delightful lady who just so happened to work for Bafta, as the New York screening administrator. In simple terms she oversees who comes and watches the free screenings of the latest films that are due to be released.

Indicating that I love the cinema and being immersed in a film, she invited me to a screening. It was for The Conjuring - 2013's latest horror flick.

I usually tend to avoid horror movies due to my tendency to flinch at quiet car horns. However, when faced with such an invite, I couldn't turn it down.

I think I managed to keep some dignity and not look at the floor too much.

Thanks Roni for the invite!

Day 333 - Birthday Bones

As I have some V.I.Vs (very important visitors) coming next week for my birthday, I will not be around that much.

So to celebrate it with my New York friends, we headed to Rathbones and Ryan's Daughter on the Upper East Side. Two of my favourite places when I lived in Harlem.

The order of 150 wings was not suffice for 9 ravenous twenty somethings. The extra 50 we ordered on top of that only just did us all justice.

Day 332 - New York Breeze

Following on from yesterday's post, I thought that the heat needed more emphasis. I really need a heat cam for these pictures.

To those that have visited New York in the summer and experienced the subways, you will understand the heat (and smell) very well.

When you walk into a subway from the already steamy streets, you just get hit by  a huge waft of pungent dry air. It is said that you know you have been in New York for a while, when the brief cool draft of a subway going past is your cool breeze.

Day 331 - Fully Clothed Sauna

Not sure if it is the hottest day I have ever experienced out here. The humidity however is certainly making it feel so.  

Consider walking into a sauna, fully clothed, then having frantic people run by  you. My sweat patches have just become one with my clothes now. I may as well not dry after the shower.

Day 330 - Upstate NY Croquet

I had a rather unusual Sunday today. I was invited to a croquet match at a care home in upstate New York.

A blistering hot day, my green shirt was soon resembling a flannel. Having never played the game in any form before, I opted for a few practice rounds. They didn't go to well, as the mallet was used a spade more than not to dig my ball out the bushes.

Nevertheless, I ventured into the tournament and gave it my all. 

Day 329 - 16 Handles

I have found an upgrade to Pinkberry. 16 handles, has a serve yourself policy and 16 flavours (surprisingly) of the good stuff to choose from. Instead of a set price menu like Pinkberry, 16 handles has the potential to get dangerous if you are feeling overly gluttonous. You can put as much or as little as you want in your carton.

Day 328 - Oreo Balls

My flat mate and his girlfriend made these today. Crushed Oreos, wrapped in creme cheese with dairy milk drizzled over the top.

If these suddenly appeared on the kitchen table at home, I would have to be weened of them. They are majorly addictive!

Day 327 - Tyne Bridge it is Not

Drawing comparisons from Newcastle to New York is not all that difficult. Intense locals, strong accents and huge beautiful bridges.

I have the opportunity to take photos of a number of unbelievable bridges in New York but thought I would be arty and try and take a moving one from the train.

The results were poor to abysmal at best. Hopefully you get the picture though! 

Day 326 - Park and Ride

Walking through Bryant Park today, I witnessed an airstream pullup. Surely part of an event, it did cross my mind that Bryant Park would be a quality caravan park. Central location, plenty of amenities and free movies in the summer. 

Day 325 - Path Gladiators

The path ride today felt as if I was in a Gladiators competition battling out for a bit of space. My hand was slowly getting bullied of that pole. 

Day 324 - Uncanny

My manager came back from holiday today and brought me a present from her travels. The resemblance to my face is astonishing!

Day 323 - Fantastic Ending

To come back to news of Murray winning Wimbledon, Froome retaining the yellow jersey and the British and Irish Lions securing the series topped off a fantastic weekend. A fantastic way to round off my first ever July 4th weekend in America.

Day 322 - Extravagant Gorging

Today was mostly about eating. A big thanks has to go to the three musketeers who did a fantastic job on the BBQ. I would have helped prepare the food, if it wasn't for the riveting conversation I was having with my new friend, Bubba the Bear.

Day 321 - Perfection

Well today I woke up, watched the Wimbledon Semi Finals and then kayaked a bit. Oh and became the pier king, by successfully standing my ground from all invaders that try to throw me in the water.

After acting like a minotaur, I laid around on my lilo in the water, staring up at the clouds and couldn't help but think that this was first time in almost a year that I haven't heard a siren, car horn or plane. Utter bliss.

Day 320 - Catskills Lakehouse for July 4th

So this is my adventure. A lakehouse in the Catskill mountains for three days. Yes, I will be missing the legendary Macy's fireworks but I have the feeling this lakehouse may just trump them.

As adventures come, this will be fairly mundane. The hardest thing I am planning on doing is walking up and down the hill to get more food and beer. Bring on the sun, pier wars and kayaking.

Day 319 - Stocking Up

When preparing for an adventure, you need a lot of food. A lot of food we have. Adventure to come...

Day 318 - Pigeon Gauntlet

I walk past these pigeons who line up on the fence, strutting up and down, eyeing all the commuters on their way to work every other morning. They scatter the pavements, cars, people with their 'unwontedness' almost as if they are protecting their land. Either way, it has made my quarter mile stretch to work a messy gauntlet. So far. So good.

Day 317 - About Time

Tonight was a rarity, as we were all in at sociable times after work. To celebrate we thought we should do something that we have not done before in our flat. Sit round the dinner table for tea. After almost five months of living in Newport, I am embarrassed to say we have not done this before. Well tonight we broke the poor trend and dined like Mountbatten Kings.

Day 316 - Brooklyn Bridge Romance

The dreaded final day has come. Getting up early we headed straight into New York, via the fleet of LGBT flagged boats. I completely forgot that this weekend was Gay Pride. It certainly made for some interesting viewings.

We were heading to Brooklyn Bridge via Little Italy and China Town. Would you believe that it was the first time that I had actually ventured down Mulberry Street. I had been here 316 days and had not been to Little Italy. Travesty!

When we arrived on Brooklyn Bridge, we walked over to the archways to lock on our padlock. It is not a unique idea but it is kind of romantic I guess. Hopefully it will stay up there for my last fifty days here in New York at least.

After our trip into New York we had to head straight over to JFK. No matter how many times we do this it never gets easier. Thank you so much for an amazing time Janie! I will be home soon :) xxx