June 9-15                       Jersey City, New Jersey

The rain continued as we left Manasquan and returned to the Atlantic.   The wind was minimal so we were not subjected to choppy seas.  After an hour I noted the rain had ceased but we still had considerable water coming down the windshield.  We had a problem with the washer system.  Numerous efforts to turn it off failed so we turned off the water system.

On our journey to New York, hazy skies hid the city until we passed under the magnificent Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.  Traffic rapidly increased with Staten Island ferries, Statue of Liberty Cruise boats, and many personal boats darting back and forth.  We docked easily at Liberty Landing Marina and were immediately made to feel at home when the dock hand stated he remembered us from last year.

The next evening we were leaving the boat to walk in the park and as I watched David descending the steps, I saw something square and gray fall out of his pocket and into the water.  It was his new phone (only purchased a week before we left Fort Worth).  Nothing could be done so we continued our walk.  Liberty State Park has an incredible view of the new Freedom Tower, built on site of the Twin Towers.  A memorial has been built in the park that contains about a thousand names of New Jersey residents killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks.  Two long granite structures, clad with stainless steel inscribed with the names, stand parallel on the lawn. One end opens to a view of the site of the tragedy and the other to a view of a large twisted girder from one of the destroyed buildings.  It is a moving and emotional moment to view the names of those whose lives were lost.

Blake and Amanda arrived shortly after noon on June 12.  Being a “take-charge” person, Blake had brought his old Blackberry to be used by his grandfather until he received his new replacement phone from the AT&T insurance company.  He also had located the nearest place to have it activated.  That was a good reason to take the ferry and go into the city.  The weather was pleasant and we easily accomplished our mission with some additional shopping.  Dinner was at the great restaurant at the marina.

Friday was full-speed ahead as we left early to go into the city for lunch at the Plaza Food Court, one of Blake and Amanda’s favorite places for casual dining.  As the Plaza was a considerable distance from our location in Tribeca, Blake introduced us to “Uber.”  We had read about this car service but did not realize it was so widespread and successful.  Only minutes after our call, we were met by a black Mercedes SUV with a well-dressed driver who spoke excellent English.  We continued to use Uber throughout the weekend and found it to be satisfactory each time.  A little more expensive but the amenities are worth it.  Later that afternoon, we needed to leave midtown for our dinner reservation just as it began to rain heavily.  Uber was there in only a few minutes. That never happens with taxis!

 The Plaza Food Court was a dramatic change from the former oyster/seafood restaurant we went to years ago before the hotel went through multiple ownership changes and renovations.  Sleek, modern, and beautiful, the space offers many food areas with diverse menus in a casual setting.  We had delicious baby arugula salads, sautéed octopus salads, and prosciutto pizza.  The food in New York is wonderful anywhere, everywhere, and anytime!

Gwen Wells, a friend from Fort Worth, is employed by Sotheby’s, a prestigious auction house with headquarters in New York.  She had extended an invitation to tour their facilities on York Avenue.  We were thrilled!  We saw an exciting display of paintings by Victor Vasarely, whose op-art canvases are unbelievably complex in design and use of color.  Another exhibition of paintings by Dubuffet was less impressive.  We were appropriately awed by the world’s most famous stamp, an 1856 one-cent black on magenta item that will go up for auction next week and is expected to sell for more than $10,000,000.

Taking advantage of time before our dinner reservations, we “ubered” to the Modern Art Museum.  Amanda had requested we go there and I was eager to accommodate her.  The guys left us to find a nearby Starbucks.  The MOMA was packed with people!  Van Gogh’s Starry Night was surrounded by viewers and photographers.  It reminded me of the crowds always present in front of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre.    Modern art is an acquired taste and Amanda was more enthusiastic about Cezanne, Van Gogh, Mondrian, and Picasso than she was about Du Champ and Bengalis. I was pleased she had the opportunity to see some of the icons of modern genre.

Amanda and Blake have visited New York often in the past few years on their annual Christmas excursions with their family.  They are well-acquainted with the “in-places” and insisted we needed to go to Del Frisco’s for a drink.  Great suggestion!  We viewed their impressive bar area but opted for an outside table.  It was a wonderful choice until the rain came and we had to abandon our wonderful people-watching site.

We “ubered” to La Repaille, a lovely small French restaurant in the Soho area of Manhattan.  The ambiance was lovely, the service was good, the food was well-prepared, but the owner/maître ‘d had a haughty, dismissive French attitude  we have not experienced since our first visit to Paris more than thirty years ago.  In New York, one has many dining choices.  La Repaille  will not be ours. 

Gwen and Meredith Smart, another Fort Worth friend joined us for dinner and we had enjoyed hearing about living in one of the world’s best cities.   Both women love being in New York and have successful careers.  Gwen is an exhibition specialist with Sotheby’s and travels extensively.  Meredith is a teacher and will pursue a career in theater arts.  We were pleased they took the time and effort to join us.  It was a highlight of our New York visit.

Blake and Amanda’s visit ended on June 15.  They would move to the Hilton for the night to avoid having to leave the boat early for our departure.   On the same date, Dave arrived to be with us for our journey through the Erie Canal.  Together, all of us left on the ferry for the city for a last celebration of family.  We “ubered” to Eataly, a Mario Batali establishment across from Madison Park.  It was a mind-blowing experience! 

A huge facility occupying the former sites of a bank and a church, Eataly is a gourmet market, a fabulous casual dining experience, and a lovely place for formal dining. We ordered a cheese/salami/prosciutto/olives tray with Prosecco and Italian beer.   David and I were awed by the vast display of Nutella, olive oil, vinegar, meats, fish, bread, pastries, and pastas.  The entire marketing concept was amazing.  Although we considered it to be crowded, we were informed it was a slow evening.

Dinner was at Becco, a Lydia Bastianich restaurant on 46^th Street between 8^th and 9^th Avenues.  A crowd was waiting to be seated and we were pleased when we were shown to our table at exactly the time we had specified.  Becco has an unusual menu with an emphasis on pasta and Caesar salads.  The food was excellent, the service was attentive, and we had a great evening.  Afterwards, Blake and Amanda said goodbye and went to the Hilton.  We “ubered” to the marina and prepared for our early departure.