New York, New York Day 7

So the day finally came that we had to fly back home.  We had a late flight so we decided to have a leisurely morning.  We wanted to mail a few things back to the house (so that we didn't have to check luggage), so we went to the closest post office, which happened to be closed on Saturdays.  I knew that the post office in my old neighborhood was open so we took the 10 minute train ride to Astoria and mailed the package.  We ended up getting breakfast in Mike's Diner, which is a place I walked past daily when I lived in Astoria and never entered.  There were always people inside and I can see why: the food was good and the prices were reasonable.  We headed back to the hotel for a little while before heading our to LaGuardia for our flight home.  We left New York at 4pm local time and arrived home about 8pm local time, which was the best flight I've ever had.  It was a nice easy flight home.  I really love New York City and going back confirmed it.  I don't think I'd want to live the rest of my life as a New Yorker because I'd miss the Northwest too much (the area and my family), but I wouldn't mind doing a fellowship back there.  I guess you never know what life is going to bring you!

New York, New York Day 6: Finally Graduation

Since we decided to stay in Queens (near where I used to live), we had to get to Manhattan then catch the NJ transit train and a taxi to get to the Izod Center for graduation.  However, considering we were doing our  vacationing in New York City and not Jersey, it made the most sense to stay in New York (and besides, I'm familiar with the subways in New York so we could easily get around the city).  Anyway, we had to be in Jersey by 8:30, which basically amounted to sitting around and waiting for something to happen.  I was so excited when it finally started! The ceremony was okay, but I was very disappointed that they combined the Vet and Med schools graduation into one ceremony.  I think they are both such big accomplishments that they deserve their own ceremony.  I could care less about the goat that they tried to save and I am sure they don't care much about ethical decisions in palliative medicine. Parts of the ceremony were good, like the Medical School dean's speech; but overall, it was just a very long ceremony.  Nonetheless, when it was my turn to walk, I was so excited and proud (I was especially proud that I didn't trip in my beautiful 5-inch heels!!)

A picture of the stage and where the graduates would sit from Mom and Dad's vantage point.

Walking in

All 700 docs and vets

I was SO happy to have my diploma holder, even though I already had my doctorate sitting at home!  It was weird hearing Dr. Nicole as I walked across the stage.

  

Photo Op outside the venue.  Can you see my beautiful 5-inch heels??  

I bet you can tell I'm wearing giant heels now considering that I'm only a half inch taller than Mom usually!

The best looking Dad at the graduation!

Giant Nicole and her 5-inch heels and awesome Doctor hat towering above the family

Now just the doctor hat and heels!! They are beautiful!!

 After we returned to civilation, I mean New York, (haha), we decided that we needed something to eat.  I had wanted to go to a wine bar near Herald Square for a long time, but I couldn't get anyone to go with me when I lived in New York so we decided to go (NJ Transit drops off at Penn station so it was about 6 blocks to walk).  It was Ayza Wine & Chocolate Bar!!  It was so yummy!!!  I wish I would have taken a picture of the truffles we had after lunch because they were amazing.  This is another place that I will have to revisit if I go back to New York City!  The food and wine were both out of this world!

Two good looking people waiting for lunch!!  

 We headed back to the hotel for a well deserved nap before heading out again for dinner.  We decided to go to Hell's Kitchen because it was another place in New York City that I wanted to go to, but couldn't get anyone to go with me (and really what single girl goes to someplace named Hell's Kitchen alone, haha).  We ended up at Cara Mia, an Italian place, which was yummy!!

After dinner we walked back to Times Square for one more look around.  It is such a tourist trap and such a great place to people watch.  We also headed into an Irish Pub for one last drink before heading back to the hotel for the night.  We had such an amazing trip to New York City!!

New York, New York Day 5

It was another beautiful day and so we decided to head to the Highline Park!    The Highline Park is a super cool urban park on Manhattan's West Side.  It is built on old railroad tracks and is a few stories above the ground.  It is unlike anywhere I've ever been and I'm glad that I could take Mom and Dad here.  We also had the best shaved ice I've ever had (there was a guy literally shaving ice and I had rhubarb flavored shaved it, which was as awesome as it sounds!)  Here are some photos!!

If I would have brought my Burberry purse, Mom and I would have been in a completely matching uniform, haha!!

We decided to walk down to the Hudson River and go to lunch at the Frying Pan, which is a boat that they arose from the Chesapeake Bay and converted it into a resturants.  It is a fun place to go and the food was better than I remembered!!

A view of the Hudson River

Bathroom of the Frying Pan!

Mom and Dad  atop the Frying Pan

Mom and me atop the frying pan

Entrance to the Frying Pan at Pier 66

The boat!

Another view of the Frying Pan

 After we finished up at the Frying Pan, we headed to the Empire State Building to look around.  We debated going to the top, but decided against this since we had just gone to the Top of the Rock a few days earlier.  I was surprised how beautiful the Empire State Building lobby was.

 We couldn't decide what to do next, so we headed to the world's largest department store to have a Starbucks Coffee: Macy's at Herald Square.  We then decided to do something I had wanted to do but never had a chance: Walk the Brooklyn Bridge!! We started on the Brooklyn side and worked our way back to Manhattan!! It was as awesome as I hoped it would be!!

The Manhattan Bridge is in the background and some buildings in Brooklyn, which I don't know the name of.

Manhattan Bridge is in the background

We decided to head to Washington Square Park after walking back to Manhattan.  It is such a great place to people watch!

The marble Washington Arch, which was built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of  Washington's inauguration in 1889

Another view of the park with the fountain in view and I believe some of the NYU buildings in the background.

We decided to walk around the Greenwich Village until a restaurant sounded good.  We found JACK Bistro & Bar, which was amazing.  They had a special where you could get an appetizer, entree, and desert for (I believe) $20.00, but you could replace the appetizer or desert for a glass of wine and pay the same price.  I certainly didn't need that much food so I had a couple of glasses of wine and since I love Thanksgiving, I basically had Thanksgiving dinner.  It was awesome!  If I return to New York and need a place to dine, I will definitely have Jack on my list!