Getting Over Over sleeping and Over Spending

Dylan's Candy Bar was fun in that "lets overwhelm ourselves with an abundance of crap we do not need and our ability to spend recklessly because while we are on vacation it doesn't really count" sort of way. Recession? What recession? Nothing happening in mid town Manhattan to indicate that anyone goes with out these days including me and my kids. Probably some of my mood stems from the fact that I spent some ridiculous amount of money on gummy bears (although it is true that the gummies at Dylan's are beyond belief, like gummy octopi, teeth, or chicken feet), and on a signature umbrella that we did no open until we got back to the hotel only to find it to be broken. Probably made in china with child labor involved. Lunch at Brasserie 360 next door looked promising but was just ok - we did get to connect with our friends from Rio for the excursion so of course the company was delightful!

Next trip we need a couple more days planned for sure. There has been too much all about the kids and not enough time to walk by our old apartment, nor to go across town to Zabar's for a Knish straight out of the oven, nor up to the Bronx to the NY Botanical Garden where I used to work. We have of course perused the gift shop at the museum for yet another stuffed animal though.

A good time had by all with drinks back at the Algonquin with friends in from SF and the Brazilians last night. The children were thrilled to have their own little "round table" until the 3 little girls decided that the 2 older boys were boring so they went up to the room to play, followed shortly after by the boys. Some things in life do remain constant don't they? Served up in a martini glass, the Blueberry Lemonade cocktail was really tasty although a tad on the sweet side and I would have strained out the little life boats of muddled Blue Berries floating around in there. Gaby's at The Sofitel Hotel down the block looked every bit the great NY restaurant we hoped for but except for the free French Chocolates at the end of the meal it just didn't cut it for any of us. We still had a wonderful time together of course, and the kids really do love fine chocolate.