Locked up in the Big Apple

Here I am, Back in the Big Apple.  A city that I just can’t get away from.  I dream of it of many fronts.  Wanting to drink, eat and shop my way through every inch of it.  Every time I’m here, it’s always a new experience yet, this trip has already has taken the cake for probably the ‘most memorable’ of all of my NYC Trips.
First, it should be my most memorable trip.  It is a trip to celebrate my first wedding anniversary, on top of that, my husband’s first trip to this fabulous city.  Planned as a gift, a getaway before the busy season hits and one for just enjoying some R & R between us – little did we know that ‘relaxation’ wasn’t the name of the game when we landed during one of New York’s busiest political weeks.  With a plan to settle into one of the city’s most famous hotels, The Waldorf Astoria, sip cocktails, and just relax before we head out for our first late afternoon of site seeing and delicious dinner – we quickly realized that getting first, anywhere, was going to be a problem.
To begin, one must always prepare for arriving at Laguardia airport, as it is always a circus.  Drivers in your face, people in lines and some form of construction, mayhem and airport craziness is the general rule for this NY airport.  Cabbing it into Manhattan can be interesting, so we took the first limo that we were presented.  With a bumper glued on by some sort of house caulk, we snuggled into a super stretch white limo headed off for the city.  As the city approached, the onslaught of mid afternoon traffic hit us, yet not only were there cars but lines and lines of police cars and armored security trucks.  After spending a few minutes in midtown traffic, our limo driver jumped out, handed his mail to the post office  truck to our right, got back in, turned around and said “We won’t be going anywhere fast in this, do you guys want to jump out and walk from here?”  We looked at one another and laughed.  After explaining that the president, ex-president and that Ahmadinejad guy were all in town and the amount of security that we were to face block after block would eventually take more time to drive through than walk through, that hoofing it a few blocks would save us some time.  So, there we were suitcases in hand and walking the streets of mid Manhatten.
Once arriving to the Waldorf, the lines of security, snipers and hand-guns we faced were obviously just the beginning to our time consuming check in.  X-ray machines, baggage checks and security wands were waved from head to toe.  Security laughed as my cute Minnesotan husband made jokes about the cost of our room and the ‘deal’ that we were getting.  Upon reaching  the check-in desk, we were told to have some drinks at the bar and wait for our room.  Sounded good, but the bar, again was just another space filled with secret service, black suits and diplomats making it an interesting venture.  Yet, I was easily distracted and quickly forgot about the extra line of black suits sitting to my right after being handed the wine list.  With options that I wasn’t necessarily used to in the Twin Cities, my eyes lit up with excitement wanting to try everything I saw.  Finally after deciding on my first, I kicked back enjoying a fabulous glass of Hermann J Wiemer Blanc de Noir from the Finger Lakes.  Only then moments later deciding on a delicious ‘sauteed’ asparagus like Vouvray, an alluring vegetal, cheesey, almondy glass of Chablis and finally, a surprising sip of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir from a winery called Routestock with a brite cherry, swisher sweet, cooked bacon peel aroma.  Ahhh, my day had finally begun and with that, knew that the rest of the day was to be more of an adventure.
Once the room was ready, we started for the elevator, filled with more ‘officials’ than one could possibly imagine in one spot, outside the White House.   Hitting the 41st floor button seemed to go well until the elevator suddenly shifted and started heading DOWN.  Down to a floor where we were ushered off the elevator by more men in black suits and held in a small room with no explanation.  Curtains, dividers and more security held us from looking into the hallway from which we came.  And, with the roar of a  sudden armored truck racing up the street, a slew of reporters stampeeding by and more black suits stacked in lines like walls, our ‘mystery guest’ was rushed off before we even knew who to look for.  With more excitement than one knew what to do with, and a good 30 minutes later, we were then allowed to hit the elevator again.  Laughing through the hallway trying to make sense of our ‘already’ NY adventure, we remembered that we were told when we went back for our keys once the room was ready, that we were ‘upgraded’ for our wait.  Upgraded.  Hmmm…. that was an understatement.  As it turned out, an upgrade at the Astoria Towers meant a 2,000 square foot apartment!  Fully equipped with a kitchen, dining area, sitting lounge, foyer, large bathroom, powder room and huge bedroom – I wondered when we’d have time to throw a formal dinner party in our new NY apartment.  And, as I look around at our humble abode this morning,  I sit typing from my own ‘oval office’ giggling,  thinking…’I hope my husband doesn’t think this is what ALL NY hotel rooms look like!’
The rest of our evening was a bit more relaxed, even as we stumbled upon characters, places and more to eat and drink.  From Grand Central Station, Artisanal for cheese and wine pairings, and on to Gramercy Tavern where the in house smoked venison kielbasa seemed to blow the mind of even the pickiest of MN eaters, my husband, the nite was perfect.  And so far…just the beginning to one trip that is surely never to be forgotten.  And an anniversary trip, certainly one for the record books.
More stories I’m sure to come.  Stay tuned and Enjoy this Beautiful Fall Weekend in September, no matter where you are.  Salut!