New York City!

This year was niece Somerset's turn to go to New York with us. (Nephews Calvin and Joshua have had turns already.) We had a fantastic time - she kept us entertained!

In the first 7 hours of being there, we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, ice-skated at Rockefeller Center, ate New York cheesecake, and visited the top of the Empire State Building. NBD.

Day two was no less eventful, as we ate at the Applejack Diner, visited MOMA (and got a free ticket due to Somerset's taste in hats), shopped at Uniqlo, saw St. Patrick's Cathedral, ate New York pizza, rode the Staten Island ferry, and ate at Les Halles (those fries!).

Here we are explaining the difference between a pie and a tart, visually, and (believe it or not) making a list of the times we have been to NYC (cross-referenced here).

Friday started with breakfast at Pershing Square, the cutest place to eat breakfast that I have found in New York. (Plus its bathroom ranks the highest on my own personal list of NYC bathrooms.)

We popped into Grand Central Station for a moment, then went uptown to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We barely scratched the surface of what there is to see there, but I wanted to make sure to visit the galleries of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, which I've only seen once since it reopened in 2007 (I just looked that up).

I rarely sketch with pencil anymore, but always carry one in case of a museum visit.

When we left the museum it was snowing! We rode the bus a few blocks (it was cold!) down to Terrace Drive and walked across the park. We visited the Bethesda Fountain FINALLY for the first time in our 13 visits. Magical. Then more pizza.

Friday night (yes we're still on Friday!) we took a cab to The Stone and saw the accordionist Guy Klucevsek - it was a lovely, weird, New York time.

Then we had dinner at the Meatball Shop. It's the second time we've eaten there. The first time it impressed us with the food, and the second time with the service (and also the food!). I HIGHLY recommend it.

The last day we STILL did a bunch of stuff! We bought souvenirs for Somerset's brothers and sister and friends, we ate dim sum at Jing Fong - so good!!! - and we bought macaroons, which we scarfed down at the airport.

Until next time, NYC! I love you!