Zach and I are cat sitting an acquaintance's two cats in her Brooklyn apartment while she and her husband are in the UK across Christmas and New Year.
I found Chloe through a journalist connection in LA. I had been talking about New York with Alison, the journalist, at a commercial real estate industry event we both attended in LA. Alison had lived in Brooklyn for a long time before moving to LA and said she had an English friend (Chloe) who had people cat sit during the times she would return home to see family.
I expressed my interest to be said cat sitter, and came over for a week in the summer of '18. I had a wonderful time - and what a blessing to have free accommodation in New York!
I'd spend the mornings doing yoga at Eddie Stern's ashtanga yoga school (now closed - sigh), then drop in for coffee and breakfast at a beautiful French cafe, Maison-May, on the way back to the apartment before tending to the cats, then taking off for a day's exploration (including clothes shopping - yay!).
I reached out to Chloe about doing it all again this summer - but she'd already stitched up a sitter. She said she'd need a person for December '19/Jan '20 and even though I am genuinely frightened of a New York winter I knew I'd have my young millennial Zach with me to help brave the chill and could also bring the cold weather clothing I had bought for a Chicago winter work trip three years ago (and not much used in LA since!!).
The following are some pictures from our trip (one week in) - with captions.
1. The night before catching our NYC-bound flight, Zach and I went to a famous LA establishment called Tam O'Shanter - the oldest currently operating restaurant in Los Angeles, and listed as one of the 15 most iconic Los Angeles restaurants (here). It was also close to the Walt Disney studios and Walt Disney and his animators were major fans. A waiter pointed out for me Disney's preferred dining spot. My work colleague, Joy, who knows great LA trivia suggested Zach and I go and said during the Christmas season we'd experience carolers. The following two pics show our carolers: we requested they sing "We wish you a Merry Christmas" and "Silent Night" - superb. Tips expected of course, and our carolers were duly accorded their loot.
2. Our first night in New York (Sunday December 22). It had been a smooth sailing trip and arrival - so in celebration and readiness to "take on New York", we hit up one of Brooklyn's notorious 'hipster bars' (that we just happened to land upon, no real prior knowledge): "Sharlene's". We discovered it has quite the rap - pinball machines included (Star Wars!). Article about Sharlene's in the New Yorker magazine here.
3. Walking the streets of Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, I came across a "Black Santa" wearing suitable lumberjack "Brooklyn hipster" attire.
4. Most people are catching the 'Metro' (subway) - which has been Zach and my preferred method (although all those STAIRS - and the copious walking!!). We've only caught a Lyft once - back from a bar in Williamsburg to the apartment in Prospect Heights, but there are a few brave souls who choose to own cars and drive. Seems parking must be an issue (where is parking NOT an issue?). One way the New Yorkers appear to deal with the crunch on parking here is they install bumper protectors on the back of their cars. Genius. I took a few snaps of cars with bumpers, and then one car without - so we see the damage done if you keep your car bumper protector free!
5. Getting out for a walk/run in Prospect Park. Jogging seems to be the exercise of choice for New Yorkers. Lots of fit bodies around and great running tracks. I can see why they love it. It's been fun to hit the road and take some ground while listening to tunes. A brisk temperature but one soon warms up.
6. One of the cats we're sitting. His name is Dougal. He is a great cat. Very chill. The other cat is skittish and hides most of the day. Also a male, called Junior. Junior is low maintenance though (in part because we seldom see him) so it's all good!
7. The Christmas tree at The Met. An entry ticket buys you three days, the museum's collection is ginormous (and I've visited it at least once before). Zach and I first went on Christmas Eve but returned again on Boxing Day to spend another four hours roaming the floors.
8. A Jewish tradition (neither one of us is Jewish), Chinese food on Christmas Day! After attending a small church service at The Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew with, coincidentally, an Aussie reverend, Zach and I took to Hunan Delight for Peking Duck and other delicacies.
9. Chances are, you'll know at least one person living in New York! Had a fun catch-up on Boxing Day with a fellow Aussie, Sarah, and her American husband, Chaz. Sarah has lived in New York for 20 years, first coming to the city as a singer/dancer for Broadway at 18. She's never looked back. I met Sarah through the "PR Divas" Facebook network in San Francisco five years ago. We drank and nibbled at Le Crocodile bar in Williamsburg (and Sarah didn't even know I LOVE crocodiles!).
10. We happened upon a very cool jazz club called Smalls in the West Village and hit up some jazz on a Friday night. Had meals and drinks at two wonderful restaurants, Bar Sardine and Fairfax, beforehand. The West Village is a wonderful spot , and probably my no. 1 choice of neighbourhood if living in NYC. It's also where Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw lived!
11. Riding the subway is a necessity for tourists and locals alike in NYC. Being a big reader, Zach has been carrying around his volume of My Struggle Book 2 by Karl Ove Knausgaard and I'm carrying Andrew Sean Grier's 'Less' (Guardian review here) to help bide the commuter time.
Pics include Zach with his gnome like hat with two bags of shopping from 'Century 21' and one of the Subway's ubiquitous buskers. My donations to the local street strummers have left my pockets a little poor, but I don't mind. They're all good and it ain't easy making it as a musician.
12. Zach was worried about spending too much money. Erm, yeah - solid concern. We've been hitting up the restaurant scene every day. Carb overload! This place, Alta Calidad, happily walking distance from our apartment.
We've had many more adventures, including a performance of Fiddler on the Roof and more hipster bars (The Caledonia and Weather Up to name two), but for now that's a wrap!
I found Chloe through a journalist connection in LA. I had been talking about New York with Alison, the journalist, at a commercial real estate industry event we both attended in LA. Alison had lived in Brooklyn for a long time before moving to LA and said she had an English friend (Chloe) who had people cat sit during the times she would return home to see family.
I expressed my interest to be said cat sitter, and came over for a week in the summer of '18. I had a wonderful time - and what a blessing to have free accommodation in New York!
I'd spend the mornings doing yoga at Eddie Stern's ashtanga yoga school (now closed - sigh), then drop in for coffee and breakfast at a beautiful French cafe, Maison-May, on the way back to the apartment before tending to the cats, then taking off for a day's exploration (including clothes shopping - yay!).
I reached out to Chloe about doing it all again this summer - but she'd already stitched up a sitter. She said she'd need a person for December '19/Jan '20 and even though I am genuinely frightened of a New York winter I knew I'd have my young millennial Zach with me to help brave the chill and could also bring the cold weather clothing I had bought for a Chicago winter work trip three years ago (and not much used in LA since!!).
The following are some pictures from our trip (one week in) - with captions.
1. The night before catching our NYC-bound flight, Zach and I went to a famous LA establishment called Tam O'Shanter - the oldest currently operating restaurant in Los Angeles, and listed as one of the 15 most iconic Los Angeles restaurants (here). It was also close to the Walt Disney studios and Walt Disney and his animators were major fans. A waiter pointed out for me Disney's preferred dining spot. My work colleague, Joy, who knows great LA trivia suggested Zach and I go and said during the Christmas season we'd experience carolers. The following two pics show our carolers: we requested they sing "We wish you a Merry Christmas" and "Silent Night" - superb. Tips expected of course, and our carolers were duly accorded their loot.
2. Our first night in New York (Sunday December 22). It had been a smooth sailing trip and arrival - so in celebration and readiness to "take on New York", we hit up one of Brooklyn's notorious 'hipster bars' (that we just happened to land upon, no real prior knowledge): "Sharlene's". We discovered it has quite the rap - pinball machines included (Star Wars!). Article about Sharlene's in the New Yorker magazine here.
3. Walking the streets of Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, I came across a "Black Santa" wearing suitable lumberjack "Brooklyn hipster" attire.
4. Most people are catching the 'Metro' (subway) - which has been Zach and my preferred method (although all those STAIRS - and the copious walking!!). We've only caught a Lyft once - back from a bar in Williamsburg to the apartment in Prospect Heights, but there are a few brave souls who choose to own cars and drive. Seems parking must be an issue (where is parking NOT an issue?). One way the New Yorkers appear to deal with the crunch on parking here is they install bumper protectors on the back of their cars. Genius. I took a few snaps of cars with bumpers, and then one car without - so we see the damage done if you keep your car bumper protector free!
5. Getting out for a walk/run in Prospect Park. Jogging seems to be the exercise of choice for New Yorkers. Lots of fit bodies around and great running tracks. I can see why they love it. It's been fun to hit the road and take some ground while listening to tunes. A brisk temperature but one soon warms up.
6. One of the cats we're sitting. His name is Dougal. He is a great cat. Very chill. The other cat is skittish and hides most of the day. Also a male, called Junior. Junior is low maintenance though (in part because we seldom see him) so it's all good!
7. The Christmas tree at The Met. An entry ticket buys you three days, the museum's collection is ginormous (and I've visited it at least once before). Zach and I first went on Christmas Eve but returned again on Boxing Day to spend another four hours roaming the floors.
8. A Jewish tradition (neither one of us is Jewish), Chinese food on Christmas Day! After attending a small church service at The Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew with, coincidentally, an Aussie reverend, Zach and I took to Hunan Delight for Peking Duck and other delicacies.
9. Chances are, you'll know at least one person living in New York! Had a fun catch-up on Boxing Day with a fellow Aussie, Sarah, and her American husband, Chaz. Sarah has lived in New York for 20 years, first coming to the city as a singer/dancer for Broadway at 18. She's never looked back. I met Sarah through the "PR Divas" Facebook network in San Francisco five years ago. We drank and nibbled at Le Crocodile bar in Williamsburg (and Sarah didn't even know I LOVE crocodiles!).
10. We happened upon a very cool jazz club called Smalls in the West Village and hit up some jazz on a Friday night. Had meals and drinks at two wonderful restaurants, Bar Sardine and Fairfax, beforehand. The West Village is a wonderful spot , and probably my no. 1 choice of neighbourhood if living in NYC. It's also where Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw lived!
11. Riding the subway is a necessity for tourists and locals alike in NYC. Being a big reader, Zach has been carrying around his volume of My Struggle Book 2 by Karl Ove Knausgaard and I'm carrying Andrew Sean Grier's 'Less' (Guardian review here) to help bide the commuter time.
Pics include Zach with his gnome like hat with two bags of shopping from 'Century 21' and one of the Subway's ubiquitous buskers. My donations to the local street strummers have left my pockets a little poor, but I don't mind. They're all good and it ain't easy making it as a musician.
12. Zach was worried about spending too much money. Erm, yeah - solid concern. We've been hitting up the restaurant scene every day. Carb overload! This place, Alta Calidad, happily walking distance from our apartment.
We've had many more adventures, including a performance of Fiddler on the Roof and more hipster bars (The Caledonia and Weather Up to name two), but for now that's a wrap!
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