Fun time passes really fast. Now we are back in Japan already. It was like a dream to walk in New York city with my darling again. Blessed with the weather, we had no rain and the day we took our wedding photos was super nice with cool low temp.
Day 1 (6/30-Wed):
We used Delta airline to fly but there was an hour delay :( We arrived at the hotel at 5PM. We stayed at Grand Hyatt New York as usual. They opened a new food market on the lobby floor that opens from 6AM to 11PM, which was very convenient. After we checked in, we walked to Rockefeller Center to have a dinner at Rink Bar. This is the place where I first dated with my darling. Their BBQ Combo Plate is large enough for two :D
Day 2 (7/1-Thu):
Since there is a time difference, it was easy for us to wake up at 6 in the morning!!! This year, I made a super detailed meal plan (brunch and dinner) because looking for a place to eat when we are hungry causes a fight between us, you know... We headed to Clinton St. Baking Company for our brunch. Their recommended blueberry pancake was huge and delicious with lots of blueberries.
Mmm :) Then we moved to East Village, Union Square, SOHO, and West Village, for shopping. Before the photo at times square, we had a snack at Grand Central. Smoothie at Dishes is our favorite!!! We have it every year!!!
The photo plan at Times Square was for free since we purchased
the photo wedding plan. What a nice weather at night. The night view in times square was very crisp and beautiful. Our photos came out nicer than we expected.
Day 3 (7/2-Fri):
My makeup artist Kelly came to our room at 8AM. Meanwhile, my bouquet was delivered. It was huge but beautiful white roses. To tell the truth, it was still beautiful on the day we left New York. I wish I could take it back with me. At 10AM we took a limo to the Central Park. It was a perfect weather with blue skies which we have hoped. Of course we took the photo at the place where my darling proposed to me last year (left bottom image).
The second place we took our wedding photo was Grand Central Station. We requested there because we used to date at this station almost every night till my last train back to Harrison.
After the photo, we had time, so we shopped 5th avenue. It was too late to eat breakfast or lunch, so we had a snack at The Burger Joint. It is the best burger in New York City, hidden behind the curtain in the atrium lobby of Le Parker
Meridien Hotel. Yummy!!! In the afternoon, the weather was still nice. We headed to have dinner at Bryant Park Cafe. It was a romantic night that I hoped time could stop for us.
Day 4 (7/3-Sat):
The temp jumped up to high 90s from this day. We first went to Brooklyn Heights Promenade to take my hula video with a view of Manhattan and Brooklyn bridge. I will post the video later. Then we had brunch at Heights Cafe. I found an interesting menu called Brunch Strudel (filled with scrambled eggs, mushrooms, peppers, onions, cheddar and bacon with roasted pepper coulis). It was crazy hot in the afternoon... we again walked SOHO but we couldn't kept on going into the stores to cool down. In the evening, it was still hot. We planned to walk in the Central Park but I got tired and sat on the stone and fell a sleep. At night we had dinner at Rosa Mexicano, where you can enjoy super delicious Guacamole en Molcajete with handmade warm corn tortillas.
Day 5 (7/4-Sun):
The temp was expected to go up to high 99 but it was cool in the morning. We had brunch at The Boathouse Restaurant in the Central Park. Luckily, we could sit by the lake. Their assorted pastries and breads were awesome. After stuffed, we had a walk in the park. By noon, the temp went up. We shopped at
ZABER'S and I found cute cookie cutters for sale!!! Walking at the upper west side was really hot. In the afternoon, we tried to cool down at the Bryant Park but there was no wind and was like a sauna. I think since then our luck just went down. We thought our dinner is going to be really romantic but FUCK Asiate restaurant, they said they don't have any window side seat available for us. They said they never reserve seats. Why didn't they tell us at the time I reserved? They arranged a table for us but who the heck is going to pay more than $100 bucks for such a service? We left the restaurant and headed to Josie's. We always eat at Josie's East but this time we tried the West side. The menu was the same as East. We had a good time but we didn't feel that good. Too bad...
Day 6 (7/5-Mon):
The last day was hot, too. Believe it or not, it was high 101F. Forgot about the last night dinner, we went to Chelsea to have brunch at Pastis. Their Grilled Chicken Paillard (salad) was great!!! Try it out if you get a chance to go there. After shopping at Chelsea Market, we shopped at Macy's and 5th avenue again. Then we went up to East 86th to have a coffee at Cafe Sabarsky. Their Sabarskytorte (Chocolate and Rum Cake) was delicious. We could have brunch there the next year since they also serve nice brunch menus!!! Anyway, it was too hot to walk in the park, so we took a subway to go back to midtown. For dinner, we had Turkish food at Ali Baba. Unexpectedly, their recommended dishes (Findik Lahmacun: 3 Pieces - appetizer version of famous lahmacun and Mixed Grill - an assortment of adana kebab, shish kebab, doner kebab and lamb chop) were super delicious. We should try out more of foreign foods the next year!!! Walking 10 blocks back to the hotel was not a pain at all... we missed walking in the city since it was the last night.
Day 7 (7/6-Tue):
We woke up early to have a breakfast at Central Park. We bought our breakfast at Europa (my favorite cafe). In the same morning, at the same time, at the same place, we had a breakfast there and my darling proposed to me :) We are glad to come back here again this year.
I wish I could stay in NY longer but one day in NY costs about $200 per person if we divide our travel expenses, so maybe it was time. Also, We cannot take so many paid holidays...
One year was fast. We should be walking in the city next year when we realized :D
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Every year, I get something from COACH when I visit NY because they are three times expensive in Japan!!! This year, I bought "new COACH POPPY APPLIQUE TEE" and "new POPPY POP C COLLECTIBLE LARGE SPOTLIGHT" which came with free "LOVE POPPY Bangle/Bracelet". To tell the truth, I seldom buy bags at COACH, but the multicolored poppy bags were my kind ;) Luckily the free bracelet was the perfect match for my tee :D
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We used Delta airline to fly but there was an hour delay :( We arrived at the hotel at 5PM. We stayed at Grand Hyatt New York as usual. They opened a new food market on the lobby floor that opens from 6AM to 11PM, which was very convenient. After we checked in, we walked to Rockefeller Center to have a dinner at Rink Bar. This is the place where I first dated with my darling. Their BBQ Combo Plate is large enough for two :D
Since there is a time difference, it was easy for us to wake up at 6 in the morning!!! This year, I made a super detailed meal plan (brunch and dinner) because looking for a place to eat when we are hungry causes a fight between us, you know... We headed to Clinton St. Baking Company for our brunch. Their recommended blueberry pancake was huge and delicious with lots of blueberries. Mmm :) Then we moved to East Village, Union Square, SOHO, and West Village, for shopping. Before the photo at times square, we had a snack at Grand Central. Smoothie at Dishes is our favorite!!! We have it every year!!!
My makeup artist Kelly came to our room at 8AM. Meanwhile, my bouquet was delivered. It was huge but beautiful white roses. To tell the truth, it was still beautiful on the day we left New York. I wish I could take it back with me. At 10AM we took a limo to the Central Park. It was a perfect weather with blue skies which we have hoped. Of course we took the photo at the place where my darling proposed to me last year (left bottom image).
After the photo, we had time, so we shopped 5th avenue. It was too late to eat breakfast or lunch, so we had a snack at The Burger Joint. It is the best burger in New York City, hidden behind the curtain in the atrium lobby of Le Parker Meridien Hotel. Yummy!!! In the afternoon, the weather was still nice. We headed to have dinner at Bryant Park Cafe. It was a romantic night that I hoped time could stop for us.
The temp jumped up to high 90s from this day. We first went to Brooklyn Heights Promenade to take my hula video with a view of Manhattan and Brooklyn bridge. I will post the video later. Then we had brunch at Heights Cafe. I found an interesting menu called Brunch Strudel (filled with scrambled eggs, mushrooms, peppers, onions, cheddar and bacon with roasted pepper coulis). It was crazy hot in the afternoon... we again walked SOHO but we couldn't kept on going into the stores to cool down. In the evening, it was still hot. We planned to walk in the Central Park but I got tired and sat on the stone and fell a sleep. At night we had dinner at Rosa Mexicano, where you can enjoy super delicious Guacamole en Molcajete with handmade warm corn tortillas. 
The temp was expected to go up to high 99 but it was cool in the morning. We had brunch at The Boathouse Restaurant in the Central Park. Luckily, we could sit by the lake. Their assorted pastries and breads were awesome. After stuffed, we had a walk in the park. By noon, the temp went up. We shopped at ZABER'S and I found cute cookie cutters for sale!!! Walking at the upper west side was really hot. In the afternoon, we tried to cool down at the Bryant Park but there was no wind and was like a sauna. I think since then our luck just went down. We thought our dinner is going to be really romantic but FUCK Asiate restaurant, they said they don't have any window side seat available for us. They said they never reserve seats. Why didn't they tell us at the time I reserved? They arranged a table for us but who the heck is going to pay more than $100 bucks for such a service? We left the restaurant and headed to Josie's. We always eat at Josie's East but this time we tried the West side. The menu was the same as East. We had a good time but we didn't feel that good. Too bad... 
The last day was hot, too. Believe it or not, it was high 101F. Forgot about the last night dinner, we went to Chelsea to have brunch at Pastis. Their Grilled Chicken Paillard (salad) was great!!! Try it out if you get a chance to go there. After shopping at Chelsea Market, we shopped at Macy's and 5th avenue again. Then we went up to East 86th to have a coffee at Cafe Sabarsky. Their Sabarskytorte (Chocolate and Rum Cake) was delicious. We could have brunch there the next year since they also serve nice brunch menus!!! Anyway, it was too hot to walk in the park, so we took a subway to go back to midtown. For dinner, we had Turkish food at Ali Baba. Unexpectedly, their recommended dishes (Findik Lahmacun: 3 Pieces - appetizer version of famous lahmacun and Mixed Grill - an assortment of adana kebab, shish kebab, doner kebab and lamb chop) were super delicious. We should try out more of foreign foods the next year!!! Walking 10 blocks back to the hotel was not a pain at all... we missed walking in the city since it was the last night.
We woke up early to have a breakfast at Central Park. We bought our breakfast at Europa (my favorite cafe). In the same morning, at the same time, at the same place, we had a breakfast there and my darling proposed to me :) We are glad to come back here again this year.
By purchasing the photo wedding plan, we received free photo shoots at anywhere in the city, so we chose Times Square. We didn't dress up but the photos came out really nice :D
Time flies... Now I'm back in Japan! A week in NY passed like a dream.
On Friday (6/25), my darling signed the purchasing contract for a condo! 3 months ago, we looked for a brand-new home to start with. However, we ended up getting an existing home because I realized it is wise (save more than ten million) to renovate to live in a good location with my favorite room layout and kitchen!!! Also, some existing homes have steady administrative structure and accumulated fund for many years which you can feel safe.
On Saturday night, we had dinner at Okinawan restaurant called Churari. Churari means beautiful land in Okinawan dialect. The restaurant serves you the dishes using selected ingredients direct from the farm in Okinawa.
Keali'i Reichel is one of Hawai'i’s most popular recording artists, and the award-winning kumu hula of Halau Ke'alaokamaile. His music, chant and hula represent the best of traditional and contemporary poetry and dance in Hawai'i today.
Have you checked out Apple iPhone 4 already? It was just released today in Japan.
On 5/3, my Okonomiyaki Flavored Furikake won outstanding performance award at Tiger's furikake recipe contest. Tiger is a Japanese multinational manufacturer and marketer of vacuum flasks and consumer electronics including electric water boilers and rice cookers. Furikake is a dry Japanese condiment meant to be sprinkled on top of rice. Tiger asked for furikake recipes using their mill products. 
On 5/19, my Sesame Mustard Marinated Seaweed and Yam received an honorable mention at seaweed recipe contest at Kagisho. I just used what I had in my fridge ;)
On 5/21, my Miso Mustard Stir-Fried Asparagus and Pork won the hot spring steam award. The contest was organized by Onogawa hot spring association in Yamagata. It was maybe the third time for me to apply for this contest, but again I couldn't win the high prize :(
On 5/24, I won the message award at Yukijirushi's cream cheese contest. They asked for party recipes, so I made my usual recipe, sushi rolls: Happy Cream Cheese Decorated Rolls. It's a salmon and white celery rolls with cream cheese and salmon roe on top. Gorgeous, huh?!
Açaí and Raspberry Granita is the summer specials at my favorite Ueshima Coffee Shop.
This weekend was really hot and humid. On such a day, my darling and I crave for sushi :D We again went to Sushi Misakimaru for dinner. I love their sushi since they serve at low price!
Anyway, I hate eel because it is greasy at the back. However their eel is different. Not greasy at all but thick and light. I think I acquired a liking for eel :)
Do you know PhotoFunia?
These few months, my darling and I have been busy looking for a new home. The reason is simple. We have been renting our room for 7 years which could have spent on paying off our home mortgage!!! Plus, in Japan, you have to pay money every time you renew your contract for the rent. This is so wasteful.
