The Big Apple
A weekend in New York for the Country Mouse and his Sister Sidekick
Rose’s film, Butterfly in a Blizzard, was nominated for two Sports Emmy awards, which predicated a trip to the Big Apple with the two kiddos. Daddy was off on a work trip to Iceland, so next in line for childcare was—the G-force. John and I were happy to go.
The train ride from Washington, DC to Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station got me into the city as John was picking up Rose, Kirk, and Iris at the Newark airport. We rendezvoused on the Upper West Side, thanks to the generosity of Donna and Pat, Bryan’s parents, who made their apartment available to us. Since it was in the same building, and just two floors down from niece Celia, Bryan, and their two daughters, Bernie, 15, (going on 35), and Eliza, a sweet 12-year-old, it could not have been more convenient.
Celia had provisioned the apartment for us with fruit, cheese, wine, etc and there was snacking from the git-go. And then spicy Chinese food for dinner that magically appeared at our door. That’s how you do it in The City. No photos, as I was rattling along the train rails of my mind.
The next day, Saturday, Rose and Celia took everyone 12 and under downtown. They hit Russ & Daughters for New York bagels with lox and whitefish, and then cleansed their palates at the Museum of Ice Cream. Eating ice cream for 3 hours agreed with them, and they came home in good moods. We had a family dinner at “our” apartment that evening. Linette, Rose’s friend, joined us and regaled the table with tales from the financial office where she works. Both Bernie and Eliza were wide-eyed listening to Linette’s colorful stories and shared some of their own NYC adolescent cogitations that Linette weighed in on with authority.
Dinner featured red beans that Celia had received from her Rancho Gordo Bean Club subscription. What a treat! The Rojo de Suelo beans were cooked to perfection using a Serious Eats recipe by J. Kenji López-Alt, who always takes things seriously. That big ole bean pot was the centerpiece of our table, and we all kept dipping in for more. The sheet pan spiced chicken thighs, sweet Italian sausage and spicy chorizo, broccoli, and leftover rice were sidelights.
Another tour de force was the Blueberry Lemon Loaf Cake prepared by Bernie. The crumb and crust were masterful, and she wisely whisked it away after we all had a slice. She made sure there was cake for her Dad, who was working nights throughout the holiday weekend.
The kids went upstairs for bath after dinner, since there is a walk-in shower in “our” apartment, and we ended the night with yet more ice cream—a split sandwich this time. Thanks, Donna, for having a stocked freezer in your well-ordered kitchen.
Sunday was rainy and mommy slept in since she and Linette had gone out after dinner. It was a quiet day, well-earned. We rested up for Monday, the Memorial Day holiday, which was also a bit damp. We missed our usual Boalsburg festivities, but it was different this year. No pie contest! Instead, a big cake. Donna and Pat, who were our guests the two previous Memorial Days, will have to return next year if they reinstate the contest. That event is the highlight.
On Monday, Rose went to meet a colleague for coffee downtown, and John and Kirk went out exploring via subway. Eliza came down to play with Iris, and the three of us went to Riverside Park and then brought home sandwiches from the Soha Deli down the street. The sun eventually came out, and the two cousins, Celia and Rose, enjoyed some late afternoon sunshine on the roof. Rose went out to have dinner with her film team, who had all rolled in from points west, and we had an easy, homey evening playing games with the kids and eating pizza and Italian fare, again, delivered to our door. Tomorrow was the big day.
Rose headed out midday for a NYC haircut, and John and I took the kids to the Manhattan Children’s Museum, which was a perfect choice for a 3 and a 5-year-old. We strode down the street singing our anthem of the weekend, “The Worst Stroller in the World,” which had been an emergency Target purchase on day 1. The kids had a ball. Many balls, and crafts to celebrate Eid with plates depicting holiday foods, and lots of cosplay throughout the 4 floors of the building.
We had dinner on the street just outside the museum, and then it was time to jump in a cab to get home in time to bathe them and watch the awards ceremony. Though it didn’t end the way we wanted—Butterfly in a Blizzard did not win either of the nominations—being a part of the festivities was a reward.
The film team went out afterwards to celebrate with the winners who beat them out of the “Best Sports Documentary Long Form” because they knew and admired their work. The loss in the other category, for Editing, drew snarls from our own at-home watchers, none of whom were Celtics fans.
Here’s a short video of the crushing moment of defeat, with the kids paying no attention at all. Why the academy chose not to use a clip of Kimmy snowboarding down a mountain, I cannot fathom. And I’m sure her husband Chris, shown in the pirate hat, doesn’t either.
The next day, Rose took the kids to Battery Park to meet another colleague in the morning, and John and I put Donna and Pat’s apartment back in order. I had hidden the breakables and had to remember where they went. Goodbyes to the girls and Bryan upstairs, since the girls were out of school for Eid. Celia, though, had to go to her job as a public health officer at the CDC—a lot is coming down the pike to prepare for the World Cup. We were lucky to have her chill companionship over the long weekend
Linette had invited us to her office so the kids could experience a skyscraper. We went to the World Trade Center and took two elevators up to the 84th floor. Gulp. That was a great thing to do as we were leaving the city. I’m curious to see how the view affects Kirk’s tower building with his Magnatiles and Legos. And Iris—she will be all about kitten heels. Meow!
What a great Big Apple experience for the kids🗽