Saturday, 5 February 2011
Putting it up.
As you may have seen from an earlier post showing picture of my apartment, my kitchen is tiny!
I've moved the fridge into the front room to make more space, but as there are no cupboards my only hope is to put up a lot of hangers and magnetic knife racks to store, what will be, a large amount of kitchen equipment.
So I went out, bought a power drill, some screws, a spirit level, some masonry drill bits and those little plastic dealies that you put the screw into.
I know it doesn't look much, but I'm rather proud of my handiwork. Having never done this before, and also being a clumsy bastard at the best of times, I think I did perfectly acceptable job.
Thank god for Ikea.
I've moved the fridge into the front room to make more space, but as there are no cupboards my only hope is to put up a lot of hangers and magnetic knife racks to store, what will be, a large amount of kitchen equipment.
So I went out, bought a power drill, some screws, a spirit level, some masonry drill bits and those little plastic dealies that you put the screw into.
I know it doesn't look much, but I'm rather proud of my handiwork. Having never done this before, and also being a clumsy bastard at the best of times, I think I did perfectly acceptable job.
Thank god for Ikea.
All my furniture
So today I bought my first furniture for my new apartment. There is a stunning flea market near me called Brooklyn Flea, where I managed to pick up a bunch of folding chairs that were previously used in a traveling carnival.
As you may have just read, I spent the evening putting up shelves, poles and magnets, so when it came to dinner I decided to use all my furniture to make my dinner as luxurious as possible.
All my furniture being 3 chairs.
I've got my TV chair, my table chair and my chair chair. Next I should probably buy a bed...
As you may have just read, I spent the evening putting up shelves, poles and magnets, so when it came to dinner I decided to use all my furniture to make my dinner as luxurious as possible.
All my furniture being 3 chairs.
Stop Worrying. It'll be alright.
Maybe this is just me, but I can't help thinking that the sockets here are judging me.
Maybe it's the worried look they give me, but I just want to tell them it'll all be ok.
Maybe it's the worried look they give me, but I just want to tell them it'll all be ok.
Juniors Diner
Oh it's on!
Fresh from the enormous brisket sandwich served to me by the wonderful Mile End Deli, I arrive at Juniors famous Cheesecake diner and bakery.
Ordered a corned beef sandwich (corned beef over here is what we called Salt Beef. The crap in a can thankfully doesn't exist on these shores).
Personally, once I've got to 15 layers of meat I probably think I've put on enough.
Not these guys. 16 layers in my sandwich.
Fresh from the enormous brisket sandwich served to me by the wonderful Mile End Deli, I arrive at Juniors famous Cheesecake diner and bakery.
Ordered a corned beef sandwich (corned beef over here is what we called Salt Beef. The crap in a can thankfully doesn't exist on these shores).
Personally, once I've got to 15 layers of meat I probably think I've put on enough.
Not these guys. 16 layers in my sandwich.
The problem with this is that I had also ordered a piece of their famous (award winning) cheesecake. This was just delicious. But a tip to all who come here in future (which will be anyone who visits me).
In future, sharing portions might be a sensible option.
I think I need a Rennie...
Too much choice
There is such a thing as too much choice.
A good case in point is probably Tropicana Orange Juice in the states.
While Tropicana make a whole range of juices, my local market stocks no less than 10 kinds of Tropicana Orange juice.
Want No Pulp? Fine.
Some Pulp? Fine.
Low Acid?
Healthy Kids?
Calcium?
Omega 3?
Orange AND Tangerine?
Antioxidant Advantage?
Lots of Pulp?
Orangeade?
I plumped for Some Pulp, although I dithered over Lots of Pulp. What is a boy to do?
A good case in point is probably Tropicana Orange Juice in the states.
While Tropicana make a whole range of juices, my local market stocks no less than 10 kinds of Tropicana Orange juice.
Want No Pulp? Fine.
Some Pulp? Fine.
Low Acid?
Healthy Kids?
Calcium?
Omega 3?
Orange AND Tangerine?
Antioxidant Advantage?
Lots of Pulp?
Orangeade?
I plumped for Some Pulp, although I dithered over Lots of Pulp. What is a boy to do?
The city that never sleeps
There are lots of reasons why it's called this. The most obvious, and my favourites are that all the bars, diners and subways are open 24/7.
However, it's not just the public face of New York that never sleeps. The photo below was taken around midnight as a team of workmen (there must have been well over 20 guys involved) started work mending a pipeline.
In the UK? Start around 10am, pack up at 5pm. Seeing this makes that kind of thing seem even more annoying and embarrassing.
However, it's not just the public face of New York that never sleeps. The photo below was taken around midnight as a team of workmen (there must have been well over 20 guys involved) started work mending a pipeline.
Last one for a while
Well, I'm about to move out of my company apartment, and into my empty place. Unfortunately in the US everything revolves around credit and social security numbers. So, for example, you can't get a internet connection or mobile phone without a credit card. You can't get a credit card without a Social Security number. I really hope that thing comes through soon. Not having a working mobile phone for two weeks now has been pretty tricky. It's back to the bad old days of having to schedule a time and a place to meet someone, then hoping they'll turn up.
Anyway, I may be able to post from work, but it'll be far less frequent until I get my home internet connection.
See you soon everyone. I promise to blog my apartments transformation from empty shell to Ikea show home.
Watch this space...
Anyway, I may be able to post from work, but it'll be far less frequent until I get my home internet connection.
See you soon everyone. I promise to blog my apartments transformation from empty shell to Ikea show home.
Watch this space...
Ikea: Trip #03
Once more into the Ikea. This isn't really how I'd like to spend my friday nights, but I really do need a bed.
The kicker here was that the last time I went to Ikea I was lied to about when the bed will be delivered.
So... no bed.
Back I go on Sunday. When the bed will be there! At least, I certainly hope so.
At least I get the pleasure of riding the water taxi there, and the Ikea minibus back. Ikea vehicles fit into the New York landscape pretty well with their canary yellow paintwork.
The kicker here was that the last time I went to Ikea I was lied to about when the bed will be delivered.
So... no bed.
Back I go on Sunday. When the bed will be there! At least, I certainly hope so.
At least I get the pleasure of riding the water taxi there, and the Ikea minibus back. Ikea vehicles fit into the New York landscape pretty well with their canary yellow paintwork.
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Brisket on Rye
Don't you just love it when the filling makes a mockery of the bread?
I'm not going to lie. This was fairly hard to eat. (Mile End Deli again)
I'm not going to lie. This was fairly hard to eat. (Mile End Deli again)
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Bed, Bath & Burrito
Bed, Bath & Beyond is an enormous store near work that sells all manner of household goods. It's pretty spectacular inside. As well as hugely confusing and with so much choice that choosing anything becomes a chore in itself (this seems to be a recurring theme in the states).
The reason I mention it is not because of it's fantastic selection of shower curtains (although... daaammmnnn!!!!) but because it proves another point.
The point being that American's (or at least, New Yorkers) value good food over everything else. It seems that every decent sized store has it's own cafe area. And 99 times out of 100, those cafe areas are head and shoulders over the most dedicated food places the UK has to offer.
The Bed, Bath and Beyond cafe offers up a dazzling array of goodies. Freshly made Burritos, pizza's, potatoes, salads, wraps and sandwiches. Nothing prepackaged. If people think Pret, Leon, etc do great food in the UK, then they're in for a rude, if tasty, awakening.
The reason I mention it is not because of it's fantastic selection of shower curtains (although... daaammmnnn!!!!) but because it proves another point.
The point being that American's (or at least, New Yorkers) value good food over everything else. It seems that every decent sized store has it's own cafe area. And 99 times out of 100, those cafe areas are head and shoulders over the most dedicated food places the UK has to offer.
The Bed, Bath and Beyond cafe offers up a dazzling array of goodies. Freshly made Burritos, pizza's, potatoes, salads, wraps and sandwiches. Nothing prepackaged. If people think Pret, Leon, etc do great food in the UK, then they're in for a rude, if tasty, awakening.
Ikea: Trip #02
Back again at Ikea on a freezing wednesday night to pick up things for the kitchen. While Ikea delivers, they only deliver large objects and refuse to send anything you can carry yourself. Even if you have more than you can carry. Hence, the many trips.
The one great thing about Ikea NY is that the primary way to access it is via a water taxi (this would be a boat to everyone outside of Manhattan).
Twice an hour it chugs across the Hudson delivering weary New Yorkers into Ikeas loving arms.
While being in Ikea until 10pm isn't exactly what i'd call fun. It's what I need to do, and it's certainly memorable.
The one great thing about Ikea NY is that the primary way to access it is via a water taxi (this would be a boat to everyone outside of Manhattan).
Twice an hour it chugs across the Hudson delivering weary New Yorkers into Ikeas loving arms.
While being in Ikea until 10pm isn't exactly what i'd call fun. It's what I need to do, and it's certainly memorable.
Fat Taxis
People who've been here a before, maybe a few years ago. At least 6 years ago, when I was last here, may remember New York taxi's as scores and scores of identical yellow lincolns.
Not anymore in an effort to be more environmentally friendly, a greater variety of vehicles can now be painted the famous yellow colour. This means we get Prius taxis and Nissan taxis. My favourite however, has to be this bad boy. I'm not entirely sure how this is better for the environment than your classic NY cab.
Sure is roomy though.
Not anymore in an effort to be more environmentally friendly, a greater variety of vehicles can now be painted the famous yellow colour. This means we get Prius taxis and Nissan taxis. My favourite however, has to be this bad boy. I'm not entirely sure how this is better for the environment than your classic NY cab.
Sure is roomy though.
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Skype
Thank heavens for Skype!
During my occasional bouts of home sickness, being able to not only talk to, but see my family and friends has kept me sane.
Also, if any of you has an iPhone, get Viber. It's free and integrates with your contacts book. It allows you to make free calls to anyone else with the iPhone-Viber combo over wifi or 3G. The quality of the wifi call was as good as, if not slightly better than my normal call quality, and you don't even need to have to app on for someone to ring you (much to Karl's surprise today). Get it. We'll talk.
This is my grandma and mum via the magical power of Skype.
During my occasional bouts of home sickness, being able to not only talk to, but see my family and friends has kept me sane.
Also, if any of you has an iPhone, get Viber. It's free and integrates with your contacts book. It allows you to make free calls to anyone else with the iPhone-Viber combo over wifi or 3G. The quality of the wifi call was as good as, if not slightly better than my normal call quality, and you don't even need to have to app on for someone to ring you (much to Karl's surprise today). Get it. We'll talk.
This is my grandma and mum via the magical power of Skype.
True Grit
Went out to the cinema today to finally get to see True Grit (which, in case you haven't seen it yet, is brilliant. Run, don't walk...)
American cinemas are nearly exactly like UK ones. Slightly cheaper than London, with much better seats (All leather. All recline. The comfiest thing I've sat on since... well, maybe that story is for another day).
The food, as always, draws my attention. American menus seem to have to put the calorie content of the dishes, or at very least, fast food dishes by law. Which means you get boards like this:
Special mention should be given to #4 Movie Nachos Combo in the bottom left corner. This drink and nachos combo can provide up to an impressive 2410 calories, or more calories than a grown woman should consume in a day.
It's probably also worth pointing out that just adding extra cheese to your nachos adds an additional 720 calories, which is more than I'd probably have in an average dinner. Fine work indeed.
(If you're wondering, I went for a hotdog and a bottle of water. Neither of which was worth committing to memory card)
The only food you can get in the cinema which doesn't come with a calorie warning comes from this pump.
American cinemas are nearly exactly like UK ones. Slightly cheaper than London, with much better seats (All leather. All recline. The comfiest thing I've sat on since... well, maybe that story is for another day).
The food, as always, draws my attention. American menus seem to have to put the calorie content of the dishes, or at very least, fast food dishes by law. Which means you get boards like this:
Special mention should be given to #4 Movie Nachos Combo in the bottom left corner. This drink and nachos combo can provide up to an impressive 2410 calories, or more calories than a grown woman should consume in a day.
It's probably also worth pointing out that just adding extra cheese to your nachos adds an additional 720 calories, which is more than I'd probably have in an average dinner. Fine work indeed.
(If you're wondering, I went for a hotdog and a bottle of water. Neither of which was worth committing to memory card)
The only food you can get in the cinema which doesn't come with a calorie warning comes from this pump.
Can you guess what it is yet?
For those who have yet to discover its delights, this is a molten butter dispenser. So say you've bought your popcorn, nachos, hotdog, coke and it's not quite buttery enough for you. A quick push of the Topping button will dispense a torrent of buttery goodness.
To quote Homer; "Mmm... fattening"
Time Square
Did my tourist duty by visiting Time Square this evening. It's pretty much just as I remember it. Which is to say really really bright. I think there may be even more screens there now. It's pretty astonishing. Even at night it feels like you're getting a tan by just being there.
A Shameless copy
Do you remember the second scene in Pulp Fiction?
Jules and Vincent are sat in a car on the way to pick up the brief case. Jules has just got back from Amsterdam.
Jules and Vincent are sat in a car on the way to pick up the brief case. Jules has just got back from Amsterdam.
VINCENTYou'll dig it the most. But you know what the funniest thing about Europe is? JULES What? VINCENT It's the little differences. A lotta the same shit we got here, they got there, but there they're a little different. JULES Examples?
William H. Macy as Frank Gallagher?
I'll believe it when I see it.
Missing
This isn't really a New York post. Not in the way that is directly about New York.
It doesn't have any pictures of food, or buildings where food is served.
Nor does it have occasionally humorous observations about the strangeness of NY from a UK perspective.
It is New York, in that it affects me, who is here. In New York.
I miss Anne.
It doesn't have any pictures of food, or buildings where food is served.
Nor does it have occasionally humorous observations about the strangeness of NY from a UK perspective.
It is New York, in that it affects me, who is here. In New York.
I miss Anne.
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