2015/10/15

Feelin' Groovy (New York)

Or the 59th Street Bridge song.  That works.


The Case of the Disappearing Bridge
The 'magic' bridge - the 59th St Bridge
This morning we began our search for the magical disappearing bridge that is sometimes visible at the end of Avenue C.  I actually commenced the search yesterday and was disappointed to discover it wasn't there, at least from the corner of East 11th Street.  However, walking a couple of blocks away from the river ensured that the bridge was in view by East 8th Street.  I told you it was magic.



Flowers on the boardwalk

The Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges and the Statue
We set out this morning for the river and, as we crossed under FDR Drive, the bridge came into view. It was the 59th Street Bridge.  The ability to see it in Ave C must depend on direction and height - I assume.  There is a beautiful walkway along the waterfront which I later discovered extends the 32 miles (51km) around the island.  I wish we'd known that a week or so ago.  Anyway, we walked down to beyond the Williamsburg Bridge, taking photos along the way, enjoying the view of the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges from a different angle, marvelling at the squirrels and then walked back to Ave C.  Mystery solved.













The Big Gay Ice Cream
Since we had already walked 8km and we hadn't eaten, it was clearly time to visit the Big Gay Ice Cream shop.  They make magical ice creams (it was a magical day), you can check out their website here http://biggayicecream.com/.  Jayne and I both selected the 'salty pimp' on the recommendation from the dude in the shop.  Basically it is soft serve (although not too soft) with streaks of salty caramel dipped into chocoate sauce.  Mmmmmmmm.  Very nice.  Another activity checked off the list.

Then it was home for some down time before we head into the Flatiron district for a bit of sightseeing before an early dinner at Eataly and the Fuerza Bruta show.

The ESB appears everywhere














Eataly
Given my limited experience of Italy (I wasn't there on holiday), my only reference point for Eataly is a French marché.  Loads of fresh food, cheese, meat, fish, vegetables, pasta, desserts, beer and wine. Not to mention places to eat all that lovely fresh Italian produce.

Halloween is coming
Dinner was OK



Cheeses

















We opted for seafood. A damn fine choice. Jayne had clam chowder and fritto misto and I had prawns and scallops. Yum, yum, yum and for the wine afficianados we matched it with a nice Italian Pinot Grigio.



Eataly allows you to eat one course at one restaurant and have another course at another.  This is a good idea, except for dessert.  while there is plenty on sale, there is nowhere to sit and enjoy a canoli or any of the other delectible, tempting desserts on offer.

After a wander down 6th Ave with another hour or so to kill before the doors opened at Fuerza Bruta, we ended up back at Union Square where they had a farmers' market.  We did a couple of laps of the stalls and marvelled at how cheap the produce was - especially the organic stuff for which we pay a fortune at Eveleigh markets on a Saturday.

The Flatiron Building

In the middle of Union Square was on older style building with lots of columns that provided a good view of the Square and its comings and goings.  It was called The Pavillion, a bar and restaurant, where we settled in to watch the passing parade while we waited for 7:30 to arrive.  It was a good spot and the wine was good, a 2007 French number which would have been much better had it not been chilled - it was a red.

Fuerza Bruta
You may recall dear reader that this show was recommended to us by the bar man at Grand Central Station.  Two other locals agreed and said that it was like nothing else that we would have seen.  Yup. That about sums it up.  I have been struggling with how to describe it.  It is an experience.  There are no seats.  There is no stage.  The show happens in front of you, behind you, to the side of you and above you.  There is audience participation - whether you want it or not, the performance area constantly shifts and you move with it.  It is bright, it is loud, it is windy, it is wet, it is ... impossible to categorise, but it was a fantastic experience.  We have seen experimental theatre, but this takes things to a whole new level.

Translated from the Spanish 'fuerza bruta' means 'brute force' and that is the way the show hits you, loud and fast and then it's over.  It moves so fast you don't even think about the fact that you're standing the whole time.

The countdown has officially begun.  Three days to go.


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