Brucatos in the Northeast!: Our last day in New York!

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Hello!

We have obviously been having WAY too much fun and WAY too little sleep! Slept in this morning until 7:45 am – incredible! Brenda and Chris were leaving today after lunch, so they decided that they’d rather sleep in than go out and see sights … so we did the same; always nice on a Sunday, especially when there are NFL games to be discussed. A bit before 11, Brenda and Chris brought their stuff to our room, and we headed out for our brunch/lunch reservation.

Salted Caramel Frozen Hot Chocolate

R's clam chowder

I had never heard of or seen the movie Serendipity but Brenda really likes it, and definitely wanted to eat at the restaurant of the same name featured in the film before she left NYC. I had made a reservation for 11:30 a.m. when they open, and as it’s located on East 60^th street (one block from the hotel) we decided to walk. It was chilly – really beginning to feel like fall is in the air! We got there a few minutes before opening time to find that a line had already formed! However, we were the first people in line with a reservation and so were the first ones in and seated! It’s an interesting place – lots of “stuff” to look at and Tiffany lamps hanging everywhere!

R's shrimp salad

My chef's salad

Their specialty is something called “Frozen Hot Chocolate” which Brenda, Chris and I decided to try. (Chris got the “regular chocolate” but Brenda and I upgraded to their salted caramel chocolate – which came quickly.) Whew! This was definitely dessert before lunch! Robert ordered a bowl of clam chowder, which was delicious. He then got a shrimp and avocado salad which he very much enjoyed. Chris and Brenda had sandwiches, and Brenda started with some delicious potato skins! I ordered their Chef’s salad – and boy, it was lovely to look at, but sure was difficult to eat! There were greens somewhere on the bottom of the bowl, and piled on top were turkey, ham, two kinds of cheeses, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, pineapple, melon all topped by alfalfa sprouts and water cress! I had to remove the cress just to get to the salad! The frozen hot chocolates were so big – we didn’t have any room left over for another dessert, and we needed to get back to the hotel so that Brenda and Chris could get to Newark.

So, this time we took a train only one stop, but it let us off right next to the hotel, which was nice, and certainly convenient. Brenda and Chris were able to retrieve their stuff, and off to the airport they went! I decided that a nap sounded good, and before I knew it, was asleep – for something on the order of two hours, so I guess I really needed it!

JP Morgan's own library

Beautiful Della Robbia

Up about 3 pm as we had one more place we wanted to see – the Morgan Library and Museum. We specifically wanted to see the McKim rooms (named after the architect who designed them) which are only open three times a week for several hours each time – one of these being 4 – 6 pm on Sunday afternoons; also, they are actually free to view, which was really great!

Mr. Morgan's portrait

We were able to catch a bus right in front of the Plaza Hotel on 5^th – and guess what? More barricades!

Morgan's library...all 3 floors!

Incredibly stunning ceiling!

One of three Guttenberg bibles

What now? Didn’t the NYPD know the Pope had gone??? Turns out that this was the opening of the U.N. General Assembly – more traffic restrictions! Good grief; these poor New Yorkers! Found the Morgan Library on Madison just a few minutes after 4, and viewed the “private” rooms – Mr. Morgan’s library, his librarian’s office, the vault and the eastern extension to his library. Only one word: Amazing! The ceilings were breathtaking – and as someone who loves libraries, this one was THREE levels tall! There were glass cases around the room showing some of the more special books of the collection – including an original Beethoven score in his own handwriting; one of his three Guttenberg Bibles and on and on. The librarian’s office included Mr. Morgan’s near eastern collection – several wonderful sculptures, an assortment of cuneiform tablets and many wonderful cylinder seals. We had a lovely afternoon looking around!

Another lovely ceiling

Librarians office with seals

Back then, to the hotel on the bus, stopping to pick up a bit more sparkling water along the way.

Tapestry over fireplace

As it was about 5:30 pm, we headed first into the Manager’s Reception on the second floor – had free Sauvignon Blanc (for R) and champagne (for me) as well as excellent pepperoni pizza and a few other nibbles…dinner, actually!

I do like cylinder seals

Sumarian statue

Cuneiform tablet

Then, up to our room for the night! I am pretty much organized now, and the packing is basically done. We will probably stay here as late as possible (not sure if it’s 11 am or noon) and then take a cab to Penn Station to catch the train for Newark Airport.