Culinary Institute of America - Hyde Park, NY

To celebrate Pat's childhood friend's birthday, we went to the CIA in Hyde Park, NY for an Italian lunch.

We had to navigate the large campus to find our restaurant - they have 4. But the maps are easy to figure out, even without a GPS.

We should have just followed these guys!

The Italian restaurant is a stand-alone building painted in the warm tones of Tuscany.

I love the sign, 4 forks. You know there is good food inside...

After our 3 course lunch, we walked around to see the other restaurants.

French, American and a bakery cafe offer a full menu of cuisine choices. 

It was great to see the students at work.

As you walked the halls, you definitely got a "Hogwarts" / Harry Potter feel...

CIA - definitely worth a trip for a mid-week summer lunch. Make reservations on line and come hungry.

Walking Tour - NYC - Hunting With a Camera

I was headed to a camera class at Calumet but couldn't pass up the chance to shoot street scenes with my trusty Canon G11.

This is one of NYC's coolest new book book stores. Three Lives in Greenwich Village.

Like the new food safety signs, Three Lives has invented one of their own - clever! 

As a shoe geek, I saw these in a boutique window and wondered what it would be like to step in dog crap in these $400 bad boys.

Probably painted jolly ollie orange so they could be spotted easily when they get stolen.

These dummies have duct tape hair... Go Figyah! 

Just one of the remarkable details always waiting for the observant in NYC.

Patchin Place - AKA - "The Patch" - Google it. It is one of those secret places in NYC - rich with history.

Around the corner from "The Patch" is Milligan Place - Use the Google on the Internets for more information...

The secret to NYC? Look Up! 

But you can look down too.

Art in the park...

I managed to work up an hearty appetite so I stopped by Mary's Fish Camp for a quick meal. This is a fried clam sandwich and bucket-o-fries. I wanted a lobster roll sandwich but the price was $30! 

Geeze Louise - too rich for my pocket book.   

Lunch - Mario Batali Style

Went to lunch in NYC and a friend recommended we eat at Mario's new mega place...

On the way, I saw this horror on the street. Looks like Chrysler started remaking cars from the 1970's

Eventually we got to the nearly block wide "Caffe" Nothing succeeds like excess! 

Inside, they have mini-markets - coffee, meat, fish, cheese, chocolate... Brilliant...

They have warning signs about not touching the cheese and surprise, surprise, no one did while we were there

After a light meal of meat and cheese washed down by a gulp or two of Prosecco, it was back to rain and traffic. Well done Mario - As Arnold once said, I'll be back.   

 

Astronomy Show - New York State

My Friend Steve and I - one time science guys - went to a geek fest for astronomy fans. It was an entirely new world... A story best told in a few pictures.

Now that's a telescope

This is an outdoor plastic dome to house your home telescope. It looked like a porta-John.

These are high tech, highly engineered mounts for your telescope. And they are not cheap.

They even had a demonstration on how to grind your own mirrors for a reflector telescope.

The show wasn't all geeky - there were a few laughs.

One booth had free meteorites - Yes, FREE... And one came home with me.

In the end, Steve picked his telescope to find new stars. Now, all he has to do is find the cash.

The National Debt Clock

They Turned this clock off in 2000 because Slick Willy left us with a surplus and they couldn't figure a way to make it run backwards.

The clock was taken down and stored until Shrub's financial expertise made it run forward once again.

By the time he had so expertly finished managing our finances, they had to expand the sign to add another digit.

The ominous placement of the sign - above the entrance to the IRS office in NYC.

Watch your wallet. Always good advice in NYC. 

Arthur Avenue - the real Little Italy - or so that say

It was a beautiful Sunday in my part of the North East so I decided to check out Arthur Avenue - 

The real Little Italy

My first stop was Tito's - real Italian Deli. When I walked in, the stereo was playing Volare'...

I sung along as I shopped for some serious Balsamic Vinegar of Modena - $16

Not their best but better that what they have at the A&P 

There were lots of food vendors along the surprisingly small street

Here is a candy that will pull your fillings out.

The proximity of Yankee Stadium is not lost on the residents

Look closely, you'll see Italian celebrities on the menu

If Mario Batali eats here, the food has to be good, right?

These made in China Italian souvenirs should help you appreciate real Italian culture 

I guess this just about sums up the true Arthur Avenue attitude

I went on a lazy Sunday afternoon. I imagine that Saturday would be more populated...