I went for a huge walk, starting at Astor Place, on to Washington Square Park, and all through Chelsea where I found my own pub! Along with Chelsea Market, the High Line Parkway (an old train track turned into a walk way above the road). At Madison Square Garden there was a ridiculous amount of Yellow Cabs. Back at Times Square, the sand sculpting was in full swing. On to the Guggenheim Museum, there was a huge line to get in because it was a free entry time, so we just had a look at the outside. I was interested in this because it was the set for “The International” action sequence I worked on, and a few exterior shots. At night, Dasom cooked an awesome meal with loads of dishes! and had some cocktails with her flat mates.
The next day we relaxed a little, after jamming the whole of Manhattan into four long days, we took a little trip to Brooklyn (via 14th Street which is full of great little people statues) and into Dasom’s favourite area, Williamsburg. Then on my last night, we went to a house party at one of Dasom’s friend’s place in Harlem. We had roof access and it was a really hot day/night so we stayed up there for most of the night. Eventually people tried to sleep, but 20 people in one apartment and 30C made it impossible haha. I contemplated sleeping on the roof, but the idea of waking up on a rooftop in Harlem in the Sun gave me visions of The Hangover! So as usual I had no sleep before my flight back to the UK and straight to work! haha.
Sigh… leaving 30C sun-and-fun back to cold-wet-grey London…. haha
What an awesome trip to the USA! Thanks Karen & Dasom! 
Highgate Cemetery »« New York, Day 03
An early start for Day 3 as we head to Central Park for Lady Gaga! The first of a series of free concerts in Central Park for breakfast show GMA (Good Morning America), Lady Gaga hit the stage. But being a breakfast show, the concert was at 8am!! Dasom and I got there just before 07:30 but we were too late! They had already closed the gates even though there was still plenty of room inside (as Dasom’s friend was already in there!). We did manage to sneak a view of her exiting her trailer though as she got in a Golf Buggy wearing a typically-gaga-crazy outfit. We then watched it on a big screen just outside and could hear the live music at least.
From there we went to Lioncoln Center where a Graduation seemed to be going on, and then a walk down Fifth Avenue past some famous shops. There was the big Glass Apple store, but more importantly next door is FAO Schwarz! This is the store that the set in Home Alone was based on, and the store that Tom Hanks worked at in BIG! They have the awesome huge piano that they play chopsticks on.
We got in the TKTS line to buy broadway show tickets and went for “Nusical the Musical”, which was OK as a performance but the jokes were waaaay to American Centric. I didn’t know who half the people were or what the jokes were about, let alone poor Dasom! But it was fun anyways.
New York, Day 04/05 »« New York, Day 02
Day 2 we start at Grand Central Station, then walking outside we see a whole bunch of people crowding around, and taxis marked “FREE” with ads for “Dr Oz”. WTF? No idea who this guy is, but he seems to be a celebrity Dr of sorts… Like a Celebrity Chef or something. OK whatever, the real celeb spot comes later 
We tried to use our free taxi pass just for the sake of it but flagging one of the Dr Oz taxis down wasn’t the easiest of tasks so we continued walking.
At the Rockefeller Center we Look up the GE Building (30 Rock, the sky scraper), and WAIT. OMFG Its a LEGO STORE! This is an official Lego store. Just Lego!! AWESOME! At first I was disappointed as I thought the sign wasn’t made of lego, then I look up close and it is entirely made of Lego Men!! I love this place already. There were some great models inside, a huge dragon, Harry Potter scene, Rockefeller Center itself, and the “Big Apple”. They even have Ninjago, Lego Ninja! Who doesn’t want Lego Ninja?!?!
Hanging around Times Square and heading to Zen Palate for dinner (a Vegan Japanese restaurant), we managed to spot another celebrity. A huge one actually. Although I didn’t recognise him at first! There were a few people taking pictures, then this guy with a big beard turns around and I thought OK who is he getting his picture taken with? Then I realize, behind that bushy beard and huge sunnies, its freaking ROBIN WILLIAMS!! Unfortunately he had to go inside as he is starring in a Broadway show, which I am guessing is reason for the beard. I grew up with Mork and Mindy, his hilarious stand up shows and even better interviews. He is a legend. I can’t believe I just saw Robin Williams on the street!
At Zen Palate we had an awesome meal. An older Chinese Lady (possibly the owner or chef) then told the staff to give us and the table next to us free dessert! Woo!
For a drink we went to 230 Fifth Avenue, a rooftop bar! About 30 floors up its a nice and fancy bar with a view of the Empire State Building in a really cool setting. Good Cocktails here too!
Another awesome day 
New York, Day 03 »« New York, New York! Day 01
An over-night flight gets me to New York early morning, and I head straight into Manhattan to stay with my friend Dasom (who is from South Korea, I met in Canada, and is doing an internship in NY!). Dasom was an awesome host, and she basically memorized an entire New York City guide! So she was giving me lots of information as we walked around. Better than the BS I usually make up haha
The weather was beautiful (contrary to all the forecasts I looked up!) so we headed via Wall Street to the Staten Island Ferry, for the best (and free) way to see the Statue of Liberty! We had heard before that there is nothing to do on Staten Island, and most people just get straight back on the return ferry! We tried to find something however, and there is a nice 9/11 Memorial near the water. Other than that, we couldn’t find anything else really worth seeing! So we did just get back on the next ferry.
Continuing around the harbour there is a large statue that looks kind of destroyed, on inspection we read that it was actually inside the World Trade Center Plaza for three decades before the attacks on 9/11. The damaged statue was moved to the park as a memorial and a constant flame lit in front of it.
We walked to the other end of Wall Street to see the infamous Bull (grab his balls for good luck?) and up to Ground Zero where construction is well under way. There is a beautiful memorial opening on the 10th anniversary this year, so we were not able to see that, but there is a small memorial exhibition near by.
After a rest (and a drink!) at South Street Seaport, we walked onto Brooklyn Bridge, before Vegan Dim Sum in China Town! An awesome-action-packed first day!
New York, Day 02 »« Golden Gate Bridge
