Week 55: Back to Buffalo!

I enjoyed Buffalo, New York so much the last time I went there that I just had to book a night's stay once again during this summer.  Since I enjoy to mix some old goodies with some new experiences, I had planned on shopping at my favourite places (Fashion Outlets Mall, Walmart, Target, JCPenney) and then going into downtown Buffalo because I missed it completely during my previous trips.  Also, I wanted to try the Olive Garden restaurant; we don't have any here.

This time I went from Sunday to Monday instead of Saturday to Sunday and it was a total breeze with no traffic hassles on the highway or at the borders, both ways.  The hotel was about $40 cheaper too.  The malls open a bit later on Sunday, 11am, but I easily killed time at the nearby Walmart.  I spent $150 and bought a number of items like 2 pairs of pants, sunglasses, toiletries, dental Waterpik, etc.  It was a pretty good value.

For dinner on Sunday I got to try the Olive Garden Italian Restaurant.  I ordered the Seafood Brodetto from their "Lighter Fare" menu.  It includes scallops, shrimp, and tilapia with spinach and mushrooms in a marinara broth - no pasta or rice.  You do, however, get to choose between soup or salad with your meal and garlic bread sticks.  I tried both the soup and salad, but the salad was the real winner.  My Seafood Brodetto was alright; I'll try something different if I return.  I had an opportunity to sample the Steak Gorgonzola-Alfredo and it was very rich and tasty.  Perhaps you'd be ill if you ate an entire order of it though.  I certainly couldn't eat all that, digest it, and feel good about myself afterwards.

Steak Gorgonzola-Alfredo

Seafood Brodetto

The next morning I thought I'd try the American version of a Tim Horton's breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts.  I ordered your typical breakfast sandwich with egg, cheese and sausage on an English muffin with a medium coffee.  Now I can say with certainty that America might run on Dunkin' but this Canadian DOES NOT.  The coffee was weak and watered down, and the sandwich was average at best.  I will never doubt Tim's again.

The drive into downtown Buffalo was a bit "interesting".  I drove through an area that can best be described as sketchy with dilapidated houses and closed up shops covered in boards and spray paint.  Once actually in the downtown area it was cleaned up and more welcoming, but small and fairly boring.  I didn't even stop the car to get out and look around.  A brief drive around a few blocks was all it took and then I was off for home.

All in all, I really enjoyed my time in Buffalo.  It's rural, pretty, friendly, stress-free, offers some interesting stores/restaurants that we lack, and is only 2 hours away.  Would I live there?  NEVER!

Week 54: New Brunswick Travels & Tales

I make it a priority to go home to New Brunswick to visit my loved ones twice a year, every winter and summer.  In the winter I fly and in the summer I drive.  The flight is a quick 1.5 - 2 hours one way, whereas the drive is 16 hours including short stops for gas, etc.  I've made this driving trip more than 15 times and I think I have it perfected.  I prefer to start the long and very boring drive from Ontario in the evening, after rush hour, and go straight through the night.  This way I avoid driving in the dark in New Brunswick which is very scary with all the moose, deer, and complete wooded darkness.  There's a shortcut through New Brunswick to get to my hometown, called the Plaster Rock Highway, which is about 1.5 hours of driving through the thick forest with absolutely NOTHING or NO ONE, not even cell towers!  It's not unheard of or even uncommon for someone to see or hit a moose on this stretch of highway.  In the day it's not that bad.  But, at night it's an entirely different story.  Thankfully, I've been pretty lucky the times I've played "chicken" with the moose at night on the Plaster Rock Highway.  Although, a few years ago I had a very close call.  As I was driving I spotted two moose on the side of the highway across the road.  Seconds later another moose came out of the woods and started to charge towards my vehicle.  Moose, by the way, are crazy.  Anyway, for some unknown reason the moose changed its mind at the last second and took off across the road and into the woods.  The other two moose crossed and followed.  I've also seen a few deer along that road, and although they can do a great deal of damage to your car, they are nothing compared to a certifiably insane moose.  Since I've been taking the Plaster Rock highway during the day I've only spotted a few tiny critters like rabbits and chipmunks.  I'll take Alvin and his brothers over Bullwinkle any day.

Most people who visit New Brunswick probably try their fair share of seafood.  I'm not a big seafood fan, but I enjoy a good lobster roll.  There's something I've been wanting to try at home for a couple of years now, and it's not offered in Ontario.  Both McDonald's and Subway offer lobster sandwiches on their menus.  I thought it was pretty neat and definitely worth a taste test.  The first one I sampled was the McDonald's McLobster:

Cost:  $7

It was fairly tasty with an appropriate amount of lobster meat.  I enjoyed it and recommended it to others.

The second was the Subway lobster sandwich.  This one totally rocked my taste buds.  What's always great about Subway is that you can customize your sandwich with many different toppings and sauces. My delicious sammie included:  6" honey oat bread toasted with cheddar cheese, extra lettuce, green pepper, onions, olives, hot peppers, jalapenos, lobster (of course), chipotle mayo, and a bit of salt and pepper.  It was really something.  If you're ever in New Brunswick in the summer and want to try a fast food lobster sandwich - go to Subway.  Cost:  $8.

Future thoughts:  Maybe I should go out and buy a live lobster and cook it up in a pot and try to eat it.  I've never cooked a lobster or eaten a whole one either.  In fact, I talk to the lobsters in the tanks at the grocery stores.  What a blog post that would be, eh?

Week 53: FORD FEST (Celebrating Toronto's Famous/Infamous Mayor)

Last week I received the most interesting telephone message.  It was an invitation to Mayor Rob Ford's annual Ford Fest being held this year in Scarborough at Thompson Memorial Park.  You don't have to be a Torontonian to know who Rob Ford is.  He's been all over the international news for various scandals, the most recent being for alleged crack use.  I just HAD to take the Ford family up on their kind offer to see what this Ford Fest would involve.  With Ford, you never know.  I have no idea how to, if even possible, attach an audio file to this blog so I created a Photo Booth video so that you could listen to the Ford Fest invite I received.

So, I arrived at 8pm and was surprised at the large number of people.  I guess that was pretty dumb of me since they were offering free food, drinks, and entertainment.

There were line-ups all over the place and no one really seemed to know what they were in line for.  I signed some clipboard, probably not the best decision, and received a Rob Ford business card.  I thought that maybe I'd receive a gift like a Rob Ford bobblehead or something; no such luck.

After some further detective work I found a little tent where the big man himself was taking photos with people.  By the way, that was what one of the big line-ups was for.  I betcha those who were expecting a hamburger and hot dog were really disappointed after reaching the front of that line.  I would have LOVED a picture with our great mayor but I was not getting in any lines for anyone.  However, something wonderful and magical did happen. As Mr. Mayor took a brief break from photos he decided to shake hands with those surrounding the tent.  THAT'S WHERE I WAS!  I was one of the last to be blessed with his moist palm, but it did in fact happen.

As for the entertainment -  Well, there was a singer named Jenny James who actually sang a song dedicated to Rob Ford.
The lyrics went something like this:

"Mayor Ford - last cowboy.
Mayor Ford - Toronto's defender.
He stood tall amidst accusations.
Mayor Ford, the one you'll remember."

And no, I'm not making this up.  Don't worry if you missed it.  I'm sure it'll be on the Juno list for next year.  Oh, what a night!

Week 52: New York City

My most recent travels landed me in New York City for five nights via WestJet Vacations.  They offer vacation packages including air and hotel.  As always, I chose the best of the cheapest which was the Sheraton Tribeca in Lower Manhattan.  It's labeled as a four star hotel but in my opinion it was more like a three star.  Why?  Well, when you have to close one of the bathroom doors just to use the sink, AND the free Wi-Fi doesn't work, AND you get stuck waiting 25 minutes for a properly functioning elevator to descend five flights of stairs, that's not what I'd call four star bragging rights.  Anyway, I made the most of it.  The location was decent, near Chinatown, Little Italy, and several subway stations.  Originally, the WestJet package did not include transfers to and from the airport in NYC.  But, after some clever reviewing of the paperwork on my part I found that Flight Centre, the company I purchased the trip through, had made an error that stated the transfers were in fact included.  Once brought to their attention Flight Centre was obligated to pay for the transfers which was an added savings of approximately $95.  However, the joke ended up on me with the shared van taking longer than the flight!  Traffic in Manhattan is insane!  In retrospect, I'd take a cab or subway.  Life is simply too short.


Day 1:

I arrived at the Sheraton Tribeca about three hours later than expected because of flight delays and traffic.  Do flights ever depart on time anymore?  It took a few minutes to navigate the subway system, but I took off for Times Square to book activities for the days ahead.  Gray Line is a company that offers city tours and Broadway show tickets all under one roof.  There I booked a 72 hour hop-on hop-off bus tour plus 3 attractions, and tickets to see "Spider-man Turn Off The Dark".  After spending about $300 I walked over to the Rockefeller Plaza and checked out the NBC store.

THE VOICE

FRIENDS

Rockefeller Plaza courtyard

After playing around Midtown, I took the subway back to the hotel and had a delicious dinner at a small Chinese restaurant in Chinatown.  That was the end of day 1.


Day 2:

Today was an exhausting day.  The Gray Line 72 hour hop-on hop-off bus tour includes five loops:  Uptown Loop, Downtown Loop, Bronx Tour, Brooklyn Loop, and Night Tour.  Each loop is about two hours in length.  Today I did three of the five loops plus the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park!  Crazy, I know.  It began with the Uptown Loop as follows:  Central Park West, Lincoln Center, Dakota Apartments, American Museum of Natural History, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Grant's Tomb, Apollo Theatre, Harlem Market, the Museum Mile, Fifth Ave., and more.  Then I transferred to the Bronx Tour with views of Yankee Stadium, the original Yankee Stadium grounds, Malcolm Shabazz Market, famous restaurants like Sylvia's and Red Rooster, Lennox Lounge, and Hostos Center for Arts & Culture.  After the Bronx I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  It was one of the included attractions I purchased from Gray Line.  It was alright.  I'll include some highlights I captured in photos below.  Since Museum Mile is located alongside Central Park I spent some time walking through the southern part of the park.  It was quite nice and surprising to see fish and turtles and waterfalls mere minutes away from the bustling metropolis.  Then I caught the Downtown Loop tour which included:  Greenwich Village, Times Square, Empire State Building, Flatiron Building, Union Square, Soho, Chinatown, Little Italy, Lower East Side, East Village, Rockefeller Center, and more.  After all of that I retired back to Chinatown for dinner again and then to bed.  What a day!

NYC Subway Map

A view from one of the subway station platforms

Gray Line hop-on hop-off tour bus

Metropolitan Museum of Art

I think she really needs to go potty!

Carnegie Hall

 Central Park South

Madison Square Garden

Flatiron Building

The church where Miranda got married in the movie "Sex and the City"

One World Trade Center

Wall Street Bull

National Museum of the American Indian

Chrysler Building

United Nations Headquarters

Times Square

Day 3:

Today I started off with Brooklyn Loop.  On this tour I saw:  Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Fulton Mall, New York Transit Museum, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Antique furniture district, 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue boutiques, etc.  To be perfectly honest, I thought this tour was a bit boring.  Here's what I captured:

Brooklyn Bridge

Home of the NBA Brooklyn Nets

The Manhattan skyline from the Williamsburg Bridge

New York County Courthouse

The Courthouse as depicted on "Law & Order"

Although unplanned, I decided to visit the 9/11 Memorial Site.  I'm very glad I added this to my itinerary because it was so peaceful and beautiful.  They really did a remarkable job commemorating those lost in the World Trade Center buildings.

The rectangular open areas are where the Twin Towers once stood.  Now they are waterfalls surrounded by engraved plaques with the names of those lost in each building.

One World Trade Centre in construction 

Later I took the subway uptown to the Empire State Building, another attraction included in my Gray Line package.  To reach the observatory, you have to make your way through a labyrinth of lines and rooms and eventually up two elevators to the 86th floor.  Thankfully it didn't take overly long and the view was worth it.

Empire State Building

The view from the 86th floor Observatory:

Chrysler Building to the left

Looking down:

The large green area in the centre is Central Park.

Statue of Liberty

One World Trade Center

It was time for a little break and snack after the big descent.  In search of a Starbucks I happened to walk by the huge Macy's store and decided to see if they had a Starbucks inside.  To my surprise they had not one but three Starbucks in Macy's!  There are nine floors in this place.  Here's a photo of the store and its map:

Store map of Macy's

To end the day's activities, I walked from Times Square to Hell's Kitchen to try some Thai food for dinner.  It wasn't the best Thai food I've ever had but a good experience to see the variety of restaurants in the area.  And, much more feasible than Restaurant Row.


Day 4:

If I had to give today a name I'd call it "Museum Day."  First, I went to the American Museum of Natural History.  This museum is very special because it was the setting for the 2006 movie "Night at the Museum" starring Ben Stiller.  If you haven't seen it, you should; it's fun - in a kid-at-heart kind of way.  Aside from the movie, the Museum of Natural History has remarkable dioramas and many interesting exhibits for all to enjoy.

American Museum of Natural History

Dum-dum, give me gum-gum!

Afterwards, I went back to Harlem for lunch at the famous soul food restaurant called Sylvia's.  I went full on and ordered fried chicken and waffles, collard greens, candied yams, and corn bread.  The corn bread was my favourite.

Sylvia's Restaurant

Now it was time to continue "Museum Day" at the Guggenheim.  This place is more striking on the outside than in.  I waited in a looooong line to see a new exhibit by James Turrell that was no more than a large dark room with two dim lights in each corner and a burlap sack in the middle.  It was so anticlimactic.  I don't pretend to be an art guru, but I definitely DO NOT "get" James Turrell.  Or Picasso for that matter.  I guess I should stick to museums with giant heads and gorillas.

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

You aren't permitted to take photos inside the Guggenheim so this is the best I can give you.

Next, I went for a stroll along Park Ave. to see how the other side lives, and then took the final tour - the Night Tour.  This tour is really a combination of both the Downtown Loop and the Brooklyn Loop at night with all the lights, but is not a hop-on hop-off.  You get views of:  Empire State Building, Chinatown, Rockefeller Center, Greenwich Village, Manhattan Bridge, Times Square, Brooklyn, etc.  Personally, this is how I'd rank the five loops/tours by order from most interesting to least interesting:
1. Downtown Loop  2. Uptown Loop  3. Bronx Tour  4. Night Tour  5. Brooklyn Loop.

Theatre District

The countdown until the Super Bowl

Manhattan skyline

Brooklyn Bridge

This is a working clock!

Empire State Building

From the top of the tour bus

Day 5:

My final day was supposed to be more laid back, and I guess comparatively it was, but it still felt kinda jam packed.  First, I did a little shopping in Times Square.  I didn't buy much, only a photo album, tea towel, and a cute skirt at Forever 21 for $6.80!  Next, I went to the Foxwoods Theatre to see "Spider-Man TURN OFF THE DARK" the musical.  It was quite amazing.  I've seen many different musicals and this one totally ranks up there with the best.  The music (by Bono), set, costumes, and incredible aerial work make this show a must-see.  It's an original.

Finally, I ended the day with a walk through Little Italy to sample some famous desserts such as gelato, cannoli, and torrone.

More Food:

It is worth mentioning the other foods I sampled while in New York.  In Central Park I tried a pretzel (they have them all over the city), but it tasted no different than the pretzels I've had at the mall or cinema.  Actually, I had to scrape all the salt off because it was saltier than the ocean.  I also tried a slice of pizza, chicken pesto mozzarella, in Tribeca near the hotel.  It was alright; nothing to write home about.  However, the absolute highlight of my food adventures in New York was the Halal food from the street vendors.  It was soooo good!  I had it about 3-4 times and always the same, chicken/lamb over rice with salad.  It was savoury and garlicky, and if we had it here in Toronto I'd be a total regular.  All for $6!

Overall, I love-hated New York City.  What I mean is that I loved it for all it has to offer, but also hated it for its incredible busyness.  I describe walking in Times Square like trying to walk to the subway in Toronto after a sold out Blue Jays game.  People are banging into you, and you have to walk in a single line if you're with company, no room for side-by-side.  NYC is simply too big.  I've decided that Toronto is the perfect size for me.  Like good ol' Goldilocks once said, "This one is just right!"