NYC Thanksgiving - Thursday Afternoon

Ryan and Tarek hosted us in Queens for Thanksgiving/Friendsgiving Dinner.   Ryan is always an excellent holiday host and cook!   We enjoyed several family favorites and the company.   The views and the cat cuddles were also winners.   The place settings are from our Grandma Leona. 

NYC Thanksgiving - Thursday morning

On our one prior trip to NYC for Thanksgiving, it was as another wave of COVID hit and the city was still very sleepy.  There were hardly any yellow cabs or black suburbans as you wandered the streets.  That year we did see the balloon inflation (with masks on) and just wandered upon the parade en route to brunch.   This year we were actual spectators as our nephew, Jake, was marching with the Fishers High School Tiger Band.   So we wanted to be (close to) front and center to see our favorite trumpeter.   But, of course, we didn't want to be too crowded or get there too early!   We lucked out with unseasonably mild weather and a decent viewing spot near 57th along Sixth Avenue.    It was a bit crowded and under scaffolding (like most of the area between Midtown and Central Park) but overall a great spot to take in the parade!  

After the parade ended, we cut back up to Seventh Ave. to eat at the Brooklyn Diner, which is also where we ate in 2021.   We had a reservation that was timed perfectly (with a quick exit from the parade route), so we didn't have to wait to be seated.  We were happy to warm up a bit and fill up!  After filling up, we meandered back up through Midtown and watched the NFL on Fox broadcast for a few minutes.  Howie looks amazing in real life!  Jimmy is shorter than expected.  And Terry is ancient.   

I am so intrigued by the opening of the street lights in order to let the balloons and floats through.   I took several photos as we walked and watched them put them back in place. Empty streets without traffic lights is the weirdest Manhattan sight ever!

NYC Thanksgiving - Wednesday

 We arrived in NYC a bit before noon on Wednesday before Thanksgiving.   The hotel where I usually like to stay and where we stayed last time was sold out, so we got a room at the Westin Grand Central.  It's further south and east than I usually stay, but it was super convenient for us, and I'd definitely stay there again either with the guys or for work.   

Our first stop was Bryant Park for lunch where we had pizza and pasta at La Bianca Pecora, a restaurant that has multiple locations but feels very authentically delicious!  We ended up eating there twice it was so good, quick and affordable.  

Afterwards, we walked to 30 Rock to use the bathroom and regroup before heading to Central Park to see the balloon inflation.  I had been texting with my friend Courtney who was already there and she said it was a crowded mess.   I was hoping it would clear out before we got there so we wouldn't have to abandon it like her family did.  Alas, it was the same cluster when we arrived, so after walking around in circles for 15 minutes, we decided one and done (that one being 2021!) and headed back to Midtown to shop.   It was no trouble convincing William that we should sub in the Lego store for a packed crowd/slow line of humanity.

Recreating a 2021 photo 

This was the line trying to find the end of the line.....we finally found the end of the line AFTER we left and were walking back toward Midtown.   So glad we didn't need to see the balloons.  The guys reminded me we were going to see them in the parade anyway!

William is always keen for a blind bag or a fill the one price bucket.   He really enjoys building still.

After we closed down the Lego Store, we we lucky enough to happen upon the Saks display playing.   When I saw it in the daylight, I didn't realize it had moving parts and a song.  It was really cool!   And we got to see 30 Rock, the tree (sans scaffolding) and the ice rink lit up!

We did an early dinner and early-ish bedtime since we would need to get up early-ish for the parade!

October and November Miscellaneous

I built a new planter box on the side of the house following the pattern of my compost bins.   This will be for tomatoes and herbs in the spring/summer.   I built it this fall so that it's ready when I'm ready to plant, and so that I could empty one of my compost bins to have for winter collection.  Since compost doesn't break down very fast in winter, I need more space than I do in the spring or summer when it "bakes" faster.   In the winter, it mostly compressed and gets snacked on by the wild critters.

Lucy enjoyed the first snow.  And, yes, we have our Christmas lights already installed before Halloween!  They'll stay on until Valentine's Day most likely. 

And then the snow melted and John was able to hang our new wreaths!  The past two years we had live wreaths as part of the Boy Scout fundraiser.   Since volleyball practice and tournaments conflict with all of the scouting dates, William isn't participating this year.  I bought some online and hope they last a few years.  And that we find some place to store them when they come down in 2024.

I was feeling artsy taking pictures in the backyard one morning!

And in the side yard

And the front yard

 

Benet Gala

In another case of "we didn't have anything planned that weekend (and no one is on a business trip)," we attended the Benet Academy Annual Gala.   I honestly can't even remember what the formal name is.  For All Saints it was the Dinner Dance Auction (DDA).  There was no dance here.   Drinks/silent auction, dinner, live auction.   We didn't sign up for a table with anyone in particular and were assigned to "Freshman Boys."  It was really neat actually.  One couple was friends with one of my partners.   And several of us had sons in the same challenging math class so we could commiserate.   

I bought a new dress, got to spend the night hanging out with my husband (a relatively rare occurrence), ate some decent food and came home with a lot of Benet gear.   My favorite was the pair of seatbacks.  They've been invaluable during volleyball matches.   William was thrilled with more hoodies and joggers!  We all win!