We left Riverside Church. I was feeling hopeful that we would find a parking spot on the street. I just had this feeling. Then, lo and behold just as I turned onto 86th street, there was a man getting into his car to leave. I quickly backed up. I backed into the parking spot, a little on the curb, but so what. There was already a man in a van asking me if I was leaving. I said no but he stayed there a while. Maybe he didn't understand me? I got free parking in Manhattan!!! It was a nice neighborhood with buildings with doormen too. I felt that my car would be safe.
We walked about three blocks down 86th street to Broadway. I was reminded of the scenes in the movie You've Got Mail, which was largely filmed on the Upper West Side. We decided to take the subway, which in hindsight was kind of silly. We only had to walk down to 81st and over to Central Park West to go the American Museum of Natural History.
We took the 1 to 59th and Columbus Circle to get the local C to 81st. But silly me, for some reason we got on the express, D, which did not stop at 81st but brought us to 125th street. We finally got on the local. After that my daughter was, the map keeper for the rest of the day.
Got to the museum, where there is an entrance right off the subway station. We bought general admission plus admission to one special exhibit. We chose the Global Kitchen exhibit.
Learned some interesting things about food at this special exhibit. For example, Atlantic Cod over 100 years ago used to be 3ft long. Because fishermen would take the larger fish and leave behind the smaller fish, over time due to overfishing their size has become much smaller. Or that a wild species of cabbage is responsible for several vegetables we have today by selectively breeding qualities desired from either the root, the flower or the leaves.
I filled out a survey and as a result received a 25% off coupon at the museum store. We bought this neat children's toy, a ball that changes color as you throw it. After the museum, we went across the street to Central Park to toss the ball around in the beautiful early April weather.
I bought my daughter a hot dog off the food truck. Being on a whole foods, plant based diet I looked up vegan restaurants on the upper west side. A few blocks away was the Cafe Blossom. We sat outside. My daughter ordered Risotto Arancini made with Aborio rice, fresh herbs, tapioca cheddar, tempeh bacon bits and marinara and french fries with I assume was not Heinz ketchup. I ordered Seitan Marsala made with sauteed kale, potato mash, sauteed mushrooms, fennel, shallots and a marsala reduction.
After dinner we took the subway to Times Square. My daughter got to experience the subway at rush hour. Heard aan playing the violin and gave him $1. Another level up there was a man playing classical music on his keyboard. Got to love New York!
Got to Times Square and there were several children's characters in costume. After about the tenth one in a one block radius it began to feel creepy. Then I see that one of them was arrested for pushing a two year old over when his mother didn't have a tip for him. Walked around Times Square a little bit. Headed back to the car. I walked the wrong way when we got out of the subway. When we thought we were getting to 86th and Riverside Dr, the sign read Central Park West. Ugh!!! We had to turn around and walk all the way back. I was a little sad to lose my parking spot when we had to leave to go home.
