17.9.15 - Day 13. Thursday- Packing, Central Park North, Williamsburg, Oddfellows, Whyte, Flatiron, Little Italy, Madonna, Trains.

Slow start – with some packing and tidying up while last day decisions and destinations determined.

Julie, Kathy, Lyn and I started with a walk to Central Park North and around Harlem Meer.

Zim had recommended an Egg and Cheese roll, so I tried one on our walk to Central Park North

School kids out doing sport in the Park. Touch Grid iron.

A chipmonk.

Harlem Meer.

Tortoises.

Some of the gardens

Statues

Then met Carolyn and Sandra at Guggenheim, time for a coffee at Bluestone Coffee – an Australian owned group, finally a decent coffee. Iced Aussie Coffee in fact.

Train to Williamsburg, where we walked around for a look for an hour or so. 

Train to W'burg

train to W'burg. Julie.

Kathy and I left the others to the shops and took off, checked out Bedford Street and Berry Street and headed towards the water.

sights of W'burg.

sights of W'burg.

sights of W'burg.

sights of W'burg.

sights of W'burg.

Then we ventured on to meet the others at Whyte Hotel – only to stumble upon Oddfellows Icecream company. Now there is a story here, which I will bore you with. I have been ‘following’ Oddfellows on Instagram for several months now (one of those NY things I stumbled on) they have the most amazing flavours, all made on site. So we chatted to the lovely girl behind the counter and she gave us a heap of teaspoon tasters – each on a lovely little real teaspoon – flavours such as:

Olive oil

Pecan pie

Blackpepper and strawberry

Miso

Something with mushrooms

Coconut

Buttermilk honey blueberry

Some sounded weird and unappealing, but they were all delicious. Then the hard part, what to actually order. Kathy chose Buttermilk honey blueberry and I had a scoop too, along with the Blackpepper strawberry.

One of the part owners was sitting there too, and they indicated that they are partnering with Peters in Australia with some flavours in their Connoisseur range. 

Odd Fellows

Me at Odd Fellows

Odd Fellows

Odd Fellows

Odd Fellows

East River, which we could see, but couldn’t access at that point. We found a pier with stunning Manhattan views, there was a bit of a Fashion shoot going on there too (not allowed to take pics.) 

NYC local Government charging their electric car.

Met the rest of the shoppers at Whyte hotel, after seeing more interesting streets and street art. The Whyte has a rooftop bar overlooking the East River and Manhattan views, another bubbly and cool drink, rather warm again today.

Whyte Hotel

The gang looking out at the view, with some poor reflection of view in mirror behind them. Kathy,Carolyn, Lyn, Sandra, Julie

Better view out the windows

Manhattan skyline

Cool water tank from Whyte Rooftop bar.

Not sure what this building was.

Williamsburg was great, quirky place, lots of street art, eateries, breweries and quite trendy.

Street art of W'burg.

Brooklyn Brewery, with Quote included.

Street art

Subway back to Manhattan.Kathy and Carolyn

Lyn and Sandra consulting the map...again!

Practicing those skills

There is a word for photog taking a picture of a photog taking a picture, but I can't remember it.

Back to Manhattan Island to Eataly and the Flatiron building, time (just) for a quick bite at Birreria. (I realised I had left my Mastercard at Whyte – they required it for security at the bar, but didn’t return it with the bill – grrrrr! Very frustrated and annoyed at myself. Bugger bugger bugger. HUGE thanks to Carolyn and Julie for offering to go and collect it, as Lyn and I were tight for time, prior to Madonna at Madison Square Gardens. I phoned the Whyte and arranged for the pick up.)

Flatiron building

Flatiron building

Building with clock.

Flatiron building and me.

Rebel Heart Tour ad in the ceiling on way into MSG.

A quick 10 minute taxi ride and then quick moving lines through security to our really excellent seats. Amy Shumer was appearing with Madonna, which meant she was the warm up act. With tickets marked 8.00pm and advice to arrive early, we were seated well and truly in time. The stadium was very empty though and filling really slowly. Amy kicked off her comedy routine about 8.30ish for half an hour or so. She was pretty crass, but clever and funny too. 

Amy Schumer

Madonna finally started at 9.30pm.

We sat next to Lance from Colorado – nice young fella.

OMG – what a show! The noise, the vibrations, energy of the dancers and Madonna. She was a lather of sweat.

A good mix of old and new Rebel Heart stuff. Quite a few stunning dance stunts and costume changes with the expected Madonna raunchiness and religious iconography.

Madonna in Red.

Madonna in black, with such a physical dancer.

These guys were flying around on the bendy poles.

here they are again.

Phone on after the concert to hear from both Carolyn and Julie that the card was safely in their hands. Can’t thank them enough. Seems they enjoyed another tipple with night time Manhattan views.

Leaving 'the Garden' for the last time.

Several trains to get home, pretty hot and sticky after a warm 31 degree day today.

practicing capturing the still person with moving train.

Workman carrying lanterns.

Flashing lanterns on the platform

Mosaic.

Started re-organising the packing this am – more to do when we eventually got home at 1.30, resorting to a cab from 86th street in the end. (we have learnt that after 11.00pm, there are lots of delays, disruptions, closures resulting in cancellation of service, due to work on the lines)

Everyone else was in bed, so we missed Sandra and Kathy, who were due to leave at 5.30am tomorrow. Left a note, hopeful of hearing them and getting up to say farewell.