07 Apr Back in the Big Apple

It’s nearly 2:00am. I am just settling in after an exhausting day of shooting.

Being back in New York feels great. I started out early this morning by visiting my old Saturday haunt, the outdoor market at Abingdon Square. It was a bit chilly but that didn’t seem to deter the locals from flocking the market. Beautiful ruffled lettuces, bright red radishes, brown and speckled eggs, Honey Crisp apples, goat and cow’s milk cheeses, fish and seafood, and of course my favorite – the pastries from Meredith’s Bakery. I treated myself to a banana-blueberry mini loaf for breakfast.

From there I returned back to my little hotel, The Jane. If you’ve not visited their website, you must. It’s a fun boutique hotel with small berth-like rooms, reminiscent of cabins on a ship. This nautical theme is carried through all parts of your stay – even the bellboys wear the appropriate period attire.

And like a ship, bathrooms are communal and located down the hall. This morning I entered the bathroom just as a young gorgeous Australian man walked out of the shower. Clothed, of course, in the white waffle robe the hotel provides. I guess he caught the red flush that washed my face, so he greeted me quite kindly in that sexy crocodile-hunter accent.

I can’t promise you’ll always enjoy such perks when you stay here, but I will give you my word that it’s a great place, perfectly located one block from the Hudson River, a few steps from the High Line and Chelsea Market, and in the heart of the West Village, my favorite part of this city.

We spent the day filming in Harlem, the Upper West Side, Lower East Side and in Brooklyn. We found some familiar old pieces of street art in Spanish Harlem and saw newly painted walls across the East River. . .  then finished our day at a wonderful pizza place called Roberta’s. The food and atmosphere were well worth the two-hour wait.

I’m beat. Exhausted. Worn out. So give me a break on poor spelling and grammar.

My dancin’ shoes are tucked under the bed. They are ready to take on another great day of walking. Goodnight and sweet dreams.