362. Travelogue: Spa Saturday

I've distracted Mr. Jefferies with the box to a travel-size toothpaste that JetBlue gave us when we deplaned and Abigail is taking a nap, so I have a few minutes to do a little care and feeding of the blog.  It's been a busy day for us here in the Big Apple, speaking of care and feeding.  You could almost call it Spa New York.  Ish.  

We started by going to a fabulous and tasty "carb-friendly" cafe for breakfast where the menu choices were easy and plentiful for the "I need to lose 10 pounds" me.  I was able to get a fabulous spinach-feta omelet with slices of tomatoes, and we shared a nice bowl of fruit which I chronicle here using all the toys in the fun photo software in Abigail's Christmukkah/Birthday present, a new MacBook (WANT!):  

Look! Healthy!  

Then we took the terrier for a brisk long walk, and he once again secured his status as People Magnet. Guys?  Gals?  Get a Yorkie if you want to meet people.  And despite our best intentions, aside from a lot more walking, this concludes the exercise portion of our Spa Saturday.  We intended to get back to Abigail's gym, where, lucky for me, they are running a "free guests for the month of December" special, but we never made it.   

After that, we went out for a wee little bit of shopping, where I got a little trinket for myself.  It's becoming a "thing," me and the stones and silver, I guess.  I firmly believe you can never have enough natural stones and silver.

Exhibit B:

You might argue that this has nothing to do with the spa theme, but I would argue that, well, shut up.  It's pretty, no?  (And it was a bargain. Honest.)

Lunchtime found us in a fabulous Korean dumpling bar for a delicious, award-winning light and healthy lunch of steamed dumplings.

Onward, we went for mother-daughter chair massages.  I chose 30 minutes on the back and arms.  Abigail chose 10 minutes feet/10 minutes back.  The other 10 minutes we donated to charity or something, since I guess she's on a massage diet.  I don't get it, either.  What is she, some sort of martyr?  Whatever.

We followed the massages with a light and refreshing -- and might I emphasize healthy -- frozen pomegranate yogurt with live and active cultures and fresh fruit topping.  Delicious!  And healthy!  Please note the healthy.  

Then naps.  Every spa day needs a nap.

Then amaretto (for me) and dessert for both of us*, which one might have to make a little bit of a stretch to fit into the spa theme, but work with me here. 

*Heavenly Chocolate Cake for me and 20-Layer Crepe Cake for her. Worth every evil calorie, and then some.  I highly recommend this place.  We did not know it also serves dinner, as it's billed as a "wine and chocolate bar," but we discovered it has a wonderful menu.  Probably going back there for dinner tomorrow (or tonight, as you read this).

It's a good thing we did the Empire State Building the other night, because last night it was completely shrouded in fog.  And where have all the New Yorkers gone?  And where are all the tourists?  Restaurants are closing early all over the place, and there seems to be nobody around.  It seems a bit eerie.  

 

Comments

[CindyCindy]

I hope it isn't the economy. That kind of negative thinking can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Of course, in their defense, it isn't cheap to stay open for one or two people. Sounds like your having a great time!!

[Adelaide]

More photos of Mr. Jefferies, please.

[Carole]

Sounds like you two are having a great time. Sharon and I are planning a trip to NYC. Wanna be our tour guide?

[margene]

I'm just a little envious as I've always wanted to do NY just like you're doing NY. Sounds like so much fun. It's all about food, imo anyway.
Perhaps everything is quiet because of the Holiday and they're gearing up for New Years fun.

[Marcia]

I thought you didn't LIKE Macs......

[Renee]

Spa day - the best sort. Exhibit B is fab, definitely fits in the pampering-self stuff of a spa day. A little bling for your soul.

[Cheryl S.]

You go to all the really great places to eat! I'm way envious.
Great necklace! What's the stone?

[Jean E.]

Sounds like fun!

[Suzanne]

Dear Norma, I've read your blog for a long time -- thanks for making the effort!

I'm a long-time resident of Manhattan, NYC, near Kips Bay. It's traditional for many Manhattanites to leave the City during the school breaks for Hannuka, Christmas & New Years, whether they have kids or not. However, and it's a big one, the economic crisis has given NYC a big smackdown. Just look at the names on all those big buildings you see between 42nd and 59th Street -- Bear Sterns, WaMu, Lehman Bros., on and on. Every one of those jobs lost diminishes employment in all the support sectors, including law, taxis, restaurants, clothing shops, real estate and all luxury and non-essential spending. I don't really like to Christmas shop in midtown, but I did make one foray the week before Christmas to Rockefeller Center. I worked for 16 years 2 blocks from there, and I've never seen so few people on the streets at Christmas -- less now than on just a normal workday in other times. Yarn stores are suffering and my nearest LYS is closing. Cabbies tell me the competition now for riders is cutthroat and their receipts are way down. I can imagine that many more places that have tried to put on a good face before the 25th will be closing soon after Christmas. It's very sad and scary, but we've got some "recovery" times ahead. Meanwhile, your visits are most welcome! Best for 2009! Suzanne

[Cookie]

Does Abigail give tours of NYC to her knitting aunties? Because this could be the start of a wonderful new business for her if she did.

xo

[claudia]

Dude, that pendant is beautiful.

[elizabeth a airhart]

suzanee is so right in her comments

stay for new years perhaps the crowds will come

tis a bitter sweet end of the year for so many

and a number of new york residents are on the keys in florida

[kmkat]

We need to coordinate our NYC trips. #1 son is at Mt. Sinai med school. We could all meet up for some of that healthy chocolate and wine stuff.

[Dave Daniels]

I would LOVE to do a NYC meet-up with you some time. If you can ditch the kid, we can race around in taxis and do stuff like shop and asswatch and other mature delights. :)

[Sharon]

Even the hospitals are empty here in NYC this holiday season!! I got tonight off as a "vacation day" (I'm at nurse at NY Presbyterian Hospital) because the census is so low!

[Lisa Beamer]

That is a very beautiful trinket indeed! I love silver. And stones, now that I think about it.