Maggiano's Little Italy

This is our favorite Italian restaurant, Maggiano's Little Italy, in New Jersey. All the plates are big portions so this restaurant is good for a party of over 4 people, I think. This Bombalina Platter was a tasty appetizer.

Sacred Chow at Greenwich Village

I'm not a vegetarian but am interested in vegetarian restaurants. My friend and I had a small lunch at the Sacred Chow in Greenwich Village. Looking at the restaurant from outside, the inside was dark and seemed closed, but taking seats near the window, the place was very cozy and the staff was very natural and friendly, so we felt relaxed. I had a pumpkin soup which was the soup of the day and a cookie. It was good and also the portion was enough for our quick lunch.

"Ripley's Believe or Not" at Times Square

Today I was with kids who are sons and daughters of my friends because this week is a spring vacation for them. We went to the museum; The world's most unusual museum, "Ripley's Believe it or Not" at Times Square. Maybe all the attractions are fun for kids, but for me there was something that I could not accept about their concept.

We saw pictures of a person with too much long hair and a person with an enormous foot, etc. Also there were interactive exhibits such as a black hall, ancient instruments... those were fun. However some of them were pictures of Siamese twins and there were replicas of old instruments of torture.

I felt like the place was a freak show... Also many gods which are worshipped in Asia were exhibited like odd things... I know this museum is for entertainment, but I think this is not suitable for Times Square where a lot of people visit from all over the world.

Zaber's

I tried " Cheese ---(I forgot the name...)" at Zaber's cafe. This seemed like traditional fare from Zaber's. There is sweetened cheese inside which is not too sweet, which goes well with a side dip; fresh cream cheese and apple sauce! Also everything is fresh there!

Veniero's

I went to Veniero's today which I've wanted to visit for some time. Veniero's is a pasticceria in Manhattan established in 1894. I took out some cakes because there were no lights inside the shop and restaurant because something was under construction there. The cheesecake was so delicious as they say!

Brooklyn 4 - Brooklyn Botanical Garden

New Yorkers also enjoy Hanami.












There is a Japanese garden and Japanese cherry trees in Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Brooklyn 3 - Coney Iland -

This is Astroland on Coney Iland. This roller coaster called "Cyclone" in the back of this picture is the oldest roller coaster in the world which opened in 1927.

This is Nathan's where there is a Hot Dog Eating Contest every year.

Brooklyn 2 - Brighton Beach

This is Brighton Beach where there is a big Russian community. As you can see on these pictures, there are a lot of Russian letters on signs on the streets. Surprisingly, hearing people, all of them were speaking Russian! We wanted to try piroshki and found a meat shop which had piroshki in front of the store. The piroshki was so good!

People on the boardwalk were speaking Russian!

The stairs to Brighton Beach station. The sign of the station's name was still the old one. It hasn't changed for 100 years??

Piroshki was sold at this butcher's shop.

Brooklyn 1

We went to Brooklyn by car crossing Goethals Bridge from New Jersey to Staten Island and Verrazano Narrows Bridge to Brooklyn.

Magnolia

This is a part of Central Park. Central Park is huge! There are lots of places where I haven't visited. This entrance is beautiful and romantic.














This is not cherry blossom. This is magnolia. Sometimes I see big magnolia trees here. I've never seen this size of magnolia in Japan.

Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue

I'm trying to visit all the the museums on Manhattan's Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue. I have already visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art over 5 times but I've only visited the Guggenheim Museum and the Whitney Museum of American Art out of the rest of them. Today I visited El museo del Barrio and the Museum of the City of New York. To go there, I take the "6" train and get off at 103 St station which is almost the entrance of East Harlem. When I came out of the subway, It was a different area from other areas. It was Harlem, which I've been to once before. El Museo del Barrio is the museum that specializes in representing Caribbean and Latin American art. There was an exhibition of "ARTE ≠ VIDA: ACTIONS BY ARTISTS OF THE AMERICAS, 1960-2000." The art was very unique and also I felt they were giving voice to the political problems of Latin America. As for the Museum of the City of New York, I think everybody will enjoy the place. We can see a short video of New York City's history. Also we can see New York Interiors which are interiors of gorgeous houses in New York from the late 17th through the early 20th centuries.

E・A・T

I had a lunch at E.A.T. on the upper east side of Manhattan. The restaurant is famous for bread. I had a Sandwich Plate and coffee. All the ingredients were fresh and I especially liked the coffee very much. They have a bakery next to the restaurant. I wanted to buy some bread but I didn't have time to buy any, so I want to go there again soon.

Musicians in the Subway

In the subway in Manhattan, especially at 42 Street-Times Square station, we can see a lot of musicians playing different kinds of music.

Port Authority Bus Terminal

This is the Port Authority Bus Terminal where the buses from New Jersey arrive after crossing the Hudson river through the Holland Tunnel.

Bus stop

This is the bus stop near my apartment in NJ. I take a bus to Manhattan from this stop. It takes 40 minutes by express bus to go there.

Cherry Blossom in NJ

There are cherry trees in New Jersey.
We went to Branch Brook Park in Newark to see cherry blossom.













Drive-thru cherry blossom viewing???





























There were a lot of Asians there. It was like spring in Japan!