Happy NYC Restaurant Week!

I am so happy that my last week in New York City has coincided with Restaurant Week. Tonight, L and I had a fabulous 3-course meal at the iconic New York restaurant, the Russian Tea Room, for the low price of $35 each. I had the goat cheese and wild mushroom blinchik, the filet of beef, and the cheesecake, and it was delicious. I also enjoyed a "Russian Margarita" made not with tequila but with vodka of course and they definitely went heavy on the vodka! The modernist Russian style decor was so elegant and the gift shop downstairs displayed some lovely and elaborately-painted Russian nesting dolls. Did anyone else go anywhere yummy for restaurant week?

Giants Ticker Tape Parade Takes Over Lower Manhattan

Giants fans dominated Lower Manhattan today! It took me a while to get to the office but it was so much fun passing through the celebration I didn't mind the delay. I couldn't believe how much paper was pouring out of the windows of office buildings in the area!

I'm Going to Miss this Office View

While I was away, my office made the move from Midtown East to Lower Manhattan.  The view from my desk in the new office is incredible! How could you not be filled with hope and inspiration every time you see the Freedom Tower? After September 11th, this space was so empty for so long. And now here it is and it is stunning. I am disappointed I won't get the chance to watch as it continues to rise.

Annnnnd Back (for 12 days)

I am back in New York and it is hard to believe that a few days ago I was strolling the streets of Notting Hill, feasting on fish and chips, and enjoying a cold pint at the pub! I am happy to be back even though it is just for a short time (12 days and so much to do)!

Here is the warm welcome I received from New York as my plane approached- an aerial landscape of bright city lights, my airplane window photo of New York.

The Most Dazzling and Disorienting Bathroom

On Sunday, I had planned to meet some friends for brunch at Nopi. Unfortunately, I got so lost that I missed the meal altogether (sadly for me, London was not built on a grid). I did arrive with enough time to enjoy some conversation and check out the glamorous mirror-wrapped bathroom. Had I located Nopi early enough to indulge in a few mimosas, I'm sure it would have taken me some time to find my way out!

Tea and Machine Guns

On my walk from the Tube station to the office, I pass by the Saudi Arabian Embassy. There are two British police officers that stand on the sidewalk outside the tall black iron gate holding some very impressive-looking machine guns. This morning, I noticed cups of tea in their non-machine-gun-holding hands. Ok, they may have been drinking coffee or even hot chocolate for that matter, but I would much rather imagine that it was tea. I would have taken a picture of them but there's something about their fully-automatic firearms that doesn't seem to welcome photography.

Five Snaps

Here are five snaps from my time in London these past two weeks. Enjoy!

{A Gingerbread man by the name of Godfrey! Too cute.}

{Escalator to the Tube}

{Sooooo many coins here! I need to invest in a serious coin purse.}

{Outside St. Paul's Cathedral-- where Princess Diana was married}

{Another snap from outside St. Paul's Cathedral}