Trip to Brooklyn

Today we decided to meet Jon and Toscha in Brooklyn so headed out after breakfast to the subway in Times Square. Luckily for us the Naked Cowboy was in Times Square this morning, so we took some pictures before heading down to the subway. After making sure all bladders were in optimum subway-traveling condition, we boarded the 2 train at the Times Square station.

Just like yesterday, our trip into Brooklyn let us see a different types of people aside from the tourists and the business people we had gotten used to in Manhattan. We got off on Franklin Avenue and phoned Jon to get directions to his place. We had no idea where we were and describing what we could see didn't help Jon much since he's not that familiar with the area yet either. Eventually he came and met us on the street after we walked down Franklin, past Lincoln and St. John's.

Jon and Toscha gave us a tour of their place which is the top level of a brownstone house in Brooklyn. It's pretty neat and reasonable (for New York) they get it for about $1600/month. It was bigger than I thought it would be and if the rest of it gets finished like the floor and bathroom it'll be really nice. Jon and Toscha are in the process of moving in so hopefully they get all that straightened pretty quick.

We went to a place called Saje for lunch. Sundays they have a jazz trio playing there so we felt pretty bohemian sitting in a cafe eating lunch, listening to some live jazz. Sophie enjoyed her bagel with jelly and I had a delicious turkey & brie sandwich. Heidi had some banana pancakes. This was probably the cheapest meal we've had here, and Toscha said it was pretty expensive for the area. I think we've been eating in too many tourist areas. :)

On the walk to the Brooklyn children's museum, Toscha and Jon explained about their living arrangements - they are renting from someone who is renovating the brownstone, and the neighbour who they first stayed with (Krista) also owns her brownstone and is improving it for rental. Toscha gave the opinion that the area seems to be gentrifying although my impression was that this gentrification wasn't happening at a fast enough rate to make Heidi feel completely comfortable in the area.

When we got to the Brooklyn children's museum it was closed to the disappointment of all. They shut it September 3 so we missed it only by a few days. They let us go in to use the bathroom and when we were leaving Sophie wanted to go run in some of the tunnels that she could see so I know that she would have had a great time there. Instead we walked back to the Parkway to take the subway to the Brooklyn Museum. On the way we passed a Jewish school that seemed to be in session (today is a Sunday).

Walking down the Parkway we passed a Jewish bride and groom getting their photos taken on the picturesque tree-lined sidewalk that runs adjacent to the parkway. As we passed Sophie said that she could see a princess named Cinderella. I'm not sure if they could hear but to me they seemed to be speaking Hebrew anyway.

Back on the subway for three stops and then into the Brooklyn museum. Sophie's favorite part was the "dancing fountains" which we visited before and after our visit. Inside the museum they had art from all over the world, including African, Egyptian and your more classical (European) art. Upstairs they had some modern pieces which were non-traditional art, such as arrangements of everyday objects. Sophie got in big trouble from a grumpy guard when she touched some plates that were part of some installation.

Jon and Toscha helped us get back onto the correct subway at the museum station. We took the 3 back to Manhattan this time in a nice, new air-conditioned car. Getting off at Times Square I headed back to the hotel while Heidi went to Gap Maternity to get some clothes for herself. After that we went to dinner with Alan, Juli and Malachi at a Japanese restaurant called Ocha. The sushi was fantastic and Heidi got a vegetarian sushi dish which she loved.

I overheard the concierge at the hotel taking (or rather not taking) reservations at the Broadway Inn here...it seems that the lease is up and may not be renewed. They are not taking any reservations past October 15 in case it is not. If that is the case then this hotel may be replaced by condominiums which would be pretty sad.