Snow Day
The news in the morning revealed that many New Yorkers had been woken in the night by thunder, just like I was. Otherwise we slept very well indeed because the snow had kept a lot of traffic off the roads, and our intersection was much quieter than usual.
By ten in the morning, the snow was still heavy, and the view from our window showed the extent of the snowfall.
Phoenix's coffee instinct sent her out onto the street while Debbie and I got showered and dressed, and watched the local news. Later, we all went out for breakfast around the corner at Cafe Europa. While Phoenix virtuously sipped a cranberry juice, Debbie and I dug into stacks of pancakes.
Snow had drifted into every nook and cranny, blocking in cars and rendering subway entrances impassable.
We went to explore the snowbound South end of Central Park. Fenced off areas provided pristine winter scenes, while on the accessible areas children and pets provided the most entertainment. Occasionally someone would ski past.
Falling backwards into the snow is the craze that's taking over New York, and I'm proud to say that I started it. However when Debbie did it it elicited a huge cheer from passers by.
Phoenix, her wardrobe less suited to the cold weather due to the lack of a non-league football habit, went home to thaw out, while we spent a few more minutes weaving our way home. We bought a coffee to go, then took a wrong turn. My coffee was going cold rapidly, so I had to drink it on the street.
This had tired me out. Back in the hotel, Phoenix announced that she was going to visit Tiffany's. Debbie wasn't interested in Tiffany's, but said she had some clothes and shoes on her shopping list and was in the mood for decisive goal-driven speed shopping, so she would set out for Bloomingdales and other shops.
This, it was decided, was my opportunity to visit the Museum of Modern Art. The girls both left, and I decided to relax around the suite for a while before setting off. I read some guidebooks, I wrote up the previous day's diary, I sorted through the snow photographs, I may have had a small nap (walking in the snow takes it out of you!).
At about 4:30 I decided that I really ought to go outside, but that since MoMA costs $20 and closed an hour later, today wasn't the day. I put on my boots, coat, hat and gloves, and just as I reached for the door handle to leave, Phoenix walked in.
I didn't last long out on the street. The shop I had in mind (for a Valentine card) was closed, either due to snow or Sunday. Instead I bought a large coffee at Pick a Bagel, and returned to the apartment, where Phoenix was fretting about Debbie. Was she alright?
Debbie returned shortly thereafter, laden with shopping.
Even though I had done nothing all afternoon, we planned a relaxing evening in. Phoenix wasn't prepared to let the city beat her in this way, and went to the cinema — opting for a sensible 12 screen cinema rather than a daunting 25 screen one.
Debbie and I went for fast and informal eating, ending up at a noodle restaurant at the end of the street. It may not have been as fast and informal as we had planned, but it was very nice: we shared cold Saigon roll (mango and salad in a rice paper wrap) and chicken satay, then Debbie had a beef noodle stir fry while I had an enormous "bit of everything" udon noodle soup.
Then, we settled in to watch Family Guy, American Dad and some local news people talking about the snow. It turns out that "the blizzard of 06" is the biggest snow fall New York has seen since records began in the 19th century. The official number is 26.9 inches of snow. And we were there!