When you get caught between the moon and New York City, the best that you can do is fall in "Love on a Rooftop": New York City Week, Grand Finale, Part II

When you get caught between the moon and New York City, I know it's crazy, but it's true. . .

 

"When you get caught between the moon and New York City . . . the best that you cand do is fall in love."

We're borrowing from Christopher Cross' movie soundtrack, but that's exactly what our visit to New York last month was all about, LOVE:  love of family, love of bride and groom and love on a rooftop.

Morning coffee on the roof

Take out dinner on the roof

New York Week at BTS is coming to a close with our Grand Finale, Part II.  As noted in our last post, our trip was planned around meeting extended family and attending a very special couple's wedding. When opportunity arose, we extended our trip to, firstly, cover the Venn Diagram intersection of people and events, and, secondly, fill the unfilled space with things to do in NYC - which is hardly a difficult task in the Big Apple.

Sunset from our rooftop "observatory"

In the second half of our stay in New York, as we were gearing up for the big wedding event in Long Island, Chris and I discovered a few great dining venues close to our hotel. Actually, one was at our hotel via its rooftop and uber eats.

Truly a hidden gem in Brooklyn, at the top of our hotel's twelve floors, there was a rooftop patio with incredible views of its own borough's skyline, Manhattan and even the Statue of Liberty. Chris and I enjoyed our coffee there every morning and took in the sunset and night views with a glass of wine or (decaf) iced tea in the evening. 

There was a short-lived television show in the 1960's called "Love on a Rooftop", and although I don't remember much of the plot, I recall the joy the newly married couple (featuring a young Judy Carne of "Laugh-In" fame) had in the city vista their apartment rooftop provided.  (And, if none of that sounds familiar, it's okay. These references, as far as quality content, lie somewhere between "Hannah Montana" and "Masterpiece Theater").

Anyway, the title of that decades-old TV show just kept coming to mind every time Chris and I were up on the roof and took in the views. And, really, how appropriate in a week filled with love.

Gnocchi from Pizza Magic

Tomatoes and cheese in Bushwick

One evening (before our nightcaps on the roof), we found some fine, but casual, dining within a short walking distance of our hotel:  Pizza Magic.  It served up some of the best gnocchi I've ever tasted.

Matt and Chris at farm-to-table cafe in Bushwick

Then, off to the Bushwick section of Brooklyn the next day for a farm-to-table restaurant with Matt  I had tomatoes with melted ricotta cheese. It sounds a little odd, and, actually, looks a little odd, too, but it was scrumptious

.

Minetta Tavern

Earl Grey ice cream for tea themed blog

For our last full evening in New York, we ventured from our hotel to meet up with Matt and Jenna at The Comedy Club in Manhattan. This was preceded by an excellent dinner at nearby Minetta Tavern, a walk in Washington Park and another stop for ice cream - and earl grey ice-cream, to boot. (Keeping with the tea theme, of course. wherever that went. . .)

Comedy Club, not headliner, but could be

Washington Park

And, wedding weekend, which launched this entire trip, was finally here! The  bride and groom, a beautiful and talented couple, are friends of Matt and Jenna, the groom being one of my son's best buddies since junior high. Matt was one of the groomsmen and looked dashing in his textured silver-grey tux. Jenna looked amazing in a glittery rainbow dress and, my date, was most distinguished in a blue suit and tie (a departure from his "signature" bow-tie look).  

Bride and Groom dance, they are professionals (really)

It was so wonderful - and truly an honor - to be guests at this wedding which feted the best with an outdoor afternoon ceremony and a cocktail hour filled with more hors d'oeuvres stations than I could count (because I was busy filling my plates with all the deliciousness).  Then, on to a gourmet dinner, toasting and dancing in an elegant venue, with skylights and cathedral ceilings, that gracefully spilled out onto a stone terrace balcony overlooking manicured gardens.

It allowed me to not miss my rooftop patio in Brooklyn.  😊

Matt and Jenna 💖

So, yes, I have to agree, and to paraphrase a bit: "When you get caught between the moon and New York City, the best that you can do is be filled with love"  -  be it your amazing children, awesome extended family, a lovely bride and groom, and, last but never least, a distinguished gent on a rooftop in Brooklyn.

Blogger with distinguished date 💙

The reasons for our NYC visit: Family, friends, festivities and food! BTS grand finale to New York Week, Part I

View of the Statue of Liberty from the Stanton Island Ferry

As we wrap up New York Week at BTS where we highlighted visits to tea venues, the Brooklyn Museum (and the rare knife rests!), the Tenement Museum and a special Tuesday Tea and Tomes featuring a novel set in 1960's Brooklyn, we're going back to the beginning and the original reason for the trip:  family, friends, festivities and, well, yes, the food.

Clinton Street Bakery for brunch

CSB famous for its pancakes

Our son, Matt, along with his girlfriend, Jenna, reside in Brooklyn, so it's a given we'll be visiting them there from time to time. However, this August, we scored a big bundle of intersecting events which included a wedding and extended family in from out-of-town. My husband, Chris, and I saw this as an opportunity to extend our typical long-weekend stay to almost two weeks. It was wonderful!

Dining in Williamsburg with J's family

Dessert afterwards

Our first weekend in, we met up with Jenna's family visiting from the west coast.  We found we had many shared interests including Harney teas, baseball, and brunch.  So, we shopped tea in So-ho, took in a Mets game and indulged in pancakes (and more) at Clinton Street Bakery.

Mets game at Citi Field. 

Then, while their respective jobs called our Brooklyn couple back for a few days, Chris and I, enjoyed some very touristy pursuits. We took the Stanton Island Ferry roundtrip (still free) which gives the most amazing views of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan.

Stanton Island Ferry:  best free deal in the City

We also became somewhat savvy with the subway system and journeyed from Brooklyn to Manhattan's Upper West Side. Our destination was the "Arconia" (aka "The Belnord"), the building used in Hulu's "Only Murders in the Building", where there exists another kind of "knife rest".  

The "Arconia" in Manhattan where another kind of "kinfe rest" resides

Matt took an afternoon off and treated us to tour of The Whitney Musuem after afternoon tea at Tea and Sympathy. The Whitney Museum has strong ties to the Gilded Age even though most of its exhibits are relatively "modern". It was founded by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, great-granddaughter of Cornelious Vanderbilt, and aunt of Gloria Vanderbilt. Gertrude was an artist in her own right and a generous patron of others. We were big fans of the museum's contents - some were inspiring while others put a smile on our face. 

Chris and Matt at the Whitney 

Drinking bird, great art

(The enormous "drinking bird", a rather kitschy item from the 1970's, brought back a fond memory of my childhood. My dad purchased one of these in its original era and set it to rest on one of our kitchen windows where it could dip continually throughout the day. Although my mom was not a fan, she let it stay until it met an untimely demise. Could my dad's art appreciation now be vindicated?)

Portrait of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whtiney, founder of the Whitney Museum and aunt of Gloria

And, after all this, we're only mid-way through our NY stay.

Like New York City, our blog can go on and on - and New York Week is no exception. We continue the Grand Finale, Part II in our next post (only bloggers in the building. 😀)

Harney & Sons in New York : Been there, done that, got the tea . . . and we're Garden Partying all day long

This year's take-home tea from Harney & Sons, Garden Party

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a tea lady in possession of her right mind, when in New York, must be in want of a trip to Harney & Sons. 

Taking liberty with Jane Austen's opening line from "Pride and Prejudice", I feel she would understand my delight in shopping for tea in the big city, for she wrote enthusiastically about such excursions to London back in her day. She would surely give her approbation to our latest tea trip, where, last month, we enjoyed much felicity and good fortune when making a return to Harney & Sons with my son, Matt and girlfriend, Jenna, just as we did almost a year ago (see blog: "So-ho much tea fun:  A visit to Harney & Sons in Soho, NYC").

Shopping and sampling at Harney & Sons in Soho in 2022

Here at BTS, we are longtime fans of Harney & Sons. As noted in our blog last year, we met up with Michael Harney, VP of Harney & Sons, and son of founder, John Harney, twice when he came to visit The Townsend Hotel in my hometown of Birmingham (MI).  So, it was a thrill in 2021 to finally enter through the doors of Harney's tea shop and cafe in the Soho section of Manhattan.

Barb and Rachel of BTS with Michael Harney in Michigan, 2018

Our second trip was much like the first - we sampled, we shopped and we purchased.  This year, I bought Harney's Wedding Tea as part of a gift package for a lovely couple whose wedding we were attending the following weekend in Long Island. For me, I selected "Garden Party" to enjoy when I returned home to the Mitten State.

Garden Party tea inspired by lush English gardens, but can be served on humble patios, too.

This week, with Michigan temperatures cooperating, I've enjoyed tea time in our small patio garden with Harney's Garden Party. It is a green tea blend which includes the following flavors: rhubarb, raspberry, elderflower, cornflowers and lemon. The aroma is delightful, sweet and fruity, and the taste echoes those notes, but are a bit more subtle. Both work their magic in evoking warm summer afternoons embraced by flora and fauna. Not surprisingly, per the label, this blend was inspired by summer parties in lush English gardens. 

Our visit to Harney & Sons, 2021

While we do not have a lush English garden ourselves, we can understand how Garden Party may bring to mind a seasonal gala on the grounds of Pemberley or similar elegant country estate.

And, most certainly, upon our next visit to New York City, this tea lady will be in want of a visit to Harney & Sons once again.

Shopping at Harney's in Soho, a new tradition

Return of the knife rests! Visit to Brooklyn Museum to view rare ceramic knife rests

Locating the rare ceramic knife rests the Brooklyn Museum

 

It seems 2022 has been the year of knife rests for BTS and we hit the jackpot last week at the Brooklyn Museum, viewing a rare pair of our recent obsession dating back to the mid -19th century. Keep your smelling salts handy - this is pretty exciting stuff!

We became reacquainted with knife rests back in April when we stayed at a charming Bed and Breakfast in Virginia. At the Trinkle Mansion, our hosts set knife rests on the dining room table for teaspoons. That set us down memory lane to the home of one of my junior high friends whose parents collected knife rests. That resulted in my purchasing a twenty-year old book last month on the subject (Antique Knife Rests, a book with a surprising beginning). 

The Brooklyn Museum

The museum includes vintage furniture (and more!)

As mentioned in that previous blog post, I was shocked when I saw the name of my junior high friend's father mentioned as a reference.

But, that book held more treasures - the chapter on ceramic knife rests noted that there is only one ceramic knife rest made in the U.S. that can be "reasonably identified with a specific company", that of Charles Cartlidge Co. of Greenpoint, Long Island. 

Page 13 of Antique Knife Rests tells us where to find these rare treasures

Which brings us to the Brooklyn Museum. On page 13 of "Antique Kinfe Rests" it states the following:

"The Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, New York, contains a pair of fine molded white porcelain knife rests identified as being produced by the Charles Cartlidge Co.".

Oh, my!

In a bit of serendipity, earlier this year we had booked an August trip to Brooklyn.  Initially, for a wedding and to visit our son and his girlfriend, but now, we added "knife rests" to the list.

More good fortune was in store. Turns out, the Brooklyn Museum was a short walk from our hotel, and while I was pumped up to view these knife rests, I was a little concerned it might be like looking for a rare ceramic needle in the proverbial haystack. But that anxiety was quickly quelled when the young woman at the front desk looked neither puzzled nor amused by my request of the location of the ceramic knife rests. She searched her computer database and within seconds of my question, she looked up and said, "they're a pair, correct?"

Oh, my, again!

The Brooklyn Museum's Visible Storage includes pressed glass and silver items

She directed us to the fifth floor 's "Visible Storage". When passing through the glass doors to this elegant "grandma's attic", I found the prize in Case no. 36.  The catalogue listing describes the ceramic knife rests as:   "general barbell shape with cylindrical, fluted shafts that terminate at each end in a knob with Victorian design of a daisy-like flower in the center and five irregular, molded, trefoil shaped (or fleur-de-lis shaped) surrounding flower.  Condition: Edges of knobs chipped".

But to me, they were perfect. 

While the edges of the knife rests may be chipped, we thought they were perfect.

The Brooklyn Museum, I must hastily add, has much more than just these ceramic knife rests to take in.  The Visible Storage also showcases vintage furniture, pressed glass and silver. On the third floor, there's an impressive Ancient Egyptian Art exhibit and another floor had a mid-nineteenth century parlor and library from a home in Saratoga Springs. (I'm betting that if they had the dining room from that home, it would include knife rests on the table).

The museum has rooms from a Saratoga Springs mid-nineteenth century home (parlor above)

In my knife rest research quest, the Brooklyn Museum was a major score. But, my husband, Chris, and I really enjoyed exploring all the exhibits here. Even so, I will give a shout out to Chris for accompanying me on this unusual journey. Seems only appropriate that he morphed into the Brooklyn Museum's enormous wooden sculpture, "All the Way" that both greets and sends off visitors in the large lobby. 

At the Brooklyn Museum we're in all the way.

BTS will also continue on the knife rest trail "all the way", so stock up on those smelling salts!

Tuesday Tea and Tomes: Deacon King Kong - a tale set in Brooklyn

Deacon King Kong by James McBride: A tale set in Brooklyn in the 1960's.

 

In keeping with our New York theme this week, we're reviewing Deacon King Kong, a tale set in 1960's Brooklyn. BTS just came back from an extended stay in Brooklyn, a bit different than the setting of this story.

Although Cuffy Lambkin Jenkins wasn't a tea drinker, he did have a favorite beverage, a potent moonshine called "King Kong" produced by his best friend.  A church deacon who went by the name of "Sportcoat", he had another moniker which he was known by in the Brooklyn housing projects he lived in, "Deacon King Kong". It defined his part time avocations: working at the church and drinking alcohol. But, there was a lot more that defined this man, who, at the age of 71 in 1969, shot a 19-year old drug dealer in broad daylight in the neighborhood plaza - a shock to the residents, and, perhaps, most of all to Sportcoat himself.

This month's Book Club de deux selection, Deacon King Kong, written by James McBride, was another great recommendation from the sister of Loretta, bueno amigo and other half of said book club. We met a few weeks ago for book discussion and we both agreed it was an interesting read and highlighted a time and society we knew little about. A question posed by our book club - "did your feelings change regarding Sportcoat from the first chapter to end of the book?" - gets to the heart of the story. It takes a while to get to know not only the Deacon, but all the characters in this poor Red Hook neighborhood, where the recent onset of drugs divide and jar a community.

In August, we stayed almost two weeks in Brooklyn. A view from the roof of our Brooklyn hotel.

We agreed the tale of Sportcoat often verges on the fantastical and his journey from birth in North Carolina to his arrival in New York seems almost fable-like. Yet, it brings a cover of resilience and humor to, at times, a bleak existence, where opportunities are hard to come by for those in the Causing Housing Projects.

Mobsters, policemen and the Five Stars Baptist Church congregation coexist in this section of Brooklyn and their stories mingle and connect in unexpected ways. I won't give away the ending, but I will say, our Book Club de deux was not disappointed.

It did, however, have us questioning the style of the James McBride book. Do his other books take on the tone of the protagonist, intertwining wild tales with the realities of everyday life? Perhaps we need to read more of McBride to find out. I believe we have suggestion for a future book club choice. . .

Book Club du Deux for August

***************Stop here for if you have not read the book SPOILER ALERT

A few unanswered questions posed by our book club:

What do you think happened to the Christmas Club fun?

What happened to Pudgy Fingers? He seemed more capable than earlier described, and then, he fell out of the narrative.

(Opinion that no one asked for):  I vote for Miles Teller to play Tommy Elephante (aka "The Elephant") if there is a movie version of this book.

The other side of the Gilded Age: The Tenement Museum showcases homelife of early 20th century immigrants and the power of a women-lead boycott

The Tenenment Museum in lower Manhattan tells another side of the city's history

The Gilded Age is fascinating in its excesses of the one-percenters of the late 19th century, but there is another side of the story. While the Astors and the Vanderbilts built mansions that could take up a Manhattan city block, scores of immigrants were squeezing their families into 300-square foot tenement apartments in the same city. The Tenement Museum in New York gives a glimpse into the lifestyles of those immigrants, and we took in an eye-opening tour last week.

The Tenement Museum offers different tours that take in specific time periods and highlights a particular family. My choice was the year 1902 which followed the Levines, Jewish immigrants who settled in the lower east side and ran a tailoring business from their three-room apartment. Jennie Levine, a mother and her husband's business support, was a strong woman who would have very likely participated in one of the great protests of her neighborhood.

The parlor/"office" in the apartment. For this family, a tailoring business occupied the space.

Our tour guide explained there was a strong sense of community here. Although living conditions weren't ideal, much pride was taken by these recent inhabitants of New York in what they could now provide to their families, including serving meat regularly - something that would have been a rarity in their native country. There was a butcher in every building and patronage came easily. But, the once affordable commodity was the target of greed and turned the tight-knit locale into a battleground where the mightiest of the protestors were a band of Jewish mothers.

One room faced the outside, all other windows were interior

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Gilded Age was coming to a close and the Progressive Era was moving in. However, even with anti-trust laws in place, many of the robber barons still wielded their exploitive business practices in many industries, including railroads, steel and meat. In 1902, the meat industry monopoly instituted a substantial price increase. Initially, Jewish butchers pushed back, but they quickly relented to the powerful trust. 

Kitchen/crib area

A communal bathroom down the hall

Then the Jewish women of the Lower East Side created their own boycott. Strong in numbers and not afraid to use force, this regional revolt gained in momentum. Some of the women's tactics were viewed as questionable, but within a month of the start of their battle, meat prices were reduced.

This boycott paved the way for other social activism in other boroughs of New York and across the country. An incredible story that, until last week, I was unfamiliar with. 

Sewing machine next to outside windo

The museum also showed what many of us can't even imagine:  a family of five (or more) living in rooms barely bigger than closets with only one window to the outside and a communal bathroom down the hall. The apartment was divided into a parlor/workspace, a kitchen and a bedroom - and only 325 square feet in total. It's important to remember that, while many "Captains of Industry" created some amazing innovations, there were many unsung heroes who worked tirelessly to make their life - and future lives- better.

Kitchen area of the NY tenement

This museum was recommended to me by Jenna, my "New York son", Matt's girlfriend and we toured it together. And, while the "one-percenters" exploits of any generation can be captivating, there's always another side of the story. And, certainly at The Tenement Museum, there's plenty of interesting chapters to that other side. 

Afternoon tea at NYC's Tea and Sympathy: Back after 15 years, next visit not so long!

Visiting Tea and Sympathy in 2007

Last week, I had afternoon tea at Tea and Sympathy  - fifteen years after my first stop to the New York City tea room - and it was clearly way too long between visits. Although this blog writer may have changed a bit in dress size and hair color, this Greenwich Village tea venue is exactly the same save for an outdoor addition which extends Tea and Sympathy's footprint quite comfortably.

I was introduced to Tea and Sympathy back in 2007 during a personal tour of New York tea sites with Elizabeth Knight, former tea sommelier of The St. Regis Hotel and author of "Tea in the City - New York". (Subject of one of BTS' first blogs: Barb's TEA Shop Celebri-Teas:  Spring 2007).

Return to Tea and Sympathy in 2022, we have changed, but not the tearoom!

,

Although I've been to the UK many times, in 2007, it had been less than a year since my very first visit to England and once entering the door of Tea and Sympathy, I was quickly reminded of the quaint tea spots we frequented in the extended London area. Not the fancy tea rooms, like the Ritz or Claridge's, but the homey, informal venues with worn wood floors and non-gilded furnishings where the focus was on easy informality and a comforting cup of tea.

The Queen still in residence after her jubilee celebration

Most fittingly, for this year's visit to Tea and Sympathy, I was joined by two of my companions on that first trip to England:  my husband, Chris and son, Matt. (Matt now makes his home in NYC with his girlfriend, Jenna, so more reasons to visit the Big Apple as well as this delightful tearoom,)

Chris and Matt, like being back in London

Outdoor space increases footprint of tearoom

We made reservations for "Afternoon Tea for Three" at 1:00 and had our choice of indoor seating or outdoors. It being a lovely day in the city, we chose the latter and benefitted from a check-in with the Queen. Service was top-notch as was the filled-to-the-brim afternoon tea fare served up on the traditional three-tiered tray. Matt ordered a pot of Darjeeling while Chris and I selected (of course), Earl Grey. Both were expertly brewed and delicious.

Matt expertly decanting his tea

The tea is served leaves still in the pot, so you decant yourself via tea strainers provided. (May I add here that I was extremely proud of my NYC son for knowing exactly how to proceed unaided!).

Delicious savories and scones

and sweets fill the three-tiered tray

After our afternoon tea, we stopped at the Tea and Sympathy store adjacent to the tearoom to purchase some of their signature brand blend of tea. We will post our review soon, but I remember how much I truly enjoyed it when I brought home a few tins back fifteen years ago.

Tea and Sympathy shop, where guests can purchase tea and other treats from England

We certainly won't wait that long again to visit Tea and Sympathy again.

Delightful afternoon tea - we won't wait another 15 years!