OMG, has it been awhile?

So last weekend, one of my favorite couples arrived in town - they came in super early Saturday morning to spend the week with us! Yay for Shelbs and Bbbb! Bbbb came prepared with a list of things he wanted to do, and let me tell you - as much as I liked living here before they blew through town, I'm now in love with my own city. Bbbb's list - OMG. It was so awesome! He found so much good stuff (bars, restaurants, neighborhoods, stores, etc) that it totally opened my eyes as to exactly how much shit there is to do here.

I don't think we're leaving anytime soon, or anytime at all.

So they get to town and we immediately head out to show them our markets (Bbbb is a total foodie). We got our grocery shopping out of the way before heading over to the UT bar to watch the UT/OU game - it was completely packed. We had such a good time even though UT lost. We drank a ton, ate some tasty bar food, and just generally enjoyed being around a lot of Texans for the first time since we left Texas.

Afterwards it was a trip up through Times Square and Bryant Park before heading back to the apartment - we ordered some Thai food for dinner and then it was bedtime by 8:30 pm - they were exhausted from the red-eye the night before, and to be honest, Blondie and I were totally beat too.

Sunday we got up and went to the gym - Bbbb and Shelbs were troopers and came with us. After our workout, we headed over to Penn Station to pick up a friend of Bbbb's who had come in from Philly for the day - we then took the train across to Brooklyn to eat a brunch at Marlowe & Sons (Tony Bourdain fans will know all about this restaurant). Our brunch rocked - several mimosas, some oysters, a cheese/meat platter, and then finally a bowl of chilaquiles for me and a french dip for Blondie. Blondie's desert though blew ALL OF US out of the water - he got this chocolate caramel tart that was honestly one of the 5 best things I've ever eaten in my life.

After brunch, we toured around Brooklyn for a bit before heading back over to Manhattan and the Lower East Side. We hit up a bar and had a cocktail and then headed to McSorley's Ale House for many many rounds of their house beer. We shared a table with some brothers from New Jersey, and laughed our asses off at the bachelor party who cheered every single person who went to the bathroom (they cheered them going in and coming out - it was so f'ing funny!).

After McSorley's, a trip to a speakeasy Bbbb had heard about - Angel's Share. This was on Bbbb's list of where to go to get awesome cocktails and did not disappoint. You had to go into a sushi restaurant and through an unmarked door to the side to get to the bar. We got a booth overlooking the street below and had some completely killer cocktails. After Angel's Share, we hit up another speakeasy, Death & Co.

I liked D&C better than Angel's Share, but I was the only one. Angel's Share was very quiet and sedated, but D&C was balls out noisy. I loved it. We got a booth there and again, had several cocktails before splitting a huge bowl of rum punch. Then we all realized we were quite drunk so we headed off to a late night meal at Lombardi's pizza before heading home.

Monday I was completely zonked at work - it was rough going for awhile, but I got through it. The weather was awful, so we decided to just meet up for dinner in our neighborhood - we went for Turkish food, and it was so good - we split a bottle of wine, and some appetizers. Our main courses rocked, and then we headed home for a lot of beer and to watch some TV.

Tuesday I went for a run and then when I got home, I realized I felt horrible. Oops, I was coming down with a massive head cold. I made it until about 3 pm before I had to leave for the day. I met up with Shelbs, Bbbb and Blondie for a really late lunch at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station. The food was not good at all and it was disappointing because this place is talked about all the time. Blondie and I headed straight home afterwards so that we could crash out.

Wednesday I stayed home from work, and spent the day in a daze on the floor. That evening, I had managed to dope myself up enough that we met up with Shelbs and Bbbb for dinner - we went to Minetta Tavern, home of the best burger ever. I skipped the burger but got pork and beans (OMG, heaven in a fucking bowl) and Blondie got the burger. It was a killer burger, but I've never been so happy with my own meal in my life.

After the Tavern, we headed back up to Broadway to see another Broadway musical!!!!! Squee!!!! We picked "Memphis" to see - the winner of the 2010 Tony for best musical, and it ruled my world. Even Blondie loved it. I'm seriously like a kid at Christmas at these things - I'm more than addicted. Seriously, this is how seeing a play goes with me - I spend the entire time completely glued to the stage, and then afterwards, I talk about it for at least 3 hours. And then entire time I'm talking about it, I'm also trying to dream up ways to break into theater. It's annoying.

Thursday I was feeling better so it was back to work, before meeting up with the gang again in the East Village for another trip to Angel's Share. After our drinks, we headed out for a cheap italian dinner (so good, sooooo good - we split a fettucine and sausage plate and I could've licked the plate clean). We tried to stop into McSorley's again but it was uber crowded. As we were looking for a cab, we spotted a hat shop and stopped in, and of course, we all ended up with new hats.

Friday we said goodbye to Shelbs and Bbbb, and I met Blondie for dinner at our local bar. Today I went for a very very long run and finally started to feel human again. I got a pedicure afterwards, and we ordered in street tacos for lunch. I have to get some packing done as tomorrow morning bright and early, I'm off to San Francisco for a week for work. I'm SO excited to see my friends again and be back in my old stomping grounds.

Watch out everyone, here I come!

--K