Waiting for the train

A few weeks ago, with the break between jobs in mind, we began planning out an extended weekend vacation trip. I had hoped to have a entire week off, but the background check took longer than I expected. In the end, I only have a four day break (Thurs-Sun) before I start my new life at Prudential. I would have liked more days, but it seems they want me to start right away. No matter. I suppose four days is good enough. Between NY Life and Citi, I only a weekend to enjoy any time off.

We looked at a few cities, e.g. Baltimore, Philadelphia, but ultimately on New York. Nums and I spent a romantic weekend in New York back in 2006, and that was a lot of fun. I took Josh to the Museum of Natural History last year via the train, and he had a blast. Sounded like a plan.

Lunch at Dos Caminos

So here we are after our first day. We packed most of clothes and things last night, with a few more items this morning, and caught a late morning train to NYC. Why did we opt for the train when we have two cars and a bus that hits our complex? Eh, the kids like the train.

We got to NY around noon, and we were able to check into the Marriott Courtyard New York Manhattan Midtown East on 3rd Ave early. We were supposed to meet up with our friend Kathy for lunch, but it was getting late for her at this point. Oh well, maybe next time.

Instead, we walked down 3rd Ave and ate lunch at our favorite NYC Mexican restaurant — Dos Caminos. Lunch was pretty good, even though Lily was fooling around on her side of the table, bumped her face against the table somehow, and is now sporting a well-developing black eye. I swear she didn’t walk into a doorknob.

Toys "R" Us Times Square

Everyone was a little tired, so we walked back to the hotel to chill out. In the evening, we strolled down to Grand Central Terminal to show the kids, then had lunch down in the lower level dining concourse. Afterwards, we took the Times Square Shuttle to 42nd St. We showed them Times Square at night, visited the big Toys “R” Us in Times Square, and even rode the ferris wheel. Best of all? We resisted their requests, and didn’t have to buy them any unnecessary toys!

We hung out in the store until it closed at 10pm, walked further north to check out the rest of Times Square, then walked the long walk back to 53rd and 3rd Ave. It wasn’t an action-packed first day, but it was relaxing.

The new stadium is lookin’ good.  I can’t wait to see a game there, but did they say 15,000 fewer seats than Shea?  Larger version on the original site here.

Today will be the day infamously known as when I bought a $10 chicken salad sandwich.

So I’m working in NYC, and a number of us have a 1pm meeting.  We decide to go downstairs to the cafeteria to grab a bite before our meeting.  One person makes a suggestion that we try this place called Wichcraft nearby, as they have “excellent” sandwiches. I say, whatever, okay, why should I be the one against checking out a place that has “excellent” sandwiches.

So we head over to Wichcraft, and look at the menu.  It’s your usual sandwich place.  I’m trying to eat healthy, and I see a decent chicken salad sandwich.  The first thoughts in my head are:

1. The ingredients are “walnuts, roasted tomatoes, pickled red onions & frisée on multigrain bread.”  What heck is “frisée”?
   
2. The sandwich costs $9.50.

I ask the woman at the counter what “frisée” is, and she tells me it’s lettuce.  I’m looking at her incredulously, and ask the obvious question, “Uh, why don’t you just say lettuce?”  She looks at me like I’m an uncultured dolt. Obviously, why would anyone refer to plain old lettuce as “lettuce” when you can class it up with name “frisée”. Later, I found out that frisee is supposed to be an endive with a finer cut to the leaves, but I bet you most places are just giving you lettuce.

Anyway, I’m the first to order.  I have doubts about a $10 sandwich, but I’m in NYC with NYC prices (I spent $11 yesterday on pasta and a bottle of soda somewhere else.)  Most importantly, my coworkers are around and I don’t want to appear cheap.  So I buy a regular size chicken salad sandwich with fancy lettuce for $10, no chips or drink.

Meanwhile, everyone else has changed their mind, and decided to eat in the company cafeteria with cheaper, er, more reasonable prices.  And I’m stuck holding an “excellent” sandwich.

BTW, it was not good at all, and certainly not worth $10. Tomorrow, I’m sticking to my caviar and champagne lunches.

What an overpriced $10 chicken salad sandwich looks like.