Show me the money...and pastrami

Katz's Deli is the home of whopping great big pastrami sandwiches and the orgasm scene in 'When Harry met Sally'. We couldn't find orgasms on the menu so we went with pastrami and pickles and both were good....

Being in the financial capital of the world and the place where the GFC started we checked out Wall St and the NY Stock Exchange to pay our thanks for the ever lowering US dollar (now at ~93 cents to the AUD).

You can't go in there now to watch the mayhem on the trading floor so actually it's quite boring...just staring at a building. In fact the big bull statue pulls more of a crowd these days. And surprisingly the back end of the bull is just as popular as the front end for tourist happy snaps.

We didn't check out the World Trade Centre site but we did find this sculpture that was there on September, 11. It's all mangled and damaged and now serves as a memorial for those who lost their lives.

How do I know what love is?

Well....I saw it today and guess what, it ain't pretty when you're trying to eat! Yes, two young lovers were reunited today at Balthazar in SOHO in a carefully managed and executed surprise manouver. Yes synchronised watches were required.

The only thing drawing attention away from the lovers smooching was the arrival of Michael Douglas who I must say looks quite the old man these days.

After a lovely lunch, star spotting and smooching (the lovers, not me) we all made our way over to West Village at a slow meandering pace in search of the famed Magnolia Bakery - the cupcake heaven Carrie loves in Sex in the City. And the cupcakes definitely live up to the hype even if I did lose most of my icing in a freak suicidal cupcake accident.

With only a short time in NY (the lovers, not me) we were keen to tick as many boxes on the Jordie and Lisa must do in NY list. Next stop: The highline - disused aboveground railway now a fabulous park and walk with views of the Hudson and New Jersey.

Then the Cubbyhole (cute little neighbourhood bar on W12th) for a refreshing ale or two before making our way uptown to JT's (that's Justin Timberlake for you uneducated peeps) restaurant for ribs and southern fried chicken.....mmmm......hello obesity!

Getting down to business

Today I checked in with my new work at Weill Cornell Medical College up on E86th and York Ave. I'll be working in the Medicine/Gastrointestinal department with A/Prof Andrew Talal. I have to sign up as a volunteer and have a physical examination so I can get an staff ID and IT access. I spent most of the time today filling in forms and then had a quick tour of the hospital and college. Like all hospitals it's huge and confusing and if I manage by the end of the 6 months to know my way around there I will be impressed.

In the same area as the hospital and college are Rockefeller University and Sloan Memorial Kettering Cancer Centre so the couple of blocks are chockers with doctors, nurses, patients and ambulances.

I then got to check out where I'm going to sit for my two days per week and it's not so fancy. I'm in a disused old lab with no windows sharing with some guy. It's not quite the quaint little terrace in Darlinghurst that I'm used to but I'll survive. I think I will be out and about at meetings quite a lot.

Speaking of meetings I have two next week, one of which I will be presenting at so it's time to get back into the swing of things and start working.........

Steaming balls of goodness!

Back to Chinatown today to check out a yum cha place recommended by Shelley B. Instead of getting run over by trolleys as is customary at the Cha we were almost mown down by picketing trolley pushers!!! Not sure what they were protesting about specifically, perhaps the steamers are too steamy, or lower paid international trolley pushers are flooding the market driving down pay???? In support of the trolley pushers we were unable to cross the picket line so had to try another venue. Summary score: Taste 87/100, Variety, 60/100.

The search continues.....

Thank you Kevin Rudd!

3 words...... G-Star Factory Outlet!!!!

Bargains to be had everwhere. Pip and Tugs in a frenzy aided by the brilliant exchange rate! The 46 kilos of luggage Tugs brought is now no longer needed as she has a new wardrobe and the US is no longer in recession!!!

Home sweet home....

We found an apartment!!! It's an awesome two bedroom place in Little Italy which is nestled in between hectic chinatown and cool SOHO. We move in on April 20th so have to find somewhere in the interim. We might head down to Washington DC for a few days to say hi to Obama.

Today we're off to Woodbury Common, the factory outlet mall for some retail therapy. Stay tuned.....

We made it.....

Despite United's best efforts to keep me from getting here I eventually touched down in lovely New Jersey some 28 hours and one false start after my scheduled departure time.

Staying in a great apartment in East Village but one hot tip is to check if the bulding has an elevator. Carrying 40+kgs up 4 flights of steep narrows stairs is not fun!

Our neighbourhood is full of cute little bars, restaurants and shops. It's hard to know where to get started. We were too tired to make a dint but tomorrow is another day!!!

We checked out a few apartments yesterday. No winners yet but a good start. Hopefully we can see a few more today. In between seeing the Easter Bonnet parade.