RIVERSIDE IN LOWER MANHATTAN

Sigh.  The realization that my time is winding down has hit.  In 11 days I will be leaving my apartment for the last time.  I will walk Lower Manhattan one last time as a “resident.”  I will say goodbye to the life I have lived for seven months.  In the meantime, however, I have several days with my friends, Cyndi and Pat to look forward to.  I am so happy they came at this time of my stay.  I know so much more to show them at this point, to share with them.  “Marehattan Tours” is in full swing.

Although I had recommended picking up a cab at the airport, Cyndi, the wannabe New Yorker that she is, decided to take the subway.   I believe they took a bit of a scenic tour, but they ended up right at Bowling Green stop, which is right next to my building.  Kudos to her!

They arrived at Sonder, where I’ve been living, before check-in was available.   They dropped their luggage in my apartment and off we went to the rooftop with my “world-famous Cosmos” (a bit exaggerated) in stainless steel cups!

After a Cosmos-induced conversation on the rooftop, it was off to Fraunces for a bit of lunch.

We walked briefly through Broad Street, where the Stock Exchange is located, and then went into the Federal Hall National Memorial-where Washington gave his Inauguration speech. This building is right on the corner of Broad and Wall; a stone’s throw from the Exchange.

After a brief walk up Broadway to Civic Center, they both realized how tired they were so we went back home to rest.  A couple of hours later, they were ready to roll again, so we went to Harry’s, a short walk away, to have appetizers and drinks.  The bar (and restaurant) was full when we walked in but true to form, we were practically the last ones to leave.  We sat and talked as if we hadn’t talked for years.  Of course, the more we drank, the more we talked.  Our conversation is often about the stock market, our portfolios, and various ways of investing.  Tonight was no exception, and how appropriate that we would do it here, a very popular hangout in the 1980s for financiers (I previously wrote about this particular place).  We became friends with our waiter because we insisted he join our photo as well.

A quick stop at Adrienne’s Pizza (belonging to the owner of Harry’s—and right around the corner), and it was back to GATE22 NYC to have pizza for dinner.