A Neighborhood Grows in Brooklyn
Just blocks away from the hotel is a charming little neighborhood. The doorman at the hotel recommended a restaurant called La Traviatas, and after winding around in the rain, there was this great Brooklyn treasure of a neighborhood. Tonight a second try was in order, this time outside at Café Buon Gusto. Calamari, beets and feta cheese salad, stuffed eggplant, chocolate almond cake, ricotta cheesecake were delicious. The neighborhood was alive with flower shops, drug stores, pubs, people walking dogs and kids out on the steps. The tree lined street ends at the water and is bookended by Borough Hall and the East River. Old and new architecture give the neighborhood layers of richness. The neighborhoods of New York are little villages within the city and just going a few blocks brings something new!
From Broadway to Hollywood.
Seeing a show at the New Amsterdam theater was a once in a lifetime treat. The theatre was beautiful and the old favorite Mary Poppins had some surprises in store with her magical bag- at once empty and full of lamps, plants and all sorts of things. The old songs were fun to hear and the message of parents spending time with their kids struck a chord. The story, the setting the magic of Broadway made for a great memory. Then today, at the Statue of Liberty, strolling around the island, the statue was commanding and then suddenly rounding the corner there was a shoot for a movie going on, and there were Matt Damon and Emily Blunt- what a surprise and a New York treat! Just another of many great unexpected moments the city provides when least expected! 
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