Best Thanksgiving Time Field Trip

While my family was in town we did not just confine ourselves to Manhattan and Brooklyn.  No.  On Friday we rented a minivan (I got to drive!) and headed up to Terrytown and environs.

But first, a little Manhattan . . .

I took the family to Dominque Ansel for breakfast.  I expected it to be enjoyed, but it turned out to be a monster hit.

Then we headed to the Meatpacking District and walked the Highline.

Hess.  Who do you think you're foolin?

And THEN we picked up our van and went to Sunnyside to see Washington Irving's house.

They said No Pictures inside the house, but what about pictures taken from the doorstep of people inside the house, huh?

It wasn't really built in 1656.  Irving wanted it to seem like it had been there forever.

THEN we went to the old Sleepy Hollow graveyard to see Washington Irving's grave.

It's quite difficult to find out or figure out which bridge it was that the Headless Horseman threw his pumpkin at.

On our way to our next stop we came across this little unassuming chapel with Chagal and Matisse windows.  Who knew?!  $5 to go inside and see them, no pictures.  Obvs.

And our next stop?  Exploring the grounds at Stone Barns Farm, home of Blue Hill Stone Barns, where we'd be eating that night.

Nearly everything they serve comes from their farm.  We looked at vegetables and vegetables and vegetables.

And then we looked at animals!  That's a sheepdog.  Don't worry!  They don't serve sheepdog.  But they do serve lamb.

Piglets!

Big pig!

I saw this sign and I was like, "There's MORE pigs?!"

Then I saw this sign and I was like, "Don't tell ME where I can bring my pet" and I taught it a lesson.

Piglet chow time!

Piglets chowing!

Family, probably another 3 hours before we get to chow ourselves.

We found where the geese hang out.  Question: Has anyone ever actually eaten goose?  Duck, sure.  Goose?  Only in Dickens.

Visited where the restaurant is.  Was quite lively.  So many people enjoying a day at the Stone Barns.

Will I keep posting about Thanksgiving?  Will I post about my second dinner at Blue Hill?  Who knows?  You have to keep coming back here to find out!

Best First Big Crowded Holiday Activity of the Season

My family (minus Kristen's family) came out for Thanksgiving.  Every morning we had to get up really early to do something.  For example, Thanksgiving day: Up super early to go to the parade.

We only barely knew what we were doing and wound out settling for spots along Columbus Circle, about 70 yards from the parade route.  Not the closest, but we had a clear view.  

Even clearer if you're standing on a post.

Newslady rolling through looking for the hot parade scoop, "Are children excited to see the parade?"

The answer?  "Sorta."

Advantage to Columbus Circle parade viewing: Easy access to the Time Warner Center facilities, if you know what I mean.

I'm trying so hard for this not to just be a post of balloons that were kind of far away but there's going to have to be some far away balloons, I'm sorry but that's how it is.

There were these girls standing in front of us that kept this officer busy, having him pick up their gloves that they dropped on the other side of the barricade, having him take their pictures.  Bossy bossy bossy.

There's where that crane was dangling.

We all had a good laugh at Squatty the Elf.  

Mom.

Mom and Dad.

You know what's weird?  I don't have any pictures of Owen in this post, except for the one where he's in the out of focus background.  Trust me, Owen was there.