East Coast Trip--June 2018 Part I

We left home around 2 pm on Friday, June 1.  I had made a reservation at a Hampton Inn at Exit 173 on I-80 but I thought it was at Exit 180.  We went sailing by Exit 173 when we realized my mistake.  Fortunately, the reservation was easily changed and we found a room.  We had dinner at a TGIF and I chose poorly--shrimp on naan.

After about seven hours driving on Saturday we arrived at the Somerset, NJ Homewood Suites.  Princeton was all booked up for the reunion festivities.  Jeff, Susan, Katie and Michael joined us at Ruby Tuesday's for dinner.

On Sunday we drove to Jeff's and he brought us to the Princeton Junction Train Station where we joined a multitude of alumni wearing orange pants, sweatshirts, or at least bracelets giving their year of graduation.  From Penn Station we walked to the Doubletree on 29th Street.

Laura's book launch party was from 6 to 9 at Rouge Tomate on West 18th Street.   We met several people who were important in the process of publishing--her editor, publicist, and others.  The wine was offered freely and so were some pretty fancy and unusual appetizers.  We  enjoyed meeting Dan's friend Alex.  The party after the party was at our room to watch the last quarter of the Cavaliers-Warriors game.

Our golfer admires 'The
American Golfer"

On Monday morning we saw the Grant Wood exhibit at the Whitney Museum of Art.  We walked the lovely and lush High Line back to our hotel just making our late check out time.  An Uber ride brought us to the Hampton Inn in Brooklyn where we had an early check-in.   We took it easy in our room--especially because I was really feeling sick to my stomach.

NYC Parking

Dinner was at Habana Outpost outside where I carefully ate one chicken taco and drank ginger ale.  We watched the sunset from the roof of Dan's apartment building and then walked back to our hotel.  I felt pretty sick for about half of the night.

On Tuesday morning we walked the Brooklyn Bridge and then wandered through a neighborhood to the south of it. Later we walked to the Fulton Street Mall area where I gave up on a very long line at a TJ Maxx and instead bought another top at Nordstrom Rack.  So many people were on the streets even on a Tuesday afternoon--and there was so much noise from cars blaring music and building construction and subways under the street.

Dan and Alex joined us for dinner at Caffe e Vino where Jim and I had eaten last December.  I ordered the very same meal and it was wonderful again.  So was the bruschetta and the Chianti.  Once again it was cash only--no credit cards.  Alex suggested churros for dessert--another eating adventure for us--which we enjoyed at the new restaurant on the first floor of Dan's apartment building.

We had five good nights in four different Hilton brand hotels.  Brand loyalty pays off with free breakfasts and upgrades to rooms with a view plus late checkouts.