The Insiders' Guide to St. Barths: Trip Report: Thanksgiving in NYC

Spending Thanksgiving in New York turned out to be one of the best trips we've taken in quite some time. Thanks to all those who made suggestions...we couldn't do it all but have plenty of good ideas for next time...and there will be a next time.

Our trip started off pretty lousy. Delta cancelled our 9:00 AM Wednesday morning flight to DFW, where we were to connect to NYC. We purposely selected a route through DFW to avoid any nasty weather. Well, Delta booked us on an American flight that connected through...CHICAGO! We asked about the weather in Chicago and were told it looked pretty good at the moment. We took off at 11:30 and about 30 minutes before landing went into a "hold" for traffic. So we circled for about 30 minutes. Finally landed around 2:30. Of course it was snowing. Lisa asked if this would delay our departure...I laughed..."honey, this is O'Hare...a little snow won't slow this place down." Oh, how I would regret those words!

As we waited for our gate to open...another 20 minutes...I called Le Cirque where we held 7:00 dinner reservations and optimistically moved them to 8. As we pulled up to our gate, the flight attendant announced that this would be the same plane for those going to LGA, but feel free to deplane...etc. We got off to get a quick bite. As we passed the check-in counter, I casually asked, just to be sure, what time the flight to LGA was leaving. Without even looking at her screen, she said: "that flight has been cancelled." WAIT, I exclaimed, we were JUST told it would be leaving in 45 minutes!!! Sorry! can't you see it's snowing outside?

The only thing colder than the air outside was the look I got from Mrs. C. It was 3:00 PM.

Our flight to LGA took off at 1:20 AM Thursday.....we missed our dinner reservation, but had a wonderful Chicago Style hot dog and a frosty Sammy Adams at the Prairie Tap Room where concourse H and K meet in the American terminal. Ask for Emma...she's wonderful and plays great CD's while you wait, and wait, and wait...

(Note to Mike R: I kept thinking about your description of the types of fools who go wacko at SXM...I made sure I was not one of them. Or if you watch this seasons "Amazing Race, I didn't 'go Jonathon' on Lisa or anyone else!)

We checked in at the Westin New York Times Square at 4:00 AM. Check-in was pretty quick. There were some folks leaving the hotel to stake out positions for the parade.

We woke at 9 and stumbled to 43rd and Broadway where we grabbed a coffee and watched the parade for an hour or so. Pretty cool!

We headed to the park up 8th and entered at Columbus Circle walked for awhile in the park...Lisa's first time in the park...and it was great. Still some color on the trees.

We had lunch at a placer called Cafe Fiorello, on Broadway across from Lincoln Center. Good antipasto selection...good for a light lunch.

After a nice nap, we headed to Jean George for Thanksgiving Dinner at 6. What an experience. From the Champagne to the port, it was one of, if not the best meals I've had. A real event.

After dinner, we hopped in a cab and headed to the Campbell Apartment for drinks. Great place! Just what we were looking for. Cozy couches, soft music, good drinks. Great way to end Thanksgiving in NY with the women I love.

Friday, we had lunch at Tavern on the Green. Although it has many detractors, and it is a tourist mecca...hey, we were tourists, too! The food was actually pretty good but the surroundings were wonderful. Puts you in the Christmas spirit. Lisa loved it but says we don't have to go back.

Did the 2:00 matinee for RENT. Great performance. And even Nick Lachey did a decent job, although he is probably the weakest link. The rest of the cast was amazing. Great music, great choreography, great story! Drinks at a place called Rue 57th. It's at 57th and Park..I think. Then dinner at a place called Becco...which I thought was the place Kara recommended until I got home and noticed that she recommended Beppe. Anyway, it was very good. It's on 46th between 8th and 9th. We left there and walked right by "Don't tell Momma", which somebody mentioned. We had a few drinks there and it was a blast. Great singers and a fun atmosphere.

Saturday we shopped on Fifth Avenue for a few hours....great stores...lots of cash gone in 3 hours! Lunch at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station. We let the waiter mix a dozen oysters for us but made sure he included the Wellfleet. Yummy...as were the rest of them...except those HUGH ones...can't remember the name except I think it was like Kyoto or something like that.

Return flight at 5 Saturday evening, connecting through ATL. Home by 11:30 PM. Saw Karl Rove in the Atlanta airport...decedied not to speak to him.