A very frozen Big Apple!
We had breakfast at Rosen's Deli on
On the way, Mark decided he'd had enough of the cold and we stopped at one of the many tourist shops on 5th and he picked out a 'fetching' Cossack/ lumberjack hat with earflaps and a chinstrap. He maintained he'd rather be warm than look good, though I tried to dissuade him (see photo).
Mum was also on the quest for a hat, having looked in Bergdorf Goodman’s the day before (but could only find real fur hats that fit her head, and she certainly wasn't buying one of them), but failing to find one that she thought a) suited her and b) fitted her larger than average head!
Made it to 
After that we headed for Macy's, via Victoria's Secret. I stocked up on PJs (you just can't get funky ones in the
From there it was on to
We took the subway down to Battery Park to get to South Street Seaport to go on our helicopter flight.
We eventually found our way to the seaport on foot, via the Korean War memorial, another combat memorial and a photo call with a squirrel to discover you actually had to BOOK a slot for the helicopter, something the firm's agent at ESB neglected to tell us! We had one mad Mark and one cranky mummy on our hands...they said they were fully booked for the next day, but could take us in the middle of the day on the 18th. A small fib that we were leaving on the evening of the 17th secured us a slot at
So, after a pit stop in Starbucks, and a futile attempt to find the Bull in the financial district, we walked up through Wall Street, past the Stock Exchange and onto Ground Zero. Mum was very moved at the site where the 
Mum and Dad decided to visit the 9/11 Museum adjacent to the site, while Mark and I set off to head uptown. We had a brief stop in at Century21, a massive clearance store opposite the Ground Zero site, but it was too hot, too busy, and too disorganised for us to be bothered. We took a leisurely stroll up towards City Hall and the 
Dylan's is owned by Dylan Lauren, the daughter of Ralph Lauren, and is an outstanding sweet shop. There's lots of up to date confectionery, as well as nostalgic sweeties. I stocked up on M&Ms in a Dylan's pail and some of their own brand chocolate in Milk, Plain, Mint, Smores and Honeycomb....MMMMMM!
Mark was on the hunt for a pair of shoes for our wedding, and he found them in Bloomies. So that was one mission completed!
We had dinner in an outstanding Chinese restaurant opposite the Doubletree on 
I ordered Pork and Spring Onion Steamed Dumpling to start and they were stupendous, exactly like 'Granny' used to make them in Jimo! For mains, I had strips of beef with broccoli and black beans, and it was also delicious. Everyone was very impressed, the wine list was broad and varied and Mark chose us a lovely bottle of Chianti.
And then it was just a short stumble across the road (literally, just 10 metres/ 30 feet) to the hotel and off to bed.
A great day, and a brilliant introduction to New York for Mum & Dad.
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Mr K's, sitting on the corner of Lexington and 51st, looks fairly bland from the outside, but from the moment you step through the pink revolving door, you're transported into a luxuriant atmosphere.
Ladies are given a fresh orchid corsage once you're settled at your table, where you sit in plush club chairs. Everyone is offered warm towels to wipe away the city's grime and plenty of staff to rush anything you've used away once you're done - they move silently through the dense carpeting.
The menu was amazing. I was most impressed by the Lover's Dumplings appetiser - petite steamed dumplings with Pork, Ginger & Scallions - just like 'Granny' used to make them in Jimo! We were offered sorbet between courses, which set me up for my main course.
For my entree, I had strips of beef with broccoli and black beans, and it was also delicious. Mark had Peking Duck which was also wonderful.
The wine list was broad and varied and Mark chose us a lovely bottle of Chianti, but there's something for everyone, ranging from reasonably priced to expensive!
You sit, as I said, at square tables on club chairs, or on banquettes in booths. It's definitely smart dress - jeans would stick out a mile.
I'd probably best describe the food as gourmet Chinese. This isn't your run of the mill take away standard food or bog standard Chinese restaurant.
In a word - it's fabulous, we'll be back and I'd highly recommend it.
