Sherry, Ali and I have had an active week in NYC. We started in Flushing for Asian barbecue and some reminiscing. Then into Manhattan, celebrating Father’s day with a unique round of miniature golf, the opening of the newly restored Frick museum and some tasty Columbian food. Read on!
Flushing for Ali’s Birthday
Sherry and I drove into Flushing to celebrate Ali’s birthday. The drive itself was an adventure – it took less than an hour to travel the fifty three miles from our vacation house to White Plains, but that’s where the fun ended. It ended up taking another ninety minutes to get into Flushing, merely 20 miles away.
Sherry grew up in Flushing, and I was there frequently, traveling from Whitestone to this central area with subway service into the city and lots of shopping. I fondly remember the RKO Keith’s theater, Korvettes where I bought many albums, as well as electronics stores Lafayette and Radio Shack. My friend Jon’s father owned a camera accessory store called Spiratone on Northen Blvd. Up until I learned to drive, it was the trusty Q15 bus that got us there.
Our choice of restaurant was Gan Hoo BBQ, which bills itself as “celebrating the art of BBQ while honoring the culinary traditions of Korea, Japan, and China”. It is a lively place right in the heart of Flushing. The evening began with some complementary dishes of pickled meats and vegetables. We then ordered a variety of meats and vegetables, which came out virtually immediately, ready for us to cook.
The cooking process over the barbecue grill in the table was fun and the food was tasty. Service was excellent.
Manhattan for Father’s Day
On Saturday, the three of us met in the city and started our day at “Swingers.” I can honestly say that I have never been carded for miniature golf before – but this was a place unlike any I have been to. Once we headed downstairs, we came to a cavernous space decorated like an outdoor garden, with a huge wicker bar and a trellis tunnel full of flowers. It is more night club than golf course, with some food truck munchies thrown in.
The mini-golf was challenging, and was enhanced by servers delivering our drinks while we attempted to complete each of the multi-part holes. It was a cool and unusual start to our day.
The New Frick
We headed uptown to the Frick museum, which just reopened in April after an extensive renovation. This was the former home of Henry Clay Frick and his wife Adelaide Howard Childs Frick, who amassed an amazing collection of artwork.
For the first time, guests are now allowed up to the second floor where the Frick’s guests would stay, each room described in the excellent guide.
I loved seeing each room designed by a different architect and craftsman. My favorite piece of art was in the west vestible, a piece called “The Four Seasons: Winter” by Francois Boucher (1755). However, the item that stole the show, for virtually everyone who saw it was the masterful staircase with the pipe organ inserted within the landing. Just spectacular!
Columbian Food
We ended up our day at Maria Mulata Latin Restaurant & Bar, a creatively designed restaurant on Lexington Avenue. I had never tried Columbian food before. Our appetizers were fresh and tasty. When they brought out the Bandeja Paisa, I was just floored about the presentation and freshness of the food.
It was a great Father’s Day!