The Queens Farm

Last weekend some friends invited us to go on an adventure to Queens Farm which is not the farm of a queen (sadly), but a farm in Queens (shocker!).  This invite was extended by not just ANY friends, but our awesome next door neighbors and parents of adorable Elliot, who will be stealing the ringbearer show at our wedding.
You heard it here first, folks, this kid can high five like no other.

 

We rented a car, crammed ourselves into it
(boys in the front, girls + baby in the back!)
and set off for Queens.

Elliot isn't the biiiiiggest fan of car rides
(such a city kid!), but Auntie Meg
managed to keep entertained.

Finally all those years of memorizing
Babysitters Club books paid off.

 

The Farm is also a museum, with daily field tours and cute labels on all the crops so amateurs can tell them apart (Dad, you could run this place with your eyes closed). There's a 3 acre corn maze, tractor pulled hay rides, a pumpkin patch, mini pig races, pony rides, fair food trucks and the grandfather of all petting zoos!

The pony pen was a little depressing,

so we headed for the food.

Equally depressing but much more enjoyable...you KNOW I'm a fan of fair food. 

 

We also tried these things called Mozzarepas, which were slabs of mozzarella sandwiched in between cornbread slices. Judging from the way Elliot hovered those babies, I'd say they were pretty tasty.

 

A coffee for DVC (natch!), before we head for the pumpkin patch! (Sorry.)

 

After lunch, Elliot finally got to check out the petting zoo.

 

Everyone loves the petting zoo!!

 

The Empire Hotel

 

When my friend Jessie was in town, we met up for drinks one evening at the Empire Hotel, most recently known as the hangout of choice for the Gossip Girl gang (though I still don't understand how highschoolers were constantly being served alcohol without so much as a second look?). 

 

 

The bar is perched at the top of the hotel (see the red and blue lights in the picture above)

and has indoor space as well as an outdoor lounge area with glass walls and heating.

 

 

 

Looking north, there's an amazing view of Broadway...

 

 

and looking west you can see all of Lincoln Center.

 

 (I snapped this pic during must what have been an intermission at that evening's performance,

because there were sooo many people pressed up against the glass of the building below.

Five minutes later, the outer windows of that same building were completely empty.)

 

Afterward, we walked across the street to Lincoln Center to take some photos of the fountain.

 

 

Saturday Morning Bagels

 

Soph called up this morn to ask if we wanted to meet up for bagels at our spot.  OUR spot. 

 

We've got a spot!!!

 

 

  

 

It's bomb diggity, too.

42 Hoodlums!

We got QUITE the turnout for our first Halloween in the city - 42 visitors in just two hours!!

And I kept count of all of our visitors, just like Grandpa Paul used to do.

Kids of Carnegie Hill, we are ready for you!

  

 Got a visit from Boba Fett.  Awesome.
 

Another favorite was a pretty little princess and an EPIC Buzz Lightyear.

Politest children ever. Buzz actually tried to give back some candy that fell on the floor.

 

It was fun having our hallways filled with children all evening and the doorbell ring so often.

It was also nice to have previously specified hours of availability.

 Later in the evening I had a double-header volleyball match and passed this on the way to the gym.
Lots of pretty stoops near the park!

P.S. HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Grandpa Ambrosio!!!