Hanging Out at The Upper West Side, NY/Metro Diner

NYCity Mama woke up to the noisy presence of her boys.  The weather these past few days have been terribly cold, and though she dared to venture outside on one of those days with the little ones, it seemed that not too long after they were miserable and wanting to go home.  So, they’ve stayed home and have found ways to entertain themselves, but Mama felt the today’s sunny weather was a perfect time to give them (and her) the space and fresh air they so badly needed.

Instead of making plans to hang out doing some activity inside, surrounded by other toddlers also trying to recover from cabin fever, Mama decided to take them to her favorite area in the city, the Upper West Side, and walk around and take in some rays.

They met with her sister and headed out.  Their first stop, a playground on 110th St. alongside Riverside Park.  There are several of these types of playgrounds that can be found along Riverside Drive.  They are small and compact, but perfect for smaller babies, and on weather like this when it is sunny, but too muddy or wet in the main park grounds.

As soon as the boys entered the play area they were smiling and laughing, and easily socializing with the few other kids outside.  They were having so much fun, that Mama didn’t even care when she saw her younger boy lost in imagination while playing in a not so dry sand box.

After the park, they decided to slowly walk up Broadway.  The air was so crisp and so fresh, that Mama found herself taking deap breaths, with her eyes closed, as they strolled up the quiet avenue.  They stopped at the Metro Diner for lunch (on 100th and Broadway).  This is from the same family as the Manhattan Diner that Mama loves so much, and just as wonderful as they are at Manhattan, they are here.  Mama’s favorite lunch dish here is the Chicken Souvlaki Sandwich.  YUM!

They were made to feel so comfortable at the diner, and the kids were hungry enough, that Mama and her sister were able to chat it up and have some “girl time”, with little breaks to give the boys some attention and love.

Though they had plans to visit a Barnes & Noble, and maybe even stop by the local greenmarket, the boys were suddenly sleeping so they decided to head home.

Normally this would be the “end” of their day.  But instead, while the babies took a short nap, Mama was able to take some time to have some fun and relax.  So in the hour while the kids napped, Mama took a nice long shower trying out her new Amber bodywash from Kiehl’s, took a picture of her post baby belly and posted it online, on a dare (accompanied by her 11 year old), with no shame and all proud-like;

and twittered and blogged while indulging on a Cappuccino Cheesecake from her favorite grocery store in the area, Frank’s Market.

Only then did the perfect simplicity of their day truly come to completion.

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