A Lazy Afternoon on the Upper East Side/Dorian’s

NYCity Mama was up early today.  Her new venture got her up and working out before 8:00AM (which is early for her), and without the kids. When she done, she was full of energy and inspiration for the day.  She had a list of things she and the kids could do, and imagined how well it would all work out with her being up so early.

However, the kids woke up sick.  Sneezing and sniffling, tired and even a bit whiny.  The 3.5 year old had a fever the night before, so he was still recovering. Thus, their day out would have to be left for another time.  Figures too with all the work there is to do in the apartment, Mama thought. 

They did manage to venture out in the ‘hood for a bit, but nothing like what she would’ve normally done on a day like this.

For example, it wasn’t too long on a beautiful day like this that Mama and the family decided to take a trip to their old stomping grounds of the Upper East Side.

When people think of the UES, even most New Yorkers included, they think of “The Nanny Diaries” or of it being the Socialites’ haven, and yes, this is in part some of what one can find, but that has changed a lot and the UES Mama grew to love and know was more laid back, with young families like hers.  She loves the incredible selection of bars and restaurants, both for entertaining put of town guests and for a night out with or without the family.  The shopping (though she hates it herself) is fun and she loved taking her friends down Madison Ave. just to window shop at least.

Where they use to live on 82nd and 2nd was, for them, absolute perfection.  Walk a few blocks West, they were on the steps on the Metropolitan Museum and Central Park, walk a few blocks East and they were on the East River Promenade.  It was heaven.  And then they moved to WI.

They daydream of moving back some day, but for now they love revisiting their old hood.  When they last visited it was one of those fine New York City days.  Sunny, not too hot, not too cold. They found parking right away and ventured onto the East River Promenade right on 82nd St. Families were smiling, children running and playing.  And the dog park adjacent to Carl Schurz Park.  Before the younger ones were born, coming here and watching the smaller dogs play was a pass time favorite of the family.

The promenade extents from a long way up the East River and is a wonderful place for walks or even runs, as Mama used to often do back then.

But for the little ones Catbird Playground is incredibly fun. Mama and her husband love the size, how they have the pay areas for the little ones separated from the pay area for the older kids, but all the seating areas for the parents, with perfect view of your children.  The only thing she doesn’t like is that the bathrooms have only one stall each, which during times of potty emergencies, which they always are, it can be some what of a problem.

The boys had a great time.  They climbed and rolled and slid and swung…they even managed to find some chalk and got creative.

As often happens, the hours flew while the kids played and ran around.  They became hungry and headed out to grab a bite to it.  The problem is never finding a kid friendly place in the area, but rather which of the many to choose! They settled on Dorian’s.  Dorian’s a local bar/restaurant, very much unlike the ones that Mama won’t frequent with her kids.  The staff (and patrons) are welcoming of family with kids, have plenty of room for their umbrella stroller, and even have a great seating area snugged nicely against the windows (for fire truck watching) and away from the bar.  Of course, they have never gone here at night with their kids, when most people would come in for a drink, but then again they wouldn’t need to as their kids are in bed by then!  They have a great “bar food” menu of burgers and sandwiches, and a tasty kids’ menu as well.  Mama ordered their chicken quesadillas, which was such a huge serving she couldn’t finish it all, and the kids split a chicken strips and fries dish (their favorite), while her hubby had a burger (the 11 year old decided to sit this one out, so he missed out!).

The atmosphere was delightful.  It was quiet, the cool breeze coming through the windows was refreshing, and the boys behaved wonderfully the entire time, flirting with the incredibly sweet waitress each time she came to their table. Afterwards, Daddy and the boys split a frozen yogurt from Pinkberry before making their way back uptown.

Days like those are definitely New York’s finest!

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Tags: Catbird Playground, central park, Charles Schurz Park, Dorian's, East River Promenade, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Pinkberry, Upper East Side
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