Saturday, February 6, 2010

NEW YORK - GREENWICH VILLAGE










The Saturday after Australia Day Jaime and I went to a night out for Aussies (a belated Australia Day) organised by the New York Magpies which is a bunch of Aussies who get together and play football.
Or something like that.
We got a door prize for getting there early which was a box with a bottle opener, pen and something else (can't remember 'cause it wasn't that exciting) from Coopers. We went there to meet some other Aussies in New York although they were a bit clique-y (really have no idea how to spell that or if it's even a real word) because they all seemed to know each other and didn't make an effort to include us. So much for Aussies being really friendly.
Anyway we had a few drinks and a meat pie (very disappointing as the pastry was really blah and as far as I'm concerned that's the best part) and actually met a few Americans who were really nice. One happened to be married to an Aussie and he seemed like a nice guy.
We ended up spending a lot of the night talking to two great Poms (mad of course - aren't they all) who are in the RAF and have been in the U.S. for about two and a half years. They are stationed in Las Vegas and were having a five day break in New York. They were great guys and absolutely hilarious.
The highlight of the night?
Someone dressed as a Koala was handing out TimTams.
The major highlight of the night?
One of the organisers gave me a pack of TimTams to take home. He may have been completely smashed when he did it because as I was leaving he said "Did I really give those to you?"
"Yes you did." I answered, holding on very, very tightly to them.
They are actually made in America by a company called Pepperidge Farms and on the front they say something like 'An Australian cookie.'
You'd think they could at least say the right thing and call them a biscuit.
Why do the Americans have to change everything to the way they do it??????
Anyway I was able to introduce TimTams to Fiona and teach her the correct way to eat them. Bite off a corner on each end (diagonally opposite is better) and then get a cup of tea and drink it through the biscuit like a straw. Then shove the whole melted, wonderful, chocolaty thing in your mouth.
It's heaven.
And I'm happy to report that there is one American that agrees with me.
Oh yeah, I forgot to say that before we went to the Australia Day thingy we had dinner at the Oyster Bar which is a famous restaurant located in Grand Central Station and has been there for a gazillion years. Right before you walk into the restaurant there are two walkway areas and the ceiling where they cross is kind of domed and vaulted. Anyway if you each stand in a corner (diagonally opposite from each other), face the wall and whisper, then you can hear what the other person says just as if they were standing next to you.
Alright, so you feel like a complete tool facing the wall and you look like you're talking to yourself (actually in New York it doesn't seem that out of place) but it's really cool. It's called the whispering spot or corner or something fairly obvious like that.
I must say I felt better when we came out after dinner and saw other people doing it and looking somewhat like fools.

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