Our first night in town, we met up with Gala for dinner at Ninja, a ninja-themed sushi restaurant. As you might have guessed by now, it is my personal goal to eat at the tackiest theme restaurants in any town – the less stars on Yelp the better!
Adam. (Bruv, mate, rubbish, chuffed, full of beans, hen do…)
Look at Gala’s fancy high-tech sushi!
The food itself was only okay, but it was really all about the theatrics. The restaurant is underground and looks like a converted S&M dungeon. As you walk through the corridor to your table, ninjas jump out at you and yell “HIYAAAAA!” The menu comes in the form of a scroll, which your ninja waiter presents to you by going, “HIYAAAAA!!” and unrolling it before you. Except my menu kept rolling back up, so our waiter had to awkwardly repeat “HIYAAAAAA!” about five times before I finally told him that it was okay, I didn’t mind just holding it down.
My only complaint is that there was a house magician who stopped at every table except for ours. I love magicians! Why he no love me back?! :-( Our ninja was really nice though. He confided in us that he didn’t want to be a ninja forever, he wanted to be a fashion designer.
After dinner, we walked over to Yaffa Cafe for drinks and dessert.
I made Adam pose with this sign because his last name is Fagan, and that’s what we tourists do.
We stayed at the Ace Hotel, which was super hipster central. Each room had different art on the walls, and how weird that our room had the Sugarpill heart cross logo on it!! Not that I invented hearts and crosses, but still pretty cool!
Hey there, tough guy!
I don’t know why this fridge is so special, but the hotel kept making a huge deal of the fact that they had Smeg fridges. So we took pictures of it just in case.
No chair? No problem! Clever Asian fits in drawer.
Breakfast at the Breslin, which was attached to the hotel. It was good but super greasy! My scrambled eggs were served in a cup, and when I finished eating the eggs, the cup had a 2-inch puddle of oil in it.
INGLOT, MOTHERFUCKER!
We went to Coney Island. They were closed for the winter, but we wanted to see it anyway. Loved the ghost town feel! We had the whole place to ourselves.
The only thing open was a coffee shop, so we went in to have a few beers. There was a band playing to nobody. They seemed excited to finally have an audience, so we stayed longer than we wanted to because we felt bad.
The next day we went to see the World Trade Center. The last time I was in New York was right after the September 11 attacks, so there was just emptiness. This time around, there was tons of construction and memorial stuff going on. And of course, jerks trying to make money selling shitty T-shirts and keychains!
Pretty high up on my To-Do list was eating at Jekyll and Hyde. It got even less stars on Yelp than Ninja, so we knew it was going to be good! It ended up becoming our all-time favorite place in New York. I know… we are easily amused.
We were the only two people in the entire restaurant, but at around 4:55 the waiter started to rush us out of the dining area. We didn’t understand why, but settled up our bill anyway and moved to the bar.
Turns out 5pm is when the party starts! All the stuff on the walls comes to life via animatronix and special effects, and they have actors come out in costume to interact with the stuff on the walls and the guests. Apparently there is a $1.50 entertainment fee after 5pm, which we would have totally paid had we known. But I think they didn’t bother to ask us because we’re not 12 years old. That’s okay, we watched from the bar, and it was still fun! I would totally go back, 100 times.
This was the hallway leading to the bathrooms. The walls were painted to look like bookshelves, with the bathroom doors also painted in disguise. Cute idea, but I want to know how often people walk into the bathroom for the wrong sex!
We are explorers and mad scientists.
We’d never been to the Empire State Building. So here we are, at the Empire State Building!
I look like I’m smuggling in some booze and firearms or something. I think I just wasn’t used to being cooollllld!
Extreme tourist photos!
Unicorns!
My friend Ellie informed me that an albino alligator had recently arrived at the National Aquarium in Washington, DC. I LOVE ALLIGATORS. I LOVE ALBINO ALLIGATORS EVEN MORE THAN ALLIGATORS. I’ve seen the albino alligator in San Francisco many times, but I’d never seen one on the East Coast. Surely they are very different! We packed our bags, checked out of the hotel, and made the 4-hour trek to DC.
We are serious about alligators.
Rest stop in Delaware. Woo Delaware!
We stayed at Hotel Palomar in DC and arrived just in time for free wine hour. Researching hotels in DC was strange! I usually look for boutique hotels that boast fun, tacky decor and stupid gimmicks like photo booths and free cheese. But DC hotels are all seeeerrrrrious business! Instead of trying to lure you in with quirkiness and good-smelling toiletries, they’re all like, “Each room is equipped with five work desks and 800 power outlets so you can work through all hours of the night and have absolutely no fun! Want to take a break from working in your room? Bring your laptop and briefcase down to our lobby and plug into one of our 500 work stations to work some more, then join your co-workers in the conference room for a fun powerpoint presentation or two. WORK WORK WORK, WEEEEE!”
Palomar was pretty awesome though. I love Kimpton hotels! We were the only two people at wine hour who were not dressed in business attire, but everyone was super nice to us anyway. And our bellhop had a scar on his neck that looked LIKE AN ALLIGATOR!! We were on the elevator when I noticed this, and I went nutso with excitement. I kept nudging Adam while pointing at the guy’s neck and trying to make alligator shapes with my hands. I don’t know if he saw me, but I tipped extra just in case.
Healthy vitamin time
The next day, Ellie took us sight-seeing. Check us out at the Washington Monument!
Geese in front of the White House. There were soooo many! Totally bringing bird seed next time.
My future friends, when I come back with bird seed!
Hi, White House
It started to rain while I was trying to get a picture of the White House. Ellie and Adam wanted to leave, so they said, “Just Google a picture of the White House for your blog!” Not the same thing! :-( I am proud to say that I took this photo of the White House all by myself.
Aaaaaand we have arrived!
Her name is Oleander, she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, and she did not give any shits that I had flown across the country to see her. She faced the wall the entire time we were there. I waited 40 minutes to see if she would move, turn around, or blink. She did not. Too cool for school? That’s okay, I would be too… IF I WERE AN AMAZING ALBINO ALLIGATOR!
Cute alligator butt
Poison dart frog
Lump
Handsome little creep
This was the funniest thing ever! The small turtle hitches a ride on the big turtle’s back. Ellie said they are ALWAYS like this every time she visits the aquarium, and they’re not mating or anything. In fact, the big turtle seems super annoyed and is constantly trying to lose the small turtle by swimming under low branches. But every time the small turtle falls off, he quickly catches up and latches back on. We asked the aquarium staff why he does that, and they didn’t know, they said it’s just always been that way.
Watch out for that branch, small guy! You’re about to get pushed off!
Small guy falls off but is not discouraged
Small guy back onboard
Pretty eel
Manly pink stuff
Most kissable mouth. Look at his teeeeth! So precious.
Oh, and my giant head for size comparison.
Sidecar for Robin
Fancy patriotic post office
Ford’s Theater
House Where Lincoln Died. How sad! :-( I feel kinda bad for looking so cheerful.
Museum of Natural History
Hangin’ in Arlington, VA with Adam and Ellie. Adam ate clam chowder and balut for the first time. Apparently they don’t have these in England?
We stopped by Matt’s work to say hi and check out the crazy ass campus. Matt is so smart I honestly don’t even know exactly what he does all day. All I know is that he’s a neuroscientist at some state-of-the-art research facility that looks like a giant glass space ship. And he built this thingie.
Matt demonstrates how the thingie works.
And he even has a drawer with his name on it!
That was our last night in DC, it was a pretty short stop. We flew to Vegas the following morning, which I will post about next!
XOXO
Amy
Yay! Neuroscientist unite!
And no, I’ve never seen clam chouder in England before…I’m not even sure what it is…
L.
Good Morning Angel.
That’s so funny! Clam chowder is sooo common here, I was shocked when I realized a lot of people haven’t heard of it. Used to be my favorite soup before I stopped eating meat!
dude I went to that same Ninja themed restaurant in japan! equipped with weird underground cave vibe and magicians!
Lucky! Now I have to go to Japan… for no other reason but to check out their ninja restaurant. Did the magician come to your table? I wanted to cry when he skipped over us!
our ninja waiter doubled as a failed magician ahahaha…japan has tons of cool themed restaurants! there was a religious church one we wanted to see but it closed down and moved locations…and no one understood what we were asking about! Christon Cafe…
MMMMKKKKKKKAAAYYY, I CANNOT read through this blog without my heart stopping cause every time I see you in leggings I’m fooled and think you’re wearing pants! *gasp*!!!!
I wore leggings for you on Tuesday and you didn’t even notice!! 😩😩😩
Oleander is as beautiful as her namesake :O !
I knowwww! She’s so tiny and delicate-looking… Even though she can eat my head off!
You were in DC and you didn’t tell me?!?
That’s it. It’s over between us.
Awwww sorry dude! I was only there for one day. Come to California!!
Jekyll and Hyde sounds totally amazing!
I know themed tacky restaurants are usually shitty, but I can’t help myself!
Haha me too! The shittier the better!
Oooh! I’m so thrilled that Jekyll & Hyde’s is still open! I’d heard they closed. I flew to NYC three years ago to see Faith No More and stayed in the hotel that’s directly in front of the building and was so super stoked to see that restaurant! It was like Showbiz Pizza for spooky kids! I spent almost two hours pouring over ever inch of all the floors of fun! Being a bone artist, I loved all the specimens they had! The food was mediocre, but the staff and show were well worth it!
PS…I totally LOL’ed at you sitting in the drawer!
Nope, I went back to NY in May and Jekyll & Hyde was still open! Didn’t get to go though, but I will make it a regular stop on all my future NY trips haha.
Have you heard of Mars 2112? It was a Martian-themed restaurant that I was really, really looking forward to checking out. Get this – they went out of business literally a week before I arrived in NYC!! I had the address bookmarked and just kept walking back and forth, back and forth, in front of the building, and I couldn’t believe my eyes that it was really gone. Heart officially broken. :-(
THE TURTLES ARE SO CUTE.
I know, right? The little one is such a punk!
If you ever decide to make the trek to Indiana, you have a place to stay! :)
Ooh that would be fun to meet you after all these years! How long have we been LJ friends — 100 years now?!
I would so not do well in NY. I get cold in Texas. I’m so screwed. The turtles remind me of the turtle pond at my university. The tour guide (when I first started school) said that if we ever feel down and depressed, we should come sit next to the pond and lament about it to the turtles… he also said don’t over do it or the turtles will get depressed. Always thought that was funny. Glad you had fun in NY! That ninja restaurant sounds fun. Hope to visit it some time.
You’re the opposite of me! I am ALWAYS hot and sweaty, even in the winter. It’s so embarrassing! Probably just means I’m horribly out of shape haha.
That’s so cute what your tour guide said! Animals really are the best therapy! <3
Please tell me there are actually hotels that offer free cheese! I mean I always need to have the free tea but free cheese would be amazing! American hotels seem more fun than UK ones.
Haha it’s true! It’s usually part of a free wine hour. A few years ago we stayed at a hotel that advertised a free cheese room. I didn’t make it in time, but later heard that it was just a plate of old gross cheese sitting on a cart in a hallway closet. ^__^
That sounds both nasty and really funny at the same time.
This post was just what I needed! I wish I could go to Jekyll and Hyde. Only $1.50 to see the antics!?!?!?
Also if you ever go to Edinburgh, you would like the restaurant Frankenstein–horror themed restaurant by day, club by night if I remember correctly.
Oooh, Frankenstein sounds awesome! I will have to add that to my life to-do list. :-D
“…but I want to know how often people walk into the bathroom for the wrong sex”
Sex is never wrong! Still think I’m smart? And BTW, I have no idea what you do either but I’m pretty sure you’re good at it :)
I don’t know what I’m doing either!
thanx for sharing wonderful photos and taking us on your journal. sweet ass hotels! i have to ask, though, where do i get a star necklace like Gala’s!?
Thank you, glad you enjoy the pics! <3 I’m not sure where Gala got her star necklace, but it is super cute. I will have to ask her!
i am so addicted to your blog! hahahaa gotta love those turtles
Sooo cute, right?! Glad you enjoyed the pics! <3
Oh Jekyll and Hyde I remember that place, haven’t been in years, i remember the food was pretty meh the acts were pretty interesting…. Haven’t tried Ninja yet, was the experience worth the money?
Your trip looks pretty fun, but I feel like everytime I read your blog it seems like your always having tons of fun…
XDDD I LOVE THE FISH WITH THE MOUTH
Duuuuude, that’s where I put the Asian girl. I keep forgetting it’s in the drawer.
I’ve been wanting to go to Jekyll & Hyde since I saw it my first time in NY. I don’t care how bad it is.
I’m glad someone else likes to take photos at aquariums and post them! The turtle situation was hilarious. Damn moochers.
you’re so cute! i love you’re style:D is it decora/kawaii? and you’re make-up is so pretty!!! i dont know how to do mine very wellD:
i cant wait to follow your blog:) all of your clothes are so inspiring! i’d love to draw you!!!!! (not in a creepy way lol)but ya you look so fun and interesting makes me wanna see more:DDDD
awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww you were in arlington!?! that is literally down the road from me, like 25 minutes!! DC really is work work work and no fun. i remember when you visited DC like 5 years ago people were honking at us and you were shocked! people are such serious buisness here. there used to be a really cool sideshow bar in dc a few years back but it closed :(
btw are you ever going to add your old lj pal on instagram!?! i’m christie_is_rad :)
Jekyll and Hyde looks awesome. Great animal pics as well.