Writes of Passage

We went on a Thursday, it’s was not empty; very clean, (especially recalling my last zoo experience elsewhere) great for kids and adults. We took the Kangaroo bus (my cousin is 8 months pregnant); due to time we only visited the right side of the zoo.

Although it’s clean and well run (I suppose), but being #1 in the world is a stretch. The admission is expensive: $54 ($60 with the 4D movie, which costs $8 at door).  DC Zoo is far better choice.

• more zoos

There are two pandas, Bai Yun (white cloud) born in 1991 in China, and her little girl Xiao Liwu (little gift) was born in 2012 at the SD Zoo. The mom-daughter sleep most of time, as most pandas do. We got to see their dirty behinds. Actually most animals are not around to be seen during our time there.

Free parking.

31 Watermill Ln
Great Neck, NY 11021
(516) 348-2500

I like this place – nice people, good service (although I don’t know what they did to my car – $100 to change oil – but it still running, so all is good). They just changed two new computers, the waiting room is airy and nice, stuffed with fruits, water, etc. They’re always accommodating.

Too bad this location doesn’t sell cars – (I bought fm the Long Island dealer and they’re not good … just like the car salesmen!!), too bad they don’t serve other cars.

25 middle neck road
Great Neck ny 11020

New, tasty food and bit tacky decor. I ordered take out:
goat curry – could be bit more render
Chicken ruby – bit over cooked
Kurkuri bhindi chaat – fried okra

The garlic naan bread is ok

My order must have sat for a while even I said I’d pick it up an hour later. The bread and okra were old, wilted. Both sauces are delicious.

Street parking. Free after 6pm

59-16 Main St
Flushing, NY 11355

Consistent. Deserves 3.5; it’s one of our go to eateries in Flushing – off downtown – right off the LIE. Street/meter parking. All are good except the texture of their scallion pancake isn’t to my liking – too soft – should be bit chewy. Shredded chill pepper and beef is bit too sweet. Fried meat buns – sheng jian baos are really good. Their juicy dumplings – xiao long bao is pretty good: better than Joe’s Shanghai but a bit less than Nan Xiang.

Driving east from Gold Star beach park is Haleside, on the east side of the Huntington Harbor (wiki).

There is a family of duckies, dad, mom and kids.

Surfside Deli on the corner of W Shore Road and Mill Dam Road (35).

Browns Rd,
Huntington, NY 11743

Browns Road turns into W Shore Road at the top, by the water. Unfortunately, a gorgeous morning turns into heavy cloud in the afternoon. Without sunshine, the beach looks rather unappetizing. But thanks heaven, it didn’t rain on the wedding.

857 9th Ave
New York, NY 10019

The joke goes that you need eat to have energy, in order to be able to go on diet. Ehhhh … pardon me my chinglish but you get it.
As I’m closing their handsome but heavy bathroom door, I thought of this joke. You’ll need that little extra strength to deal with the bathroom door. All good and pretty clean bathroom.

High ceiling. Small. Exposed brick walls. Delicious food. Good wines, served in great wine glasses – theirs ranks near the top of my good wine glass list – thin stem and fat bulb, feels really good both in hand and on the lips.

We went on a Saturday evening before the Brahms violin concert @ Lincoln Center. We usually go north for dinner bec the south is just bit dingier. The host asked us if we’ve reservation – so remember to make one – nevertheless, he sat us immediately.

They hang a candle holder as decor. A nice wooden bowl for the shells. A cool tattooed wine connoisseur. Everything feels just fine. The south of Lincoln Center is just as lovable.