Hangovers and Hair(s) of the dog!

Wednesday.....
Woke up with one hell of a hangover!  Eugghhhh felt sooo rough and we had completely missed breakfast so I couldn't even stagger down and get some food and coffee...
I thought back over my drinking the day before and just had to laugh at myself for thinking I would be anything other than rough....  white wine, beer, red wine, ameretto, beer and then large vodkas (lots of large vodkas.. I swear as we got to know Sean h e just poured me larger and larger ones!)
I managed to drag myself together and get ready and Dan and I headed out. He was feeling fine which was annoying!  We headed to a diner just up the road - mainly as we just wanted somewhere that did a bit of everything but also because it was about as far as I could walk!
I was over the moon to see they had soup on for lunch and it was chicken noodle soup. It was like they knew I was coming with my hangover.  I'm never normally as bad as this I have to say, but I knew this was also a catch up off the past 19days - both drink and food - as it was my stomach that was making me feel the worst.
The soup was fab and I also had a sandwich.  It took me about half an hour to finish just half of it but with every mouthful I forced in, I felt better so I knew it was worth taking time over. The diner was great, proper traditional style diner - Waverley Restaurant I think it was called. Ronnie, the concierge type guy at our hotel had also recommended Washington Square Diner but we didn't spot that one!  Ronnie by the way is ace. He is really friendly (though Dan thinks he can be a bit too much at times but then Dan can be a bit of a grump at times so I take that with a pinch of salt. I think he is ace) and is full of tips and ideas and also has plenty of discount vouchers to hand. We used one the day before for Macy's and I'd passed this on to J & Ilya for them to get one also. He also had a good source of maps etc and was just fun! All guests seemed to love him.

Anyway, judging from the messages on our NYC IM group everyone else had got their lovely long lie ins and were up and about shopping and such!  I was quite relieved that no-one was jumping up and down to go out I have to say.  Dan and I discussed the going to Williamsburg plan and were both feeling that we would actually be more than happy to stay around Greenwich Village. Its a fabulous area that we had specifically chosen and we'd not really had a proper full night there... We agreed that we would throw the idea out there as an alternative to Williamsburg but would still go if that was what everyone else wanted to do.
We met up with J and I at 4pm at our hotel and we headed out. We found a great little bar (again around the corner) called Arts and Crafts. I managed to order a beer  - the only answer here was Hair of the Dog - and sat there nursing it whilst the others just laughed at us for being out until nearly 5am given we were both saying we were shattered when we left the Rockerfeller and at just how rough I was!
At this point I was fairly convinced that I wouldn't really be drinking much and would need an early night. Also, we were discussing what to do and  before we could say anything, Jason suggested maybe staying around Bleecker would be a better option. Oh I was happy that he also thought it and had actually said it.. That was it, we were all in agreement and when H arrived she was just the same. She knew how good the area was and that we hadn't really tried it out to its fullest.
Brilliant, plans made and we had a couple more.   We then pushed on so that we could get a bite to eat as H especially hadn't eaten since breakfast and she had been on the go since then.
J had found a cheese shop/restaurant on Bleecker prior to coming away so we all agreed that would be a good idea for a snack and as Dan had a hankering for Chinese, Ilya found a nice looking restaurant for later  (well it was still actually International Dan Day whether he liked it or not ;-) ).
We headed up to Murray's cheese shop and managed to bag a table in there. Oh by god it looked good and as I was really coming around now I was getting quite excited.The guys that served us was brilliant and there was some great banter between him and J. In fact, he loved us as a table and sent over some free starters for us to share!
We each had a little selection of cheese each with H and I opting for ones that were already defined and the boys all going for the 'CheeseMongers board' which is where you discuss your tastes with the lovely man that was serving us and he then goes off and selects suitable cheeses. You can also have these with meats on.
Our selections all arrived and I had food envy from the off. I wanted what everyone else had before mine had even arrived!!  But I had nothing to worry about.. though I remained envious of the amazing Roquefort that both H and Dan had on their selection. Lovely wine and beer pairings in there and it was a complete hit all round. A great find of J's and a definite one for the list of places to return to. However, we were all stuffed and didn't really believe that Chinese would actually be needed.. but then it was still only 7ish so who knew.
A little stroll was in order then and we had a nice wander around to find another bar. We came across a nice one (can't remember the name) on the corner of sullivan and 6th and settled in for cocktails. Bizarrely Nightmare on Elm Street was playing on one of the TV's? Why would you have that on in a bar?!    Needless to say everyone's eyes kept wandering to the film - except mine as I was sat at a funny angle so it wasn't easy to see,,, which all meant it wasn't the most sociable environment and as conscious as we were of this, eyes just keep wandering. I totally understand and probably would have been the same if sat elsewhere.
Anyway, Ilya, H and I went out for cig and during a conversation were approached by someone asking for a cig. Nothing new to any of us and we happily handed one over. This guy though was particularly grateful and wanted to shake everyone's hand, kissed H's hand and then gave me a big hug. Hmmm he hadn't washed in a long time so it wasn't the most pleasant situation. On finishing our cigs we all headed straight for the bathroom to wash our hands!  H came in with me to share the sink and whacked on the drier as I finished rinsing my hands.. Thing is, the drier was right over the sink so it just blasted the running water everywhere and I was getting a right soaking but couldn't understand why it was happening so was just having this massive 'fit' in the bathroom as I tried to escape  (it was a tiny bathroom btw).. Even funnier was that H wasn't getting wet so just saw me going bonkers all of a sudden with no idea as to why!  Of course, in seconds we both worked it out and I turned the tap off but we were in absolute fits of laughter both doubled up over the sink. I still had soap on my hands and I went to wash them again just as H set the drier off... Cue another soaking. SO funny..
We left this bar and made our way back to Bleecker  (like a street away) and came across GMT which Dan and I had been to on our last visit. Here we could sit outside and just properly enjoy a drink and chill on our last night. We all went a little cocktail crazy here and stayed for quite a few drinks. It was a great way to round up our time in NYC and we had a good laugh and a good chat. We did all try and establish what we thought was a favourite whilst in NYC but it was too difficult. We'd just had such a fabulous time and it was so brilliant to all be there together. At a push I said Chicago and Rockerfeller but only because I had SO wanted to do both of those and both exceeded my expectations.  My unexpected delight was the night in Russian Samovar I think and the rest was just a mixture of thoroughly enjoying the company, the new places we found (eg Stone St) and getting to go back to some old favourites too.
J was starting to get quite peckish now and I was thinking the same, so we cut round the corner to 'Joe's Pizza' which I knew was supposed to do amazingly good pizza slices.  And they were! ohhh yes, they were damn good  (and huge). We quaffed that and then set off to Blind Tiger so Dan could have a last one in there.. We all had a few more actually as the pizza had livened J back up and had also given me a nice boost too!
J and Ilya left us in there I think around 2ish and Dan, H and I all decided that it would be a great idea to go for lasties in Four Faced liar!!
I couldn't believe it when we walked up to the bar in the there and Sean already had mine and Dan's drinks waiting for us on the bar having spotted us making our way in!  Says it all really doesn't it?!  We introduced H and that was it, we got stuck into more vodka's! We also saw the Mexican guy that i had originally got chatting to the night before. After half an hour or so they were actually trying to clean up ready for closing so we were asked to go in the back part of the bar so we could carry on with  our drinks. There was only about 4 other people in there but Dan appeared to want to talk with them and just got up and joined them!!  haha. it was quite funny.. they were talking quite loudly tbh and I think we 'knew' one of them so it wasn't THAT random but neither of us are very clear on that detail, just that Dan went and sat with them.
H and I also got talking to one of the guys in there - I remember we said he looked like Zach Galifianakis when he took his hat off!  Dan decided he was rather drunk and had to leave but was quite happy for me to stay... which of course I did but the events I am afraid are rather hazy. I know that realisation hit me that I better leave soon given I was making my own way back (and it was around 4am) and I think I also thought that I was cramping H's style with her Zach lookalikee!!  Anyway, we left together and I shared her cab and then we said our goodbyes as she was heading home earlier than us the next day..
 I vaguely remember having one last ciggy on the steps of the house next door and then I fell into our room and to bed.......
A truly fun and fabulous last day in NYC.