New York 2019: Monday Part 1: Downtown, all around

Roses at 9/11 Memorial

Monday, we got up early to commute into the City with Israel and Mark. However, Israel wasn't feeling well, so he let us stow our bags in his Tesla for the day and then dropped us and Mark off at the light rail station. At the commuter rail, we got separated from Mark, but encouraged him to fend for himself with his rail pass while we had to buy tickets. The train left but another was along shortly thereafter, so we were fine.

First, we went for a peaceful, lovely walk along Highline Park. Converted from an abandoned elevated freight train line into a trail with landscaping, the park was pretty empty and bordered with lovely landscaping. We enjoyed this oasis above the street!

Walking the Highline

Highline Park ends not far from Dominique Ansel's second location [which closed in 2020], the Dominique Ansel Kitchen where they make a kouign amann with traditional buckwheat flour and brown sugar. The layers in this one were not as defined as the DKA, but the caramelly flavor was even better. So, texture-wise, the winner was the DKA from Dominique Ansel Bakery, and flavor-wise, Dominique Ansel Kitchen's BS DKA edged out the competition. #kouignamannoisseurs

Tarts at Dominique Ansel Kitchen

BS DKA exterior

BS DKA interior

Calm down

Next, we headed to the Staten Island ferry for the views of the Statue of Liberty. Our pictures with her were not all that successful (#lightingfail, predictably). We enjoyed the open air and marveled that this ferry is free, pretty jealous of that kind of commute. We picked up a fruit cup on the Staten Island side and circled back to Manhattan.

The best we could do

Thank you, stranger, for taking this photo

Another must-see on our list was Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorial. We found the white roses placed on victims' names for their birthdays touching (at top).

Shake Shack FiDi Fudge concrete

Next, we sought out a Shake Shack and settled on two shackburgers and a small FiDi Fudge concrete (which supposedly didn't have cocoa powder because they were out, #weird, but seemed fine?). The chunks of chewy, dense chocolate truffle cookie dough in the creamy frozen custard were a rich, chocolatey treasure! The crispy crinkle fries were also quite good.

Doughnut Plant selection

The Doughnut Plant

Next, we were close enough to make a pilgrimmage to the Doughnut Plant, birthplace of the creme brulee doughnut. Naturally, we had to get one of those, as well as a Valrhona chocolate. The filling of the creme brulee doughnut was so sweet and perfectly smooth (definitely a giant step up from the usual "cream," aka canned vanilla pudding) with the bruleed sugar coating a caramelly contrast.

Valrhona chocolate doughnut from the Doughnut Plant

Créme brûlée doughnut from the Doughnut Plant

Then we were ready to try another adventure, which turned into several adventures in one, with a side trip to another borough as we tried to find the bridge to get to that borough #SMRT. More in part 2!