My thanks to those Fodorites who suggested restaurants for dinner Sun Nov 11th. My friend and I took the 7:20 AM train from Harrisburg PA to NY, arriving at 10:49. A quick cab ride to the Algonquin. I have always wanted to stay there for the literary and historic associations., It has recently been renovated. Rooms are small (it is an old hotel) and bathrooms TINY but our room was newly renovated and cozy with a lighted picture of NY over the queen bed and a large flat screen TV. I enjoyed the character of the place and the comfortable lobby/cafe with its armchairs, sofas and tables. We paid $219 plus tax and the price included cocktails for two (normally $22 each) and continental breakfast (fruit plate, croissant, danish, muffin, juice and coffee - didn't check the menu price but proably about $15 each). So - a good deal. I asked to see Matilda, the resident cat (there is always a cat in residence since 1930 when one wandered in). MAtilda was sleeping on a chair in a cloakroom and regally lifted her head to look at me then immediately went back to sleep. She is a large long haired, light colored cat, very pretty.

It was just a 36 hour trip for no particular reason except I hadnt' been to NY since 1999 and I wanted to stay at the Algonquin. Sun we had lunch at Ellen's Stardust Diner (packed, loud, good voices but loud, WAY too much food!). Shopped a bit. Rested and got dolled up for cocktails in the lobby then dinner at Dopo Teatro which was just a few blocks away on our st (44th W). Dopo Teatro was nice - not fancy but quiet. We were seated right away (had reservations) but were not waited on for quite some time. However, once we were, the service was fine and the food good. I am not a foodie - we shared caprese salad and both had gnocci - me potato gnocci with tomato and basil and she had gnocci made of ricotta - I didn't like hers. For desert I had chocolate souffle with vanila bean gelato which was sublime! After my one cocktail at the Algonquin I was tipsy! But my friend had 2 glasses of wine ($11 each).

Mon she wanted to stand outside at the Today Show so we got up at 6:30 to get there. We were in the front just at the barricade, and after a bit Al Roker came out and went around and shook hands so I got to shake hands. Later Matt and Savannah came out but were at the other end. We left about 8:15 to have our breakfast at the hotel. Then a visit to St Patricks for her and a bit of shopping. We had lunch at Un Deux Trois which is almost right next to Dopo Teatro - I had onion soup and a berry crepe with caramel sauce; she had a savory crepe and two glasses of wine. We did a bit more shopping and then caught the 5:10 train back. Checked out the TKTS booth on Sun but the line was pretty long; we would have been rushed to have cocktails and get to dinner afterwards, and the show I wanted to see was only 40% off and not 50% as I would have wished. Next time. I usually see a show when I go, but had just seen White Christmas in Hershey Theatre just before this trip. So I was ok with skipping it this time.

Lots of people in NY! I like to visit cities but they are a bit too gritty for me - I couldn't live there. I didnt' get to SoHo as planned as there was a time issue with getting back to the hotel for check out. But since I am not much for winter clothes, I think that would be better when the shops are showing spring and summer clothes.