This building appeared to me as if someone had let it fall from their palm like a deck of cards; floor by floor in between the buildings on either side of it.

We spent a bunch of time in midtown today. And I was hit by the contrast of churches and their surroundings. Hopefully the photos do the concept a bit of justice.

Example of some of the modern construction around town - this is a Bloomberg building on East 58th.

Lights in the Modern.

Vendor with 50s & 60s style ads. Outside of the MoMA.

The Flatiron Framed

We are having a second wind to summer here in NYC. Beautiful walking weather, so we walked from SoHo through Midtown…

Took a photo of a guy taking a photo of another guy taking a photo.

Not one, but two pink buildings…

A carrot peeler salesman at Union Square, seriously. Check out the 2006 Vanity Fair issue with a multi-page spread.

Here’s a bit of midtown charm just north of the Flatiron district. And then the 20th century modern Empire poking its head out.

On an early fall day we were walking through the city.

While walking through the Flatiron district, we took a look up and noticed this view of the Empire State Building.

Ah, Zibetto.

The espresso bar that actually introduced me to artisanal espresso. And we keep going back and back and back again…

A tiny espresso bar. Wonderfully designed. Just the espresso within an ambience expressing style from the baristas’ ties to the understated off-white of the bar to the minimalist selection of biscotti.

When zipping through your day in Midtown, drop into Zibetto for a touch of style and one of NYCs best espressos.

5th Ave packs a pleasant surprise within the Henri Bendel store.

Chocolate Bar has a rather discrete presence within the atrium of the luxury store.

And I’m not sure my son and I would have ever known it was there if we had not visited the West Village Chocolate Bar a couple of weeks ago and then checked out their website.

It is tucked away in the store, but the real treat is the single table they have in a huge mezzanine bay window that almost hangs over 5th Avenue from above.

There was no one at all on the mezzanine, so I had to ask if it was a part of Chocolate Bar.

Definitely a treat. Since I had already tried their espresso at the West Village location, the hot chocolate was the choice for the afternoon.

The hot chocolate (prepped with milk, not water) and that view make Chocolate Bar on 5th Ave worth a visit. Just check out the video for yourself.

Address

Chocolate Bar – 712 5th Avenue, New York between West 55th and 56th Streets. EV Trains at 5th Ave - 53rd Street. F Train at 57th Street. 456 Trains at 59th Street.

Music

Edith Piaf – Les flonflons du bal

It was a bitingly cold day. And my son loved it…

For a few minutes and then we needed to go inside.

Columbus Circle provides one of the more intriguing indoor spaces (other than museums) in New York. And we need it as we get deeper into winter.

Cool architecture. I’m a big fan of the full-window concept, also seen in the Berlin Hauptbahnhof among other places. Here in NYC the mezzanine and balconies all look right out on to the Circle, which after many years now has its fountain, and Central Park.

Also, Bouchon Bakery is up on the second level to take advantage of the ambience.

The café presence itself is minimalist with just tables along the railing overlooking the lower level. The bakery is quite good. The espresso decent. But the real enjoyment of Bouchon Bakery is the atmosphere and view presented by the Columbus Circle.

There are exactly 4 tables in the café area with the view of the main lobby, Circle and Park. And what a view it is. There is also railing standing, which is where my son and I had to enjoy my espresso and chocolate chunk cookie.

Truly one of the better café views in NYC. And worth a visit.

Address

Bouchon Bakery – Columbus Circle, New York at the intersection of Broadway and West 59th Street. 1ABCD Trains at 59th Street/Columbus Circle.

Music

Edith Piaf – Ça sert à quoi l’amour

So as it turns out, there are a couple of impressive cafés in the heart of midtown, and right around the corner from one another.

My son and I made it a double-header of café and museum. Topping off a great visit to Fika on West 58th with an enjoyable visit to MoMA.

Very-well designed, Fika is a contemporary styled bakery and espresso bar. Simple espresso menu. Light lunch menu. And then delicious cookies.

The atmosphere is modern and very inviting. An espresso at Fika is a stimulating experience. A bit like going to the museum. You do not just eat or drink, but you engage with the café, just as you do not blankly look at the colors on a wall in a museum.

The bakery is on site, allowing everything to be fresh. The espresso was quite good as well.

They also explain what exactly Fika is.

Fika is Swedish for the experience of the coffee break. It is more than just the coffee itself. Fika is also the experience of taking the time during the day to enjoy a moment with friends, family or colleagues. Accompanying this moment is then coffee and a light snack.

If you want a clearer explanation of fika, I highly recommend you experience it for yourself.

Address

Fika – 41 West 58th Street, New York between 5th and 6th Avenues. NRW Trains at 60th Street. F Train at 57th Street.

Music

Edith Piaf – Les flonflons du bal