Yesterday was my big trip to New York. It's actually not that big. Apparently, if I can get here on a three-hour bus ride I'm considered "local." But still, it's a big trip for me. One of the great things about having a healthy imagination is I can come up with crazy story ideas. One of the downsides is I can imagine about 100 different ways to lose the picture book art between my house and Viking. And that's what I was doing; delivering the Monkey Ono art to the publisher.
Fortunately, I did not leave it on the bus. The bus did not crash on the highway. And I was not art mugged. The Monkey Ono art has been delivered safe and sound!
Here's the view from my editor's window.
Not only does she have a fantastic view, but look at all the great books in the window. Hmmmm - there seems to be a little ninja there that I'm somewhat familiar with. ;)
Here's the Monkey Ono art all laid out.
I'm so used to seeing this art that I forget that this is the first time that the good folks at Viking are seeing it in living color. I mean, I send them scans throughout the process, but a cruddy scan never really does any artwork justice. I think they were surprised by how much brighter everything really was.
You know, I spend a decent amount of time choosing my outfit for my New York days. On one hand, I'm on a bus for 6 - 7 hours that day, so I want to be comfortable. On the other hand, I want to look professional, or at least not shlubby. When going through outfits, Mike liked one with a dark brown top and black pants.
"But isn't this too dark for Springtime?" I asked.
"It's New York," he said. "Everyone wears black."
And sure enough, when Tracy, my editor, took off her coat, she was in head-to-toe black!
After all the business stuff, Tracy, Denise (the art director) and I went out to lunch at Aquagrill.
MmmmmmmMMMMM!
Tracy and I had hoped for soft shell crabs, but they didn't have any fresh in that day. Instead, I had Horseradish Encrusted Halibut with Potato-Shrimp Salad and Asparagus.
IT WAS SO GOOD! So good! I'm not a food critic, so I can't really write a decent food review. But OMG - so good!
Then the professional New York women headed back to the office and I strolled across town to hit Babycakes vegan bakery.
This was a little disappointing. Not the food. The baked goods are divine! But it is very small - like closet small - and it was PACKED with people. Now, if I knew exactly what Magoo could eat and I knew exactly what I wanted, this wouldn't have been a problem. But some foods have agave and some have sugar. Some are gluten-free, some are spelt. I had questions! Yes, I was that tourist in the packed NY place with questions. Hate me now!
So, under pressure, I quickly ordered two slices of pumpkin bread and a brownie for myself. It's sort of a shame because I really should have/wanted to order more. I mean, I'm down in NY for the day and I walked all the way across town just to visit this place, I wanted to bring home a stash.
But it was fine. Mike and Magoo were certainly very happy to have a treat by the time I got home. And I have to be happy that such a wonderful little place is doing good business. I just wish I had had a better handle on what to order when going in. Ah well. I still have the cookbook. I can bake some goodies myself!
I got back home around 8pm, kicked it on the couch for 90 minutes, then hit the hay. A successful New York day over.
I hope everyone out there has a wonderful Easter weekend and that the Easter Bunny is good to you all!
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