August 30, 2010@Manhattan

After going to pick up clothes at Merit Cleaners at Lexington Ave and meeting my colleague in the office, we went to Whole Foods Market at Columbus Circle and bought foods for picnic. We put the plastic sheet on the ground and had a nice lunch together. At the ball field 5, people were playing a softball.

Then we went to Sheep Meadow; it was huge grass field and we just happened to talk to a Japanese woman who has twins. She, her husband, and twins are going back to Japan after staying here in NYC for 3.5 years. Technically, twins are almost the same age with our baby, 7-month old now.
My wife and this woman exchanged email address so that we can keep in touch. She will live in Oota-ward, Tokyo.


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Then we went back to Hilton New York by taxi and my wife and baby girl got off the car. I headed for Lower Manhattan and met TS and then TL; they are working for the investment group of a certain company which I quit. Conversation with them were really good.

After returning to the hotel, we went to Whole Foods Market at Columbus to buy salad and fruits for our dinner and breakfast tomorrow.

August 29, 2010@Bronx

I checked-out Loews Regency and asked a bell boy at Hilton New York to keep our luggages since it was too early to check-in, that is, the room was not ready yet at 9AM.

Hilton New York
1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, United States 10019
Tel: 1-212-586-7000   Fax: 1-212-315-1374

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I, my wife, and our baby girl took subway 5 at 59th Street and headed for uptown, Bronx. It took around 30 min to get to E Tremont Ave - West Farms Sq. My ex-colleague, NB, and her husband, GB, kindly host our tour at Bronx zoo. That was very big zoo; we enjoyed walking and watching animals.


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After the Italian lunch near the zoo, we went to the Botanical Garden. It was also huge but I enjoyed walking with NB and GB while my wife and our baby girl took a rest at the entrance.

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Free WiFi: Starbuck at Rockefeller Plaza (Concourse of GE Building, Rockefeller Center)

If you enter the GE Building from the street, that's street level of the GE Building, namely, Rockefeller Plaza. After going down to concourse level, you will find attwifi network.


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Free WiFi: Two World Financial Center, lobby level (upper floor)

Network name is Downtown Alliance Wintergarden.


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August 28, 2010@New York City

I, my wife, and our baby girl visited my friend's apartment in Upper West Side. He, AA, is a US economist; we joined the same company after each university. I quit the company about four years ago and he was transferred from the company, a consulting and system solution firm, to an investment bank.

He lives in NYC for a year with his wife and their kid; he is around one year and eight months old. The boy is shy at first, but he gets used to us and we played around. While my friend's wife was preparing our lunch, we went up to the roof terrace and enjoyed nice sunshine and drinks. Helicopters were flying above the Hudson river; we heard that when it's sunny, they always see helicopters, mainly for travelers.

Then we went back to the room and enjoyed nice talk and Japanese cuisine. They seemed to like our fruit jelly as a dessert. They were also pleased to have cookies from Japan as a souvenir. My friend is trying to survive in NYC as an economist and wont't expect the company to employ him until he retires. I really like his strong motivation and desire for improvement. It was really relaxing and nice party!

Merit Cleaners

I've asked a hotel employee the place where a dry cleaning and laundromat (laundry) are. This shop is run by Korean couple and it does both dry cleaning and laundry service. It cost $68.75 in total for 5 dress shirts($17.50), 3 pants ($35.25), and 1 jacket for dry cleaning, and 2 plastic bags for laundry($16.00).

Merit Cleaners
+1 (212) 472-4747
880 Lexington Avenue
New York‎ NY
United States

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August 27, 2010@New York City

I went to Asian restaurant with my colleague in NY office, YG. She told me that it's the best Asian restaurant near the office. I tried curry broth noodle; it was delicious.

FUSIA
677C Lexington Avenue (on 56th St.) New York, NY 10022

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Finally my wife and our baby girl have arrived at NYC! Since they are very tired, I am going to buy fruits, yogurt, bagels, and water for them.
Whole Foods Market, Columbus Circle
10 Columbus Circle
New York, NY 10019 USA
Phone 212.823.9600


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August 26, 2010@New York City

After my client meeting, I met my ex-colleague here in New York City, HY. He looks great and we had a nice catch-up talk. After leaving his group, a lot of people in NY office had left the firm. Some joined my ex-boss' new start-up hedge fund. The others went to the asset management firms or broker/dealer side. The dinner was awesome. That was one of the best Korean food (BBQ style) I've ever tasted.

Madangsui Restaurant
35 West 35th St, New York, NY, USA


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August 25, 2010@New York City

I had a nice lunch with my ex-boss, MC, who is going to launch his hedge fund possibly this year. He is a mentor for me. He is energetic, aggressive to some extent, but polite and kind great financial professional. We did have a good conversation, like investment, politics, and families. I ordered the same dish as him.

BLUE FIN
SESAME CRUSTED BIG EYE TUNA
shiitake mash room, jasmine rice, carrots, snow peas, ginger soy vinaigrette


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I went out and had a dinner with my colleague, MR. He was from the mainland China, finished his master's course in NYC. His recommended Chinese restaurant was really great. It's Sichuan(Shisen in Japanese) style, from the west part of China. It's spicy and hot. My favorite is Ma Po To Fu (Spicy Beab Crout w. Minced Pork).

Grand Sichuan Eastern
1049 2nd Avenue, New York, NY, 10022

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August 24, 2010@New York City

After my tons of internal meetings, I went to the steakhouse near the office for a global team dinner. I enjoyed greensald, creamed spinach, fillet, and Tiramisu. There are 6 people from NY office, 1 from London, 1 from Switzerland office, and myself from Tokyo office.


Club A Steakhouse
240 East 58th Street New York, NY 10022
(212) 688-4190

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August 23, 2010@New York City

I was not feeling good due to the jet lag, I just went back to my hotel after the job and ate Caesar salad with grilled shrimps of the room service. It was good.

Free WiFi: Lobby at Loews Regency Hotel, New York City

Loews Regency

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August 22, 2010@New York City

It's been a while since I visited NYC in April of 2008. ANA NH010 flight was wonderful. Business class of Boeing 777-300ER was great:

• Staggered seats: Passangers can move to the aisle without disrupting neighbor.
• Lie-flat seat; I had a good sleep!
• Big screen, good for movies.

I called for a taxi which is affiliated with my company at the JFK International Airport. My hotel for my business trip is:
Loews Regency

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After check-in, I went to the office and said hi to my colleague who was working on Sunday. Then I headed for Apple Store Fifth Avenue to buy iPad 64GB WiFi($699.99), iPad Case($39), and iPad Camera Connection Kit($29). It cost around $835(¥70,975=$835*85JPY/USD) including sales tax in NY, around 9%. Due to strong yen, it's roughly 10% cheaper than Japan(¥79,548 including 5% sales tax). I like iPad; I would like to bring this to everywhere I go in ordewr to write/read e-mail, post a blog, surf the Web, maintain my calendar & contact list, and enjoy photos and videos outside of my home.
http://www.apple.com/retail/fifthavenue/


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