Bryant Park always provides beautiful scenes. How I love it. I took these on my way to work this morning. I think I'll post them on their Facebook page. Why not.

My favorite hidden gem: Lovin' Eat artisan sandwich cookies.
No I haven't tried one yet, but I am pretty certain they are delicious.
Pictured l-r, carrot cheesecake, chocolate white choco chip with peanut butter filling (!!!),
and cookie sandwich filled with creamy strawberry mousse

Prices, fyi

Just in case you've worked up an appetite after skating at the Pond at Bryant Park, you can check out some treats at the Holiday Shops. There are certainly more food vendors than ever before, which is of course a good thing. Pictured here are just a few food highlights. There are more than what I photographed, so do stroll around yourself.

Jewelry and smelly soap highlights to follow. I love smelly soaps.

Very fluffy cookies from Choco Loco


Turkish Spinach crepe-like Gözleme from Eat-n-Go, $6
a great lunch or take-home treat




Eat-n-Go's price list


Japanese Tako Yaki (octopus!)
6 pieces/$5 from Yummy Bites
I don't think they are authentic Japanese like
the ones in the East Village (Otafuku), but perhaps worth a try.


The chocolate king, Max Brenner, with a very slick booth.
Lots of ideal gifty-type things. And thankfully, they do
have the Chocolate Syringe. 4 bucks.


And the other good news is the Southwest Porch has
been winterized with heat lamps. So you can stop by for
a drink and comfy seat.

Thursday at the Southwest Porch. It was so dark at lunch,
due to the threatening rain, that the lights were on. Lovely!


It started to rain a bit. But we were undaunted.


Around eight people put up their umbrellas and kept right on eating.


Including me.

Yes it's true. I have eaten my lunch every day this week at the Southwest Porch. The fact that they do not serve lunch M-Th has worked out rather well. You can bring your own lunch and it is a very relaxed non-commercial atmosphere. It is really quite wonderful. People who frequent the Porch are very dedicated to it. We are getting to be a tight-knit group. Yesterday, it was threatening rain, but people still lunched. And then it did start to rain. It was a wonderful sight. About eight people, including myself, all put up umbrellas, and continued eating.

Perhaps that was one of my favorite moments in New York.




More posts on the topic:
The Southwest Social
Southwest Porch at Bryant Park Opens Today

Plus a bunch of Tweets.
Wow I talk about this topic a lot.
Follow me on Twitter




This post is featured on Southwest Air Twitter for June 25, 2009

click this link to get your free ticket to the Southwest Porch event

Garment District blog, 39th and Broadway featured my pics in their post about the Southwest Porch yesterday. So I took a gander. And found this link in the comments section. A party! At the Southwest Porch, this Thursday, 6-9pm.

The usual Bryant Park sandwich place, 'wichcraft is
renamed "Southwest Porch" today.


My seat of choice: a hanging rattan egg-shaped swing.
Complete with branded Southwest pillow. Which I am sure they
will sell along with a blanket and headphones. Haha.


Decor-wise, it's lovely! I love the hanging plants
and the lights.

The Southwest Porch at Bryant Park is slated to open today. At least that is what The Times blog article revealed three days ago. I stopped by the Southwest Porch at 10:30 today to check the progress. There was still a lot of work being done, probably due losing a whole day to yesterday's rain. But one person I asked confirmed that the Southwest Porch will still open today. Good, I am fixing to get a sandwich and swing on the rattan swing. Or perhaps try the beautiful Adirondack chair with carved out cup holder. Or the yellow-cushioned couch.

The setting is lovely. I am sad that it is likely temporary. As of now, it will only stay open through mid-September. In case you haven't heard, this gazebo area is to advertise Southwest Airlines' new service to LaGuardia. They will serve themed sandwiches like the New York Meatball and the Chicago Bratwurst, and the like. Perhaps there will be an Austin Veggie Taco? I can only hope. I will let you know more details after I go. For now, enjoy these pre-opening photos. According to The Times, the hours of the Southwest Porch are M-Th, 5 to 9 pm and F, noon-4pm. No lunch except on Fridays? Well perhaps things will change.

On a brighter note, I just read the following in New York Magazine's Grub Street:

A note from the Bryant Park Corp. clarifies that the 175-seat alfresco area, which includes porch swings and rocking chairs, is not actually a restaurant: “The Porch is a cozy lounge area open to all park visitors for relaxation, contemplation, people-watching, reading, etc. Those who enter the area are not required to place an order with 'wichcraft. Indeed, they can bring their own food and beverage if they wish.”

***
Update, 2:15pm
I went! It's open! I sat in the rocker with yellow cushion. Very comfortable. And then I sat in the Adirondack chair with cup holder. I didn't bring a cup. And then I got some time on the couch. Very very relaxing. I read Catcher in the Rye. It was heaven. And I just saw that Southwest Air Twittered my pics!!! That is very nice of you Southwest, thanks so much!

The Southwest Porch in the southwest corner of Bryant Park.


As of 10:30 this morning.

Before I found out this special area was sponsored by Southwest,
and part of a restaurant, I had visions of bringing my lunch and
camping out here. So comfortable looking. An urban retreat.
Well, I hope they have veggie options. I'll certainly buy a sandwich.


Have you ever seen an Adirondack chair with a cup holder carved into it?
Me either. Looks comfortable.


As you can see, the seating options are varied and pleasing.


The rolls are prepped. Could that mean lunch today?
Will it taste like airplane food? Sorry, I couldn't resist asking that.


The signage is up.

This post is featured on Southwest Air Blog for June 19, 2009





This post is featured on Southwest Air Twitter for June 19, 2009





This post is featured on Midtown Lunch for June 19, 2009




This post is featured on 39th & Broadway for June 22, 2009