Hilary Palmen

Amazing location and atmosphere, the choice of teas were good. The trapot didn't pour, it dribbled, all over the table. I pointed out to the serve staff that a teapot that can't pour should not be in their collection. They didn't even take it away and bring me a working teapot. I had 3 cups drunk and about the same on the table. The chicken pot pie sounded good and was mostly delicious- the peas were a bit to hard, crunchy for my taste.

Arriving at Valhalla train station on an August Saturday morning. I walked to the graveyard in the shade of trees. The walk around this beautiful place was cooled by trees. My only company were the extensive team of Gardners that keep the graveyard in eerily pristine condition. Finding Rachmaninoff's place of rest, with his daughter, was easily done. I sat a while with them enjoying this place that they have gifted to their admirers.

Very atmospheric store in a converted cinema with original ceiling plasterwork left in place, and stylised polished concrete floors. The Cinema overhang at the entrance is great for sheltering in the monsoonlike sudden, short downpours that can happen in a NY summer. I shared shelter with other this Friday night. The store is on a B35 bus stop and contains lots of useful home things and a place to recycle batteries.

You have to ring a doorbell to be allowed to enter this tiny shoe shop that sells stylish subtle designs. The 2 assistants admired my hat and commented how similar in design it was to when hats like that were last in fashion. A compliment? Probably.

Classic New York. China Town, lively with locals and tourists. Hussle and bussle. I love arriving in SoHo at thos station (Q train from Brooklyn)