Is that Barack Obama?...Well, it's either him or Justin Bieber, they're both in town tonight

What I learned this week; New Yorkers are gorgeous. They're fit and lean; radiate wellness and appear to take on life with jaw-dropping enthusiasm at all times. Clearly this is a series of sweeping statements which can't be universally true but given the amount of people you have to pass on the sidewalks every day, not to mention on the train and in the park, I'd say my sample size is none too shabby. In fact Central Park instantly gives the lie to Blur's claim that it's "not about you joggers who go round and round" - I think it actually is about them.

I started the week with what I hope can become a habit: getting off the train at Harlem 125th, patting myself on the back for being so "street" getting off in Harlem then jogging down to the northside of Central Park and taking one of the many routes through the various wooded enclaves, lawns and gardens. Apart from feeling like I was going to be scolded for running anti-clockwise round the park, I couldn't get over how fast everyone seemed to be running - I'd love to say it was people of all shapes and sizes but "cut" seemed to be the only shape the men carried (tops off though, not cool) and svelte pretty much sums up the girls. What I did like about it was some sort of jedi-mind trick which made me suck my gut in, straighten my back and run faster so I got a better work out too.

Anyways, I didn't quite make it home because I was knackered about 3/4 of the way through the run when I saw a crowd of people gathered in the last rays of the evening sun, watching a concert in the Naumburg Bandshell where I found out they host a series of classical evenings throughout the summer months. Sniffing out a good excuse to stop jogging if ever there was one, I slipped on my pretentious hat and thought I would stand and watch for 5 minutes before heading home so that I could tell everyone that I stood and watched for an hour before heading home. In the end, the Knights orchestra (and the people-watching) had me glued to the spot for.... about an hour actually where they performed a rousing Beethoven's 5th Symphony and the World Premiere of a piece entitled "Templehof Etude" by a lady named Lisa Bielawa which apparently is the first chapter in a movement to be performed by 600+ musicians on the tarmac of Templehof Airport in Berlin

Culture? Whatever, there are free concerts every night of the week in Hyde Park too aren't there?

Back to Harlem the following night with the man, the myth, Mike Brown whose resignation from the office gave me the opportunity to be here in NYC this summer. The venue was a legendary BBQ joint on the Hudson westside - 125th again: Dinosaur BBQ delivered! I've always been bemused by the popularity of ribs which seem to lack meat whenever I've had them. Not so at Dino's - succulent and fleshy - we had ours with pulled pork (shredded I take that to mean) and classic American side dishes; mac&cheese, 'slaw and succotash - the last of which I had no idea what it was other than it was always "sufferin'" to Sylvester in the Looney Tunes cartoons. Beer was pretty good there too.

Later in the week, I was taken out with a few guys from work to a New York trendy double-header of Tao Asian fusion restaurant and Lavo Italian restaurant and nightclub (home of the Sunday Bikini Brunch party) for drinks afterwards. It was on the way to this party that I found 5th Avenue completely gridlocked for either Barack or Justin, noone quite new - steam rising up from the manhole covers, police directing traffic, a group of gay rights activists campaigning for gay weddings in New York State (they got it) - couldn't have been more of a stereotyped image of the Big Apple.

All you need to know about Tao is that they have a massive Buddha on a main stage who is definitely the fattest cat within 6 blocks; the food is pretty special but the lobster, shrimp and wagu sushi roll should be classified as overkill in anyone's book. Being greedy, I snaffled everything on offer such that the delicate flavours all started to meld into one by the time I'd finished. Must remember to think whilst I eat in future or risk being viewed as some kind of tourist from Idaho.

So, despite being a trendy hang-out for the young, hot and semi-famous, Lavo exemplified how approachable people are in the US. I'm sure the English accent (they all call it British over here, tell that to a Scot) helps give you an 'in' but most people seem prepared to give you the time of day which I find very refreshing. Maybe this happens in London too but I just get the impression that Brits find themselves in their element in New York - discovering that Americans aren't being insincere for the most part and that a life of dry, caustic sarcasm and self-deprecation aren't the only ways people get through this thing called life (saying that, I'm now getting all nostalgic for low-key downbeatism weirdly enough)

After seeing the whole club congratulate a young Turkish 6'10" giant called Enes Kanter (3rd pick in the NBA draft), I was introduced to another smokin' black girl (seems to be becoming a bit of a theme) who took a bit of a shine to me  - so much so that she even offered to take me home if I was prepared to make a donation. Thought I should call it a night so I did go home. Alone.

Away from the name-dropping, I've got a couple of theories about amibition in New York and also convenience, which I'll share over the next couple of posts if anyone's still out there. Y'all take care now y'hear