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BY LISA KAMPETER

This summer, several of the Dining Divas flocked to the theater to catch the blockbuster movie “Sex and the City.” Inspired once again by the fabulous foursome, a few of us decided to take a trip to “the city” a la Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha. We shopped, celebrated (a big birthday), and, of course, we ate.

Just because we were in New York didn’t mean we weren’t out to find a bargain. Near our hotel, we were pleased to find “buy one, get one free” happy hour martinis at Pazza Notte, a local favorite on Avenue of the Americas, just a couple blocks south of Central Park. After the first few sips, the virgin cosmopolitan I complained about started to make my knees warm. I guess it really did have liquor in it.

Across the street from our hotel at one of the vendors (Avenue of the Americas and 54th), we found the best bargain plate out there. Gyros with a heaping serving of beef, chicken, and rice with lettuce and a special sauce served on a pita. It was huge enough to feed three people, and it only cost eight bucks. Even at 11 p.m., there was a line.

When you’re in New York, you have to take a stroll through Central Park (Forest Park is just as cool). We had breakfast at the Boathouse, another favorite of the locals. Average food with an above average setting. People watching is probably better than the food, but on this day, we got a taste of a New Yorker that really didn’t surprise us. An impatient, angry man not appreciating the wait in line for his coffee chose to spout off ugly comments about the Holocaust to a couple in front. Welcome to New York.

For “the best margaritas ever”, according to the Newlywed Diva, head to Tribeca to the restaurant and bar Spaghetti Western. Firemen from Ladder 1 near Ground Zero did their civic duty and recommended the nearby tavern, and we were glad we checked it out. Either we really enjoyed our drinks, or the food was awesome too. We loved the meatball sandwich with fresh fries and the turkey burger. But we also really loved that Joey Buttafuoco bought us a round of drinks. Actually, he was just another New Yorker, and we were just hoping to see someone famous. A few drinks later, we also thought we saw Robert Redford. Yes, they were great margaritas.

One of the most anticipated restaurant visits of the group turned out to be one of our favorites. This visit inspired by another movie, Serendipity, we checked out Serendipity 3, in between 2nd and 3rd on 60th. On the big screen, the actors enjoyed sweet sensations of gigantic proportions. So our intention was to have dessert only. When we arrived, our appetites got the best of us, and we foolishly ordered dinner. We each also ordered frozen hot chocolate, for which they are famous. Made of milk, ice, shaved chocolate, and real whipped cream, one order could have served three of us. By the time we each ate our dinners and drank the “cold” hot chocolate, we had to skip dessert. Next time, we’ll skip dinner, order one hot chocolate, and enjoy a mountain-sized sundae.

Across the street from Bryant Park, famous for Fashion Week, we warmed up at Hale and Hearty soup. It was the hot spot this day as we devoured the white Tuscan bean soup, chunky potato leek soup, and shrimp Cajun Creole. This day, Billy’s Bakery surprised us with yellow cupcakes covered with chocolate icing delivered to our hotel room, a nice birthday treat.

Our worldly tour began a little later. First we explored Cuba. We stumbled on another local favorite called Victor’s Café on W. 52nd St. I can see why so many New Yorkers return again and again. We inhaled a devilish shrimp quesadilla along with delicious mojitos with pure cane sugar and a margarita Cubano with a guava puree. Had we had a couple more of these, we may have believed we’d seen Desi Arnaz.

A couple doors down, and we entered Russia. Infused vodka that one Diva thought tasted like medicine, and we realized we were in a whole new world, one we couldn’t handle.

At least once in a visit to New York, you have to go to Tavern on the Green in Central Park. It’s slightly too old school for my liking, but it’s an institution that you have to check out. Our waiter, who we so fondly referred to as Ryan Stiles from the Drew Carey Show, kept us entertained with his sly compliments and joke attempts that you couldn’t help but laugh (have you heard the one about the sexy farm animals…brown chicken, brown cow?). All of us ate the prime rib with crunchy green beans, chunky mashed potatoes, and crescent rolls. Even though we each paid about $1.79 per minute we were there, it was worth it.

For most, hitting another “decade” of birthdays can be quite depressing. But some of the best medicines come from Tiffany’s and Madison Avenue. Even though we missed Brangelina on the red carpet at Lincoln Center, we celebrated “the City” like the famous foursome that inspired our trip but in way more sensible shoes. And we celebrated getting older in the best way we know how….with many naps. Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City said it best when talking about whatever happened to aging gracefully. “It got old,” she said. And she was right.

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