Photo Gallery

Photo Gallery

Finial Day in New York :(

Our finial day started with a really wet walk. This time Katie and I went a different way, we headed east on 57th Street. We walked into more residential neighborhoods and could hear the difference, not as many horns!! Boy, horns are something you just hear 24/7 here. We walked until we got to the East River and saw some amazing townhomes and apts and a wonderful view of the Queensborough Bridge. When I got to NYC I said that I would not go anywhere without my camera, but here I was with an amazing view, and no camera, so we walked back to the apt and got the camera and then back to the river. On the corner of Sutton and 57th East, there was a beautiful home. You could see gardens in the back along the river and ivy all over the home. In front were two town cars and a black Suburban waiting for someone. We were hoping for, maybe Regis, or Kelly, but we were amazed to see Ban Kai-moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations. WOW, what you see in New York. He had two armed guards and others around him. On the corner of his home is a police booth, this is one important man.

We walked back to get coffee for Mom and Annie and, if possible, it started raining harder, but still so fun to watch people. Doormen walking dogs, nannies walking kids to school, lots of kids heading off to school and millions heading off to work. I have just loved this trip and am so thankful to my Mom for bringing us here.

We then walked down to 30 Rock again (love the place) and walked down 5th and looked in the shops. Bought a few New York trinkets for Brad and Kids and had a fab lunch at a burger place called "Burger Heaven" filled up before our flight and then sad to say had to pack (that was fun with everything we bought) and outside to catch our last NYC cab to the airport

Day number four in NYC!!!

When my alarm went off at 6:30 this morning, I will admit that I did just want to roll over and get a bit more sleep, but how often are you in New York, so up I got and woke up Katie and we were off to Grand Central Station to get some pictures. I't was raining again, but still fun to get up and see all the people headed off to work. The Station is a wonderful old building and to much going on there. It reminded me of Grand Central Station, LOL.

I found a wonderful Art Deco building on 51st and Lexington. I just wonder what happened to builders between the 1930's and now. The old buildings have so much character. I could look at them for hours.

When we were all ready, we headed off to Macys, the largest department store in the world. Annie had printed off some Friends and Family coupons, so a-shopping we went. We all found great bargains. After shopping we ate a very good lunch on the bottom level of the store. To get there, we rode an old wooden escalator.

After leaving Macys, we did a bit of shopping on 34th street. Each of us (not mom) "New York" Jackets to wear to the Yankees game (because it had not stopped raining and we knew we were going to be cold).

We also made a trip back Dylan's Candy Bar on 59th and 3rd. Such a fun place. Three floors of candy, pulsing music - how could it not be amazing? Katie bought a pair of rain boots and a new umbrella with candy all over them. We enjoyed some ice cream and then headed back to the apt to get ready for the game.


Annie and mom and gotten tickets to the Yankees game. They were playing Boston and we had been a bit worried all day whether the game would be played due to rain, but saw nothing on the news, so off to the #4 subway and to the Bronx and the new Yankee Stadium. We arrived in the rain, and bought rain ponchos for about 5 bucks each and headed into the stadium. Beautiful new building, but also fun to see the old one right next to the new one. The old one had been there since Babe Ruth in the 1920's.

When we were walking from subway to stadium, a policeman told us we would not get "regulation" backpacks into the facility and that we should go down the street and check bags at the bowling alley. That was upsetting. I decided I would not go to the game if I had to leave my camera someplace. At the gate, I was told camera in bag OK, but Katie would have to empty her backpack and throw it away. That was not fun. We put everything else in plastic bags and Annie's bag.

The game was due to start at 7:05 but soon on the huge new board, it showed RAIN DELAY!!! And boy did it rain. We sat and waited and waited and waited, and at about 8:40pm you saw all kinds of men running out to the field to take off the plastic and get ready to "Play Ball." The crowd went wild and playing started. We stayed for 3 innings (it was already past 10pm and we were cold, tired and can I say crabby?) so we got back on the subway toward Manhattan. It was so much fun to see the game, even just sitting in the rain with my family was fun (really, really cold, but fun).

We leave tomorrow, but planning on a full half-day before that.

Third full day in NYC

Today started off with a walk, this time I was on my own while everyone else slept in.  I headed toward Central Park with my camera (pictures coming as soon as I get home). Off I went.  Well almost. As soon as I stepped outside I was hit with some pretty heavy rain drops, so back up the elevator to grab my umbrella, then off to the park.  It was beautiful and so green.  I found a waterfall and another pond (there are many) and just took pictures and watched people go by.  I swear, everyone in NY owns a dog, some more than one. New Yorkers love walking their dogs and I love watching them.  Lots of runners and bikers, even in the rain.  I headed back on Park Ave to enjoy the beautiful buildings.  I love Art Deco design - there are sooooo many of them to admire.  

After we were all up and ready, Mom and Annie headed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art while Katie and I went back to Canal Street for more shopping.  We made a couple of wrong platform choices getting on the Subway, but arrived at our destation  in one piece.  We did quite a bit of wheeling and dealing and after about an hour, headed back to the subway with our loot!  We then walked up and down 5th ave (in the rain) and after seeing all the, well I guess they are well dressed security guards, standing at the door of each high-end store, we looked at each other and agreed that we were under dressed and too wet to go in.   So window shopping it was and it was great.  The window displays are so amazing, colorful and creative you can just look for hours so that is what we did.  We hit Dylan's Candy Bar again. This time Katie bought the adorable, colorful rain boots she was admiring the night before.

We then hooked up with Mom and and Annie at pier 83 on the west side and hopped on a two-hour tour of the harbor.  We took lots of pictures and had a great guide, who told us the history of Manhattan and New Jersey.  Going under the bridges was great and it is such and wonder to know that they are over 100 years old (most of them)  

After the tour, Annie went to Madison Square Garden for a concert and Mom, Katie and I went off to Little Italy and Chinatown, so back on the Subway (we are getting really good at the subway, most people now think we are Locals, Hee Hee) We had a wonderful dinner, lured in the restaurant by the charming guy outside who promised we would not find better food down the street. During dinner, he walked around inside the restaurant telling women how much he loved us. A couple scarves and new hat later (for mom),  after 3 full days on your feet, they just say take us back, so we went to the subway station and got back on the uptown 6.  

We three put on our jammies, turned on "Desperate Housewives" and relaxed. 

Annie called about 9 and asked if we wanted to go the the top of 30 Rock, so after putting our tired (and a bit sore) feet back in our shoes, Mom and I walked over to Rockefeller Center and up we went. Katie could not bear to get dressed again, so she stayed at the apartment, cozy on the couch. 

 It was still a bit cloudy 70 stories up, but the views were so cool.  You are so high up. Other than Plexiglass, there is not much holding you back. My stomach got a bit queasy and on this building, you really are on the top.  We had fun, but it was getting late, so back down, grab a cab and now take off those shoes for the night.  

More tomorrow.  

Second Full Day in NYC!!

With my feet rested, we were off at 7am for the start of our second full day here.  Katie and I got up early and went back to the the taping of the Today Show.  The weekend crowds are not as bad, but we still did not get on camera.  On Monday we are going to try and this time we are going to put on our makeup and see what happens While on our way to "30 Rock" we passed the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, where there were 7 seven movies semi's parked.  We asked someone and they told us that they had just finished filming an episode of "Ugly Betty." We saw all the extras leaving in ball gowns and tuxes.  It was fun, but we did not see any of the big stars.  

We also were able to go into the St Patrick's Cathedral.  It was one of  most beautiful building I have ever been in.  I guess that "The Donald" got married there the latest time.  I can see why, it is beautiful and the windows are amazing.  And we did all of this before 8am!!!!

Then our day really started after we went back to the apartment and picked up mom and Annie.  We headed to the Empire State Building again.  This time the weather was great, a bit grey still, but you could see everything.  The views are breathtaking.  We learned that the whole building was built in 14 months  !!!  Hard to believe when you look up at it.  

After, we got back on the subway and headed for the Guggenheim Museum.  That building was fun to take pictures of.  We were able to see only two floors, but the art was amazing (I know I am using that word a lot, but this city is just that) After that we took the bus (thank goodness for the Merto pass we bought for $25) and headed toward 72nd and Central Park.  We passed the home were Jackie O lived.   It was a beautiful day and the park was full of people walking, skating, riding bikes, walking their dogs. Kids sailing boats on the conservatory water.  I can see why people spend the day in the Park, it is so large you could just get lost.  I saw a sign that said they take care of more than 26,000 trees!!!   We sat by the Bethseda Fountain and enjoyed the sun and street performers.  We then walked up to Strawberry Fields and the John Lennon tribute and then across Central Park West to the Datota, were he was shot in 1980.  A short taxi ride home for about an hour and a half to put our feet up before we were off to a Broadway show.  

We had reservations at a restaurant on "Restaurant Row" called Joe Allen.  We had a great dinner and even saw two famous people.  Andrea Martin from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "Second City" and we also saw Lauren Becall.  That was amazing.    We then went off the show!!  Mom had gotten us tickets to "West Side Story."  I was again acting like the tourist just staring up at all of the signs in Time Square.  WOW is all I can say about the play.  I have always loved the movie, but seeing it live was beyond what I had even thought.  The dancing and singing was wonderful and part of it was done in Spanish, which was how it was originally written back in the late 50's.  

After the show we walked up and down Times Square looking at the lights and shops and also searching for the "Naked Cowboy" (sorry Sammi, no luck) until our feet had had enough, we grabbed a cab and headed home. 

New York City day One !!!!

I am in New York City!!!!  I am here with my mom and sisters, Katie and Annie.  It has been an amazing 24 hours and, boy, have we seen a lot already.  We got in the city about 5:30 Thursday after a long taxi ride. We love our apartment, big rooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 bedrooms, several beds. Great for 4 women. We went to dinner at a Mexican restaurant nearby. The food was very rich; the best part of the meal was the guacamole, which was made at our table. After a tram ride across the East River, we walked down to Fifth Avenue, into the gorgeous Plaza Hotel, then down 5th, looking in all the stores. We noticed lights and a red carpet at Cartier's, but we were a little late to see the arrivals. We had to settle for seeing celebrities through the windows, whoever they were. There was a crowd across the street in front of a cute little French restaurant, several paparazzi, body guard-types and lots of town cars and huge dark SUVs parked on the street. The drivers were leaning on the cars,  talking and waiting. We asked what was going on and were told that Anne Hathaway was in the restaurant. Later, we learned that Demi Moore and Justin Timberlake were in there, too. We waited for about half hour, but even though lots of people with headphones went in, no stars came out, so we walked back to the apartment on E. 57th between 3rd and Lexington and called it a night.

Toady we (well Katie and I) woke up early and walked about 10 blocks to the Rockefeller Center and watched the Today Show tape.  We were really lucky to also see No Doubt in concert!! It was so much fun and the first time in 5 years the band had performed in public together.  After the show, we walked back to the apartment.  Then all of us got dressed and headed to the subway and the Empire State Building.  The weather was kind of cloudy, so we decided to wait until tomorrow.  But while we were there, Annie went to the Empire Diamonds office on the 76th floor and sold some jewels. A woman there was very friendly and invited us into her little office to look out the window down at Fifth Avenue. Then it was off the the Statue of Liberty.  It was kind of surreal to see all of this. We took the Staten Island Ferry past the statue and got some great pictures.  After that we went down to ground zero.  That was an amazing sight.  They are building on the site now, but it was still a somber thing to see.  We had lunch at one of the oldest buildings in the city. The Fraunces Tavern can now say "George Washington was here - true - and so was Lolly Sneed." 

It was just so amazing to see everything.  I look so much like a tourist, looking up at all the building, trying to see everything and taking lots of pictures.  The buildings are beautiful and so old.  The history is amazing.  

We then went to Canal Street and shopped for Prada in the kind of place where they take you into the back room to shop.  Katie found a seller who sold her two "Prada" bags out of an old bed sheet, urging her to hurry and make her decisions. Further down on Canal Street, I found something for Sammi.  We got caught in a downpour when getting off the subway. Thank goodness we all had umbrellas.  We found a small cafe to wait it out and headed back to the subway and home.  We did make a quick stop at Grand Central Station.  That building was beautiful. We were there about 6 p.m. Friday and now I know why they call it Grand Central Station - very, very busy place. 

Tomorrow is another packed day.  We are starting out with an early morning walk in Central Park....  I am so thankful to my Mom for bring us here.  

More Flowers

I know its boring, but blogging is one way I journal and keep track of pictures, so here are are few more from the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point.