New York City – Day One
I’m finally getting around to the long awaited New York City post. I’m a little concerned the anticipation has continued to build and you will be left sorely disappointed. And I’m going to do the visit in two parts. Day One and Day Two for your reading convenience.
We left the house about 9:00 Thursday morning. We had originally thought to leave about 7:00, but decided that traffic was as good an excuse as any to sleep a little later.
Our first destination was the Trenton, New Jersey train station and we made it within an hour. Trying to figure out where to park and all that added on to our time, but we just didn’t care. We were spending the night in New York City!!
We’ve decided the ferry is really the way to go, though I did enjoy all the reading time I had on the train. An hour and a half after departing Trenton we arrived at Penn Station and walked the 8 blocks or so to the hotel. It was too early to check in, but we dropped off our bags, ate some lunch and took off through Times Square, walking to Rockefeller Plaza. The ice skating rink doubles for an outside cafe in the summer.
From there we hit the Disney Store because Katie needed a pirate costume for VBS next week. Not that she wanted to go to the Disney Store. It’s just that it was a necessity. We passed this on our way:
Walked a few more blocks to FAO Schwarz, but didn’t stay very long. After that we were tired and needed a good sit. So we took a carriage ride around the lower half of Central Park. This would be our view:
We may have seen more than just that, but I didn’t do so great with the camera this trip.
Enough time had passed that we could check into the room so we caught the subway at Columbus Circle and got off at 42nd and 8th – a half a block from the hotel. We checked in, ooo’d and ahhh’d over the luxurious beds and view of the Empire State Building, or its spire at least:
After cooling off and resting we decided we’d better head out for dinner before the coming storm hit. We walked up to Hard Rock Cafe and, once again, I stunned and amazed my daughter by knowing just about every band they showed videos for – from the early 80’s to this year. Okay. “Stunned and amazed” is probably overstated. Alright. Truth be told I only managed to stun and amaze myself. She didn’t seem to care.
It hadn’t started raining yet so we went further up Times Square until we got to Maxies. There we ordered a fudge marble cheesecake to go.
Two things New York City has more than its share of are Duane Reade pharmacies and Starbucks. So we stopped in one of the many Starbucks we passed for a yummy beverage as an accompaniment to our delicious cheesecake. Then we ran into a Duane Reade (this is probably the first time I’ve ever actually meant “ran” as we were still trying to beat the storm) for bottled water and plastic forks.
We made it back to the hotel just as it started to sprinkle. Up to the room, change into our comfy jammies and share the cheesecake.
You can tell how excited we were because I completely forgot to take a picture until after we’d started.
After the filling repast we ordered a movie “Are We Done Yet”, got snug in our beds and laughed our heads off. Then it was a good night’s sleep and our adventure started back up Friday morning.
More to come…
I can’t wait to read the rest of the adventure!
Yes, Duane Reade and Starbucks are all over the place in the city. I think they purposely monopolized every corner so no competitor can get in. Duane Reades were the only drug store chain I knew of when I lived in the city. I had no clue there were other drug stores until I started going outside of the city, lol.
Where do you find the energy? You amaze me! I’m glad you are having a good time while on the mend.
How old is Katie? Who is Duane Reades? I was in that outdoor cafe the one time I had a weekend in NYC! I also got swindled in Battery Park with the guy who hides the ball under the cup. Hubby and friends had walked ahead, not knowing I was getting swindled. Lost $60 without even blinking. Man, those guys are good. I can’t even explain how or why it happened but it made for a great NYC story!AND!!!! Guess what I got in the mail today!?!?!?!? YEP! You are THE BEST! Here’s another thing–I used to live 20 minutes from the Trenton Train station–we could be real life friends too had I still lived there; but then again, maybe not because Manic wasn’t ‘born’ until I moved to Chicago.Anyway, you are so thoughtful to send cute gifts to blogging pals! THANKS VERY MUCH!!!! : ) xo
Sounds like on of our family vacations except I don’t share my cheesecake.
Susan – Day Two was much more exciting!Aim – I can’t believe how many DRs there are. Can that many people need that many drugs??Lynily – Katie and I went to NYC the week before my surgery. I don’t think I’d last ten minutes in the city at the moment! :o)Manic – Katie is 12 – but if you ask her she’ll tell you nearly 13 (October). If you ever move back let me know. LOL And you’re very welcome. It was the least I could do after my delicious Cold Stone – of which I still have a few bucks left. Whoo hoo!!Slackermommy – I only shared because we ate so much at Hard Rock. I’m not usually that nice!
I think you did absolutely great with your camera…I was enjoying the trip big time!!!Love the picture of the man on the bench with the flowers…We interesting!
Oh, man. You are making me miss my daughter. She’s at grandpa and grandma’s house for 3 weeks…Sounds like day one was awesome, can’t wait to hear about day two. Aren’t mother/daughter days just so much fun?!And even if Katie wasn’t impressed, your band knowledge at Hard Rock impresses *me*, so that’s gotta be worth sumfin, right?
I envy you. One of these days I’ll ake it to the big city.
I would love to go to NYC…. and your pics were great.. while not of journalistic quality… made me feel like i was there!
Yeah, all that’s great. But what about the smells? What did you SMELL in New York? (Gawker.com has a great map of the “smells of New York City subway stations.” Hilarious.)
I can’t say I blame you.. I love me some cheesecake!
Love NYC and I only had 5 crazy days there with my sisters a few years ago. Can’t wait to read the 2nd installment.
Sounds like fun, and am looking forward to Day 2. And wondering when we can make a little trip.My husband’s going into the city to a job site tomorrow and if it were a little cooler he’d be bringing me and Junior with him. NYC and 100 degree heat isn’t a real good fit.
Oh yum! I am already hungry, and then I saw that cheesecake picture and now I want cheesecake!Sounds like a fun trip!
I *heart* NYIt’s such a great city isn’t it? I used to live there as a kid and then went back with my fam a few years ago. We had a blast!
Hi Jen!Just popping by to say Hello! Hope you are all well. Big Hugs to You!!
Do the Starbucks in the States have normal pop? I’d be SOL in NYC if I couldn’t get an ice cold pop with a bucket of ice!! (I won’t bother with Starbucks because the only sell bottled pop that I’ve never heard of and no ice so it gets warm fast!!)I love that you guys took a carriage ride. I’m pretty sure it would be on my top ten list of things to do in NYC. Also prowling the city at night because I’ve heard the city never sleeps. I’ll be the judge of that ;)CindyS
Oh, that sounds WONDERFUL! I am jealous!
we are planning a family trip there soon…can’t wait.
OMG I loved NY the two times I was there!!! I need to move. LOL.
My girlfriend and I were thinking of places we could go to usher in the 3-0. We were thinking Vegas, but she brought up NY. After seeing that carriage, I think I need that nice ride! 🙂
That sounds like a fun day. I wish I were eating cheesecake in New York instead of sitting at the computer in Tennessee reading Chuck Norris jokes and eating stale sunflower seeds. You are a lucky woman! I’m glad you are having fun.