So long New York

I may write other posts about our trip sometime, but not right now. Our short visit was jam packed with many interesting events, sights, sounds, and tastes.

It was a great trip.

These pictures were taken on the way to the airport.

Museum of Modern Art, New York

Time was running out before we left New York. The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) is one place that we didn't visit, although we did the MOMA store. They had a number of interesting gifts and a variety of items to purchase for your kitchen, decor, and many other articles.

Their windows were also decorated. Sister P. took those pictures, hopefully they will come through on the posting.

The Manhattan Bridge, New York

The bridges of New York are large and impressive. The Manhattan Bridge brought us into Manhattan from the airport, and took us back to the airport on our way home.

The Manhattan Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the East River in New York City, connecting Lower Manhattan (at Canal Street) with Brooklyn (at Flatbush Avenue Extension). It was the last of the three suspension bridges built across the lower East River, following the Brooklyn and the Williamsburg bridges. The bridge was opened to traffic on December 31, 1909 and was designed by Leon Moisseiff,[1] who later designed the infamous original Tacoma Narrows Bridge that opened and collapsed in 1940. It has four vehicle lanes on the upper level (split between two roadways). The lower level has three lanes, four subway tracks, a walkway and a bikeway. The upper level, originally used for streetcars, has two lanes in each direction, and the lower level is one-way and has three lanes in peak direction. It once carried New York State Route 27 and later was planned to carry Interstate 478. No tolls are charged for motor vehicles to use the Manhattan Bridge.

The original pedestrian walkway on the south side of the bridge was reopened after forty years in June 2001.[4] It was also used by bicycles until late summer 2004, when a dedicated bicycle path was opened on the north side of the bridge, and again in 2007 while the bike lane was used for truck access during repairs to the lower motor roadway. Wikipedia

The bridge is long and tall enough that the thought of taking the pedestrian walkway across was not an option for one of my sisters. We were so busy, anyway, that we did not have time even if we'd wanted to walk across.

Our tour guides spoke of the bridge being originally planned by an Engineer who was later injured on the job and wouldn't go to the hospital because he didn't believe in them. He died of infection and his son took over the construction oversight. His son became ill at some point and his wife was the one who travelled to and from the bridge site delivering messages about the construction. The tour guides often joked that th bridge was the first of its size to be built by a woman.

However history tells the story, it's an impressive sight.

Grand Central Station, New York

"Grand Central Station also known as Grand Central Terminal is at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is the largest train station in the world by number of platforms. They are on two levels, both below ground, with 41 tracks on the upper level and 26 on the lower, though the total number of tracks along platforms and in rail yards exceeds 100. When the Long Island Rail Road's new station, below the existing levels, opens (see East Side Access), Grand Central will offer a total of 75 tracks and 48 platforms. The terminal covers an area of 48 acres.

The terminal serves commuters traveling on the Metro-North Railroad to Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties in New York State, and Fairfield and New Haven counties in Connecticut.

Although the terminal has been properly called "Grand Central Terminal" since 1913, many people continue to refer to it as "Grand Central Station". "Grand Central Station" is the name of the nearby post office, as well as the name of a previous rail station on the site, and is also used to refer to a New York City subway station at the same location." Wikipedia

Grand Central Station has been featured in many movies and tv shows over the years. Its high ceilings make the space larger.

The pictures on this page are complements of sister P. She took some good ones.

More Bathrooms in New York

One of the best restaurant bathrooms we saw in New York city was at Bouley's restaurant. The bathroom was large and impressive.

Ok, so what's the big deal you might ask. Well, I guess we'd expected that visiting a metropolitan city like New York would mean the bathrooms would be just as nice or even better than in a small city such as the one I live in.

However, most restaurant and theatre washrooms we visited had only one stall, or sometimes only a unisex washroom for a whole restaurant of people, when we are used to multi-stall washrooms. Often they weren't very clean, sometimes they needed soap, toilet paper, or paper towel.

Well, there we were at Bouley's on a Sunday night. We were already amazed by the decor, which I have written about in an earlier post. Inevitably when you are enjoying an amazing feast at Bouley's you are going to need to use the "ladies' room." I seem to always be the first to need a visit when I am with my family. Ever since we'd been to DaMarino's I'd always leave saying I'd let them know if the bathroom was camera worthy.

When I came back, there were some looks of anticipation...and I laughed. "YEP," I said, "camera worthy." Then there was the process of getting a photo. It's a pretty classy restaurant. We didn't feel comfortable just walking in and taking a picture, especially if people were in there. It had to be done at just the right time. One time my middle sister, P, went to take photos and Phylicia Rashad came in right after her. Needless to say, she didn't want to take a picture then.

However, we were there long enough that our persistance paid off. The pictures don't do it justice. But, it is clean, it is welcoming, it may not belong in a home, but it is a nice restaurant washroom that is comfortable, unique, lavish, and large. One more space at Bouley's that was given the Bouley care and attention.

The Flat Iron District, New York

It may not be New York's tallest building, but it is distinctive. It is also at the centre of many other great places to view. New York's Flat Iron building is an interesting landmark that takes its name from its shape; an antique flat iron.

The "Flatiron District" has been known by that name since the mid 1980s. It had been previously known as the "Photo District," due to the large number of photographer's studios. Another part of the area was referred to as the "Toy District," for the large number of toy manufacturers and the American International Toy Fair that takes place there annually.

In the mid 80s when the area became more residential, real estate agents renamed it to give it more appeal.

I like the information I also found about it in the Global Architecture Encyclopedia. This information complements what we saw and heard in our tours.

"Not well known among those not from the area, or not into historic architecture, the Flatiron Building is a favorite of New Yorkers and admirers around the world. Perhaps because it symbolizes so much of how New Yorkers see themselves -- Defiant, bold, sophisticated, and interesting. With just enough embedded grime and soot to highlight its details. The Flatiron's most interesting feature is its shape -- a slender hull plowing up the streets of commerce as the bow off a great ocean liner plows through the waves of its domain. The apex of the building is just six feet wide, and expands into a limestone wedge adorned with Gothic and Renaissance details of Greek faces and terra cotta flowers.

The building has two claims to fame -- one architectural, the other cultural. Some consider the Flatiron Building to be New York City's first skyscraper. It certainly was one of the first buildings in the city to employ a steel frame to hold up its 285-foot tall facade, but not the first. Some felt its shape (like a flatiron) was less artistic and more dangerous. They thought it would fall over, and during construction the Flatiron Building was nicknamed "Burnham's Folly."

The building's cultural legacy is a little more interesting and has passed into the local social consciousness as a fable. It is said that the building created unusual eddies in the wind which would cause women's skirts to fly around as they walked on 23rd street. This attracted throngs of young men who gathered to view the barelegged spectacle. Police would try to disperse these knots of heavy-breathers by calling to them, "23 Skidoo." This phrase has passed out of common usage, but its descendant, the word "scram" remains in a back corner of the American lexicon." Glass Steel and Stone; Global Architecture Encyclopedia

Battery Park, New York

The 23-acre/9ha waterfront Battery Park is the largest public open space in the Downtown section of Manhattan. The park is located at the [southern] tip of Manhattan, causing many to refer to it as the city’s “front lawn.” The peaceful park faces the vibrant waterfront on one side and the bustling section of Manhattan known as – what else? – The Battery, on the other.

It is within walking distance of many businesses – making it a popular lunchtime hang-out – and is within close proximity of many of the city’s finest attractions, including South Street Seaport, The New York Stock Exchange, and the Staten Island Ferry. An estimated quarter-of-a-million people work just steps from the park and more than 35,000 individuals live within walking distance of this welcoming green space.

When Dutch settlers landed in “New Amsterdam” in 1623, the area was given its name because a “battery of canons” was set up there to defend the new city. Over the years, the land was enlarged as was the fortification, and Castle Clinton was built in anticipation of the War of 1812 and the need to defend the city. From A View on Cities
Battery Park was full of people on both occassions that we visited it. The line for the ferry and boat cruises to view Ellis Island and Staten Island almost circled the park. The park was cooled by the breeze from the ocean, making it a nice place to visit on a hot day.

(Sister P took the first 3 pics. The skyline photo is from the web.)

The World Trade Centre and Trinity Church in New York

Before 9/11

The World Trade Center was originally a group of seven buildings in Lower Manhattan in New York City. The twin towers were each over 106 floors. the complex of seven buildings held 13.4 million square feet of office space. The buildings were destroyed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with six new skyscrapers and a memorial to the casualties of the attacks.

Cleanup from the devestating attack was a 24/7 project for eight months. When we visited the area I was struck by the amount of businesses and communities that were also devestated in the attack.

If you've never visited and rely on the news, you begin to forget that if two large buildings were hit by airplanes, the fall out from those buildings would reach far and wide. The towers were huge and tall. This wasn't the implosion of an old building that needed to be removed. Buildings and their tenants (residential and business) were damaged. Travel into the neighbourhoods was restricted for blocks.

Many businesses left the area for good. Many of the buildings that had held the businesses are now being converted into condos.

The Trinity Episcopal church which is three blocks north of the former trade centre buildings, was used as a refuge on September 11, 2001. Debris from the tower collapsing knocked over a giant sycamore tree that had stood for nearly a century in the churchyard of St. Paul's Chapel, which is part of Trinity Church's parish and located several blocks north of Trinity Church. Sculptor Steve Tobin used its roots as the base for a bronze sculpture that stands next to the Trinity Church.

While the church stood strong, buildings crumbled around it on September 11, 2001. The gates to the historic church now serve as an impromptu memorial to the victims of 9/11, with countless tokens of remembrance left by both locals and visitors alike.

Ground Zero in 2002

When we visited New York, the new construction in the area made it difficult to see 'Ground Zero.' A fence blocked the view of the area and even the machinery that is creating the new building.

World Trade Centre Sphere

Ground Zero is a place with a lot of tragic memories attached to it. you are curious about the Ground Zero site, it is all covered up with high fences covered so you can't see inside. And if you find a hole somewhere.... It is a contruction site, just a bit bigger than normal.

What really stood out when we visited was the amount of people coming up from the subway to Ground Zero and their responses. So many instant responses of shock with hands over their mouths and tears falling from their eyes. It made me think of the many families that were affected by the tragedy. 9 years later people are still coming to the site to see the aftermath. How many of those people are relatives? Children, neices and nephews, and so many others.

The World Trade Centre sphere was damaged but not destroyed when the buildings were hit. The sphere has a temporary place in Battery Park until rebuilding at Ground Zero is complete.

New York Art

 On our tours of New York, by the Flat Iron building some interesting sculptures were pointed out to us. Artist, Antony Gormley had created a number of self-portrait sculptures which had been installed on the edges of a number of roof tops. Unfortunately a number of 911 calls had also been placed soon after, because people thought that the statues were men trying to commit suicide. These sculptures will be on the roof tops from March 26th until August 15, 2010. The show is called EVENT HORIZON.

The pictures we took didn't turn out very well (Remember some of these are dozens of stories up). We were also trying to take them while touring on a moving double decker bus.

However, I managed to find some on the web, and those are the ones in this post. 

Hiding out in New York... pretty silly but also funny.

Four women walking down the streets of New York may also have the appearance of slight attention issues. There are lots of things to distract and what does distract one individual can be pretty different for each person.

At one point, my sister P and I were a bit behind mom and sister R. Here are some silly shots of me looking for mom and R. I think they started it by hiding and thinking we hadn't seen them.

You can see them peaking around the mailbox...

Tibetan Monks on 7th Avenue in New York

The Dalai Lama was in New York, in May, when I was there. We saw evidence of his presence on billboards, tv news and on the street.

The Dalai Lama was in New York for a conference, sharing his teachings at Radio City Music Hall.

The cell phone this Monk is carrying may be an older version, but it was still an interesting sight to spot a monk carrying a cell phone, walking through New York. It was one of those situations where things seem out of context, and that very aspect makes the event unusual. Unexpected and a bit out of context, but on reflection not that surprising.

After all, it's a big, big world.

Start Spreading the News... New York at Night

In Times Square the police presence is fantastic. There are officers on virtually every block. As you walk down the street gawking at the huge billboards and people, as well as side stepping the crowds, there is a sense of safety in their presence.

We did see a few odd people on the sidewalk. There was the man selling 'Obama Condoms'. He had quite a speil about the country, safe sex, and well you'd have to see it/hear it to believe it.

There was a man playing saxaphone. He was really good and I put money in his instrument case. He stopped playing, said thanks, and asked if I had a request. I had him play New York, New York.

And a few pictures of New York at night:

Central Park, New York

Central Park is featured in many tv shows. Truth be told, I know it best for murders...on Law and Order and other law shows. Not a great recommendation, when you think about it. And, when I travelled to New York, it wasn't on my top places to visit because that was really all I knew about it.

Central Park is quite a landmark in New York. It was opened in 1857 and sits on 770 acres of land. It is large with lakes, theatres, skating rinks, fountains, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, playground, the Central Park Zoo and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Cars are not allowed in the park on weekends, making it a very attractive place to visit.

Central Park is situated in Manhattan between 59th and 110th street and between Fifth and Eight Ave. It was originally a bit out of the city, between New York and Harlem village. As the city grew and expanded with Harlem's boundaries meeting the city's, it became a 'Central' park that joined the two making one large city.  

New York city websites state that Central Park houses many activities: birding; boating; restaurants; carriage horses; pedicabs; paths for walking, running, cycling and roller blading; rock climbing; ice skating; merry-go-rounds; playgrounds (21); a Marionette Theature; model schoolhose; Central Park Zoo; Summerstage musical concerts; the New York Shakespeare festival; open-air concerts by the New York Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera as well as concerts by many other artists.

It is an interesting location, with so many activities. We barely touched the surface of Central Park when we visited. It was lush and green and on the weekend there were many people walking through, sunbathing, and relaxing.

My sister saw these two girls busking along the edge of Central Park. The fact that there were no adults around supervising them was a bit disturbing. I never felt the need to worry about my safety in New York, but there are so many different people around, it does seem a bit weird.