Seeing the City

I sometimes feel guilty because I am not as diligent as Jeff at writing, but the last week is well worth the record.

Jacob and Kari flew in on Sunday, June 16th.  We went out to eat at a restaurant specializing in Parmesan sandwiches.  The food was good and the company even better.  After dinner we went to the Magnolia Bakery to get dessert- banana pudding and cheese cake.   We then walked down to Time Square to wander around.  The streets were alive with excitement and I was glad to return to our apartment.

Monday morning we got up early and headed downtown to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The experience was a little surreal as I have always wanted to see both.  The day was a title overcast and beautiful.  I was amazed at the technical works of building the statue.  Ellis Island made me reflect on loved ones past who came here to guarantee the freedoms for future generations.  I was a little sad at the political implications under the shadow of the current immigration crises.

We returned to the apartment in the early afternoon, left our souvenirs and headed out for lunch and a Yankee Game.  We had lunch at a restaurant called “The Smith”.  It is just a couple blocks below our apartment and I had observed that it was always busy but didn’t know it was a must see place to go.  The food was very good and then we were off to see a basketball court called Rucker Park.  It is famous to sports people but I didn’t know much about it.  It was just a park to me.  Jeff made a basket and I filmed it.  He was excited.  We then left for Yankee Stadium.  We got there very early so we walked around and visited the park where the old stadium was.  When we returned we still had a large block of time so we went to the Hard Rock Cafe and had dessert.  Wayyyyy to much dessert.  Three of us had brownies and ice cream and Jeff had cheesecake.  We waited in line to get into the stadium and then went to their memorial park and then to our seats.  Though rain was forecast the weather was beautiful and the game was fun.

Tuesday we again got up early and went down to the 911 Memorial and the World Trade Center.  The World Trade Center felt like a science fiction moving with people moving like they were robots on a track.  The 911 Memorial was both interesting and emotional.  We took a tour and then wandered around until Jeff and I had to return to go to the temple.  Jake and Kari went to the Trinity Church where Hamilton is buried and then to Wall Street.  They went to Central Park and were rained on and then to a play, Come from Away.

Wednesday morning we toured Madison Square Garden.  That was interesting.  We bought tickets for the Empire State Building but it was too overcast so decided to go back another day.  We went to Rockefeller Center and wandered and went to the Toy store and Jeff and Kari played the piano from the movie Big.  Then Jeff and I returned to go to the temple and the continued to explore and were rained on again.

Thursday we went to the Bronx to Little Italy.  We were going to eat there but it was too early so we go pastries at a shop and returned.  We were going to eat a a restaurant called the Stardust Diner where the waiters are aspiring Broadway actors and sing as well as wait tables.  The line was so long we opted for Juniors instead.

Friday we started early to go to Grand Central Station, a place that always amazes me.  Jake got Jeff and I wireless ear buds at the Apple Store for Father’s Day and Mother’s Day.  We then headed off for the Highline.  This is an old above ground rail line that has been converted into a park.  We walked the two mile length and ended at Hudson yard where we climbed a structure called the Vessel.  I was proud of myself that I was able to make the climb up multiple layers of step to a look out point at the top.  We still had time so we returned to The Stardust Diner for lunch.  The line was even longer than the day before but it moved fast and the experience was delightful.  Jeff and I then left to go to the temple.

Saturday we went to the Empire State Building and it was most impressive.  After taking a million photos we left to find the Natzi Soup Kitchen from Sinfeld.  We found it but it didn’t open on time so we headed back ad had a vendor hot dog on the way home.