Hope everyone's hungry!!
Sunday, 13 July 2014
Friday night in NYC.
We had a great recommendation for an Italian restaurant in Little Italy for Friday night. They did the best gluten free pizza we ever thought could be possible and the kids had an absolute feast (they are going to be SO disappointed with meal portion sizes when we get home, if they don't roll off the plane). We wandered around Little Italy to find a good gelato for all before we made our way to the Empire State Building - we saw Rockerfeller by day so wanted to see the view at night. We picked a great night - full moon, cloudless sky and lovely breeze after another hot New York day. I just loved the Empire State Building - one of those moments when you pinch yourself and think "I've always wanted to come here", and the beautiful structure and gorgeous lines of the 1920/1930s architecture and design just didn't disappointed. Unfortunately it was way after midnight when we got home so another slow start the next day!!
Friday 11th July - getting a bit behind!!
I have to play catch up - too much going on and too many late nights so I haven't been keeping up.
First stop on Friday was back to the 9-11 Museum. It's really captured the interest of the children - particularly as they were mostly too young to remember what happened (or weren't born) and we've met a number of people who've recounted their experiences of the day. On the way downtown on the subway a man next to Finbarr and I started chatting. He is a retired police officer with over 20 years service now working in security in Wall Street. When I last came to the USA we toured the stock exchange and were able to see the brokers in action on the floor. It is now completely closed to the public and streets surrounding Wall Street are almost vaulted closed - no access even for suppliers without major security clearance.
He was a really interesting man - was on scene during 9-11 and had the terrible task of sorting "parts" and cataloguing for identification (I'll spare the details). Counsellors had recommended no officer was to work more than 3 weeks at a time on the task, with 2 days break minimum each week, but he worked for 7 days a week with no break for 5 weeks before having the chance to take a day off. Traumatic and awful but he said no one would tear themselves away because of the importance of the job. He was thrilled we were going to the museum.
The museum itself was amazing - they have done an excellent job of respectfully putting together information, significant pieces, photos and recordings of events. You could spend days there and not see everything. So very sad, so moving and such a wonderful tribute to those who lost their lives.
After the seriousness of 9-11 Museum things got a lot lighter when we went right back uptown to visit the huge toy store, FAO Schwartz. For anyone who's seen the movie, "Big" with Tom Hanks, this is the scene of the place he played on the giant piano. A million and one toys, it was the US version of Hamleys in London - and it had something for everyone. The toys and displays were fantastic and all of the kids came away happy.
First stop on Friday was back to the 9-11 Museum. It's really captured the interest of the children - particularly as they were mostly too young to remember what happened (or weren't born) and we've met a number of people who've recounted their experiences of the day. On the way downtown on the subway a man next to Finbarr and I started chatting. He is a retired police officer with over 20 years service now working in security in Wall Street. When I last came to the USA we toured the stock exchange and were able to see the brokers in action on the floor. It is now completely closed to the public and streets surrounding Wall Street are almost vaulted closed - no access even for suppliers without major security clearance.
He was a really interesting man - was on scene during 9-11 and had the terrible task of sorting "parts" and cataloguing for identification (I'll spare the details). Counsellors had recommended no officer was to work more than 3 weeks at a time on the task, with 2 days break minimum each week, but he worked for 7 days a week with no break for 5 weeks before having the chance to take a day off. Traumatic and awful but he said no one would tear themselves away because of the importance of the job. He was thrilled we were going to the museum.
The museum itself was amazing - they have done an excellent job of respectfully putting together information, significant pieces, photos and recordings of events. You could spend days there and not see everything. So very sad, so moving and such a wonderful tribute to those who lost their lives.
After the seriousness of 9-11 Museum things got a lot lighter when we went right back uptown to visit the huge toy store, FAO Schwartz. For anyone who's seen the movie, "Big" with Tom Hanks, this is the scene of the place he played on the giant piano. A million and one toys, it was the US version of Hamleys in London - and it had something for everyone. The toys and displays were fantastic and all of the kids came away happy.
Thursday, 10 July 2014
Thursday 10th July
The 9-11 memorial was on our list today. We set off via subway (we're getting pretty good at them now) and found our way there. Unfortunately we hadn't per booked tickets for the museum so think we'll go back tomorrow as the line was at least 1-2 hours worth. We still viewed the memorial fountains and saw the local fire station, and also the new building being constructed for the world trade centre. It's going to be the tallest building in America, and I have to say while it looks amazing, I would feel very reluctant to work in or visit the building. Some New Yorkers we've spoken to feel the same way. The site was very moving and just so sad - hard to believe it was 13 years ago when it's so fresh in everyone's memories.
On a much lighter note, we went for lunch at the famous Katz Deli - operating since 1888 (maybe with some of the same staff?!) and famous for its pastrami and rye sandwich, and it's slogan of "Send a salami to your boy in the army". It was also the location of the best-known scene of "When Harry Met Sally" - they even have a sign pointing over the table where they sat for the scene.
This evening Damian and I got tickets for "Book of Mormon" - a musical off Broadway. Completely irreverent, particularly rude, silly and absolutely hilarious is how I'd describe it. I wouldn't recommend it for everyone but certainly for a lot of people!! There were some children in the audience tonight - so completely inappropriate, and I'd love to hear the conversations in their households when they got home!! A great laugh anyway and lots of fun!
We're starting to panic a bit at only 2 days and nights left in NYC - we've been so lucky to see so much, but we're still hoping to squeeze in some more!!
On a much lighter note, we went for lunch at the famous Katz Deli - operating since 1888 (maybe with some of the same staff?!) and famous for its pastrami and rye sandwich, and it's slogan of "Send a salami to your boy in the army". It was also the location of the best-known scene of "When Harry Met Sally" - they even have a sign pointing over the table where they sat for the scene.
This evening Damian and I got tickets for "Book of Mormon" - a musical off Broadway. Completely irreverent, particularly rude, silly and absolutely hilarious is how I'd describe it. I wouldn't recommend it for everyone but certainly for a lot of people!! There were some children in the audience tonight - so completely inappropriate, and I'd love to hear the conversations in their households when they got home!! A great laugh anyway and lots of fun!
We're starting to panic a bit at only 2 days and nights left in NYC - we've been so lucky to see so much, but we're still hoping to squeeze in some more!!
Wednesday, 9 July 2014
Wednesday 9th July 2014
Today was a bit of a quieter start - we actually tried for a sleep in (after getting home at 1.30am from dinner because the only reservation we could get was for 9pm!)
We split up into boys and girls and had a shop - girls heading to Saks and shops down 5th Ave and the boys going to The Gap and Lego Land.
We had agreed to meet up at 1.30 because we had bought tickets to see Matilda the Musical - an adaptation of Roald Dahl's book made into a musical by Australian Tim Minchin. What a brilliant show! We just can't get over the talent of the little girl who played Matilda - she was extraordinary. When it gets to Australia, buy tickets - it is an absolute must!! It was thoroughly enjoyed by all of us.
Tonight Em and I had a girls night and headed to Soho for shopping and dinner. Lots of fun and we ended up in a great restaurant called Mercer Kitchen. Damian met up with Christine Burke again and found a rooftop bar near Bryant Park.
There is just so much to this city - I can understand why people keep coming back to this city now!!
We split up into boys and girls and had a shop - girls heading to Saks and shops down 5th Ave and the boys going to The Gap and Lego Land.
We had agreed to meet up at 1.30 because we had bought tickets to see Matilda the Musical - an adaptation of Roald Dahl's book made into a musical by Australian Tim Minchin. What a brilliant show! We just can't get over the talent of the little girl who played Matilda - she was extraordinary. When it gets to Australia, buy tickets - it is an absolute must!! It was thoroughly enjoyed by all of us.
Tonight Em and I had a girls night and headed to Soho for shopping and dinner. Lots of fun and we ended up in a great restaurant called Mercer Kitchen. Damian met up with Christine Burke again and found a rooftop bar near Bryant Park.
There is just so much to this city - I can understand why people keep coming back to this city now!!
Fireplace
On reflection, I think our fireplace could be a little more decorative - I might go for something like this Vanderbilt design found in the Met.
Dinner at Eleven Madison Park
The last part of our day was having dinner just for Damian and I at a restaurant we'd booked called Eleven Madison Park. We'd been wanting to go here for quite some time thanks to the great referrals (and jealousy-inducing stories) from Jan and Charles Sullivan. It was brilliant - such an amazing meal with lots of references to American tradition and iconic eating places (such as Katz's Deli and their famous pastrami and rye). You may also know we had a lot of fun celebrity spotting as the table next door to us had Sir Paul McCartney and his wife, Jimmy Fallon, some other people we don't know and Lucy Liu. I was a very good stalker and pretended to photograph Damian so I could get shots of them - no one would ever know!! I didn't feel too bad taking photos as they got sillier as the night went on and spent half their evening taking selfies together! (Lucy and Jimmy did - Paul was much more sensible - notice we're on first name basis with them now?). Damian was quite proud of himself - he went to the bathroom at the same time as Jimmy (ok, so he followed him in there) and got there in time to hear a young guy ask if he could have a photo with him. Damian said, "Don't you want to have a photo with me?" and Jimmy had a great big laugh.
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