One Year Ago

Just a reminder to visit my #1500 post and leave me a comment so you'll be eligible for the giveaway!  (closes on Saturday)

It's nearly a year since we visited New York City and I thought it might be fun to take a little walk down memory lane!

We came in to the city the day after a big snowstorm had passed through.  There was a lot of snow but it melted really fast   For awhile there were lots of interesting snow scenes.  

Most of the row houses have steps leading up the main door entrance and the stairwells have interesting places where snow can pile up.  The door on the left in the bottom picture leads to the basement suite.

This was the street outside of the school where Mel and Tyler's church had Sunday morning services.  No jaywalking possible here!

Samuel was all tucked into the stroller so he could have a little nap - or so his Mama thought!  

The beautiful mural on the outside wall of the school.

Stroller parking inside the school.  True New Yorkers, most people walk or take the subway to get to church.  You can tell from this that there are lots of young families attending this church!

This little boy has grown up so much in the last year!!  Another good reason to look back so you can marvel at how much the grandchildren have changed!

New York Highlights #5

The whole reason that Melinda and Tyler are living in New York City is so that Tyler can complete his clerkship at a hospital.  We walked down to see him and have a little tour of the hospital one day.  They live about a 25 minute walk away.

The walk was a great way to see the neighborhood.

I was amazed at how many triangular buildings are built on the corners of streets.  It makes really interesting architecture.

And before we knew it - there was our destination!

The Green Family with Dad wearing his short medical student lab coat.  Residents wear a 3/4 length coat and attending physicians wear a full length one.  Makes for easy identification!

  

We went up to the 12th floor where there was a very good view.  

These pictures give you a little idea of how many buildings crowd together in this city!

New York Highlights #4

New York City is filled with famous places, interesting buildings and tons of spots to explore!

Work on St. Patrick's Cathedral was begun in 1858 but was halted during the Civil War and resumed in 1865. The cathedral was completed in 1878 and dedicated on May 25, 1879, its huge proportions dominating the midtown of that time. 

• The cathedral is built of brick, not marble because brick is stronger. However, it was then covered with marble, quarried in New York and Massachusetts.
• It can accommodate 2,200 people.
• The site of the church takes up a whole city block, bounded by East 51st Street to the north, Madison Avenue to the east, East 50th Street to the south, and Fifth Avenue to the west.
• The spires rise 330 feet (100 m) from street level.
• The windows were made by artists in Chartres, France, Birmingham, England and Boston, Massachusetts. The great rose window is one of Charles Connick's major works.

(from Wikipedia)

The inside reminded me so much of some of the European cathedrals we visited.

We walked down to the New York Public Library but the building was closed on this particular night because of a NY University Law School function.  The lions guarding the entrance were lit with pink lights and the limos pulling up gave the whole street an air of elegance.

Continuing on our way we walked through Times Square past several theaters, 

the moving stock quotes board, 

and into the heart of neon lights!

This was my absolute favourite,  painted on the side of a tall building!!

New York Highlights #3

We went to a performance of "In The Heights" at one of the Broadway theaters - and had a great time!

In the Heights is a musical with music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and a book by Quiara Alegría Hudes. The story explores three days in the characters' lives in the New York City Dominican-American neighborhood of Washington Heights. The score features hip-hop, salsa, merengue and soul music. The musical's 2008 Broadway production was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards and won the Tony Award for Best Musical at the 62nd Tony Awards. (from Wikipedia)

The show ends with Abuela's picture up on the storefront.  It was such a great snippet of life in one neighborhood in NYC and I could imagine the same feelings being found in any community.  

The main character, Usnavy, is named after the first ship that his parents saw when they arrived in New York.  US Navy was painted on the side of that ship.   I love that explanation!

It was a great show and I'm so glad Mel and Tyler were able to go with us!  I'd go to another play in a heartbeat!!

New York Highlights #2

After visiting Grand Central Terminal, we came out onto the sidewalk and pulled out our map to establish which direction we should start walking.  An elderly gentleman, dressed in a suit and camelhair coat, stopped to ask if he could help and confirmed that we should walk east.  We thanked him and, with a twinkle in his eye,  he made us smile when he said, "Remember you shouldn't talk to strangers in New York City!"

On the edge of the East River, we came to our next destination.

 The United Nations was formed in 1945 and this 18 acre site of land was donated by John D. Rockfeller to be used for the official headquarters.   The land is international territory and is not under jurisdiction of any one country.   An international team of architects cooperated to design the 4 buildings.  The General Assembly building is currently undergoing renovations so we couldn't tour it this time. 

The flags of all 192 member countries fly here daily, in alphabetical order from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.   (Good thing I took this picture when we arrived because the flags all come down at the end of each day and they were gone when we came out of the building.)  Only 3 tiny island countries in the world are not members.  

Interesting sculptures and artwork were found throughout the site and the building.  Inside we paid to take a 45 minute tour and saw -

a pictorial representation of the Declaration of Human Rights, 

this very long (maybe 50 ft.) mural donated by Russia (I believe).  The middle section is entitled "Building Peace",

and the Security Council chamber with artwork and furnishings donated by Norway.  Interpreters and various administration staff sit behind the windows on the right hand side.  It was inspiring to imagine the 15 member countries of this council sitting around the table and working together for the good of people all around the world. 

The UN has adopted a set of 8 Millenium Goals and this quote by Nelson Mandela is part of the display.

Housing materials that are sent to refugee camps and disaster areas around the world.  We saw some of these camps along the roads in Kenya and Tanzania.

An education box with materials for 40 children that is sent to communities to help with school.  

The poster reads, "In today's world, one in 6 adults is still not literate.   2/3 of them are women."

A vignette representing UN peace-keeping missions.

This piece of carved ivory was a gift from the People's Republic of China.  Since the signing of the treaty outlawing the sale of ivory around the world, this piece has been quite criticized.  No matter how you feel about that, the piece was still exquisite - so detailed and intricate!

This mosaic of a Norman Rockwell painting includes the verse from scripture about the golden rule and was given to the UN by the United States.  

The lobby had several exhibitions including this photographic competition about environmental stewardship in Africa.  There were 2 sections - one for amateur entries and one for professionals.  It was amazing to once again have Africa right there in front of us!  

"Non-Violence" or The Knotted Gun" - a gift from the government of Luxembourg

Also in the courtyard is a fractured metal ball sculpture, about which I can find no information.  I'd love to know more about it.

This spot was at the top of our things to do in NYC list and we were very lucky to clear the airport-like security check, purchase our tickets and be on the last English tour of the day, all within half an hour.  Tickets can only be purchased here at the site and sometimes you have to wait a long time in lineups.   There is an international type bookstore and a gift shop in the basement, as well as a post office where one can mail letters and postcards.

New York Highlights #1

We did manage to see a few tourist things while we were in New York City, in between playtimes with Samuel and visits with Mel and Tyler.  One of the places that I associate with NYC is Grand Central Terminal.

Grand Central Terminal (often inaccurately referred to as Grand Central Station) is a beautiful Beaux-arts building in midtown Manhattan. First opened in 1913, Grand Central Terminal underwent a massive restoration to restore it to its former glory, and is now both a transportation hub, as well as a destination in itself for visitors to New York City.  (from gonyc.about.com)

Wikipedia says:  Grand Central Terminal (GCT) — sometimes called Grand Central Station or simply Grand Central — is a terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Built by and named for the New York Central Railroad in the heyday of American long-distance passenger trains, it is the largest train station in the world by number of platforms:^[3] 44, with 67 tracks along them. 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 (19 ha).

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

We took the subway from Queens to midtown and spent some time wandering around. 

The building was reopened in 1998 after being saved from the wrecking ball and it's spectacular.

The main hall is huge and the ceiling is painted a beautiful blue-green color.  (Sometimes laser light shows are projected here but we didn't get to see one.) 

There are hallways on two levels leading to nearly 100 different rail lines, some within the city and some to other destinations.

Restaurants and shops can be found on 3 different levels.

The original, gold melon-shaped chandeliers were spectacular.  I just learned that a walking tour inside the building is available.  Always good to find that out after returning home :))