Day 6 - Central Park, Rockefeller Plaza, & Times Square

Alex and I began our sixth day in the city by taking our usual 7:27 AM train from Summit to Penn Station. After this, we took a Queens bound E train to Lexington Ave/53rd St and transferred to a 6 train going uptown.  We got off at 86th St and then walked a few short blocks over to the east side of Central Park.

The first sight that Alex and I saw in Central Park was the Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir.  The water in the reservoir is no longer part of the city's water supply.  However, like the pedestrian pathway on the Brooklyn Bridge, the jogging track around the reservoir is home to many joggers on weekday mornings.  After briefly observing the reservoir, Alex and I decided to search for Strawberry Fields.

Strawberry Fields is located at approximately 72nd St on the west side of the park, so the walk to get here from the reservoir was not short.  For those of you that do not know, Strawberry Fields is a small section of Central Park dedicated in memory of John Lennon (its namesake is the Beatles song, "Strawberry Fields Forever").  One of the nicest features of Strawberry Fields is that the entire memorial is designated as a "quiet zone."  The memorial is also located across from the Dakota Apartments, the place where Lennon was murdered.  The main attraction of the memorial is the mosaic on the pathway which reads, "Imagine" in honor of the famous John Lennon song.  Alex and I must have seen at least thirty people pose for pictures with the mosaic in our short time at Strawberry Fields, in part because we arrived at the site at the same time as a very large group of Italian tourists.

Alex and I walked all the way down to Rockefeller Plaza after our visit to Strawberry Fields.  One of the first things we saw while here was the ice rink which, not surprisingly, is not actually an ice rink in the spring and summer.  Two restaurants, the Sea Grill and the Rock Center Cafe (purely indoor restaurants in the cold seasons) expand out onto the ice rink in warm weather.  Alex and I both were somewhat surprised to see the famous ice rink filled with dining tables and sun umbrellas.  The next thing on our agenda was to see the "Top of the Rock."  However, when we got to the entrance to the attraction, Alex and I were both shocked to learn that going to the Top of the Rock Observation Deck is actually slightly more expensive than going to the Empire State Building Observation Deck, mostly because the views from this observation deck are 16 stories lower.  Anyway, having already seen the views from the top of the Empire State Building, Alex and I decided that this was probably not the best way to spend our money, so we decided to go the NBC Store instead.  It was here where we were approached by a woman that wanted to know if we were interested in being part of a test audience for that day's taping of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  As badly as we wanted to stay for this opportunity, we had to say no to the invitation as being part of the audience would have caused us to miss our train home.  Speaking of which, it was getting time for us to start heading back to Penn Station.

On our way back, Alex and I decided to stop by Times Square, the site of the annual New Year's Eve ball drop and also the site of the recent failed attempt at a car bomb.  One of the most well known landmarks of the city, Times Square is famous for its bright lights and jumbotrons.  Alex and I joked that even the local NYPD station had flashing lights to advertise itself with.  Our visit to Times Square concluded our sixth day in the city.

Day 5 - Empire State Building, Morgan Library, Oyster Bar

Our fifth day in the city proved to be quite eventful, starting with a wonderful view of the entire city as seen from the 86th floor of the Empire State Building, and then getting a glance at some extraordinary historical documents in the Morgan Library, and finally topping it off with lunch at one of the City's most well-known restaurants, providing a truly unique experience. We started the day from Summit again, taking our typical 7:27 AM train and arriving at New York Penn Station right around 8 o'clock. Yet, this day was different, as we walked straight to the street level from Penn Station, as our first stop was just down 34th Street, located right on the corner of 5th Avenue, that stop no doubt being the famous Empire State Building, now the crown jewel of the the New York City Skyline.

If we learned one thing about New York City and the Empire State Building, it was definitely to arrive as early as possible. We got to the ESB right as the observation tower was opening for the public, and we were very fortunate to get there when we did. Walking through the building, it was almost surreal to see just how much red rope there was for people to stand in line. If we had gotten to the building around the middle of the day, we may have had to wait at least three to four hours just to get an elevator ride up to the 86th floor. Thankfully, our trip did not involve any waiting in line and we walked through (what seemed like) miles of empty lines cordoned by the red rope one sees at a movie theater, got our picture taken (with the purchase price of the photo at a mere $21), and rode the lightning-fast elevator all the way to the 86th floor, stepping onto the observation deck to experience some of the most breathtaking views of the city that one could possibly imagine. From all four sides of the deck, the views were simply spectacular. Looking to the north, we could see past the magnificent Central Park, with Yankee Stadium just barely being visible through the mist. To the west, we could see all the way to Jersey City, yet we especially took note of One Penn Plaza and Madison Square Garden, as Chris and I have become very experienced with all facets of Penn Station, for better or for worse. Maybe strangely though, I found my favorite view not to be of skyscrapers or famous landmarks, but just the simple view of all the buildings that make up this wonderful city, with the Hudson River located in the background. As I write this now, that picture has truly resonated with me, as it embodies the spirit of New York City, made up by the small-time shops, the plethora of apartment buildings, and the vast number of office buildings that millions of people inhabit each day. That, to me, is New York City in a nutshell, and that is why I value this picture so greatly.

Our next stop was the Morgan Library and Museum, which is located not far from the Empire State Building on 225 Madison Ave, right on the corner of 36th Street. As such, there was not much walking involved to get to the museum, which proved to be quite a good thing in the sweltering heat that had overcome the city. When we first got to the Museum, I will be honest in saying that our expectations were not very high. After all, this is a high schooler's guide to the City and the stereotype that teenagers do not enjoy museum tours rings true in many circumstances. However, I can speak for Chris in saying that our time here was truly fascinating, and after exploring all aspects of the Museum, I can say with full certainty that this was one of our favorite parts of the City. The part of the Museum that we enjoyed the most was Mr. Morgan's Library, the obvious centerpiece of the Museum. Here, we were met with what was without a doubt, the most exquisite, ornate library that I have ever encountered. The beautifully crafted wooden bookcases were lined with thousands of originals, even housing the scraps of paper where Bob Dylan wrote his famous song, "Blowin' in the Wind" (Wikipedia). Yet, the best part of the Library was standing next to the Magna Carta, as one of the most famous documents in world history had been kept here temporarily during the volcanic ash period in Europe just a few months ago. Although it wasn't allowed, I managed to snap a quick picture of the famous scroll before the security guard asked me to put my camera away.

We finished the day with a hearty meal at the Oyster Bar, a unique restaurant located below Grand Central Terminal. It is hard to find a good Oyster Bar anywhere you go, but this one truly lived up to its reputation. Chris, being an oyster master, picked a wide-ranging assortment of truly delectable different catches, and we enjoyed a perfectly filling and refreshing meal on a day where most New Yorkers simply wanted to sit in air conditioning to avoid the blazing sun. By the time we had gotten back to Penn Station we were exhausted, yet we knew that our trip had been perfectly planned and we looked forward to coming back the next day.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Morgan_Library_&_Museum

Day 4 - The Brooklyn Bridge, Little Italy, & Chinatown

On Wednesday, May 19th, Alex and I began our fourth day in the city by again taking the 7:27 AM train from Summit to Penn Station.  From here, we took a Queens bound E train to Lexington Ave/53rd St and then transferred over to a 6 train headed downtown.  We got off at the Brooklyn Bridge stop.  The bridge, which was completed in 1883 and spans the East River, was our first destination of the day.  Our day would also include a trip to City Hall as well as lunch in Little Italy and a walk through Chinatown.

After exiting the subway, we completed a short walk over to the bridge and then a much longer walk across it.  The bridge is known for its pathway open to both pedestrians and cyclists, which is elevated above street level.  Alex and I discovered firsthand that this pathway is largely occupied by joggers and those looking for an early workout on weekday mornings.  Nonetheless, there were still plenty of sightseers and the bridge does not disappoint.  It provides excellent views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Governors Island, and the rest of the East River.  Anyway, after walking about halfway across the bridge and absorbing some of the views, Alex and I walked back toward Manhattan, more specifically to City Hall.

New York City Hall is the oldest City Hall in the country where original government functions still occur.  Unfortunately, our visit to this site was very limited in that we were really only allowed to take pictures of the building.  However, seeing the historic building was still a very memorable experience especially considering that it has appeared in many films, including Ghostbusters.  New York City Hall is also surrounded by City Hall Park, which is a sight to see in the springtime.

We decided to walk up Centre St after seeing City Hall in search of a place to eat lunch.  We soon were in the heart of Little Italy and found a place on Mulberry St called Giovanna's that looked delicious.  Alex and I had Veal Parm and Chicken Parm, respectively, and we both agreed that our Italian lunch would not be complete without some gelato.  Around the block we found the Ferrara Bakery and Cafe, the place to go for desserts in Little Italy.

After our lunch and dessert, Alex and I decided to take a walk around nearby Chinatown.  Interestingly enough, we found a block that was entirely consumed by street side fish markets adjacent to a block entirely consumed by cheap jewelry stores.  This short walk concluded our fourth day in the city.  We took the subway back to Penn Station and once again caught the 12:46 PM train back to Summit.

Day 3 - The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Our third day in the City was completely dedicated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Given its vast size and extraordinary historical pieces, one could truly lose himself in the Museum for an entire day, maybe even longer! Our trip began a little late this time, when I slept through my six o'clock alarm and was unable to get to the Summit station by 7:27. Nonetheless, we took the 8:11 AM train and pulled into Penn Station right around nine o'clock. When we got to New York, we headed over to the MTA subway map and decided that the easiest way to get to the Upper East Side was by taking the E train to 53rd and Lexington Ave, and from there, connect on the 6 train up to 86th and Lex. When we got there, we only had to walk four blocks down to 82nd Street and then over to 5th Ave. It took a little bit of time, and a good amount of planning to figure out the Subway maps, but we made it to the Met right around 9:30 AM, and we spent our entire day there, amazed by the incredible artifacts and treasures that the Museum had to offer.

Going into the Museum, we knew that we had to see the American Wing, as both our parents had told us about the new multi-million dollar exhibit, and just how extraordinary the pieces were. The New American Wing had been closed for two years, as reconstruction and renovation kept the Wing closed off to the public. In fact, our ISP could not have come at a better time, as the new exhibit had just opened up a few weeks prior to our arrival. Chris and I were really struck by the American period rooms within a stunning facade reminiscent of the Federal architectural period. Overall, there are twenty period rooms, many of which we were able to view, set up chronologically to "offer visitors an unparalleled view of American domestic architecture and interior design as it developed over three centuries, from 1680 through 1912" (Met Website). The tour begins in the Samuel Hart Room, with a very medieval feel to the room, carrying "on construction traditions that were familiar to the English colonists" (Met Website). We enjoyed this room, although we both felt that our favorite room was the Richmond Room, by far the most lavish of the rooms in the exhibit. The room was originally created by William Clayton Williams for his new home in 1810, and it features "some of the most high-style Federal furniture in the American Wing's collection, including work of New York City cabinetmakers Duncan Phyfe (1768–1856) and Charles-Honoré Lannuier (1779–1819)" (Met Website).

Another fascinating part of the Museum was the Arms and Armor exhibition on display in the Medieval Wing. The gallery has been on display since the inception of the Museum, dating all the way back to the 1870s. In all, there are about 14,000 different objects scattered from all over the world, some of which were even used in historic battles. The Wing has a central Equestrian Court, with incredible displays of Knights dressed in full armor atop their horses, and rooms lining the perimeter with different weapons and tools. On the left side, there are three rooms dedicated to Medieval European weapons, and on the right side there is an assortment of Islamic and Asian weapons. Our favorite weapons came from the European side, as it boasted incredibly intricate and ornate weapons, including antiquated pistols and rifles, as well as swords.

Overall, Chris and I had a great time at the Met, and even though we were hesitant at first, given the stereotypical teenager's reaction to Museums, we were truly amazed by how interesting and informative the museum turned out. When we got on the train to go home, we were definitely satisfied with how the day had gone, not to mention exhausted from all the walking.






Works Cited:
http://www.metmuseum.org/
http://www.newyorkstatesearch.com/photos/New_York_City/photographs/Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art_at_New_York.jpg

Day 2 - SoHo, TriBeCa, and the Village

Our second day in the city was Wednesday, May 12^th.  Our visit was highlighted by our trip to the New York City Fire Museum.  Once again, Alex and I took the 7:27 AM train from Summit to Penn Station and then the 1 train on the red line to get to our destination.  This time, however, we got off at Canal Street.  Alex and I agreed that after only one day in the city, we both felt much more comfortable using the subway as our major form of transportation around the city.

Unfortunately, we were not blessed with the same weather that we had been given the previous Friday.  Much of our travels were hindered by the cold and rain.  Nonetheless, we decided to begin the day walking down Canal Street and eventually, up Broadway.  We actually walked all the way up to NYU before agreeing that the site to see was the NYC Fire Museum on Spring Street.  In order to get here, Alex and I had to practically walk all the way back to where we got off the subway in the first place.  Still, walking down Canal Street and up Broadway was a valuable experience, giving us a good taste of many parts of SoHo.

Alex and I were both struck by the welcoming environment of the Fire Museum.  The people who worked there were extremely friendly and the prices of admission were only suggested.  The majority of the museum included history as well as antique pieces of equipment once used by the fire department to help put out fires.  They even had a few outdated fire engines as well as horse drawn buggies that were once used by the fire department.  One item that specifically drew our attention was the “life net,” an old piece of equipment that was used to catch people jumping out of burning buildings.  As the plaque next to it read, “When you see the life net come out, things are bad.”  The museum also displayed the clothing and equipment used by modern firefighters.

The main attraction of the Fire Museum was, however, the September 11^th Memorial.  The memorial is on the first floor and contains a monument to honor the 343 members of the FDNY who sacrificed their lives on September 11^th, 2001.  Alex and I were humbled as we looked at the pictures on the wall and listened to a firefighter tell stories of his experiences at Ground Zero almost nine years ago.  The memorial brought back vivid memories as well as goose bumps. 

After leaving the Fire Museum, Alex and I walked down Spring Street in search of a place for lunch.  We found a place called the Rheon Café that was only a few blocks away from the museum.  Conveniently enough, the café was also located very near the Spring Street subway station.  Alex and I grabbed some lunch and took the subway back to Penn Station, just in time to catch the 12:46 PM train back to Summit.

Day 1 - Financial Sector and Battery Park

Friday, May 7th was our first day in the city. We took the 7:27 AM train from Summit to Penn Station. We figured that the train would not be too packed, because most commuters take earlier trains to get to work. However, after we had taken our seats, a horde of people, mostly dressed in business casual attire, rushed onto the train. After arriving, Chris and I had some trouble finding the subway, given our inexperience with the city. However, the subway lines were not incredibly difficult to understand after we took some time to look at the nearest map. We decided the most efficient route would be to take the One train on the red line down to Rector Street, as it allowed us to enter right near Ground Zero, which was our first stop for the day. Unfortunately, when we arrived, we found it very difficult to view the progress of the new Freedom Tower, because most of the view was blocked off by an opaque barrier and chain-link fences. Certainly, we were disappointed by the limited view, but we walked over to the World Financial Center shortly after, which proved to be quite interesting in its own right. The architecture of these buildings is quite fascinating, with a semi-spherical dome on top of one of the buildings, and a pyramidal cap on top of the other building. Although the World Trade Center site proved to be a letdown, the Financial Center clearly made up for it with its very interesting architecture, and its proximity to Battery Park, a beautiful walking park that has undergone a series of renovations, making a once run-down area of Downtown look rather extraordinary.

Battery Park is located at the southern tip of Manhattan Island.  The park provides excellent views of both Liberty and Ellis Island.We entered the park near the North Cove Marina, as it was located adjacent to the World Financial Center. As we walked along the railing we saw a number of beautiful yachts and smaller boats anchored at the harbor. We kept walking past this, down to the Esplanade, which is a long walkway that runs alogn the edge of the Hudson River, a very aesthetically pleasing view to see in the early morning on a brisk day. As we walked down the Esplanade, we were able to see clear views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, both of which are spots that we plan to visit during this week.

After leaving this part of Battery Park, we walked to the New York Stock Exchange. We were both excited to see Wall Street in full, considering it is one of the biggest symbols of American power in the global economy. It is hard to imagine that one building in particular, the NYSE, is so pivotal to our economic well-being, and for that reason, it was truly awe-inspiring to stand in front of this dominating piece of architecture. Unfortunately, we were not allowed inside, as security measures have increased obviously since September 11th, but also since the more recent bomb scare at Times Square just last month. Regardless, we still found it quite powerful just to be in the presence of such an integral part of our country. After viewing this building, we continued down Wall Street, as the large investment banks and other brand names in the industry seemed to dominate the street that more or less controls the financial sector.

We walked up Wall Street and cut across Broadway and up Rector Street to get to Trinity Place, where Trinity Church is located. Interestingly enough, we had remembered the Church from the movie National Treasure, in which Nicolas Cage found the secret treasure that he had been searching for underneath the church. The Church is a National Historic Landmark and has hosted important dignitaries like Queen Elizabeth II on July 9, 1976. In fact, there is a plaque that commemorates this visit located on the stone by the front entrance to the building.

To cap off the day we ended our trip again in another section of Battery Park, in the area located in the center of the Southern Tip, where the South Ferry docks. Walking through the park, we found a truly extraordinary exhibit on display, a large metallic sculpture called The Sphere, by Fritz Koenig. It originally stood between the Twin Towers in the World Trade Center Plaza. Miraculously, it survived the attacks of September 11th, even though both towers had collapsed virtually on top of the sculpture. Nevertheless, the piece was rescued by workers from the debris and was moved to its location in Battery Park where it stands today. No repair work has been done to the sphere, making it a reminder to all of the damage that 9/11 caused so many, but also a symbol of the resilience of our nation and New York City in particular. After viewing this historic piece of art, Chris and I decided that our day on the Southern Tip of the Island was completed, and we took the South Ferry Subway up to Penn Station, effectively ending our first day of many in New York City.