New York City 2012 - Day 2

Day one of our trip to NYC was so full – we saw the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree for the very first time, we checked out the store fronts decorated for the holidays, we had dinner at an amazing restaurant… it was such a memorable day!

Day two was a little more laid back because we knew we had the whole day ahead of us.  We started the day by walking around Tribeca.  I am completely obsessed with The Elvis Duran Morning Show (I’ve listened to them for years – anybody else listen?) and their offices are in Tribeca, so I was hoping to catch a glimpse of any of them coming or going since their show is over at 10 AM.  No such luck as I figured, but we did get to see all of the sights in the area.  

Elvis is constantly talking about his love for Walker’s, a little pub across from their studio, so we stopped in there for a quick lunch.  It is the quintessential neighborhood pub – dark wood walls, a bar, and good ol’ American bar food.  B and I both had burgers and they were excellent.  

Meanwhile, Jacob was back home hanging out with my parents.  Look how little he was!  Waaaahhhh!

After we left Walker’s we made our way to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.  B and I had both been to NYC in 2005 and again in 2008 (and B has also been several other times without me), but both times the area was still considered “Ground Zero” and everything was still a mess.  The Memorial & Museum had just opened about one year prior to this trip, so it was something that was on our must-do list.

Friends, nothing can prepare you emotionally for that visit. 

For the immensity of the reflecting pools. 

For the sorrow you feel that nearly sweeps you off of your feet. 

I just cannot imagine what it was like being there that day.  I cannot imagine personally knowing anyone who was there that day either.  What they all must have gone through.  What some people are still going through to this day.

But despite the fact that the reflecting pools are there because of a horrible tragedy, it was actually very peaceful being in their presence.  People were very quiet and respectful while they were in the park, and the sound of the water falling gently over the sides of each of the pools was so calming.  And we wanted to take a picture of us there, but we weren't really sure how to pose... it didn't really feel right to smile, but it also felt weird being serious, so we both look a bit awkward.

Brian and I spent a lot of time walking around and looking at the names engraved on each of the pools.  There were flowers sprinkled here and there, probably from loved ones who had come to visit.  The day was very dreary which also added to the somber mood, and it started to sprinkle while we were there. Before we knew it there was a steady rain, so we bought some $5 umbrellas from a street vendor and waited for a cab.  

After that emotional time, we wanted to do something light and low-key, so we got our cabdriver to take us to the Guggenheim Museum.  It was the only museum that we hadn’t been to in NYC at that point, so we got to cross another one off of the ol’ bucket list.  We stayed there for a couple of hours, browsing all of the paintings and admiring the architecture of the building… it is so beautiful inside.  I picked up a t-shirt for my dad on the way out (you may remember that he’s an artist), and then we went back to the hotel to change and freshen up for dinner.

Dinner was at John’s Pizzeria on W 44th Street.  Brian had read that they have some of the best pizza near Times Square, and friends, that was a very accurate statement.  I should also mention that it probably had one of the best views in a restaurant near Times Square.  Holy moly, it is gorgeous inside that place!  I didn’t take any pictures myself, but this is a picture from their website.  Just look at it!  Stunning!

Once our bellies were full we walked to the David H. Koch theater to see the NYC Ballet put on The Nutcracker.  I have loved The Nutcracker since I was a little girl… my mom took me to our local theater at Christmastime in 1985 when I was three.  She was nine months pregnant with my brother and I was just barely older than Olivia is now.  We got all dressed up – I wore one of my favorite dresses that was corduroy and had a teddy bear on it – and my mom even let me wear a tiny touch of her lipstick.  It was the best night, and it instilled in me a love of The Nutcracker.  Since then, I have seen it numerous times, but only at local and children’s theaters, so watching the NYC Ballet perform my favorite ballet was such a treat.

After the ballet was over, we cabbed it to Serendipity as that was one of the top things on my list while we were there, but the line was out the door and up the street (even though it was really late!), and it was cold and still a bit drizzly, so we decided to call it a night.  I was a bit bummed that we didn’t get to have our Serendipity date, but hang tight, friends… we just may have made it on day three!!  I’ll be sharing that day soon (and it was my favorite day of the whole trip) so stay tuned!

*Linking up with Home of Malones for Thoughts for Thursday and Amy and Jess for Bits of Cheer.