We visited Lumber Liquidators as per the instructions from Mark Dykstra, the guy Cath hired to convert our carpeted stairs to the basement to Red Oak like the up stairs. We got a quick lesson in Flooring 101 and now realize how many things have changed. This will be a mid-May project that she has been planning for a while.
I helped Keith try and get his printer working, but not much. I will send him video on how to clear air bubbles from his ink delivery lines.
The telephones have not worked since we returned home. The 28 messages on voice mail can be retrieved via cell phone, but Century Link couldn’t troubleshoot it from India, so they are sending a live repairman today. Guess what! The phone magically just started working again after a 3-day hiatus.
Yesterday we had our “Phase Wellness Exam” which used to be called an Annual Physical before the creativity of Medicare changed it. Everything seems the same except for the lab work. Maybe lab work isn’t necessary if there are no indicators and the money saved can be used for other things…like Alzheimer’s questions, etc. We sure love Dr. Huffman and all the good care she has given us through the years.
Since returning home, I bit the bullet and have jumped to iCloud and the Lion operating system for the Mac. It took a while to install, but I’ve adapted to most of the changes already. I had to buy Filemaker 12 and FM Go as well as a couple of other ones, but I was overdue for an upgrade anyway.
I also had coffee at Starbucks with Greg. He due for cataract surgery next week.I sure hope it improves his sight.
Homski today. Our doors were glued shut at USA Parking due to the variety of weather since we left. We had another slight delay coming home, but no big deal. We sure had a wonderful time. Richard and Meredith are great fun to be around.
We lament a few missed opportunities, but resolve to catch them another time: Frick Museum, City of New York Museum, Woorljip Korean Restaurant, New York Public Library Tour, Chinatown Confucius Plaza Blossom Festival, The Golden Unicorn, Conservatory Gardens in Central Park, The TicToc Diner, an unnamed Soul Food Restaurant in Harlem, and a long list of others. Meredith and Richard were afraid we’d run out of things to do on this trip. Yikes!
This is the beginning of the Hi Line.
This is what it looks like once you climb up to it.
Trendy eateries and great design everywhere.
This is a glass stairway in a "neighborhood" Apple store on 14th St.
Today we took the PATH to Christopher St up right through the west village, took a right on Greenwich to the High Line which is located on Manhattan’s West Side. It runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street and is built on the site of the old elevated train tracks that served the warehouses here. It is an amazing testament to cooperation and creativity. The walking surface rises up in spots to become benches or barriers. Huge chaise lounges roll on the old railroad tracks so you can get closer to friends. Amazing.
We ate lunch in the Chelsea Market – another ‘repurposed’ warehouse. Madhouse comes close to describing it at lunch hour.
There was LOTS of walking today.
Looking down one border of the monument to the South World Trade Center Tower.
The water cascades from the names of those lost which cover the perimeter to the first plateau then quietly moves to the void.
Outside the restrooms on the 2nd floor of the 'W' Hotel across from the WTC.
Meredith got us tickets to the World Trade Center Tour (weeks or months) ago. It is not something one just walks up to do. There is lots of security like at the airport but somehow faster with everyone “rowing the boat in the direction it’s going” instead of a lot of resistance and a feeling that all this is unnecessary. We were in line with hundreds, maybe thousands who all had timed reservations. I really expected nothing but a lot of construction having read of all the political and financial wrangling. I was amazed at all that’s been done. One skyscraper is more than 1/2 way up. The two ‘bathtubs’ (negative fountains) are so beautiful and appropriate. They reside on the exact footprint of the north and south towers and seem so small and easy to apprehend when compared to the enormity of what happened. I was a little worried about if Meredith was ready for this and very pleased to see she was. The mood was somber, respectful of the situation, but instead of being overwhelmed, we could all just take it in.
The WTC Museum a year away. We talked to John Byer, who works for the museum, last night and can only just imagine how spectacular it will be. Ah, another excuse to visit NYC.
We threaded through part of the Wall Street area, Zucotti Park where all the recent demonstrations about the 1% and tent cities were all over the news just a few weeks ago – now empty, clean and full of people enjoying the good weather. I love this city!
We walked across town to the Southstreet Seaport area where TKTS has an office for cheaper theater tickets. The operation is much smoother than the last time we waited in line. This time we had a cellphone link to Meredith as well as employees from TKTS walking the line answering our questions. The big board had good prices, but the Internet via Meredith won reasonably-priced tickets to Jersey Boys on Broadway tonight!
Next, it was time for an authentic working man’s bar – Jeremy’s Alehouse. Some of the clam chowder in Manhattan complete with bras of all sizes, colors and styles hanging from the ceiling. It was all I could do to keep Cathy from making a donation!
Moments later after lunch we stepped into a trendy coffee emporium that made Starbucks look old fashioned.
We met Meredith at the Delta Grill on 9th Ave. for Cajun before heading to the theater. One MUST know cross street for directions in Manhattan. Knowing the address of the Delta Grill (700 9th Ave.) helps not at all when talking to a subway agent. “What’s the cross street??” Out comes the iPad and when I told him the cross street was West 48th St., we instantly got directions about the proper train, direction and stop, which way to turn when leaving the station and how far to walk!
Jersey Boys the best!!! That’s all I’m going to say about that.
Sara Reynolds, our wonderful guide through the Met, gave us a close look at Consuelo Vanderbilt.
One of the dozen or so paintings Van Gogh did of shoes. Sara poses questions to the kids she takes through the museum: "Whose shoes are they?" "Are these shoes of a rich person?" "What can you tell about a person by their shoes?"
One amazing lamp shade.
Arabic calligraphy, beautifully mounted.
The genie comes extra.
Today we were met by Sara Reynolds in Manhattan for a ‘behind the scenes tour’ of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The only thing that might have compromised such a wonderful event was an eratic camera…yup, I had one…no, I had two. What are the odds? All I can think of is that I had the menu screen open and hit a combination of buttons that changed settings. Arrrgggghhhhh!
Actually, since this was the Monday after a holiday, the Met was partially open to the public. The Impressionist collection was roped off, however, and that was the principal collection we wanted to see.
The other thing we had read about was the opening of the Islamic Art section – 15 years in the making. How tasteful and spare. How beautiful.
We stayed with Sara for a couple of intense hours and then went for coffee with her.
Thoroughly satisfying day at the museum.
Looking like she does this every week, Meredith and friend from the publishing world, Margaret, finish wrapping the huge salmon steaks in parchment.
Neighbors Diane and daughter and Ann and Mario anticipate the feed that is about to begin.
A selected few of the Amari family.
Spooky house a few blocks from Meredith & Richard's place.
There was massive chopping and prepping in the morning hours and even some Easter egg dyeing as more and younger relatives arrived. The anticipation and volume curves were running close as the feast was finally delivered. What a feast for 24 it was!
Appetizers o’plenty, lasagna and amazing salmon, veggies, desserts, etc. The wine flowed along with the conversation from: Meredith, Richard and both sets of parents, both brothers and sister and families, one of Richard’s band members, some from the publishing world, friends and neighbors.
After dessert, some of us took a brisk walk up the street to see this huge, aging, neglected house that looked as if it might be on the way to being haunted.
By ones and fours, the people drifted away as the afternoon ended – some down the hall, down the street and others to Philadelphia, Boston, Manhattan and into central New Jersey.
Happy Easter!
As evidenced above, there is nothing wacky about Richard’s family…especially the ones from Philly.
We walked to the Twin Cities Marketto in Jersey City this morning to pick up the salmon steaks for Easter dinner. Meredith and Richard have invited 24+ for this intimate gathering. We walked back with two collapsible shopping cart things laden with food, wine and beer to the point that the carts nearly did collapse. Did it cost a fortune? Did the plastic nearly melt? Don’t ask…we can always eat the leftovers.
Upon return, we got out sheets and towels for the overnight guests, made up the pull-out couch, and around 3 p.m. Jerry, Anne, Nell, and Will arrived from Philadelphia. Jerry and Anne are both creative professionals from advertising and publishing respectively. Nell and Will are just darn nice kids – smart, creative, unusually nice kids.
Food prep was in full swing, but we did allow time to visit, drink a little wine and to order pizza.
Captions: Irony. Where would you find the most peeling paint in all of Brooklyn? Why, at the painting facility where they store the paint. Guess who has a new camera? What a horse (and look who’s riding in the background). Fantastic detailed restoration. The Manhattan Bridge.
One of the jobs that were sandwiched in between Arizona and New York was for the Arts Business Education Consortium. Joyce Robinson, one of the founding members and head of the Marie Walsh Sharpe Foundation after an earlier career in art education is the point source for the program that Malcolm McCollum and I put together for the annual luncheon, the only visible production of the ABE. The Marie Walsh Sharpe Foundation supports young artists and is based in Colorado Springs and New York City. Their main office was in Trebeca before 9/11, but has now moved into new digs in DUMBO which stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. DUMBO was a decaying warehouse district in Brooklyn before the artists moved in. Like lots of other places, DUMBO is now very trendy and ‘the place to be’.
While working on the ABE Program, Joyce and I talked about DUMBO, and she persuaded us to visit the carousel. She described how the wife of a VERY wealthy couple in New York found this old beat up carousel in Ohio, was going to buy a couple of horses but ended buying the whole shebang, bringing it to Brooklyn, building a spit of land out into the East River and restoring this gorgeous piece of history inside a glass box the size of a small Safeway. http://janescarousel.com/
It is beautiful; it is significant. Go to DUMBO and check it out for yourself.
After our morning at the carousel, we tried to eat at Bubbies, but the waiting list was too long, so we went to Miso’s across the street for some great sushi and tempura followed by some great coffee at Starbucks to wash the taste of tea out of one of our mouths.
All of DUMBO seemed to be part of a movie set today. Everywhere we walked, we were halted or redirected over lighting equipment and scenic displays. We learned this is not all that unusual. Wonder what movie they were shooting?
In the late afternoon we made it to Meredith’s jeweler to see the sketches and partial design of her new wedding ring. We loved the place and the jeweler, Bill, in SoHo and the newly adopted dog, A.J. named for Annie and Joe. Bill showed us his tramp art frames collected from all over the world and the repurposed art throughout the shop.
By the time we were finished with the jeweler, one of us was in serious need of a bathroom break and after too much walking we found a Bloomingdales that fit the need perfectly. I thought I might pick up a few shirts while I was there owing to my good fortune at Macy’s. Yikes!! A crummy used looking T-shirt was $300!!! We beat a hasty retreat and thanked them for the use of the facilities.
We walked and cabbed to El Toro, the home of the best burritos in New York. We picked up four to go and headed for the PATH (along with about a million other folks).
We ate with Richard about 10 p.m. which has become the norm. We are adjusting. Normal is normal.
We got off the PATH at 34th St. and were soon at the Macy’s famous Flower Show, however, due to all the interior construction Macy’s held the show in a big white tent out in the street. It was much smaller this year, but still spectacular AND they gave us a 10% store voucher on the way out.
Since we were there, we thought we’d cut through the store on our way to B&H Photo. I found a belt I liked, but it was $40 until the clerk started applying discounts. First came the voucher, then a big chunk because it was on sale, then she asked me if I was from out of town! I was shocked, because I felt quite disguised as a local New Yorker. She smiled and sent me for and out-of-town pass. Anyhow, when she totaled the bill, my $40 belt cost me $11.30. I love this town.
Speaking of being from out of town, after 9 days in New York City I did not see one other human wearing a Tilley. What’s that all about? Do you suppose this was one of the clues that led the clerk to surmise I was from someplace else?
B&H Cameras; 420 9th Ave. at 34th St., was our next destination. I have done business with B&H over the years and have always wanted to see the New York store. My picture of it didn’t even come close. I swear this store must be the ultimate internship for every Hasidic Jew who ever looked through a viewfinder. (http://www.mentalfloss.com/difference/hasidic-jew-vs-orthodox-jew/) Wow, do they know cameras! I was there to potentially buy 3 cameras for 3 very different shooters. They knew exactly how to help.
Cath’s requirement: easy use, light, small pocket sized, cheap, fast recovery not necessary, most prints not over 4″ x 6″.
Meredith wanted a camera with: sharp focus, good color, fast recovery, good battery life, middle sized like her old Canon A530.
Me: small pocket camera to replace my G9, good low light response, able to shoot RAW, good glass, good zoom, lightning recovery, good battery life, rugged.
They nailed 2 out of 3: an entry level real tiny Nikon 5100 for Cathy; a Nikon 8200 with lots of features for Meredith, and the old pro behind the counter told me to get happy with what I have. Dang. The newer models up through the G12 have added few features for the money and the G series is the only one that shoots RAW and has a viewfinder.
Our timing was great, too, since Passover began only hours away, and their whole operation closes for over a week. Their in-store system is a study in efficiency: make your selection, go down a floor and pay per the bar-coded slip you got upstairs, while you were paying, the clerk bar-coded your order to the stock rooms further upstairs, other clerks load your purchase into green buckets which come down via roller ramps, another bar-code checks you out and makes sure you have the right purchase! Very impressive.
We caught some quick Golden Dragon Chinese across the street before meeting Meredith, her boss, Cindy and co-worker Bill for the Hunger Games movie at the AMC Lowes right around the corner. We loved it and can’t wait for the next one.