Christmas in New York with David & Val

12/12/10:    David & Val are in town for the weekend.  We met them on Sunday for breakfast at Tal Bagels on First Avenue & 54th Street, and then walked around the city, doing some holiday sightseeing.  Despite the forecast for heavy downpours most of the day, we were pretty lucky and had several hours of no rain.  After breakfast, we made our way to 6th Avenue where we took these tourist shots:

The four of us, photo courtesy of a passerby:

David in front of Fox News! (Bob hiding!)

We walked through Times Square:

 After spending some time trying to find a new battery for my camera, we made our way to Bryant Park, where there is another large Christmas Tree, an ice-skating rink and a whole village of kiosk-type shops selling all kinds of things!

The Bryant Park Christmas Tree:

An ornament on the tree, juxtaposed against the cityscape:

Cleaning the ice rink.  I think it was probably too warm to skate that day: the temperature was in the high 50s!!  I like the "HUG"on the rink's barrier!

David, Val & Bob in front of the tree:

Me taking photos by the tree (photo by Val:)

After checking out the area, we went into the Bryant Park 
restaurant to sit and talk and have a drink:

View of Bryant Park through plastic from the second floor bar:

Outside the restaurant:

On to Fifth Avenue, working our way toward Rockefeller Center,
we passed some colorful and artsy store windows:

Saks Fifth Avenue Windows,
special because of the reflections of Rockefeller Center
directly across the street:

Mechanical moth in Saks window!

St. Patrick's Steeple reflected in Trump Tower glass panels:

Across the street, the Rockefeller Center tree:

Some shots inside Rockefeller Center:

Poinsettia Tree:

Me next to one of the Poinsettia trees (photo by Val):

Storefront:

I had never been to the Top of the Rock, so we decided to go up to the Observation Deck.  Despite the heavy clouds, the views were spectacular. 

View east toward Queens, earlier view before twilight!

View northwest towards the Hudson River (and NJ) at twilight

Looking north toward Central Park at twilight:

Looking south toward Battery Park at twilight,
witha view of the Empire State Building!

View looking down from the 70th floor:

David & Val:

Bob & Sue:

David & Val:

Sue & Bob

The Four of Us:

Just as we were descending to the street, it started to rain again. 
But I was able to get these shots of the skating rink:

By this time it was getting dark, and we parted company with David & Val! On the way back to the car we ducked into St. Patrick's Cathedral, just as a service was ending:

Then a couple of blocks away, St. Bart's Church:

Then a final street shot on the walk back to where our car was parked:

It was a great day!

*    *    *     *     *    

A Day At Coney Island ~ and South Street Seaport!

September 10, 2010:  Bob's brother (David) and sister-in-law (Val) are visiting New York this weekend. They stayed with us Thursday night, and on Friday we all took a trip to Coney Island in Brooklyn!  Aaron is also here visiting from Seattle, and went along with us too!  It's been ages since I've been there, and I was up for the adventure.

We did the tourist version: spent some time on the Boardwalk, rode on the Wonder Wheel (my first time!) and took lots of photos.  And what better way to top off the day, than with hot dogs from the original Nathan's!?!? 

Boardwalk and Parachute Jump* looking west!

*The Parachute Jump is one of three rides at Coney Island that are protected as designated NYC landmarks and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  At 262 feet tall and weighing 170 tons, the Parachute Jump was originally built for the 1939 New York World's Fair in Flushing Meadow Park, and was the first ride of its kind. Patrons were hoisted 190 feet in the air before being allowed to drop, using guy-wired parachutes. The ride was moved to its current site, then part of the Steeplechase Park Amusement Park, in 1941, and is the only portion of Steeplechase Park still standing today. Although the ride has been closed since 1968, it remains standing as a Coney Island landmark and is sometimes referred to as Brooklyn's Eiffel Tower!

Boardwalk looking East, toward the NY Aquarium

Bathhouse near the pier!

Pier at Coney Island

Boardwalk Delights

"Shoot the Freak" is not very politically correct,

but this attraction drew lots of attention!

Basically it was shooting a moving human target with paintballs!

Deno's Wonder Wheel* Amusement Park ~ 

a separate Amusement Park within an Amusement Park!

*The Wonder Wheel is the second of three rides at Coney Island protected as designated NYC landmarks and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  Built in 1918 and opened in 1920, this steel Ferris wheel has both stationary cars and rocking cars that slide along a track. It holds 144 riders, stands 150 feet tall, and weighs over 2,000 tons. At night the Wonder Wheel's steel frame is outlined and illuminated by neon tubes. It is part of Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park.

Yes!! We rode the Wonder Wheel ~ in one of the rocking cars!  It was my first time on this ride!  But I have to say I was a bit disappointed that a $5.00 ticket bought only 2 complete revolutions and 4 rocking episodes!

Suzi & Bob (credit to David)

Val & David

View from the top of the Wonder Wheel!

  
 Carousel:

More amusements!


Tickets to Adventure!

The Cyclone*

The Cyclone* roller coaster is the third of three rides at Coney Island protected as designated NYC landmarks and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  Built in 1927, it is one of the nation's oldest wooden coasters still in operation. A favorite of some coaster aficionados, the Cyclone includes an 85-foot (26 m), 60 degree drop. It is owned by New York City, and was operated by Astroland, under a franchise agreement. It is located across the street from Astroland.

All three of the New York City historical landmarked rides:  the Parachute Jump (left background),  the
Wonder Wheel (right background) and the Cyclone (foreground)!

Back on the Boardwalk
(Bob & David):

Suzi & Val (credit to David)

Suzi & Aaron (credit to David)

What's a trip to Coney Island without an original Nathan's hotdog?!

Nathan's Hall of Fame!

There's always a line at the original Nathan's!

~
A fun Day!!!!

To be continued......
at South Street Seaport!

While driving David & Val into Manhattan to their hotel, we decided to stop at South Street Seaport to do a bit more sightseeing!

Four of us (minus David, who took this shot)

Classic Brooklyn Bridge:

Circle Line Tours


Downtown Brooklyn, seen from the Seaport

Seaport

New York Water Taxi

* * * * *