Snowstorm ~ December 2010

12/26/10:  Scheduled to drive home from Allegany on Sunday, we hoped to beat the blizzard home to NYC.  It had begun down south and  was predicted to move up the eastern seaboard and  hit the metro NYC area by late afternoon/early evening.  However, we discovered it was moving into our area faster than predicted - by midday we were already hearing news on the radio about drifting snow and car pileups on Route 80 in New Jersey.  We decided to take Route 17 into the city, and hoped that by coming in from the north, it would give us some precious extra time to get home ahead of the worst of it.

We hit the storm head-on about an hour north of the city, and the roads were starting to become treacherous on that last leg!  But we made it okay before the full fury began!

Early morning on the road in western New York:

 

Snow was really starting to come down
by the time we made it to the Tappan Zee Bridge:

We made it home just when the snow was starting to stick on the roads, causing slippery conditions - around 3:30PM.  This is the view from my front door, shortly after sundown the evening of 12/26:

12/27/10:  The next day was a snow day in NYC!  Official measurement in Central Park was 20".  Queens got more than that, closer to 24" with 4-5 foot drifts everywhere.

There was an abandoned car at the top of our block, so things didn't look good for getting plowed out anytime soon!  By day's end we were hearing reports of abandoned cars everywhere, and a general shortage of snowplow sightings in all outer boroughs!

View from our bedroom window, looking down:

Cold birds, waiting to be fed:

Feeding Frenzy:

View out the back bedroom window:

12/28-12/29/10: But the fun was just beginning!  It took DPS two days to plow our street, and many other streets ~ especially in East New York (Brooklyn) where I work ~ were still not plowed after four days!  It was treacherous trying to get to work during the week between Christmas and New Years.   On Wednesday, I got stuck on Cleveland Street near Sutter Avenue, and while trying to dig myself out (I was smart enough to take a shovel in the car with me), a Good Samaritan came along and helped me get out.  I gave him $20 for his trouble!  He evoked God's blessings on me, which,  as it turned out,  I really needed to actually get to work that day!

12/31/10: Bob and I were both off on Friday, New Year's Eve!  It was a beautiful, sunny day and some melting had already taken place.   We took a walk in the park and got some photos:

My Snow Angel!

 

 What a way to end the year!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
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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!

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