Scott and I were able to spend a long weekend in New York just before Christmas. It was a blast; and it just happened to be the weekend that the East coast got slammed with a snowstorm, which was an experience in itself!
We packed a lot of activity into a few days - watched a taping of the Jimmy Fallon show at 30-Rockefeller Center the day we arrived. Our hotel was a block from the Rockefeller Center, which was great; we were able to walk pretty much everywhere we needed to be. This is the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center - it was immense.
Scott was attending a medical conference, so Friday morning, Lauri and her friend Ellen took the train into the city to visit. We did some shopping (Lindor truffles, anyone?) and then had lunch at a little deli. Terrible picture, but the only one I have. (The other gal in the picture is a friend of mine; her husband was also attending the conference.)
Friday, we went to Top of the Rock (that's the Empire State Building between us).
Spent a little time in Times Square.
After a little sightseeing, we went to see the Broadway production of "Wicked" which was phenonmenal.
Saturday morning, we went running in Central Park; just before the snow started to fall.
We really didn't have anything planned for Saturday night, so we decided to see if we could get cheap tickets to a show since everyone was fleeing the city. We scored some great tickets to Phantom of the Opera. It was snowing when we went into the theater; and when we got out of the theater, the city was gripped in a full-fledged blizzard. It was a hoot.
The taxis were getting stuck, thousands of people were in Times Square playing in the snow, and we had ten blocks to get back to our hotel. Manhattan has really long blocks; by the time we got back, we were covered in ice - Scott's hair was frozen solid.
As Minnesotans, we were less than impressed with the snow removal. New York doesn't have snow plows; they use their garbage trucks. So, instead of picking up garbage on Saturday morning, the trucks were outfitted with blades on the front. People are not required to have garbage cans, apparently, so there were just bags and bags of garbage on the streets (easier for the rats to get at, I suppose...) which never got picked up and then got piles of snow on them.
This guy was in the street and moved his snow blower out of the way for the taxis, but they were literally blowing snow out of the streets by hand. I saw the news on Sunday morning and the mayor was asking people to help shovel - you just had to call a certain phone number and sign up and you would get paid twelve bucks an hour. Too bad I left my snow shovel at home, I could have made some spending money!
Sunday, we slogged through the slush and went to the World Trade Center site. There isn't much to see anymore, except St. Paul's Chapel, where the rescue workers went for breaks. It was very sad. It's hard to believe those events took place more than eight years ago.
We stopped at Macy's - it was a zoo, but had great decorations!
Sunday night, we went to Tavern on the Green in Central Park. It was beautiful. It is closing December 31, so we were glad for the experience. They are auctioning off all of the interior fixtures and artwork - valued at 10 million dollars, so if you see something you like...
Our flight left Monday at 2:00. We were hearing horror stories of people trying to get out of the city, so we decided we should probably get to the airport nice and early. We were leaving our hotel at 9:30 a.m. and saw Tim Pawlenty in the lobby. (For those of you who aren't Minnesotans, he's our governor.) So, we chatted with him for a little while and then headed out for the worst taxi ride ever. We got stuck (yes, it snowed on Saturday and we still got stuck on Monday morning!!!) but eventually made it to La Guardia airport.
We stood in line outside for curbside check-in for an hour (inside was infinitely worse) and then got inside to get in the security line. While we were in line, an announcement was made, "We're sorry for the inconvenience, but we are having a minor power outtage (???!!!) in the terminal. We appreciate your patience." I really wish I had taken some pictures. I have never seen so many people in an airport and never seen so many people with scowls on their faces.
As we were in line for security, there was a family in front of us. Scott said to me, "I think that's Stephen Colbert." He's a comedien who has a talk show on Comedy Central. I wasn't sure. Scott kept saying, "I really think it is; it's going to bug me..." so I said, "Say something to him." The following is the ensuing conversation: Scott, "Stephen." Stephen Colbert, "Yes?" Scott, "I recognized your deformed ear. (WHAT?!?!?!?) Oh, and I really like your show." Stephen Colbert (with a little fear in his eyes,) "Um, thanks. Merry Christmas." Moves as far up in the line as possible to get away from the crazy man.
"I recognized your deformed ear?!?" I yelled silently at him. Scott: "What, I'm a doctor, those are the things I notice." Later, (since we were in line with these people for two hours, after all,) I started chatting with his wife. Scott told her he felt a little stupid for what he said to him. After the story was related and his wife had a good laugh, she told us all about the medical condition that had caused him to have several surgeries on his ear. Then they got through security and as far away from us as possible!
Our flight was supposed to leave at 2; we got to our gate at 1, finally boarded at 3; sat on the runway for two hours and took off at 5. I have never been so glad to get back to Minnesota, just in time for the storm of the century over Christmas. I really appreciate our snow removal crews.
Papa even got in on the action.
