The Benniest's Visit to New York

[The Benniest]

Monday
March 24, 2008

When having to get up at 4:30 AM to catch a flight at Omaha International Airport, my entire tour group of 28 people knew it was going to be a long day.

Coming into the airport, we had to fly over Manhattan Island, which gave us spectacular views of the city. And, after being told not to use electronics, I think 95% of the people on the plane had their cameras out.

We landed at La Guardia Airport around 12:30 PM and met up with the tour guides that would be with us for the next four and a half days. We loaded the bus and by 1:00 or 1:15, we were off to Manhattan. We drove through areas like Astoria and other parts of Queens. We crossed a bridge (can't remember which one), and were in Harlem for a while.

While riding through Harlem, we got some good pictures of the Apollo Theater, a "real" hot dog stand (haha!), and our first take of New York City traffic. To some people in our tour group, I thought they were going to 'die' if we had to sit in a ~5 minute traffic stop for one more minute. Welcome to New York City! To this minute, I still can't figure out what they were expecting. This isn't small little Iowa anymore. ;)

We got out at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine to take pictures of the church and to walk around the corner where there was a 'fountain' with little children-made sculptures around. We took a group picture of all of us and were back on the bus. Throughout the trip, our group leader made us take what seemed to be several hundred group pictures. :p

We hopped back on the bus and drove down the West Side, past Columbia University, Grant's Tomb and drove through the road going through Central Park. We drove to the East Side of Central Park and were going to walk across the park, so we would get to see things like Bethesda Terrace, Bethesda Fountain, the back side of the Met, and the "Balto" statue. After a group picture at Bethesda Fountain, we made our way across Central Park, crossing Strawberry Fields and Tavern on the Green on the way. When we reached the West Side (again) of Central Park, we took some pictures of The Dakota and got a bit of quick-info on the building.

We crossed the street, some running so they wouldn't get hit by a car (even though we had the light to cross ........... some people). We walked a little further from The Dakota to the Lincoln Center, which unfortunately was under what seemed to be serious construction. The fountain was all covered up and not visible by the public.

We walked down the West Side, passing the filming of the movie “New York, I Love You,” seeing some local apartments, and markets. Today was a big day for me to pay attention (even though I was tired) because I have been researching the areas of the West/East Side and Harlem for apartments and housing. So I definitely learned a lot!

We boarded the bus a while later, and drove even farther down the West Side, drove around Columbus Circle, passing the Times Warner Center and the Columbus statue (obviously). We drove by the Ed Sullivan Theater where the Dave Letterman Show takes place and made our way to the Times Square/Broadway area. No stops were made in Times Square (today). We stopped at the New York Public Library (for a picture), walked through Bryant Park and walked down to Grand Central Station, where we got a *quick* tour and walked passed the food court, which smelled delicious.

For dinner, we went to a deli on W. 45th Street called “The Cranberry Café.” The fruit was delicious, and after being extremely excited about just being in NYC, I didn’t eat much. Haha!

After finishing dinner, we walked down a few blocks to 42nd Street, where we walked around Times Square for a bit. Some “exiciting/memorable” moments for me at this point was just being there, seeing MTV Studios, the different theaters, seeing ALL different types of people, my first free time in the city (;)) and other different little things.

A confusing part to start this trip with was the fact that we were meeting two other schools from California in New York City, and they would also be with us for the entire week. So plus our group from Iowa, we had a grand total of 52 people going all over New York City. Stressful at some points? Yes!

The other two schools were seeing Broadway plays on Monday night, which both got out late that night, pushing our schedule back. We walked around Times Square for about an hour and a half, gathering together some souvenirs for people back home and taking pictures of Broadway at night. After meeting at one point with hour ‘head’ tour guide, we stopped by COLONY Records, and saw a glimpse of the Naked Cowboy on the streets.

Later in the evening, we crossed the Manhattan Bridge to get to our hotel: Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge. We got in rather late and my mother and I went straight to bed after getting into our hotel room.

***

Sometime tomorrow I’ll attempt to post Tuesday – Friday. I’m sorry that this is so long. When I started, I just couldn’t stop writing. Hope you enjoy the read.

Just wanted to add that without this forum, and the help of all of the forumers here, this trip would have been a daze and completely confusing. So thank you ALL for your help!

[The Benniest]

Tuesday
March 25, 2008

Our first official day in New York City.

We got up pretty early (7:00 a.m. in the hotel lobby) and walked a few blocks to the Celeste Diner on Tillary Street in Brooklyn. Through this tour group, some of our meals were pre-paid for, meaning we had a very limited amount of breakfast options to choose from. Still … good food.

After we all finished eating, we walked a little bit farther to the Subway station. For a lot of people in the group, this was their first time on the Subway (anywhere). I’ve been to Europe and other cities where subway systems are frequently used so this was definitely not my first time. I got my little day pass and waited while the other noobs came through the gate. Heh…

We took the subway to a place close to the Empire State Building, which was the next stop on the tour. As many New Yorkers probably remember (maybe), Tuesday was a beautiful and very clear day, perfect for the Empire State Building. Again, we got there rather early and didn’t have to wait at all except for at security for a little bit. We got up to the observation floor and the views were spectacular, especially being how clear it was. (pictures will be posted later).

After the Empire State Building, we had some free time so mom and I went into Macy’s to check out the Spring Flower Show. When we walked around for a bit and I looked in the Men’s Dept., I left the store to search for a bathroom since the bathroom in Macy’s was out-of-service. This is when I got lost…

When I left, mom told me that we were meeting at 6th Ave. and 33rd Street when the actual address we were meeting at was 7th Ave. and 34th Street. So I’m aimlessly wandering around the Macy’s area to find my tour group and nothing is working. So I run back into Macy’s to try and find mom who is already gone. Finally got a hold of her via cell and everything worked out … panic attack for a bit though. :p

We had a few scheduled activities in the afternoon that I won’t go into boring detail about. These scheduled things were also part of the tour group areas.

After our scheduled activities, we took the subway to 42nd Street again and walked around Times Square for a while until we met at the Roxy Deli on Broadway for dinner. After the deli, we walked down to the Ambassador Theater where we saw the musical Chicago.

Due to a ticket mix-up, I volunteered to sit by myself somewhere off from my tour group during the show. It just so happened that this ticket was in the middle FRONT row of the theater. Let’s just say I thought I was going o get a peep show ‘more’ than a few times. Haha!

After the musical, which was excellent by the way, we had a formal, professional picture taken of our group in the very middle of Times Square and then a little bit of free time after that.

After free time and after we all met up again, we took the subway from 42nd Street to Borough Hall which was very close to our hotel in Brooklyn.

[The Benniest]

Wednesday
March 26, 2008

Just like Tuesday, all three tour groups (mine, and the two CA school’s), were told to meet in the lobby of our Brooklyn hotel at around 7:00 a.m. (not bad at all). We took the subway to some place around the Financial District. On our way to the Amish Market where we were to have breakfast, we passed places like Trinity Church, the New York Stock Exchange, and Federal Hall. There really is some amazing architecture down in the financial district. I was very much impressed…

We ate at the Amish Market (17 Battery Park Pl.), which had some really, really good food … for a lot of people that early in the morning. My order for that morning was the basic: yogurt, fruit and juice. Nothing special, but quite delicious.

We walked down a little ways further, passing the “bull (http://www.d.umn.edu/%7Egbabiuk/images/WallStBull.jpg)” and walking into Battery Park near the ferry that would take us to both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Once in Battery Park, we stopped by “The Sphere” and got a brief explanation about what that was. We got to the ferry station just in time before the rush because once on the ferry, and as we pushed away from the dock… THIS (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC05152.jpg) is what the line looked like. When we were going through, there was literally no one! Was quite nice… :D

We never got off the ferry at Lady Liberty because, as my guide instructor said, it was no use to get off since you can’t go up to the observation point in Liberty. I kind of regret not getting off, but what can you do? Next trip! After waiting for other groups to get on the ferry, we made our way to Ellis Island. We were at Ellis Island for a good two hours before leaving and found some of my relatives on the metal plates in the back of the island where the immigrant names are listed. That was pretty cool. :)

When we got back to the ferry station, we got off and made our way to lunch. Our lunch restaurant was right across the street from Ground Zero and I do not remember the name of the place … but it was insanely crowded, with employees yelling out the name of the dish and if you weren’t listening … you missed out. :( Very good food though… I enjoyed chicken fajitas and well, water. :p

We had some free time around the Ground Zero area, when my mom and I walked into the Century 21 store. Holy cow!! LOTS of stuff in that store… I made a few phone calls before getting back on the subway with my tour group(s) to head over to Chinatown / Little Italy. We took the subway to Canal Street, which by far, is one of my new favorite streets in NYC. I loved it! From the bargainers, the fresh fish markets, to the little Chinese shops along that road … everything was just awesome. I got myself a *nice* Puma watch for $10, and met my mom a while later so we could walk to dinner. Dinner was on our own, so my mom and I searched and searched for a restaurant called Wo Hop. We finally found it, after asking an elderly Chinese woman where it was. Luckily … she knew where it was. 17 Mott Street was the address and my mom and I enjoyed egg rolls, and a mixture of different Chinese meats put together into one meal. Afterwards, we stopped at a local Chinese candy store to get dessert.

We met our group at Ferrara, an Italian café and bakery at 195 Grand St in Little Italy. I enjoyed some cannoli’s from Ferrara and after waiting for a good 15 minutes, we started walking to the Lunt-Fontanne Theater, where we would see The Little Mermaid.

We arrived at the theater around 7:30 and seats way up in the mezzanine of the theater. It was an “okay” show. The music was great, the actors were alright, but the realism of the musical was just completely worthless. Yes! I know this is a Disney musical and I know that most of this musical is set to take place “under water” but seriously … the actors in this musical have to thrust forward in order to make it “appear” that they are swimming. Hmm… (just giving my honest opinion)

We took the subway back to the Marriott afterwards…

[The Benniest]

Thursday
March 27, 2008

Thursday was early! I’m talking about meeting at 6:15 in the morning in the lobby, walking to the subway and taking it all the way down to an area close to Rockefeller Center. We ate Thursday morning at BOCCA (39 E. 19th Street), which had a buffet set out for us when we got there. Quite nice for 7:00 in the morning. ;)

I made a couple of phone calls after eating to friends to make sure they had The Today Show on and ready to see me on TV. Haha! Also, after talking to friends, I made a quick phone call to a forum member (http://wirednewyork.com/forum/member.php?u=2473) to ask if he wanted to meet sometime today for lunch.

After eating, we walked down to Rockefeller Center/Plaza, where we would see The Today Show and take a tour of NBC Studios. While standing in the barricades of the Today show, I got to shake hands and speak with Ann Curry. Because I am 6’3”, I just reached over everyone else and shook her hand. Our conversation consisted of this: (well, this is what she said to me). “Boy you’re a tall glass of water! Keep growing and be proud that your tall.” I was completely shocked. Did Ann Curry just call me a tall glass of water? Wow…

After seeing the show, we got a tour of NBC Studios, where we got to see the sets of Saturday Night Live, Conan O’Brien, and the news set for Nightly News with Brian Williams. Was pretty cool… After the tour, we had some, well … a lot, of free time and my mom and I separated for once and I went off on my own. I called BrooklynRider again after talking to him earlier at BOCCA and he came down from his office to speak with me. Now at this point, and BR doesn’t know this, I was a nervous wreck. I’ve never met anyone from a forum before, and I’ve been a member on a lot. I’m sure he’ll remember that at one point we were literally standing FEET away from each other and not noticing one another. Finally, we recognized each other and spoke to one another.

I came back at noon to meet him for lunch at Burger Heaven (http://burgerheaven.com/) (9 East 53rd Street). We had a loong conversation and afterwards I got to see a little tour of where he worked, which was really interesting to see since not being a New Yorker, I had no idea what office spaces looked like. On the way back to my tour group, BR and I walked through St. Patrick’s Cathedral and met my mom and the rest of my group at Rockefeller Center. Unfortunately, neither one of us remembered to take a picture … :(

When BR left, we had some more free time, as a lot of my tour group was going back to the hotel to rest up. My mom and I took the subway to 42nd Street, where we picked up some souvenirs and things. Finally, we both were soo tired that we took the subway to Borough Hall where we went back to the hotel and where I took a snooze.

Around 5:00, we met in the lobby, and took the subway to Mama Sbarro’s (a pizzeria) somewhere close to Times Square. The reason I know it was close to TS is because I could see the large “Sean John (http://www.nycaddict.com/night/pics/puff_daddy_commercial_times_square.jpg)” sign when I came outside for a quick breather while eating. Mama Sbarro’s is insanely packed and busy…

After dinner, we walked to the Schubert Theater, where we would see Monty Python's Spamalot. This play was drop dead hilarious! Clay Aiken, who recently joined the production, is very funny and his facial expressions in this musical are priceless. When you go a musical, it's always nice to sit by someone who is nice and is willing to talk to you if you strike up a conversation during intermission. The lady sitting right next to me was! She even pointed that Marie OsMond was sitting 'right' in front of us! Was pretty cool...

After the musical, my exhausted group took the subway to Borough Hall then to the hotel. Tonight was the night we had to pack to ... go home. :(

[The Benniest]

Friday
March 28, 2008

Friday … unfortunately, Friday came on this trip. :( This is the day my group would pack up the bus and fly home back to Iowa. Ack!

At about 7:00 AM, we met in the lobby and today we stayed in the Brooklyn area for breakfast. I walked into the Fulton Street Mall, after seeing that normal places like Dunkin Donuts and Burger King were jam packed with tourists. I found a small bakery called “The Donut House (http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=off&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=Donut+House,&near=Brooklyn,+NY&fb=1&view=text&latlng=40692173,-73987271,10653419109060936617)” on Jay Street and picked up two small donuts and juice. The meal was quite nice for such a low price.

After breakfast, we took our last subway ride to the Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art). The stairs outside this museum and the view that it gives you looking up and down 5th Ave. is really, really cool and pictures will be presented later of this. The Met is probably one of my favorite NYC museums and the location of this museum is really great. We took a tour of the Met for a while (my mom and I), and we had a quick bit to eat in the cafeteria in the museum. I don’t remember what the price was, but the food was decent.

After a while, I was getting a ‘tad bit bored with the museum, so my mom and I walked outside for a bit and walked all the way down 5th Ave. till we reached the Apple Store and the Plaza Hotel. What a walk… I bought a little thing at the Apple Store, we walked into FAO Schwartz, got a picture in front of the Plaza … just normal stuff. :p

We walked back to the Met, hoping that we would get to meet the bus just in time. We were running late as it was… It turns out, the bus was going to be 45 minutes late, which was bad news to the ‘ol adults but excellent news to the teenagers. Woo! :D My tour guide took and some people (including myself) on a short tour of specific things in Central Park, like the Great Lawn, Belvedere Castle (http://edsphotoblog.com/wp-content/photos/800px/0126_belvedere_castle_newyork.jpg), the Delacorte Theater (http://www.centralpark.com/pages/attractions/delacorte.jpg) and Turtle Pond. It was very cool to see where Shakespeare in the Park takes place during the summer.

When we came back to the Met (after seeing Central Park), the bus was waiting for us. We hopped on and it took us La Guardia Airport, where we would make our trip from New York >> Minneapolis >> Des Moines.

**

I’m home now and it’s certainly hard looking at pictures I’ve taken and wanting to be back in New York … now!

I’m going to work on getting my photos uploaded to Photobucket tonight and possibly upload them to the site either at school or tomorrow night after work. Thank you ALL for your patience with me before I left. Hope I didn’t get on anyone’s nerves. :D But…

…you will definitely see me back in the city … very soon! ;)

[lofter1]

So, B, you've now officially lost your NYC virginity -- and seems it was done in a most satisfactory and adventurous way.

I think you'll be back to the City for more adventures...

When you do, if you're coming for more than a couple of weeks, I highly recommend that you get a membership at both the Met & MoMA. A membership gives you the option of popping in for 30 minures or an hour at a time without feeling like you need to hang out just get your money's worth (and hence allows you to avoid the "boredom" of too much art all at once). In short spurts you can focus on a specific exhibit or work of art. Plus the excellent film series at MoMA is free with membership. The membership at both Met / MoMA basically pays for itself if you visit the museum more than 5 times in a year. Plus membership also means NO LINES!

Also, you'll want to get your NY Public Library card -- which gives you access to all sorts of great things.

Glad you had a great time -- and that Omaha now knows what lies to the east.

[The Benniest]

Thanks lofter!
I'm hoping to stay for around 2-3 weeks the next time I come and at this point, am completely dumb founded about what I will be doing. :confused: Just out of curiosity .. any ideas?

As I told a forumer last night, I want to be there for more than a week. Last week while there, I felt extremely rushed and felt I was continually pushed on from one thing to another. I want to decide what I do and when I do it on this next trip. Plus .. it will make it easier since I want to travel alone this time.

I will definitely purchase a Met / MoMA ticket the next time I come. As I was standing at the entrance to the Met, I noticed that a lot of people (New Yorkers probably) were just walking through and skipping the lines. And there I was ... waiting 15-30 minutes for just a little purple pin! Hmmm..

Thank you for the advice lofter, as always .. now off to planning some more. :)

-Ben

P.S.: Glad I lost my NYC Virginity. Haha! :p

[The Benniest]

Also, lofter .. does registering for membership to the MoMA give me access to the joint ticket to the Top of the Rock. (http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showpost.php?p=223049&postcount=16)

Thanks,
B

[lofter1]

I think those are two different deals.

[The Benniest]

Alright. Thanks.

***

PICTURES!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04844.jpg
^ Picture from the airplane as we were coming into La Guardia.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04846.jpg
^ Another view from the airplane.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04852.jpg
^ The massive amount of taxi cabs by La Guardia.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04858.jpg
^ Hell Gate Bridge as we were making our way into Manhattan.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04872.jpg
^ Our first taste of New York City traffic. Woo!?

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04874.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04883.jpg
^ Just a simple Harlem building.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04884.jpg
^ More apartments.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04892.jpg
^ Apollo Theater in Harlem.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04905.jpg
^ The exterior front of Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Very beautiful church.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04907.jpg
^ A cool apartment building I spotted across the street from St. John's.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04913.jpg
^ Grant's Tomb

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04924.jpg
^ I'm going to guess 5th Ave. but I have a feeling I'm wrong. Just a really cool street with awesome apartments.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04925.jpg
^ A playground area on the east side of Central Park. Cool landscaping..

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04928.jpg
^ I think is the area that a lot of people come to "people watch." A very long "road"..

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04932.jpg
^ A band shell with a performance that was going on as we were passing. They were playing 'show tunes' and were very good!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04935.jpg
^ Bethesda Fountain

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04936.jpg
^ Bethesda Terrace

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04938.jpg
^ I forgot the name of this building. But it was pretty cool. (picture taken from central park)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04942.jpg
^ Two actors playing John Lennon and Yoko Ono during a Central Park photo shoot. Quite cool to be "behind-the-scenes" of a photo shoot.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04959.jpg
^ Times Warner Center

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04963.jpg
^ 1/3 buildings from the Lincoln Center.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04981.jpg0
^ The Empire State Building from Bryant Park.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04983.jpg
^ The Chrysler Building

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04986.jpg
^ The steps of the New York Public Library

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04991.jpg
^ Grand Central Station

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC05004.jpg
^ MTV Studios, Times Square

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC05010.jpg
^ Virgin Records and Times Square

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC05022.jpg
^ More of Times Square

[brianac]

Nice photographs Ben.

By the way.

The "Long Road" in Central Park is The Mall.

The building with twin spires at Central Park West is The San Remo Appartment's, the home of Bono from U2, amongst other celebrities.

[The Benniest]

Thank you Brian. Something I probably should have known, but hey, we all make mistakes. :D

Tuesday's pictures will come tonight!
Ben

[brianac]

Ben, you can't know everything in your first visit.

When I came back from my first visit, my mind was in a whirl trying to remember everything I had seen.

Look forward to more photographs.

Brian

[dtolman]

Very impressed by the shot of Central Park South out of the plane's window! What kind of camera were you using?

[The Benniest]

I was using a Sony Cybershot, 7.2 MP.

All of my pictures were taken with that camera.

http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showpost.php?p=216379&postcount=25

And thank you for the compliment. ;)

[The Benniest]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05047.jpg
^ This is the Celeste Diner. This is where we ate breakfast on Tuesday.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05048.jpg
^ I believe this is Borough Hall. (might be wrong). This was our first and certainly not our last subway role-through.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05050.jpg
^ From where we got off the subway at, this was our view of the Empire State Building
Views from the Empire State Building:http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05064.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05068.jpg
^ Upper Manhattan, including Central Park.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05070.jpg
^ I want to guess the area around Midtown. But again, I am not sure. Also in this picture is the Chrysler Building.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05075.jpg
^ Lower Manhattan, including the Manhattan & Brooklyn Bridges, the Flatiron Building and waay back in the distance: The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

---

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05080.jpg
^ Macy's!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05096.jpg
^ Some apartment buildings on one of the avenue's in NY. I can't remember.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05099.jpg
^ Gray's Papaya!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05107.jpg
^ The subway coming.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05108.jpg
^ Vroom.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05111.jpg
^ Times Square.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05112.jpg
^ The Roxy Deli

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05116.jpg
^ Part of the interior of the Ambassador Theatre, where Chicago takes place. Very beautiful theatre.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05119.jpg
^ Times Square at night.

[turkishann]

great photos Ben and I loved reading about your trip ;)

[The Benniest]

Thank you Ann.

I had a wedding to go to this weekend, but am back now and will be uploading pictures this afternoon.

:)

[The Benniest]

Lots of pictures today!
..The pictures below include: Wall Street, The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Ground Zero, and Chinatown/Little Italy.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05128.jpg
^ The front of Federal Hall.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05133.jpg
^ A closer shot of Federal Hall, showing the George Washington statue.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05134.jpg
^ New York Stock Exchange

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05136.jpg
^ New York Stock Exchange

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05135.jpg
^ Just a street sign near the NYSE.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05130.jpg
^ Trinity Church. Is this called the Wall Street Canyon? I remember someone mentioning something about it, but don't remember quite that well.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05139.jpg
^ This is the cafe we ate at. It's called the Variety Cafe. (http://midtownlunch.wordpress.com/2006/06/27/variety-cafe/)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05142.jpg
^ Something right across the street from the famous bull. I don't remember the name.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05144.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05145.jpg
^ The area around Battery Park. Taken from the ferry that takes visitors to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05149.jpg
^ Manhattan from the ferry.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05151.jpg
^ More of Manhattan from the ferry.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05152.jpg
^ This was the line to get ON the ferry as we were boarding the boat. When we went through that area, there was no one. Perfect timing! :D

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05153.jpg
^ Jersey City

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05156.jpg
^ Ellis Island from the ferry.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05158.jpg
^ Liberty Island from the ferry.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05163.jpg
^ Statue of Liberty

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05170.jpg
^ A neat photo of an American flag on the back of the ferry and Lady Liberty.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05171.jpg
^ Staten Island from Liberty Island.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05189.jpg
^ The interior of Ellis Island.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05199.jpg
^ Manhattan from Ellis Island

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05200.jpg
^ The front, and main building, at Ellis Island

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05208.jpg
^ A famous church, but again, I can't remember the name. Any help?

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05217.jpg
^ 7 World Trade Center

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05218.jpg
^ The area around the World Financial Center.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05230.jpg
^ World Trade Center site (Ground Zero)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05231.jpg
^ World Trade Center site (Ground Zero)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05236.jpg
^ The sign that is attached to the World Trade Center cross.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05238.jpg
^ World Trade Center cross.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05240.jpg
^ Some really interesting architecture around the City Hall area in Manhattan.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05241.jpg
^ A closer picture of the above photo.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05242.jpg
^ Another really cool building.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05245.jpg
^ The Brooklyn Bridge

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05246.jpg
^ The start of the amazingly awesome Chinatown. I love this area of Manhattan!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05250.jpg
^ Chinatown

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05251.jpg
^ Canal St. in Chinatown. This is certainly a crazy street to walk through, but definitely fun!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05252.jpg
^ More Chinatown. (Canal St.)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05262.jpg
^ Little Italy with The Empire State Building in the background. Little Italy, like Chinatown, is packed with people but a very fun atmosphere to be around. I love it. :)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05266.jpg
^ This is me standing in a street in Little Italy. The only candid you'll see of me through these pics. ;)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05275.jpg
^ The start of SoHo downtown.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05276.jpg
^ SoHo

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05281.jpg
^ Wo Hop restaurant in Chinatown, where my mother and I ate dinner Wednesday night.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05294.jpg
^ Ferrara restaurant in Little Italy. Get some cannoli's there while in Little Italy! Yum!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05296.jpg
^ The Lunt-Fontanne Theater, where The Little Mermaid is put on.

---

Sorry it took so long for this group of pictures. As you can see, there were a lot to upload. Enjoy! :)

-ben

[krulltime]

Great set of photos! It has been a while since I haven't walk in some of those places. :)

[britt7]

Nice pictures. Seeing them now makes me want to go to NYC right now. :)

Looks like your week long trip was fun and exciding!

-Britt

[The Benniest]

Great set of photos! It has been a while since I haven't walk in some of those places. :)
Thanks krulltime. No work tonight, so I'm going to try and get the final 2 days uploaded and submitted here on the forum.
Nice pictures. Seeing them now makes me want to go to NYC right now. :) Looks like your week long trip was fun and exciding!

-Britt
Thanks Britt.

Thank you all for your comments on both my trip report and pictures. Most appreciated. :D

[The Benniest]

I figured I'd post what is going to be in these next 2 photo albums.

Thursday: Rockefeller Center, The Today Show, Radio City Musical Hall (exterior), 5th Ave., and more.

Friday: Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park (small things inside the park), 5th. Ave Apple Store, Plaza Hotel, FAO Schwartz, and flying home pictures. :(


Pictures coming soon! :D

[The Benniest]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05301.jpg
^ Radio City Musical Hall

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05302.jpg
^ NBC Studios / The Rainbow Room

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05303.jpg
^ The area of Rockefeller Plaza where the exterior shots of The Today Show are filmed.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05305.jpg
^ Looking down W. 49th Street. Directly across from me is NBC News (The Today Show) and behind me is Rockefeller Center.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05308.jpg
^ NBC News

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05310.jpg
^ Rockefeller Plaza

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05313.jpg
^ Dean & Deluca

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05325.jpg
^ Part of the team of The Today Show, getting to ready to shoot an outdoor portion of their show.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05333.jpg
^ Piers Morgan and Donald Trump

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05334.jpg
^ Matt Laur and Ann Curry

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05342.jpg
^ Rockefeller Center Ice Skating Rink

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05341.jpg
^ NBC News. In this picture, I am standing on the second or third floor of Rockefeller Center. (30 Rock).

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05346.jpg
^ Rockefeller Center 'Fountain'

---

There will be more to come. I just cannot stand the slowness of Photobucket right now. Sorry...

[The Benniest]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05353.jpg
^ 5th Ave. Apple Store steps

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05356.jpg
^ Plaza Hotel

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05357.jpg
^ 59th Street. At the south end of Central Park. This area is where the Apple Store and Plaza Hotel are located, as well as the Times Warner Center.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05360.jpg
^ 5th Ave. Apple Store

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05361.jpg
^ Grand Army Plaza

---

More to come...

[The Benniest]

Here are the last of Thursday's pictures. Thanks for all your comments.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05362.jpg
^ New York City traffic. I love it! If you were to follow this street west, you'd hit Columbus Circle and the Times Warner Center.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05363.jpg
^ One of the entrances to the Plaza Hotel. I still regret not going inside of this place. :o

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05364.jpg
^ Plaza Hotel doormen. :p

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05367.jpg
^ FAO Schwartz. This store is directly behind/beside the Apple Store. Pretty cool place..

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05376.jpg
^ Manhattan Bridge from afar. I forget where I was standing.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05377.jpg
^ Ride safe! ;)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05380.jpg
^ Colony Records in Times Square

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05386.jpg
^ Times Square at night

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05388.jpg
^ A few Broadway show billboards in Times Square

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05391.jpg
^ Schubert Theater (Monty Phython's Spamalot)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05402.jpg
^ I liked this New York Times billboard. :)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05404.jpg
^ Junior's Cheesecake (http://www.juniorscheesecake.com/). This was some of the best cheesecake I've ever had. It's located at 1515 Broadway, and I highly recommend it!

[The Benniest]

Like Thursday, Friday's pictures will be posted in 2 posts. Enjoy.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05414.jpg
^ Interesting picture of pigeons near Fulton Street Mall. I was bored during breakfast, what can I say? :o

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05415.jpg
^ Fulton Street Mall

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05416.jpg
^ Borough Hall. We made many stops to this station while there, since it was very close to the hotel I was staying at.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05418.jpg
^ Some interesting architecture on Lexington Ave. (i think)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05419.jpg
^ Lexington Ave.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05420.jpg
^ Looking down Lexington Ave.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05423.jpg
^ Looking down Lexington Ave. (the opposite way as before)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05424.jpg
^ Lexington Ave. (again)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05425.jpg
^ Madison Ave.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05428.jpg
^ Metropolitan Museum of Art

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05431.jpg
^ The lobby/entrance to the Met. The interior architecture of this building was incredible in so many ways.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05461.jpg
^ Another room in the Met.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05471.jpg
^ View of 5th Ave. from the steps of the Met.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05472.jpg
^ Looking down E. 82nd Street from the steps of the Met.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05473.jpg
^ Apartment building on the corner of 5th Ave. and E. 82nd Street. I can't even imagine how much the apartment's in this building cost. :eek:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05474.jpg
^ Another view of the Met.


...more pictures to come soon.

[The Benniest]

Last of my NYC pictures ...

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05476.jpg
^ Road that goes through the park.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05477.jpg
^ The same road that goes through the park, but the opposite way.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05483.jpg
^ Fifth Ave./Museum Mile

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05486.jpg
^ More expensive apartments!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05488.jpg
^ The Plaza Hotel one last time.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05489.jpg
^ The doors/elevator of the Fifth Ave. Apple Store.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05508.jpg
^ Central Park's GREAT LAWN

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05509.jpg
^ The Great Lawn

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05511.jpg
^ Belvedere Castle in Central Park with skyscrapers in the background.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05513.jpg
^ Delacorte Theater

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05541.jpg
^ New York from the plane. It's blurry, yes. :p

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/DSC05542.jpg
^ Once again.

[The Benniest]

Overall, an amazing trip and I hope you all enjoyed looking through my pictures. If I can get my scanner to work, I will scan a photo of me on Ellis Island with Manhattan in the background. But of course, when I need it to work .. it doesn't (so we'll see).

I plan on returning to New York City on July 17, 2008. I hope to meet up with some more people from this forum, as I did Rob (BrooklynRider) on this trip. Like on this trip, I will be making out a small itinerary for my next trip .. which, instead of 1 week will HOPEFULLY be 2. :confused:

If anyone has any ideas on what to do, please mention them in here.

Thanks for all your comments,
Ben

[The Benniest]

Got it to work. ;)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/nyc/nyc-by-storm-2.gif

"Taking New York by Storm"

:p

[BrooklynRider]

Sure was a whirlwind of a trip. Next visit take in the city life at a stroll pace.

[The Benniest]

Yes, and yes.

;)

[Meerkat]

Great pictures.

I really should come over again next year.

I'm very tempted to book a flight after seeing these.....

[The Benniest]

Thank you Meerkat.

Sorry it took so long to get them all uploaded. :o

[brianac]

Ben, your first photograph shows my favourite part of the city, The Upper West Side.
I can pick out so many places I have visited, Riverside Park, Central Park, Verdi Square, The Dakota, The San Remo, The American Museum of Natural History, to name a few.
I can also pick out the hotel I normally stay at.

Thanks.


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/benthal/DSC04844.jpg

[The Benniest]

You're welcome brianic.

[Hof]

Ben--
I'm glad you got to see so much of The City and were able to capture so many facets of NY with your camera.

When you finally wind up in NY for your schooling,go re-visit some of the places you were able to see and take the time to linger and observe.Every picture of NY tells a story.Go,visit and make some of these places YOUR story and watch New York unveil itself.

The first time I saw Strawberry Fields,it was raining.I was only able to pop in there,scope the scene and move on.
(I used to live in The City,and I had ben gone a long time,so this was the very first pilgrimage to a specific New York PLACE that I had done in 20 years).
On the plane back to Florida,I pledged to return to Central Park and spend some time.

The next year,my SECOND visit to Lennon's tribute,it wasn't raining so I settled in on one of the benches and spent a few hours pondering John Lennon and observing.A lot of people filtered through,and eventually a guy appeared with a 12-string and began playing Beatles music for the group.After awhile,a bunch of people began to sing lyrics to the songs,and soon I joined in and about a half-dozen of us clustered around the guitar player,belting out "Hey,Jude" to the onlookers and the benches and the surrounding trees.

I had ceased observing and had become authentic New York street theatre.In the next moment,the crowd dispersed and the guy was back to solo renditions.I walked deeper into the park with a smile on my face and a memory for life.It's these kinds of moments,these little rewards that New York gives back,if you spend the time to hang out with her.

I took a close-up photo of "Imagine" on the memorial roundette just as someone placed a single red rose on the center.The guitarist was singing "Norwegian Wood".That picture has hung on my wall ever since.

Every picture tells a story.

By the way,have you been affected by the nasty floods that Iowa is enduring???

Finally,I spent a half-hour going over the plane window photo of the UWS that Brianac mentioned.I found several of my hotels--and a few other landmarks--in the picture as well.I have also walked down every damn street in the photo at least once...you should frame that one.

[The Benniest]

Thank you Hof. :) If I may ask, why did you move away from NYC?

I will be visiting New York this coming July '08 and will be taking the city, as BrooklynRider said above, at a slower pace. I'm going through every neighborhood in Manhattan and am just going to explore. It should be fun. :)

Thanks again,
Ben

[Hof]

I got out of NY in the early '70s.
I'd lived in the Village for six years and in Park Slope for one.I had grown to hate my job and was fed up with the whole New York experience.
That was during New York's fiscal crisis,when the place had deteriorated to crap and all the landmarks we admire today seemed somehow dirty.Junkies were everywhere and people were fleeing The City for anywhere else.NY was broke,and it showed.

The streets were a threat,the Subway was one of Dante's inner circles and everything cost too much.

My parents were moving to Florida (from Rochester) and asked me to help with the move.It was February,so I quickly agreed.When I got down here,there was no snow,traffic or crowds of suspicious people,so I stayed.When my folks went back home,they took a sidetrip to NY and moved MY furniture out of Brooklyn and back to Rochester.

I never saw the City again for 20 years.

[The Benniest]

Wow. Yes, I guess those are quite good reasons to leave New York City. :p

However, there is one thing that hasn't changed...
...and everything cost too much.

:D

[MidtownGuy]

Hi Hof, my mother is still living in Rochester. I can't say that I visit much, she sometimes comes down here for holidays because we both know there isn't much to do up there.:cool:

[Hof]

Are you from Rochester??

The story of my hometown is a sad one.When I was a kid,it was a wealthy,classy place.There were lots of things to do.
Educated people with good jobs lived in nice homes on tree shaded streets and enjoyed their pleasant city.
The companies that formed Rochester's economy were booming,providing skilled jobs to anyone who wanted them.
The City was humming,with new high-rises in the DT,new freeways everywhere.

Then it all went to hell.The industrial powerhouses vanished or shrunk to Mom-and-Pop enterprises,the entire white,middle-class population relocated to the suburbs,the Downtown shrivled and the City went into a decades-long state of ennui.The population is down 120,000 since 1970.It's on its' knees now,begging for a viable future.

There probably ISN'T anything to do in Rochester now,exept maybe planning a way out.

Very sad.

[Gregory Tenenbaum]

How was this guy?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/2676681388_b78146153f_b.jpg
Art credits - From the Creator of "Hollywood Chefs" and "Being Barack Obama"