New York City, Part 4

As I said earlier, you just never know what you're going to see in NYC. I guess the best plan when there is to somewhat "go with the flow". As usual, I had many things on my "want to do" list, more than I would ever be able to accomplish. One of my major "plans" was some time exploring the Fashion/Garment District. Armed with a list of shops to visit, thanks to Paula Nadelstern's website, I had big plans. Well as Robert Burns told us, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. There just weren't enough hours in the day to accomplish half of what I had planned...
I did however make it to several of the shops I really wanted to see, one being a visit to
The City Quilter on West 25th Street in Chelsea. It is always interesting to visit a quilt shop in another area, as there always seem to be different lines of fabric and things you do not find in your local shops. I had two things on my "look for" list and was pleased to get them both- one was a few yards of a particular NYC print for backing for a large wallhanging, the other was a kit for a small piece with a NYC theme. I haven't spent any time at my machine lately and am itching to get back to it, so I'm hoping that this fairly quick little project, with most fabrics supplied, will spur me on to "get back at it". I'll be sure to show it to you when it's together, this coming week if I'm really lucky. Chelsea is an interesting part of the city, with many Art Galleries, antique shops, specialty stores and just a lot of interesting little shops to poke around in. Also nearby is the FIT- Fashion Institute of Technology. Next time I'll check out what exhibition is on in their museum.
Mokuba New York on West 39th was also on my list of "must see" spots. This wholesale and retail shop features 43,00 exquisite ribbons and trims, designed and manufactured by Mokuba in Japan. I treated myself to a few of their narrow silk ribbons for SRE (above right), and also found a few trim sample cards in their clearance area. I was overwhelmed by the variety of ribbon choices - this was certainly the veritable "candy store for adults".... Wow! is an understatement...
M&J Trimming on Sixth Avenue was my third must visit. "Overwhelming" doesn't even come close to describing this 5000 sq. foot shop full of every kind of ribbon, trim, braid, tassel, button, applique, lace, rhinestone and crystal, sequin or buckle you could ever imagine. I could not make a decision to save my soul! This is definitely a "must have a project in mind" destination. Next time I'll come with list in hand, but it sure was fun to browse just to see their wide range of goodies. Oh how wonderful it would be to have a spot like this closeby to visit whenever you needed something for a current project. These two photos will give you an idea of the huge range of items - this is just a small area of the cordings (above left), and at right the ribbon trims.
I also got into four or five great bead shops, but didn't take any photos. The selection was again amazing, bordering on overload.....
I guess that would be a good word for NYC in general... "overload". After a few days your brain is just in overdrive. SO much to see and do. SO many people. SO MUCH FUN! One of the reasons I didn't have as much time to explore the Garment District (besides being hot, tired and needing a new pair of feet) was that my roomie and I spent one morning at the King Tut exhibit. I have always wanted to see it, and when we learned it was at the Discovery Center just a few blocks from our hotel, well it was just too good an opportunity to miss. (I knew the Garment District would still be there next time, but King Tut wouldn't.) We spent several hours viewing over 130 artifacts in this incredible exhibition which focuses on the 18th Dynasty, a 100 year period when Egypt was at the height of it's power, and the "golden age" of Egyptian artistry. This was the era when Tutankhamun and his ancestors reigned. I enjoyed every minute! You can go here for a preview of the exhibit.
So did I enjoy my visit to Gotham City? You bet! Would I go back again? Yes, in a New York minute!! I've already started a list for next time....
My end quote for today is taken from the Discovery Times Square Exposition foyer.. and how true it is!

Peace
Linda

"The world is just awesome."

Look Up...Waaaay up...

... and I'll call Rusty. No, that's another story. (How many of you remember the Friendly Giant?)
When I was in NYC gazing up at those towering skyscrapers (probably with my mouth hanging open in awe - dead giveaway that you're a "tourist") I thought of giants more than once. And I don't mean the NYC Giants either. No, I was thinking of King Kong and other oversized creatures who would feel at home among such lofty structures. I guess when you live in a city where the tallest building is 10 stories, you cannot help but be impressed with the stature of the skyscrapers. Our hotel, the Crowne Plaza (right), had 48 floors and it was barely "average height" compared to it's neighbours. The Empire State Building is once again the tallest structure in NYC at 103 stories. The Chrysler Building, the Citycorp Bank Building, the Time Warner Building, Trump Tower and the General Electric Building (left) at Rockefeller Center are all impressive with their designs and lofty heights.
I have long been fascinated by reflections. I can remember as a small child peeking around a corner in the upstairs hall to look into the full length mirror, and there was always a little girl looking back at me. She was always there, no matter how hard I tried to get ahead of her.... I love looking for reflections, whether in puddles, windows or wherever. Following are a few of the reflections I captured in the Big Apple. The first building shown is Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue. The second one below shows a reflection of the Empire State Building and Bryant Park Hotel, taken from the corner of Bryant Park. The last photo is of the World Financial Center and Winter Garden, a fairly new complex in the Ground Zero area of Battery Park. Come back tomorrow to hear about my visit to the City Quilter and the Garment District. It will be my last NYC post....


Peace,
Linda

"The sensual mysticism of entire vertical being..." - E.E. Cummings on skyscrapers

New York City Part 2

New York City! The very words stir excitement in my soul! It is quite the city indeed.The sights, the entertainment, the people, the architecture, the food.... You just never know what you are going to experience.
This was my third visit to the Big Apple. I've been twice in the summer, and once at Christmas/New Years, so I'm crossing off a lot of the "Must See and Do" things on the list. I've done 3 of the 4 (excellent!) Grey Line Bus Tours- a must for the New York virgin (first time visitor). I cannot recommend these tours enough- they are SO worth the cost and time, as you learn so much about the city- history, architecture, what's what and what celebrity lives where... They are such a great way to get to ALL the highlights and you can hop on and off to visit whichever ones you choose... I've seen just about all of the "must-see's" on my list and have some great memories: the view from the top of the Empire State Building, visiting Ground Zero and nearby St. Paul's Chapel, the Radio City Music Hall backstage tour and the Christmas Spectacular, the awesome St. Patrick's Cathedral (below right), New Year's Eve in Times Square (never again), an Opera at the Met, the night-time view of the Manhattan skyline from the Brooklyn Bridge, meals at the Stardust Diner (where all the wait staff are Broadway wanna-be's and sing/entertain while you eat), the HardRock Cafe, lunch in Trump Tower and New Year's Eve dining at Top of the Sixes (a classy spot in it's day), strolls through Central Park and Strawberry Fields (the memorial to John Lennon), walking through Tiffany's and Saks Fifth Avenue (alas no purchases!)... the list goes on and on. I've done a few unconventional things too- like Night Court- remember that TV show? Well, I've been to the real NYC Night Court - interesting people there, to say the least... I've seen Lady Liberty from the Staten Island ferry; next time I think I might like to see her closer up! I'm putting that on my "next time" list, along with Grand Central Terminal, which I have yet to visit. Also on my next time list is a Museum visit. The only one I've been to is The Cloisters (again an unusual choice - not MY choice). I think I'll start with the American Museum of Natural History on Central Park West, where Night at the Museum was filmed. The Planetarium alone is well worth the visit, and I'm sure I'd have no trouble at all filling a full day there... Yes, I'm starting a list....
The architecture in NYC always fascinates me. When you see that Manhattan skyline, dominated by so many skyscrapers, it's just amazing! I always thought- how come the island of Manhattan doesn't sink? How can a small island support all those huge buildings? I learned that
mica schist and gneiss underlie much of Manhattan. It is these layers of strong durable bedrock that support these tall structures. Where it is closer to the surface, you will see densely clustered skyscrapers as in Midtown and the Financial District, and where it is further beneath the surface like in the Greenwich Village area, the buildings are only a few stories. I love the contrasts of modern towering skyscrapers of steel and glass with the older stone buildings with such intricate detail. Shown here (above left) are the Ansonia, a well known Upper West Side landmark, originally a hotel and now luxury condos and apartments, (former residents include Babe Ruth, Stravinski, Toscanini and Angelina Jolie) and the Bryant Park Hotel (right) with it's Gothic-inspired black brick tower accented with gold terracotta. It's modern lobby features glossy black marble and lipstick-red furnishings.... Yes, there are contrasts at every turn. I love New York!!! The modern towering facades offer interesting reflections too - come back tomorrow to see my "reflection collection"...

Peace
Linda

"Cut off as I am, it is inevitable that I should sometimes feel like a shadow walking in a shadowy world. When this happens, I ask to be taken to New York City. Always I return home weary but I have the comforting certainty that mankind is real and I myself am not a dream." ~ Helen Keller

New York, New York....

Whew, is it hot enough for you? My outdoor thermometer hit 100F this afternoon. I stayed inside most of the day and got my money's worth out of the air conditioning! haha
I returned from the Big Apple on Sunday evening; I'm sure glad we were there last week and not this week. This heat wave would be a killer in that city! We had a fabulous time; got to know each other much better, saw the sights and some great entertainment, and had lots of laughs. What more could one ask for? As I expected the highlight for me was the Broadway Shows. I'd be hard pressed to choose a favourite as all were excellent. I loved the music in Mamma Mia and was singing along to all the songs. The dancing in Billy Elliot was absolutely awesome, the boy who had the lead role was phenomenal. What talent - he will go far, I'm sure. I can see why it has won 10 Tony Awards. I enjoyed the story of The Four Seasons in Jersey Boys and of course the music took me right back.. There were a few numbers I was not familair with, but most of the songs had me singing along. Remember Sherry? Big Girls Don't Cry? Ragdoll and Walk Like a Man ? I would go back to see any of these shows in a "New York minute" as they say... Of course there are others I want to see too, before I start repeating... I've started my list: Memphis, Wicked, and Come Fly Away are all good possibilities at present. Other temptations would be Cirque de Soleil and Blue Man Group. James Taylor and Carole King were in town, Harry Connick Jr., Ringo Starr and Lady Gaga were all coming next week. Bernadette Peters, Kelsey Grammer and Denzel Washington were all starring in Broadway Shows... Sigh! I think I could stay there a month (I couldn't afford it , but nice to dream...) and still have shows and performances I'd like to see... Oh to have unlimited time and money...
NYC is definitely unique. It is truly "the city that never sleeps". One only has to walk through Times Square to feel the pulse, the energy, the excitement. Our hotel was right on Broadway at Times Square, so to say we were "right in the middle of things" is an understatement! If you have been there, you know of what I speak! As promised, we (well most of us) wore red and white on Canada Day and while waiting for our bus that morning, sang O Canada right on the sidewalk outside the hotel- so we can say "We sang on Broadway"!!! We got lots of looks and even some applause! Our tour guide told us she would try to get us on stage at the Apollo Theatre to sing as well, but it didn't work out as we were running short on time.. Too bad- that would really have been a good story to tell.
Well that's all the NYC stories for tonight. To be continued.....

Peace
Linda

"I want to wake up in the city that never sleeps...."