Trip to NYC 5/29-31/15

We love going to NYC and it's great fun to stay in different neighborhoods.  (See post of October 2013 for our stay in Brooklyn.) This was our first stay in Chelsea and we really loved it.  Once you get to know the city, you realize it's just a collection of small villages.  Of course, some are really tall.

Our dear friend, neighbor, and volunteer chauffeur, Renee, was waiting to take us to the nearest Metro Station.

It is relatively easy to get to NYC - it only took 1 car, 2 Metro trains, and a ride on Amtrak.  What is really easy is getting free tickets on Amtrak - just convert AMX points to vouchers that can be used just like cash.  Much easier than trying to get tickets on any airline.

We only had to wait 4 minutes for our train

Readers waiting for train.

More reading on the train.  Hint for tourists - do not talk on the morning trains.  DC commuters like to read.  Another rule - when using the escalators, stand to the right, walk/run on the left.  DC commuters rushing to work - after all, it is called rush hour - do not take kindly to people blocking their way.  One last rule - do not stand in front of the escalator when you get off.  it's amazing how many people block others from getting off.  Very dangerous.

Waiting to transfer at Gallery Place/China Town

Scenes at Union Station

Lots of shops.












Some shops are more upscale than others.

Here's a tip - the lines at the Starbucks are always much shorter in the main lobby that by the boarding gates.

I spotted a student on a class tour while in line for a bagel who reminded me that we have Murphy Brown to thank for being able to wear caps with ponytails.  Creator Diane English cut a hole in a cap for one of the episodes and the style took off.  Thank you Diane!

We took the Northeastern to the city and were the first people on the train - got our pick of the seats in the Quiet Car - thanks to the Red Cap services.  Having their assistance, no matter how light you're traveling is worth the cost.  We were seated and comfy a good ten minutes before the rest of the passengers were allowed to scramble for seats.  When the trains are full it can be a real race.

A traveler's best friend and you can see we were traveling light.  

Scenes from the train:

Susquehanna River at the Chesapeake Bay

Wilmington, Delaware, is a fun place to visit. Even though this is the back side of the theater, the Delaware Theater Center is important to the life of the city.

The train goes by the Philadelphia Zoo.





















The first view of NYC is always exciting but this year was the first time we saw the new One World Trade Center towering over lower Manhattan.

After arriving at Penn Station, it was time for a short walk to our hotel.  Travel tip - never leave home without Dr. Scholls.  He is a tourist's best friend, especially when visiting a major city.  I find city dwellers overall a healthier lot because they walk every where.

Not only were we staying in Chelsea, it turned out that our hotel (The Hilton Garden Inn at 121 W. 28th - that info is for me and my feeble memory, not for any readers) was on the block for the flower district.  Here are shots of the sidewalk and scenes from our hotel window on the 12th floor.  The shot of the rooftop gardener was taken with my 1000 telephoto zoom.  I love my new bridge camera!

Inside one of the shops -

From our window -

Next trip I want to meet this guy.  He was really working hard once the sun started to set.  BTW, we just happened to be in the city for the Manhattanhendge - the one time a year when the sun sets right between the buildings on certain streets.  We missed it because we were inside seeing a show at the time.  Bummer. There is always next year.

Many of the older buildings still have their own water towers on the roof.

The following shot was taken on Sunday morning, so while not in sequence with the previous shots, it shows shop owners setting up for the day.

Once settled in at the hotel, we were off to the new Whitney Museum and the High Line, both in walking distance of the hotel if you don't mind going a mile or two.  We didn't because it was such a lovely afternoon.

Of course we took one detour into the first wine bar we came to and met our new favorite bartender in Chelsea.

                       Domenico from

                       Napoli

(pronounced NapoLEE)

                   

Domenico was great fun.  Said he had only been in the US for 9 weeks and arrived not knowing any English.  I found that hard to believe - his English was fine.  Said he had a cousin who was helping him.

There was only 1 other stop before the Whitney.  The Chelsea Market has a 2nd location across from the Museum.  We had to take a peek.

Looked good but it was time for culture.

Our 1st view of the Whitney at the far left from the corner of Gansevoort at Greenwich.

The weather was so nice it was hard for gallery goers to stay inside.

The trees on the platform are the end (or beginning, depending on point of view) of the High Line.

They took an abandoned elevated railroad track and turned it into an amazing park with great views and a fun place for people watching.

When we left the hotel we had spotted the neighborhood Whole Foods.  Time to get some carryout for dinner and breakfast and head back to the hotel.  

The check out lines were unique.  3 lines with 20 or so checkout registers.  You waited for your line's turn and the sign to tell you which register was open.

We looked everywhere for some wine.  Found beer all over the place.  Finally asked and were shocked to find out that the only Whole Foods in NYC that could sell wine was on the Upper West Side.  Some dumb NY law says only 1 location of a chain can sell wine.  Guess independent wine stores in NY have a powerful lobby operation.  Anyway, the helpful clerk told us about the nearest wine store in the neighborhood just around the corner.

He failed to tell us it closes at 7 pm.  We got there at 7:10.  Oh well.

There's always something else around another corner.

Shopping done, we were in for the night.

Saturday we were rested and ready to check out Macy's.  Not like the one at Landmark!













Noticed a couple of trends while on our walks.

Bike sharing wasn't the initial hit in NY like it was in DC, but the idea is catching on and we saw lots of stands everywhere and lots of riders. One family of tourists went by us too fast for me to get a shot, but I thought they were either very brave or foolish to be in NYC traffic with a couple of teenagers in tow, but they seemed to be having lots of fun.








Saw lots of simple summer dresses and no high heels!  New Yorkers tend to walk fast so it was hard to get really good shots.

Time for lunch before seeing an afternoon matinee on Broadway.

Usually when in the Theater District we eat at the Playwright's Pub on Broadway at 49th but since we were approaching from the south, we decided to try a new place.  We found a good one.  Lovely decor and a great menu.

Finally it's time for the real purpose of the trip.

This musical was stunning and deserves every nomination it has received.

While the Palace is a beautiful theater, apparently the ladies of the early 20th Century never needed to go to the loo.  Only 3 stalls for the entire balcony and mezzanine.  Another travel tip - go at the restaurant before the show.

Thanks to Stubhub and a very resourceful hubby, we got last minute tickets at a really good price to spend the evening at a charming little jazz club in Chelsea.  I had assumed the audience would be a bunch of fellow geezers but because the musicians  were a mix of generations, so was the audience.  Glad to see jazz still able to attract millennials. 

The young woman standing in the red dress was one of the singers.  This shot was taken during the break after the 1st set.  I never did get her name but a couple of the tables were full of her fans.

Sunday we reversed our trip to return to DC and Renee was waiting for us in the Kiss & Ride lane at the Metro Station.  If you haven't been to northern VA and seen these signs, just remember "Virginia is for Lovers" (the state motto).