NYC/Metro

A tourist in my town- Central Park, Lincoln Center and the NY Public Library

November 18, 2013 by Renee

Continuing on the grand tour of NYC, today my friend Michael and I made a trip to Central Park, Lincoln Center and to the NY Public Library. (We also wandered over to the UN and Grand Central Station.)

Sometimes you wonder why visitors to the city want to go to see Central Park, and you think-eh, it’s just a big park, trees and grass and squirrels. Same as you’d see anywhere. But you may have forgotten just how lovely Central Park is, especially this time of year and how it really is an oasis of calm and beauty in the middle of the city. Not to mention all the great things you can see and do there- the Great Lawn, Sheep’s Meadow, Shakespeare in the Park, Summer Stage, Central Park Zoo, the Carousel or even just standing on Bethesda Terrace overlooking the fountain or ice skating at Wollman Rink.

We tend to take for granted the things we see every day. I am thankful I was reminded of that today.

We only wandered around just a corner of the park, but it was enough to take our moods from stressed out sightseeing down a few notches to simple meandering and taking in the sights. A stroll versus a race to the next attraction. It was just what we needed to calm the pace.

After we stopped for lunch and rested our weary feet, we continued on to Lincoln Center. Currently the Big Apple Circus is there as is a modern sculpture exhibit in the plaza.

From there we walked down and over to the NY Public Library with a stop at the holiday market in Bryant Park. We also took a moment to watch the ice skating there as well. It’s definitely beginning to feel festive in the city now!

I had not been inside the main library itself in many years, but it is certainly a place to visit more often. This is not the lending library, but rather a permanent collection of everything from famous writings, maps, genealogical resources and more. The building is just beautiful. Dark wood paneling and stonework with inlaid murals and paintings abound. The Rose Main Reading Room on the third floor is almost as large as a football field and can seat 600 readers! There are galleries and exhibits throughout the entire library and we were lucky enough to stumble into one featuring an original Keith Haring. There is also a terrific library shop which sells book related souvenirs. toys and gifts.

The New York Public Library is more than just a building you walk by on your way to work or wherever you are traveling that day. It’s a great place to walk in to- and I plan to do that more!

I am glad I got to see these “everyday” places today and learned to appreciate them in a new light – through the eyes of a tourist.

A tourist in my town- Katz’s Deli NYC

November 17, 2013 by Renee

No grand tour of NYC is complete without a visit to a NYC icon, Katz’s Deli on the Lower East Side. This immutable institution has been around since 1888. The establishment’s longevity has more to do with the good than the bad, but it’s worth noting nonetheless.

The Good…

Hand carved pastrami. Huge sandwiches. Light and creamy cheesecake. Sharing tables with strangers and admiring all the vintage NY decor.

The Bad….

Oy! The staff is horrible. Plain and simple. The second you enter, you’re greeted with total chaos and no help at all from any members of staff. A line of security personnel ushers you in quickly and the only information we were told was to not lose the ticket they hand you or you’ll be forced (by their thug security staff) to pay $50 per misplaced ticket! (I’ve read horror stories about this arcane and asinine policy. Plenty of restaurants have the same number of covers and still manage to have people pay their tabs. Makes no sense at all. But hey…when in NY…)

We waited among a crowd of confused customers, while being shouted at by the staff behind the counter to stand back. Finally I realized that if we wanted to be seated as opposed to standing in line for counter service we needed to let a girl know who was behind a different counter our names, but there is no structure to this whatsoever and it was only by chance that I noticed this other counter.

Once you are seated, don’t dare ask a passing server a question or say “excuse me” to try to get some assistance- for anything. Just wait for your appointed server to come back- no matter how long it takes. They will come eventually!

Oh, and they never clear any plates on your table whatsoever. So the dishes will pile up as your courses end. Just know it’s part of the Katz’s Deli “charm”.

So if that doesn’t turn you off, then maybe you will find it’s one of the most fun meals you can have in NYC. Sure it’s touristy, and expensive. But it’s the experience you are paying for. And the pound of melt-in-your-mouth meat on your sandwich.

So if you are ever in NYC and you want to experience a true fixture of NYC culture and a bygone era, Katz’s Deli may just be the place for you.

Katz’s Deli

205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

(212) 254-2246

A tourist in my town-NYC

November 16, 2013 by Renee

I love when people come to visit me. In the last year three of my good friends (that I met on the Camino) from different corners of the world made the journey to NYC and this weekend my dear friend Michael finally came over. He had shown me England last year so I was more than happy to return the favor.

I’ve lived in NYC (and now in the burbs) for nearly 25 years. It’s home and the only place I’ve ever lived so long. For all this time though, I had never gone to the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island for that matter. Today was a gorgeous day to do just that. Finally!

I can’t wait to go back and bring the kids. These stops are definitely a must see! We were too late to buy one of the limited tickets to climb to the crown but you can walk all around the island, take the ferry round trip and stop at Ellis Island to visit the museum there- all for a $17 ticket. Not a bad way to spend the day! My one piece of advice is to bring your own drinks and snacks- the kiosks on both islands are incredibly expensive. But what a fun day. And so happy with the weather!

Kind of interesting to see Lady Liberty on one side of the building and the Freedom Tower on the other side. Metaphor?

After seeing both of these sites, we made our way to the Freedom Tower. There is still so much construction and it was nearly closing time for the memorial, so we just snapped a few pictures of the building itself.

From there we headed back uptown. But not without stopping and taking a few pictures along the way.