8 Restaurants
5 Bakeries
1 Ice cream shop
1 Drink place
(I know, I know….this pales in comparison to other trips.)
For years I’ve daydreamed about bringing The Nieces on a trip. Finally, at the ages of 17 and 15 (and 45) that wish has been realized.
Thursday, August 25th, 2016
Little Brother dropped The Nieces off at MKE. They had no idea where we were going.
After dozens and dozens of solo flights it was nice to sit next to someone I knew. So I could get both armrests.
Arriving in Philadelphia we took the train into City Center.
Arriving at the beautiful 30th Street Station.
This was only my third visit to one of the greatest two American cities for history (along with Boston). Reading so many tomes recounting the great events that happened in Philly have long provoked wanting to get back to walk in the footsteps of the celebrated Founding Fathers. I had already visited everything on this trip (plus more) except for one site and one restaurant.
I had picked Embassy Suites for being a quick walk from the train station...and so the girls could have their own room.
William Penn was granted a charter of land from the Delaware River all the way to Lake Erie in 1681.
He dubbed the city he envisioned “The City of Brotherly Love”.
A gentleman’s agreement kept any building from being taller than the statue of William Penn on the top of City Hall all the way until 1987.
Inside City Hall.
Walking to Reading Terminal Market I explained how much I love this bustling 1892 institution.
Minutes later Cal declared, “I love this place!” They eagerly walked the aisles.
Lunch was at the Amish helmed Dutch Eating Place.
I went with the Pork and Sauerkraut special. The girls had burgers.
Bassetts has been churning out ice cream since 1861. I went with Pumpkin. Always go with Pumpkin.
Walked by Chinatown, where I’ve already hit every bakery.
Done in the Georgian style, Independence Hall was completed in 1753.
Operating as the State House it hosted the Second Continental Congress in 1775.
Just imagine what happened in this room! It boogles the mind. Signing the Declaration of Independence and debating the Constitution! Dubbed “An assembly of demi-gods” by Thomas Jefferson, these accomplished and brave men had incredible foresight to craft the Constitution.
That plaque to the left is where Abraham Lincoln raised a flag!
The Liberty Bell was cast in London and shipped to Philly in 1752. Before even being installed an overzealous person rang it...and it cracked. It was recast and was tolled several times...until it cracked once again in 1835.
Franklin Court is the location of Benjamin Franklin’s home. It was started in 1763, moved in 1785 and torn down in 1812 by his grandchildren.
Several blocks to the north is Benjamin Franklin’s gravesite. We all honored the tradition of throwing pennies. "A penny saved is a penny earned."
Betsy Ross’ house. There is evidence that she did not stitch the first flag.
Spectacular Elfreth’s Alley is the longest continuously inhabited street in the US.
Yoga pose.
Walking down 2nd Street.
City Tavern is a re-creation of the famed meeting place of those great men with servers in period costume and food by an accomplished chef.
While waiting for a table I revealed that we were off to another city the next day.
Properly cooked salmon is a blissful experience. This was not.
Merchants Exchange Building
First Bank of the United States
Independence Hall
Jewelers’ Row
Friday, August 26th, 2016
That’s right, for my morning run I did the ‘Rocky stairs’ at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Sang the song, out loud, and summiting the top raised my arms and ran in a circle.
The girls wanted to go back to Reading Terminal Market for bakery. I like how they think.
We got some fresh donuts.
And shared a Whoopie Pie. And that completed hitting every bakery in the market over three trips. You see, one was new and two are Amish and were not open the days I had been there before.
Off to The Big Apple!
Several trips to NYC have yielded thoroughly walking all 5 boroughs, seeing all the major sites, seeing minor sites, admiring buildings, countless subway rides, getting into areas I shouldn’t have, 56 restaurants (14 of them high end) and 93 bakeries/ice cream shops.
Therefore this foray was all about The Nieces discovering the wonderful energy of this international city and seeing the sites so entrenched in American culture. For me this became a catalyst to take pictures of something else other than food since more recent trips have been to dine at Michelin starred and Gourmet Top 50 restaurants.
Their initiation of getting a slice of NY pizza eaten while standing on the sidewalk. “Fold it in half!” They gave it 5 stars. And it only cost a buck!
42nd Street
Times Square
I always swing by Fox News when near Avenue of the Americas.
Radio City Music Hall
“30 Rock!?”
The interior is covered in famed murals.
Rockefeller Plaza is the most recognized part of the 19 building Rockefeller Center.
Turns out The Nieces are big Today show fans so I showed them the studio and explained how I’ve seen them doing live shots in the morning. They didn't appear impressed.
Love the Atlas statue since Atlas Shrugged is my favorite book and it evokes the great depression era it was erected in and success of Rockefeller Center. St. Patrick’s Church is in the background.
The interior of the church that was completed in 1878.
“Ever hear of Saks Fifth Avenue? That is Saks Fifth Avenue.”
The girls insisted I go into Polo Ralph Lauren, one of my faves. Somehow we ended up on the junior’s floor...
5th Avenue in front of Trump Tower with tons of security and TV news vans.
Central Park
Bloomies
Serendipity 3 is one of three favorite NYC eateries.
The whimsical décor dates to 1954.
Frrrozen Hot Chocolate is their claim to fame. Thumbs up all around.
Macy’s flagship 34th Avenue location is the largest store in the world. It rejuvenated The Nieces.
The Empire State Building was famously built in 13 months during the Great Depression.
The Art Deco beauty continues in the lobby.
Views from the 86th floor observatory.
Saturday, August 27th, 2016
As daylight overtook nighttime the morning run revealed the city getting ready for a hectic day.
Took the subway
to Brooklyn.
Strolling the length of the Brooklyn Bridge was planned to allow walking into the vistas of this skyline.
This 133 year old masterpiece has been called “A drive-through cathedral”.
Took a loop through the Financial District.
“Girls, you have to try a New York staple with papaya juice.” I got that...they got Hi-C. As long as they were happy.....
Wall Street
New York Stock Exchange with Trinity Church to the right.
Charging Bull. "Why are we taking a picture of this?" "Trust me, some day you will see this again."
Amidst a bustling major city, Trinity Church dates back to 1696 with the current building being finished in 1846.
Alexander Hamilton’s grave (pyramid). The first time I took this shot was with film. Feeling old.
The Woolworth Building is one of my favorites. One can not get inside. I've tried.
City Hall Park
Into the belly of Chinatown.
Kept the head swiveling trying to find a bakery I hadn’t been to. Went into these two, and later found I’d been to them in 2005 and 2009, respectively. Give me a break, there are over 3,000 bakeries on my list, you can’t remember them all!
Little Italy
Opened in 1905, Lombardi’s is the first pizzeria in the United States.
Real pizza- margherita. Created in Naples in 1898, the tomato sauce, mozzarella and fresh basil represent the Italian flag.
Heading down Broadway.
9/11 Memorial.
It was really rough to visit it.
They did a commendable job on the design.
Expansive, stark, solemn, emotional.
The white stone walls represent the location of the towers.
NO DAY SHALL ERASE YOU FROM THE MEMORY OF TIME
These beams are the outlines of the external framing footings that carried the weight of the towers.
Ladder Company 3 responded to the call. They were last known to be on the 40th floor of the north tower. Those are heroes.
Within the location of the north tower is the Historical Exhibition. No photography is allowed. Driven with TV footage of that horrific day a visitor walks a loop reliving the events as they happened; accompanied by displays of pieces of the plane, building and personal belongings. If the preceding spaces of the museum were not difficult enough to handle this is even much more emotional. Seeing the planes hit, people jumping, buildings crumbling. And to know you are under were almost 3,000 souls moved into Eternal Life.
Never forget.
“Liberty Enlightening the World” was a gift from France erected in New York Harbor in 1886.
Lower Manhattan from Lady Liberty’s pedestal.
Back underground to head to 23rd.
Many moons ago I stood in line here at the original Shake Shack in Madison Square park. In mid-August they opened their 100th location in Boston. Beautiful early evening, attractive park, NY cult following...great meal.
ShakeBurger and Black & White (it’s a NY thing) Shake. Thumbs up all around.
Walking up Broadway to our Times Square Hilton.
Sunday, August 28th, 2016
The hourish morning run went past New York Public Library, through Grand Central Terminal,
popped into the Chrysler Building, down Park Avenue, past Fox News,
through Times Square and around Hells Kitchen.
After the girls awoke we walked to Bryant Park,
New York Public Library,
Grand Central Terminal,
Chrysler Building, Times Square,
and another stop at the same pizza stand. Still a buck, they are still talking about how good it was, full circle.
Lincoln Town Car to LaGuardia.
