NYC's Toys, Museums, and Views

While in NYC, I got to fulfill a lifelong dream - going to FAO Schwarz.

The first day we tried to go there, we got there right at closing. Luckily, I got to take a pic with the guard outside, as he kindly told people the store was closed. Haha

The front entrance

View of the front entrance from the second floor. The pink dogs shown were HUGE... just took the pic from far away. They remind me of my childhood stuffed dog Samuel.

This is the main reason I wanted to go to FAO Schwarz - to see the piano from the movie Big (with Tom Hanks). I got something even better... I got to stand on it and play it!

My view... the keys lit up and played the correct note! And no, I didn't play chopsticks. Too shamed!

Spent the day in Central Park, but I wasn't feeling well. We went back in the evening, to run around the Jackie Kennedy Onassi Reservoir. Really beautiful. There were so many runners, too!

Views of NY from the north side of the reservoir.

Sweaty pic!

Greg wanted to capture true New Yorkers, and how they wait 5 feet off the sidewalk for the light to change. We thought by the end of our trip that we were getting good at it. Once, we were a few feet out, and looked to smile at each other in pride. Just then, an true New Yorker walked and stood two feet in front of us. Sigh...

The Museum of Natural History (from the movie Night at the Museum). This is a real T-Rex.

Many museums use casts of bones, but these were the actual thing. Pretty crazy!

Wooly.

Mom, this one's for you. I know you love turtles, especially the big ones on North Shore. Imagine if they were still this size now!

A pretty view of the side entrance.

I heard this is a must-do in NY. Greg enjoyed a burger and shake from the Shake Shack. I sampled from each... so tasty! (The shakes are made from custard. Super thick!)

We borrowed someone's front stoop.

I love these houses!

Philly Part 1

I had a conference in Philly for work. The organization got cheap seats for the Philly's vs. Indians game. This was our view.

The bullpen was a double decker!

The bathrooms had these cute signs outside. (Notice the hats and the home-plate shape of the sign.)

Us at the stadium.

Later in the game, one of the Indians' players got hurt, so his Athletic Trainer went on the field. Since 20,000 of us had gone to the game, and we were all sitting together, we all cheered. Greg thought it was hilarious. Bet the Indians' Athletic Trainer was embarrassed!

The score board and jumbo tron.

Greg's first Philly cheesesteak. Provolone without.

(When ordering a cheesesteak, say your preference of cheese - provolone, american, or wiz - and with onions or without onions... just drop the "onions" part.)

After winning the game, the bell in outfield swayed from side to side and rung while lighting up.

Across from the convention center was an awesome market. It was open air, and had over 50 different stores in side. This cheesesteak place was our favorite. (We decided our fav sandwich was Wiz with.) They sold out the last day we were there. :(

Philly's City Hall. Such beautiful architecture!

One of the banners hanging around the city. Notice the NATA part below it... that's us!

The Liberty Bell, complete with crack.

Philly Part 2

You know you're in a historic part of the country when you see this while walking around...

Even Philly has pretty Starbucks!

Greg spent the day exploring Philly while I was in classes. He went to the Franklin Institute (Museum), and found a radar that measures pitching speed. Of course, he tried to beat out all the kids and get the highest speed, and suffered from a sore shoulder for days afterward... but he got a 50!!! (So worth it... You can tell by his face!)

Love Park

Despite the fountain saying "No Swimming", quite a few people cooled off from the 96+ temps by enjoying a dip in the water. I guess walking in the fountain isn't technically swimming...

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is where Rocky ran up the steps during his training. How could we not follow suit? (Despite the fact that we had to walk over an hour to get here.)

The Rocky Statue... which unfortunately is off to the side and at the bottom of the stairs. Sad!

Us before running the stairs.

(It was so funny... everyone was running the stairs. People dressed up, people working out, kids, adults, seniors... everyone!)

Greg being Rocky after beating me... big time. But I took every stair, and he skipped them. Does that count?

View of Philly from the top of the stairs.

Last Day in NYC

After Philly, we spent one last night in NYC. This time, we stayed at the Hilton right across the street from Ground Zero.

This is the view from our room on the 26th floor, showing all of the construction going on at Ground Zero, with the Hudson River in the background.

This is the memorial for WTC Tower 2, built on its original foundation, which will become an inverted fountain.

This is the foundation of WTC Tower 1. Names of those who passed away during the 9/11 attacks will be inscribed around the inverted fountains on both towers.

On a lighter note, this is the Wall Street Bull.

And this is his backside. ;)

This is a statue called The Sphere. It used to be between the WTC Towers, and has been moved to a park close to the Staten Island Ferry as a temporary memorial.

We took the Staten Island Ferry (free!!) to go see Miss Liberty herself.

Walked the Brooklyn Bridge that afternoon.

Rusted, but beautiful.

NYC skyline in the background.

NYC from the bridge.

Standing halfway across the bridge. Greg is on the Brooklyn side...

And I'm on the NY side.

(Any fans of the TV show "The Office" should take notice of our shirts...)

Being silly. Construction here was surrounded by all the different "walk" signals from probably over 50 countries.

One of my favorite parts of NY was finding all of the Starbucks locations. They were on every corner, like the ABC stores are in Hawaii... but so much prettier. Love the architecture in NY, especially when my fav shop resides within.

View from the other side of our hotel.

The Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge.

Went to the Empire State Building that night as our final goodbye to NYC.

Beautiful views...

Last stop on the way to the airport. If anyone watches TLC, this is the bake shop that "Cake Boss" is filmed at. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to wait in the hour-long line. Next time!