Radio City Music Hall

Almost closed in the late 20th century due to financial problems, Radio City Music Hall underwent a $70 million restoration.

The main lobby.

The main hall, and me on the stage.

Men’s washroom. First the anteroom, then the interior, then the hand dryer and then me chilling.

Some of the VIP rooms.

Another view of the lobby from the mezzanine level.

Finally, a view of the stage from the back of the room. I could hear the tour guide talking to the group on the stage. I asked our tour guide if he was wearing a mike. He wasn’t! Incredible acoustics.

Wanted to do a tai chi class with Sonia, but with the weather, it was cancelled. I had promised a friend to get her a t-shirt. So this is what I bought.

So my record for going traveling and getting a tai chi shirt:

Vancouver – no local shirts, just those from eastern Canada, including one I already had.

New York – no class, no shirt.

Malaysia – communication snafu, missed the class.

Next attempt – Frankfurt when Sonia and I go to Oktoberfest this year. Keep your fingers crossed this pandemic settles down!

That’s it for New York. Maybe a post script if I think of other stuff.

Stay tuned. Next retroactive posts – Turkey.

Took a walking tour of the High Line, a former railway line that is now an elevated park. It was featured in the National Geographic. The park is also a venue for public art; works are displayed for a year and then new work is installed. A great way to expose New Yorkers and artists to each other. Then a visit to the Black Tap for a little dessert. You gotta eat here!

Outside view of the Oculus and the Memorial Pools with the names of the victims along the sides. Found Eataly inside the Oculus. Wonderful. Got the glass of wine immediately after walking in. Life is good.

Still cold, but the Empire State Building was open, so we went to the top. Can you tell that I’m still cold?Then took a hop-on hop-off tour. Went to Wall Street to see the bull. Then to Ground Zero of the World Trade Center. This is the Oculus, an ultra modern complex that joins up all of the new towers. The World Trade Center museum.

So we had breakfast at Lindy’s Cheesecake. And discovered that in New York, a ‘suggested’ gratuity on a bill was actually required. We overheard a waiter arguing with a customer about this. Unfortunately, we had already paid our bill, or the gratuity would not have happened. And last night one incredible snowstorm blew through, paralyzing transit systems and shutting down the Empire State Building. So we went to the Museum of Modern Art, one of the few places open. Saw some fabulous pieces. And we rode the subway, trying to find a sporting goods store for something for Sonia’s husband. And I didn’t get on the wrong train like I did when I was a little kid. Long story involving my parents, my brothers Rick and Russ and my sister Donna while we were in NYC for the world’s fair. And a Guinness at a local pub near our hotel.

Got a correction from my cousin Chris. This is St. Patrick’s Cathedral. And now for some more pictures of its stained glass windows.

I don’t think my original first post went through, so here’s the back story.

My friend Sonia and I went to New York City during her March Break in 2017. We’d traveled together to Turkey previously and this was a short tour.

When she retires from teaching in 2020, we plan to go to Oktoberfest. Pandemic better be over by then!!!

Sonia and I had ramen. Sonia and I taught together, do tai chi and are travel buddies.

Kampai!

Times Square at night.

First day – Central Park. Unfortunately it was late in the afternoon and too late to see the zoo.

St. James (?) Cathedral

I’m a sucker for stained glass windows.

Summer, 2018

Rather than give each other Christmas and birthday presents (who needs another shirt), we My brothers, sister and their partners and I decided to travel as a family each year. Our first trip – Chicago

First, the Bean…

The last two pictures were shot as reflections of the Bean.

And deep dish pizza at Giuseppe.

Do you recognize this fountain?

Married with Children opening.

We went to a Blue Jays game. It was a great game. And I ate and drank!

We took a river tour.

And dinner at Eataly Chicago. Eatlay is a cool Italian store, restaurant, wine bar and cooking school all in one place. And so much more. My first experience was in NYC (later posts) and now one is opening up in Toronto in the Bay/Bloor area.

Of course, cards and family birthdays.

A cool Lego Store.

The Water Tower and the Hancock building.

That’s about it. Next, New York City.