Space Invaders

Recently, I agreed to go along on my daughter's middle-school "field" trip…which was actually a whirlwind three-day, two-night adventure in New York City.

Forty-three middle schoolers…with 11 adults.

Yeah.

I know. It was a brief moment of temporary insanity when I agreed to this, and trust me, it will never happen again. Gah.

The eleven adults consisted of six teachers, and five parents (including myself). The parents were told that we could just "enjoy ourselves" - and not chaperone the kids - which delighted my daughter to no end. Ha. As if that would happen. As it turned out, those six teachers definitely needed the five of us parents to help chaperone…heck, we could have used about 38 more adults on this trip…because managing 43 middle-school students on the crowded, bustling streets of Manhattan was like herding cats.

Honestly, though, the kids were great…mostly. The only trouble we had, actually, was not with any of our kids - but a stranger…

We had just visited the 9/11 Memorial, and we were walking the kids a few blocks up to where we were to get on our tour bus. This was on our third - and final - day of nonstop activity in the city, and all of us were pretty exhausted. The bus was a little late, and so the kids plopped down on the stairs surrounding a public park.

As we had been approaching the intersection, an elderly lady had accidentally (I hope it was accidental, anyway) RAMMED the wheelchair she was pushing into the back of my ankle. I was now hobbling, and bleeding, and when I saw the steps that the kids were sitting on, I plopped down with them so that I could begin doctoring my injury.

And here's where the trouble started.

As I began getting a bandaid out of my purse, a woman - sitting near me on the steps - said, "Uh, excuse me, but you're in my personal space."

"Oh," I said, "I'm sorry!" - and I moved a step further down from her, and began tending my wound again.

"No - you don't understand," she said. "You - I mean ALL of you - are in my personal space."

At this point, I looked up to see what the heck she was talking about. Obviously seeing the look of confusion on my face, she went on, saying, "I was sitting here first…and your…group…invaded my space." (She literally shuddered when she said "group" - as if we'd been chaperoning lepers around the city, rather than kids.)

Well. Excuse me.

Apparently, she OWNED the entire set of public steps near this park. Who knew??!!

Before I could say anything, another mom in our group stepped in and said, "What are you TALKING about??!! These kids are being very good - and quiet. And they're tired! They need to sit down!"

The Owner of the Steps sneered, and said, "Well. They don't have to sit down by ME. You're ALL in my personal space."

At this point, I was ready to go all Brooklyn on her, but realizing I had 43 middle-schoolers sitting within hearing distance of me, I decided that wouldn't be such a good idea. So, gritting my teeth, I very calmly said, "Lady…Welcome to New York City. There IS no personal space here. Get used to it."

And I went back to addressing my ankle.

After seeing that we weren't going to budge, the Crazy Insane Step Lady stood up, huffed, and then stomped away. I couldn't help but call out, "Good bye - and good luck finding that personal space."

Gah.

Yes. I'm back. I took a much-needed hiatus/sabbatical from my blog, but after some nudging - and pushing - from some readers, I'm going to try to resume my ramblings and writings. Thank you all for patience as I took some time away…can't say that I'm more inspired, or more witty, than before - but I'm definitely full of more stories. Because that's one thing that will always remain constant - I am always full of it. :)

Review: "How 2 B A New Yorker"

...the one in which we learn how to be disdainful and rude...


Off-Broadway.

I used to think that meant anything that wasn't on the street/road/avenue/concrete slab they call "Broadway" in Manhattan. Makes sense, right?

Wrong.

I have learned that when a show is considered "off-Broadway", it means that the seating capacity is between 100 and 499 people. In doesn't mean where the show is located physically - but is totally based on the number of people they can seat.

For our Friday night entertainment in NYC, we attended a show that was off-Broadway...as I'd heard that these shows can sometimes be more fun than the big Broadway productions. The show was called, "How 2 B A New Yorker."



Their website promises, "You too can experience the privilege, respect and air of superiority enjoyed by millions who call themselves New Yorkers. But it requires training, even if you were born here. Let us show you how to develop the instincts for disdainful glances, peevish muttering and innate rudeness that distinguish true New Yorkers. Under the direction of OBIE Award winner Robert Ross Parker,the hilarious new comedy HOW 2 B A NEW YORKER shows audiences everything they ever needed to know about what it takes to be a real New Yorker, or at least not stand out as a tourist."

Well. After spending all this time in Manhattan, what better show to see? Because by this time, we considered ourselves NYC transplants, and this sounded like a lot of fun.

Tickets were approximately $55.00 per person, but this not included the show, but DINNER, as well - woot woot! How often can you get a show and dinner in New York City for practically $50 bucks??!! And an Italian dinner, no less!

So, we arrived at Sofie's Restaurant, a small little joint in the heart of Times Square, where we were led to the basement. There, we enjoyed a delicious buffet dinner of Italian offerings, in a tiny, intimate setting.

However.

Let me say that first, as someone who does NOT have a gallbladder...eating tomato sauce is not the smartest thing I can be doing. Or things with oil...as in salads, with olive oils or oil-based salad dressing.

Second...the restaurant was very, very dark...to the point that I really couldn't even see what I was putting on my plate, let alone eating. Although the food was good, I wondered...albeit briefly...if I would pay for this later.

And let's just say that, oh yes. I paid. But that's a story to be told in an upcoming installment. Gah.

Anywho, the show soon started...the show consists of an actor and an actress - going through a gazillion costume changes, prop changes, and backdrop changes - as they frenetically and humorously poke at what makes New Yorkers...so...unique. Think Saturday Night Live with a bit of Second City improv thrown in, and you get the gist of this show.

All of the typical stereotypes of New York are poked and explored, including subway adventures:




...the bad feelings between Brooklyn and Manhattan:




...and the ever-present construction workers that blanket the streets of New York:




There were dozens of times during the show that something the actors would say would hit close to home, and Hubby and I'd find ourselves looking at each other and nodding, saying, "Yup. That's SO true! That SO happened to us!!!" And laughing about it, because, really, there is NO other place in the world like New York City, and you can let it frustrate you - or you can laugh about it.

The show is fast-paced...it's witty...and it's hysterically funny, especially for anyone who's spent any amount of time dealing with the idiosyncrasies of New York. It was a fun way to spend the evening, and at the end of the show, we all got a special little button that said it all:



This show was originally scheduled for a short-run only, but because of popular demand, keeps getting extended and extended. I don't know how much longer it will run, but if you get a chance, you must go see for yourself "How 2 B A New Yorker!"

American Museum of Natural History

...the one in which we are almost eaten by a T-rex...or was it swallowed by a whale???


So...after our adventure at Yankees Stadium, we headed south on the subway to the Central Park area. Our destination was the famous American Museum of Natural History - forever immortalized in the 'classic' film, "Night at the Museum", starring Ben Stiller.



The museum is gigantic...with several floors, wings, and galleys to explore. While we'd been on the subway, we'd studied a map of the museum, and each of us named 1-2 items that were a "must-see". Even doing this, our list was daunting. So...we decided to play one of our "games" - a scavenger hunt from a company called Stray Boots. We'd downloaded, via an app on my phone, a scavenger hunt designed specifically for the American Museum of Natural History...and by solving clues and puzzles, it would let us explore the gigantic museum in a different, but fun, way.


A screenprint of how the app appears on your cellphone....



The game costs $12 per person, and the description, from their website, says:

"Traverse the globe and go back through millions of years of history as you discover some of the most fascinating creatures ever to have walked the earth. Whether you love lions, tigers, or bears...OH MY...there's something for everyone at the American Museum of Natural History, and now that you're seeing it through a cell-phone based scavenger hunt, you can finally interact with all of those dead animals you've longed to befriend. So show T-Rex who's boss by grabbing your cell phone and a friend and attacking this Game Zone like a blue whale goes after plankton...(hungrily)."


We entered the museum, and paid the "suggested" entrance fee of $22 per person. Remember, technically the museum is free - but they don't really encourage that or remind you of that.

Once inside, we immediately began playing our game. It's very simple, really...it begins with a clue, or a question...you have to traverse through the museum to find the answer. Once you find the answer, you type it in - and if you're correct, it will first give you a bit more information about the exhibit that you're now in front of, but secondly - give you your next clue. I had initially only thought that Daughter would be into playing this game, but it soon brought out the competitive spirit in ALL of us, and it didn't take long before the three of us were eagerly anticipating the next clue, so we could solve each puzzle before moving on to the next:


Daughter, reading the next clue....


The game had approximately 20 some clues, and it ultimately had us going (in an orderly fashion, thank goodness!) into pretty much every wing and exhibit that the museum offered. Some of the highlights included:


#1 on MY list had been the T-Rex...it was just as awesome as I had anticipated! There's an entire Hall of Dinosaurs on the 4th Floor that has the world's largest collection of dinosaur fossils....WAY cool.



Our game asked us to do our "best" T-Rex impression, and snap a photo of it...I think they nailed it!



#1 on Hubby's list...the largest meteorite discovered in North America (6th largest in the world)....



The 94-foot suspended Blue Whale in the Hall of Ocean Life...EEP! This thing was HUGE!!!



Part of a giant sequoia tree...I think this was 90' around at its base....



"Lucy" - who lived about 3 million years ago...this was #1 on Daughter's list....



Star of India...at 563 carats, the Star of India is the world's largest gem-quality blue star sapphire. Some 2 billion years old, it is also one of the most well-known objects in the world. EEP!



We spent hours at the museum...and I don't think there was anything we DIDN'T see. I was impressed with how well the museum was organized, as well as exhibited. We could have spent DAYS in there and not seen enough, as it was just massive. There's animals. There's rocks. There's bones. There's gemstones. Truly, something for everyone.

Most visitors enter the museum through the Central Park front entrance...but there's a "hidden" treasure at the 77th Street entrance...the original exterior of the building, which is absolutely beautiful:


Squee! Isn't it AMAZING??!!!





All in all, the museum is a DO NOT MISS while visiting New York City - for adults and children alike. It must be in your Top 10 Attractions to visit!


My best tips are:

1. Do your research ahead of time. Know what attractions you MUST visit.

2. Check out this free app that will help you navigate the museum: Explore App
.
3. Allow for several hours...so be well-rested, and well-fed, before visiting.

There's a subway station VERY close to the museum, so within minutes, we were back at our hotel, resting up a bit before dinner....We had something special planned this evening...a little "off," if you will.....

Stay tuned!

Review: Yankees Stadium Tour

...the one in which I squeeeeeeee.....!!!!!





I love baseball.

I really do.

In fact, my very first dream of a future career - when I was a kid - was to be the first woman to play professional baseball in the major league.

Well...this may surprise you...but that dream obviously didn't come true. But no worries - I've still enjoyed the game to this day, and I love nothing more than going to the ballpark, or just listening to a game on the radio.

Therefore, it was a no-brainer that while visiting New York City, it was a MUST-DO for moi to visit Yankees Stadium...and although the stadium isn't the original - and therefore doesn't have the history of such famous players as Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio - it's STILL Yankees Stadium. And therefore MUST be paid homage to.

I would have loved, loved, loved to have actually gone to a game...but the Yankees home schedule didn't coincide with my schedule...which just pissed me off to no end, because really, they should have consulted with ME before deciding on a schedule, right?! If I couldn't fit in a game, the next best thing was to head up north - to The Bronx - for an actual tour of the stadium itself.

I booked a tour through Viator.com, and for a "mere" $79 per person, we would get to go behind the scenes at the ballpark, as well as get to meet a former player. Yes, the price was a bit high - but trust me when I say it was a heck of a lot cheaper than going to an actual game.

So...we showed up at the Grey Line office at 9:00 to check in...apparently, we'd be provided bus transportation TO the Stadium, but NOT back to Manhattan. Confusing. There was only one other couple going on this tour - for a total of five of us - and we were driven all the way to the Bronx on a double-decker bus. All by ourselves. Yes. Five people. One bus. Weird.


Daughter and I hanging out at Grey Line...not sure what we were talking about here, but I kinda' love this picture.


Along the way, we got to experience - for the first time - the EPIC traffic jams that are a part of NYC culture. Oh. My. God. Bumper to bumper to bumper...our bus crawled and inched along, so it seemed to take an eternity to FINALLY get to Yankees Stadium. Gah. This is when I wish we would have just skipped our "included transportation" with the tour, and taken the subway instead. It would have shaved off about 45 minutes of time.

So...we arrive at Yankees Stadium, where we are greeted by several Yankee employees, who whisk us through security and then take us into the stadium. Besides our official guide who would be doing the talking, we were escorted by 2-3 other stadium employees, who were there to basically babysit us and make sure we didn't do something terrible, I guess, to the stadium. We actually had more Yankee staff in our group than we did tourists, which was a bit weird.




This tour had promised a meeting with a former New York Yankee, and we were introduced to Jim Leyritz, a former catcher and infielder who played on the 1996 and 1999 World Series championship teams for the Yankees. Jim was very affable and friendly, and was quite eager to chime in during our tour to add pertinent and relevant information.


Jim, back in his playing days....



The first area that we visited was the museum, which was impressive in its memorabilia and displays it has in homage to the Yankees. Some of my favorite things included:



A display case featuring one of my favorite players, Mickey Mantle...



Babe Ruth and my ALL-TIME favorite, Lou Gehrig....



Hubby listens as Jim tells what it was like to play under the George Steinbrenner years....



Thurman Munson's locker has been preserved...he was killed in a plane crash during his career with the Yankees....


The centerpiece of the museum was the Ball of Walls...that was part of the Don Larsen sculpture. Don Larsen pitched a perfect game in the 1956 World Series...there is now a statue of Don, "throwing" a pitch to a statue of Yogi Berra...and the trajectory of his last pitch formes the Ball of Walls. The wall is filled with thousands of autographed balls from former players. It's WAY cool:




The museum was really extensive, and tastefully done...even if you're not a Yankees fan - or heck, a baseball fan - you'll find it interesting. There's a lot of history and trivia, and my only regret is that we didn't have HOURS to spend in it, absorbing it all! On game days, the museum is open until the 8th inning, and is free of charge. On non-game days, you must take a tour - like we did - to visit the museum.


So, after our visit to the museum, our tour of the stadium continued.

We next ventured out to centerfield, where we visited Monument Park, an open-air museum that recognizes former Yankees greats:








Check out the seats and the foam cushions...don't they look comfy??!! Jim had us sit down and try them out just so we could see how soft and cushy they are....!


Lots of cush for your tush!


We were then taken to the Yankees dugout, where we got to go inside and have a seat:


SQUEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!! Look at that HUGE grin on my face!!!! I can't stop smiling!!!!!


We sat here for a bit while Jim told us more stories of his baseball playing days:




We then got to pose with Jim for a picture, which he later autographed for us:




I'd tell you about the next part of the tour - but then I'd have to kill you. Seriously - the next part was so "top-secret" - you would have thought we were going into the Oval Office for a meeting with the President and the Pope at the same time...when all we were really doing was visiting the Yankee clubhouse. However, we were told - no less than 4 times - that we were NOT to have cameras out - and we were NOT to have our cell phones in our hands. Period. Or we'd be escorted right out of the clubhouse, the stadium - heck, they'd probably have us on the first ferry to New Jersey. NO PHOTOS OF THE CLUBHOUSE.

But it was way cool. Wow. They've spared no expense for the ballplayers, in the decor, the furnishings, the artwork...it was pretty amazing. An interesting bit of trivia: there's only ONE current New York Yankees ballplayer who has not one, but TWO lockers...know who it is?



If you answered Derek Jeter, give yourself a pat on the back. Derek is so popular - with both the fans and outside companies - that he has to have two lockers to keep up with the fan mail, endorsement deals, and products that he receives.

All too soon, our tour was at an end...that hour flew by quickly. I loved it 95%. I reserve 5% because I didn't like the feeling that I was being escorted by prison guards - it was just very disconcerting. I could see having that much security detail around us if we'd been a HUGE barbarian group of tourists - but there were five of us. FIVE. I teased Hubby that he must have a suspicious face or something.

Jim, the former Yankee player, was a delight. He was so eager to tell his stories...and to share everything...and entertain ANY and ALL questions that we had. He was so helpful, that after the tour was over, he volunteered to walk us to the subway station and put us on the right train, as that's how he was going home himself.


Just walkin' the streets of NYC with a former major league baseball player...looking like we do this all the time....! EEP!


Was the tour worth it? Yes. I would probably not buy my tickets through Viator, though...You can definitely do this tour much cheaper by buying tickets directly from the Yankees website...and then take the subway up to the Bronx. At the end of the tour, you're given a keychain, as well as an opportunity to purchase some fun photos....all in all, a GREAT morning, and as close to being a professional ballplayer as I'll ever be!

The Plan: Friday, June 28th

Does it seem like we've been in New York City forever?

Yes...at this point during our vacation, we seriously should have registered for our voting cards, and looked into having our mail forwarded to our new "permanent" address....

...and yet, there was still so much to do!!!!

Today was Friday, June 28th...and The Plan looked like this:

9:20 am Yankees Stadium Tour

11:00 am Lunch - somewhere???

12:00 pm Museum of Natural History

7:00 pm "How 2 B A New Yorker" - dinner/show

9:30 pm Dylan's Candy Bar


For the most part, our plans went off without a hitch...but we'll get to that in more detail....

Stay tuned!

Review: Katz's Deli

...the one in which an encore performance is demanded....


We finished up our tour of the Tenement Museum around 8:00 pm, and were now sufficiently famished. The original "Plan" had called for us to head over to the highly recommended The Meatball Shop. Daughter has been a fan of meatballs since before she could walk, so I thought this would be a fun place to visit.

However, being the good sport that I am, I threw it out there for Hubby and Daughter to help determine where we'd head for dinner. The conversation went something like this:

Me: "So, I think we need to be heading somewhere for a bite to eat. I'd thought about - "

Daughter & Hubby, basically interrupting me in mid-sentence: "PASTRAMI!!! KATZ'S DELI!!!"

Me: "Are you sure? I mean, we were JUST there this afternoon, and had pastrami - "

Daughter & Hubby, interrupting again: "PASTRAMI! KATZ'S DELI!!!"


Well.

I guess we were headed to Katz's Deli for...you guessed it - pastrami.

I really didn't mind at all...because that bit of pastrami sandwich we'd had earlier was like HEAVEN ON EARTH, and who knows how long it would be before I'd ever be in Pastrami Paradise again??!!

A very short walk later, we were at Katz's.

Feeling like true NYC veterans, we strolled in confidently, got our Golden Tickets, and headed over to the counter to order up the Delicious, Delightful To-Die-For Pastrami Sandwich:



And...to my utter delight...the infamous "When Harry Met Sally" ACTUAL table was empty and available...so guess where I sat??!!


There I am...under the arrow!

Yup.

And the sandwich? Just as good as it was before. It will never get old. So flavorful...so succulent...so aromatic...


As we left the Deli, the skies opened up - and a torrential rainfall began pouring down. Fortunately, we were a short run from our subway station, and donning our ponchos (Yes. I had been lugging THREE of those things in my purse for the last several days - so I was almost, secretly glad that we finally needed them. Gah.), we managed to hop on a train without getting too soaked.

Soon, we were back at our warm and comfy hotel room, where we all settled down for the night...dreaming of pastrami sandwiches.....

Review: The Tenement Museum

...the one in which we get a sobering education on the hard life of an immigrant in the late 1800's....




On my previous trip to New York City, a friend had suggested that I "must" visit the Tenement Museum, which is located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. I really didn't know much about it - and because my time was extremely limited - I skipped it...vowing, though, that when I took the Hubby and Daughter back for our summer vacation, we'd definitely explore it.


A 5-story building, designed to house twenty families....

Well.

All I can say is, wow. And Mary? You were SO right - it's a gem of a museum, and something that should be on everyone's "must-do" list while visiting the Big Apple. Thank you SO much for your earlier recommendation - I'm just sorry I didn't have time to do it in February.

So...the Tenement Museum...located at 103 Orchard Street...currently ranked 19th out of 763 activities in Manhattan....

Here's the scoop:

The Tenement Museum is an ACTUAL, RESTORED tenement building that offers an amazing view of what life was like for an immigrant before modern society....It's a unique opportunity for adult and child alike to learn what it was like to not only live in a tenement, but to work in the neighborhood, as well. The people behind the museum don't just "make up" stories of fictional residents of the neighborhood; they've actually done EXTENSIVE research and tell you the REAL stories of the REAL families that lived in this building over the years.

The building was constructed back in the early 1800's...and was closed in 1935, due to changing building codes for tenements. The building sat, unused, for decades - and so became a virtual "time capsule" into tenement life when it was purchased and restored.

It can ONLY be visited by guided tour - and here's where it can be confusing. Currently, there are several tours to choose from, and you must make reservations & purchase tickets ahead of time. We chose four tours this afternoon - but you can choose one, two, or more - it's up to you, based on cost and time.



We arrived at 103 Orchard Street, which is actually a book/gift shop for the museum. I was highly impressed with the merchandise and books offered here - even if you have NO plans to visit the museum, the shop is well worth a visit to pick up some unique books or items relative to not only the Lower East Side, but New York, in general. There are bathroom facilities here, as well as free storage lockers located in the basement of the shop. We took advantage of the storage lockers to stash our bags, ponchos and jackets...as we'd been warned that "space was tight" on the tour.

When a timed tour is about to begin, it will be announced in the gift shop - and you head outside the front door to find your tour guide. A short, one-minute walk down to 97 Orchard gets you in front of the actual, restored tenement - and this is where you will start your tours.



At 1:30 pm, we took the 60-minute "Hard Times" tour...which took us up the stairs of the tenement, where we first visited the apartment of a German-Jewish family who lived in the building in the 1870's. This family was suffering from poverty and illness, when the father disappeared...leaving the mother alone with several children to support. We then visited another tenement apartment of an Italian Catholic family, who inhabited the building during the Great Depression. We were fascinated by the furniture; the accessories; the clothing; the appliances; and the stories...we were engrossed for the entire sixty minutes.

I think what shocked us was the lack of space...a mere 325 square feet per "apartment", which would house entire families. The apartment would consist of a front room (the parlor), the kitchen, and one bedroom. Toilet facilities were out in the backyard. No showers. No bathing. Very few windows - so no lighting or ventilation. Appalling, actually, to think that so many families lived this way for so many years.







At 2:30 pm, we visited the basement of the tenement building for the 90-minute "Shop Life" tour. In the 1870's, the basement was a saloon, run by a German family. Again, what a great experience for us and Daughter to see what it was like to run a saloon during this time - and how difficult the work actually was.





At 4:45 pm, we visited another floor in the building for the 60-minute "Sweatshop Workers" tour. At one point, a Jewish family ran a garment workshop in their apartment, and we were astonished to see the tiny dwelling literally draped with fabrics and tools, all necessary for their trade...and learning how difficult the working conditions actually were for the immigrants. Again, very little ventilation - so it was very, very hot. However, each apartment DID have a fireplace, so heat was available, for the most part.





On Thursday evenings only, the museum offers a 60-minute "behind the scenes tour" at 6:30 pm, called "Exploring 97 Orchard Street." Here is where they took us through the building again, showing how the restoration process was done, as well as how the research was done on the families who lived in the building.






I loved the entrance to the museum...so pretty....


This was a first-rate museum. If you could only do one tour, I would recommend the "Hard Times" tour, with perhaps the "Sweatshop Workers" as a second choice. I think every one of us walked out of there with a renewed sense of appreciation for our own good fortune, after seeing the conditions that were in this building. It's one thing to read about the tenements - but to actually see one? Wow.

An interesting read regarding the building can be found HERE.


Note that the tenement is NOT air-conditioned...and because it was an extremely hot day the day we visited, it just drove home the point on how miserable the living conditions actually were. We were allowed to take bottled water with us, and I can't recommend this enough if you visit on a hot day. There are tons and tons of stairs involved, as well - so keep that in mind. Wear comfortable shoes; dress for the elements; and have water.


So...to summarize: YOU MUST VISIT THE TENEMENT MUSEUM!!!