First Glimpse of the Big Apple

Nighttime NYC from the car on our drive in to Jersey

Daytime NYC
The view of the Manhattan skyline from nearby Jersey City--just across the Hudson.
We briefly saw the skyline on our drive in Friday night...
let me tell you, this place looks a whole heck of a lot bigger in the daylight!

We made sure we were up "Jake McSurdy early" so we could watch the sun rise over the city on our walk
to the PATH station...pretty sure we couldn't have asked for better weather!

Refugee camp take #2--six adults getting ready in one bathroom; it's a good thing we all get along so well
...and we were still out the door by 7:00 AM

This tourist was ready to hit the streets and explore every last inch of the city (it would have taken me months)!

Heading underground, only to emerge on the streets of New York City!!

First stop...COFFEE.  We consulted a pedestrian safety officer for a breakfast recommendation, he steered us towards this little shop...part bakery, part grocery, part sandwich shop--just what you expect to see on the streets of NYC.
The breakfast sandwiches and wraps were fab...the coffee was HOT but that's about it.  Let's just say we hit up the Starbucks down the street for a bathroom and more coffee!

Not long after breakfast we saw some of the Occupy protesters and their makeshift tent city

Complete with lots of security and barricades

Kind of pissed that I missed the opportunity to take a photo of the random old dude walking by the protesters
who decided to start a verbal confrontation from the other side of the barricade...what he failed to realize is that while he
was moving from side-to-side arguing, the NINE FOOT POLE he was carrying (not sure why) was almost impaling us!

After getting fueled up with breakfast and caffeine, we spent Saturday seeing the sights...the 9/11 Memorial, Top of the Rock, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Central Park, SoHo, etc., etc., etc.  I can't give you all the lowdown in just one blog post, so you'll have to stay tuned!  I can't believe it's already been over a week since our trip...that just means I have some major blogging to do so I can share all of our experiences! Don't worry, they're coming...

Trick or Treat

Central Pennsylvania Residents Are Again Confused Over When Halloween Really Is.  Bahahaha...true headline from the local newspaper website.  Pennsylvania is confused.  Confused with their crazy nonsense rules and plans.  I've never lived in a place where Halloween is celebrated on so many different nights or seen so many towns with their very own Halloween parades.  Trick-or-treating in our neighborhood was supposed to be last Thursday, October 27, from 6-8 PM while I was at work.  Don't worry, that didn't happen.  The festivities were cancelled due to inclement weather...a.k.a the LOW temperature for the day was 41 and we had 0.01 inch of precipitation (scattered sprinkles).  Instead, trick-or-treating was moved to Monday, October 31, (on HALLOWEEN...what a novel idea)!  Still not sure what we're actually in for...because apparently it's too scary to go and ring doorbells, so if you're in the mood to hand out candy to costumed kids you must sit out on your front porch to meet them.  Hmmm.  No wonder people are confused...nothing here makes sense.  It did give us a couple of extra days to try and get pumpkins carved (we've been procrastinating on that a little).

Oh, BTW...about the whole inclement weather thing, we've obviously been through an earthquake, hurricane, tropical storm, and flooding of the century, and the Snowtober snowstorm can now be added to the list.  Snowstorm Halloween, Halloween snowstorm.  I know I mentioned it the other day too, but I ran across a couple of newspaper stories and photos to remember the Great Halloween Blizzard of 1991 with...n-o-s-t-a-l-g-i-a.  As the Star Tribune put it, Halloween Blizzard of '91...'A Heck of a Trick'.  28.4" of the white fluffy stuff (although it was 36 something inches in Duluth).  Still trying to remember what I dressed up as; thought it was princess Jasmine from Aladdin, but that had to have been the following year as the movie didn't come out till 1992.  Must have been a cold Halloween in '92 as well, cause I remember bundling up under that costume, too!  Doesn't really give the same effect when you have a winter coat under your belly shirt and harem pants.

It's a bit difficult to come up with a whole host of photos from way back in 1991, but to give you a sense, here are a few that I found posted across the internet...

Not a technique that is gonna get her very far...but I'm not sure much else would either. 

Snow, snow, snow...and more snow

This too is apparently from 1991, although it looks about 40 years older...I think technology has since advanced a bit!

Either way, there's less snow today than there was 20 years ago...time to go get some pumpkins carved and get ready to hand out some candy!!!  HAPPY PUMPKIN DAY :-)

Snowtober.

...or maybe I should call it Snowmageddon...or Snowpocalypse.

My plan for yesterday afternoon was to sit on the couch and blog.  Nature seemed to have a different plan.  Let's backtrack...

Friday:  Forecast calls for snow on Saturday; people start preparing...a.k.a reminders that nursing staff are essential personnel which means show up to work in the snow (duh) and a trip to GIANT for a few groceries = the carts are all gone and folks are apparently stocking up on the essentials.

Saturday AM:  Weather is rainy; we sit on the couch for a bit before meeting the neighbors for coffee (<3) at Little Amps.  0930--the rain turns into gigantic snowflakes the size of quarters, or perhaps half dollars.  1100--drive to the gym; get annoyed by other drivers less than a mile from our home...they're driving cautiously slow and leaving ample room to brake, however, the ground is still warm enough that the snow is melting as it hits the pavement.  1215--finishing our workout at the gym when I notice that DishNetwork is searching for a signal (no thunderstorm in sight), not a good sign; lights flicker and generator kicks in...really!?!?  At this point there's seriously maybe 1-2" in the grass and some slush on the roads.  We brave the rest of the city gathering some snacks, getting some beer, and finalizing the accessories for our Halloween costumes.

Saturday PM:  1240--While finishing up at the grocery store, the neighbors inform us that there is no power.  Arrrggghhhh.  My message text message on group me, "Pretty sure if I lived in a damn igloo back in MN, I'd still have electricity".  1300--arrive home, no power.  Notice on the drive home that a good number of PA drivers apparently don't see the need to use headlights during snowstorms.  The only snowplows in sight are the ones plowing the parking lots of shopping malls.  After bitching a little more about the craziness of the situation, we commence sitting on the couch.  No power to blog or bake cut-outs for the party.


Saturday (later) PM:  1530--power back on.  Life resumes as normal.  Shower.  Make cut-outs.  Prepare for an Olde Uptown Halloween Spooktacular.  Party into the wee hours of 10/30/2011.

Apparently this is a PennDOT snowplow.  I'm a little skeptical cause I didn't see even ONE on the streets yesterday.

Not bad, a little bit of snow.  I think a little plowing would definitely make the roads look like less of a mess. 

Ok...so I'll give Pennsylvania this, yesterday was the first time they'd had measurable snowfall in October since 1979.  And, yesterdays whopping 5" did break the October snowfall record of 2.1" set back in 1924.  However, I'm pretty sure they're well aware that snow is snow and they see the white stuff falling from the sky at least a few times each year.  So...why does life come to a complete stop when 5" of snow falls and (get this!) temperatures were going to be back in the 40-50's with sunny skies the next day.  It OBVIOUSLY isn't going to hang around.  In fact, much of the snow had already melted by the time it stopped falling from the sky yesterday.  All I can say is that we're in for a treat of a winter if this is the way things normally go...I <3 snow days, perhaps?  Kind of funny, but kind of a crazy experience!

To go a little nostalgic on ya, it got me thinking about the old Halloween Blizzard of 1991. I remember trying to fit my costume over my snowsuit and trudging around in the snow to get (what presumably was) frozen candy.  :-)  It is the 20 year anniversary, after all.  More on that to come later...

Top of the Rock

What would a trip to New Yizzy be without viewing the city from above.  Saturday was picture-perfect, so we hit up Rockefeller Center and the Top of the Rock Observation Deck.  It's a visit I'd definitely recommend the next time you're in NYC!

Muahahaha...maybe, just maybe I thought I'd get to see Brian Williams...or Matt Lauer...or Ann Curry.
No such luck--just a bunch of tourists like us!

Rockefeller Plaza, not nearly as impressive as I thought it'd be

Hubs going to check out all of the skaters while we waited in line for our tickets to Top of the Rock

We're clearly not in MN anymore...notice the child in blue who just fell over on his ass and the dude in shorts who appears to be wearing some sort of bike helmet :)

Yay, MN!!

Waiting, waiting, and more waiting...long lines

Mel was pretty sure we'd get a great view from the top of the building...on the 30th floor.  It just so happens that we got an even better view from the 67th, 69th and 70th floors where the real top of the building was.  Still waiting to get there :)
The actual elevator ride or "sky shuttle" to the top of the building was a bit freaky, complete with sound and light show as well as a glass ceiling...Willy Wonka, anyone?

Tourists!! They've been to NYC dozens of times, but at least us newcomers were able to show them something new!! Complete with the reflection of a Condon in the shadow of the Empire State Building!

The best view of Lady Liberty we got all weekend...we'll have to see her up close on our next trip!

The North side of the building...overlooking Central Park

You can hardly believe such a massive park lies in the center of the city...so cool!

We took lots and lots of pictures on the 67th floor...little did we know that the 69th and 70 floors didn't have the same ~10 foot high glass walls that give all of the pictures a hazy look :-/

Still breathtaking though :) I truly wonder how long it would take to explore it all...

The girls...looks like one of us forgot to bring sunglasses

...and the group.  One day we'll get Big City to smile for the camera.

The "radiance wall" by Swavorski...I want one!

Going up...

We figured it would be more fun to have a looksie at the Empire State Building
from Top of the Rock, rather than the other way around.  One is a bit more iconic.
Not sure if I'd be able to pick Rockefeller Center out from all the rest!

Ahhh...the sun, fresh air, and NO glass walls!

Doesn't get much higher than this...look at that sky, what a great day!

I wonder what the little boy behind us was thinking...
Again, me squinting without my sunglasses, oops!

I was a little skeptical at first, but $25 a ticket was way more than well worth the views we saw from the top!

The DeBoers...reunited, and Mel's birthday weekend nonetheless :)  What a great pic!