Weekend Assignment #146 New York City

AOL's illustrious John Scalzi has made me very happy!

His Weekend Assignment #146: I [Insert Personal Feeling Here] New York is an assignment I think I will enjoy doing!

I love New York!  New York City is like no place on earth, and I am so blessed to have this iconic city less than a half hour away. 

Of course, that is without traffic, a staple of trying to get into Manhattan!  LOL  But, often enough, the planets align, and you can make the trip in that time.

I think I will share with you some of my favorite places and memories from NYC, rather than assaulting you with all the specific reasons why it is the best city in the world.

Two come to mind and give me pause.  The first time I dined at Windows on the World, at the top of the World Trade Center.  Wow.  The view!  We sat at a window table... the windows spanned from the floor to the ceiling, and it gave you a bizarre feeling of being on the edge and about to fall!   It was sunset... and Hubby and I and the couple we were with, watched the colors swirl and change miles out over New Jersey.

Nature's show that evening was one I will never forget. 

I was blessed with dining there twice more.  Once again with the couple from the first time, and another couple, clients of my hubby's. 

The last time was for my dad's 60th birthday dinner.  He and my mom had never even been inside the Twin Towers, never mind at the restaurant.  It was a magical night.  A great celebration with the magical view that never failed to disappoint.  Oh yeah, and the food was phenomenal!  That night, in particular, was probably the best meal I have had in the 41 years of my life.  And, I have hit many restaurants in NYC that could have rivaled it, and didn't.

Another meal that stands out was my parent's 35th wedding anniversary meal at Lutece, a fabulous top notch French restaurant.  Old world French, not that nouveau crap that leaves you hungry.  This was loads of wine, cheese, sauces and meats that you had to roll yourself away from the table.  But, not before the dessert!  Whoa mama!  It was great! 

That night we surprised my parents with a room in the city, too.  I had packed them an overnight bag, grabbed all their medicines and stuff, gotten my mom a sexy nightie and dad silk boxers.  We drove up to the hotel under the guise that Hubby had to check on a job for work.  Instead, he walked out with the key, told them the room was prepaid along with breakfast in bed in the morning, and we would be back at noon the next day to pick them up!   It was a great surprise!  The hotel was the Paramount, and Ian Schrager hotel in midtown, spectacular and funky!

My 30th birthday was another great memory for me.  Hubby and I stayed at the Morgan, another Ian Schrager hotel located on the east side.  We had dinner at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill.  Unbelievable.  Great food, the atmosphere was trendy, loud and fun and totally NYC.

Other great memories that come to mind are riding in the horse and carriage around Rockefeller Center at Christmas time, checking out all the decorations besides the tree that there are to see.  Hubby and I also were treated to a cocktail party given by the Bank of Switzerland on the night that the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center.  Their building looks down on the tree and skating rink with an unobstructed view!  It was amazing.

Broadway plays... need I say more?  Over the years since my childhood and through now with my own children, I have seen, 42nd Street, The Miracle Worker (Patty Duke as Annie Sullivan), The King and I (with Yul Brenner), The Magic Show, Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, Jekyl and Hyde, The Titanic, Les Miserables, Aida, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and more that my mind can't access right now.

Just about every other year since the kids were little we have gone to Radio City for the Christmas Show.  And, every year I cry at the living nativity scene at the end.  They read an amazing poem and it just touches my heart....

We have celebrated birthdays with the kids pretending we were martians at Mars 2112, rock stars at The Hard Rock, monsters at the Jekyl & Hyde Club, movie stars at Planet Hollywood, bikers at the Harley Davidson Cafe, and sport stars at the All-Star Cafe (now gone) and The ESPN Zone. 

We have eaten at the Top of the Sixes looking down on 5th Avenue, and at Tavern on the Green looking out at the park.  We have walked South Street Seaport many times, shopping, drinking, and going to the museums and learning about our past. 

If there is a nationality of food you want to try... it is there.  If there is a subject you want to learn about, NYC has a museum for it.  I am not kidding... check it out on the internet!  

The Museums.... ahhh the museums.  We are members at the American Museum of Natural History and have been for more than 10 years.  As a kid I loved it, as a parent, even more.  I can't begin to list the amazing special exhibits we have seen there, suffice it to say, they never disappoint.  The regular exhibits are tremendous in and of themselves.  The blue whale hanging from the ceiling, the dinosaurs...oh the dinosaurs! 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum ofModern Art are also not to be missed or to be taken for granted.  I am blessed to have been to them many times as well, and the kids, too.  The Egyptian displays at the Met transport you to another place and time.

Okay... I guess you can probably tell, I love New York City!  I love the arts, I love history, I love food!  I love everything New York has to offer that you cannot get anywhere else in the world!

NYC has evolved to become the best of what the US of A is all about.  It is about living together, working, learning, growing, shopping, eating, playing and loving life - TOGETHER!

be well,
Dawn 

Tags: New York City, Twin Towers, AMNH.org, NYC museums, NYC restaurants, Broadway