Johnny Carson once said a New York Minute is the time between a traffic light turning green and the guy behind you honking his horn. In other words, a very short time interval often associated with the fast-paced life in the Big Apple.

We experienced a New York Minute in July…actually about a week’s worth of minutes spent with our son David and his girlfriend Miranda. The week can be summarized with a few simple numbers: More than 50 miles of walking; around 30 subway rides (between Brooklyn and Manhattan…or the City, as it’s referred to), 4 cab rides, around 3 showers a day (owing to the humidity), one stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge, 2 episodes of drenching rainstorms, a bottle of SPF 45 and more than 800 photo images. Why a New York Minute? Because that’s how quickly it passed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4D_rfENTEo

Don Henley’s song,“A New York Minute” not only brings to mind our experience in New York, but also in his tribute to the survivors of 9/11 he tells us to appreciate what we have…and our time in the Big Apple was truly an unforgettable experience, thanks largely to the generosity of time that David and Miranda gave us. They literally filled every moment with a memory that will last a lifetime, not only for us but hopefully for them as well.

This blog will attempt to relive those moments. Perhaps it is my way of savoring them, and allowing them to become further ingrained into our collective memory. Rather than simply list the things we did, I will present them as individual events, complete with commentary…and of course, photos.

A Date with a Lady

Lady Liberty…yes, we had a date. It was several weeks in the making. This Lady is one popular gal, whose dance card gets filled months in advance. Needless to say I was excited for my turn to come around. Little did I know how stormy our date would be!!

It started calm enough, with a little boat ride and a small meal. The view of the city was breathtaking and we where filled with excitement

Miranda modeling a classic New York hotdog...or as classic as one finds at a tourist concessionaire...

We landed, and still things were calm. It was only when I lined everyone up for a photo that things changed. Maybe it was someone’s passing comment that jinxed it and began the downward spiral?

“It won’t rain!”

Did we tempt fate? Maybe she’s more mercurial than I thought? I don’t think more than five minutes passed before those large drops began to fall, each one splattering with the force and volume of what seems like a miniature Niagara Falls. Within seconds my shirt began to stick to my skin as we bolted towards the base, where we could escape the deluge.

We took refuge in the museum, in the base of the Statue. There we learned that - yes indeed France gave the US the statue...but the US had to build the base. Apparently there was a lot of political wrangling and fighting over the design and construction of the base, with some factions saying France should also provide the base.

Funny how some things don't change in Washington, eh?

The above photo is of the original torch, which developed leaks and caused the hand and arm to rust. It became so bad that there was concern it would break so an extensive repair was undertaken several years ago...and a new torch installed.

Incidentally, we could only get passes for the base. The tickets for the top of the Statue? Well, those are available at least 6 months away.

That's me, beside a full-scale replica of the Lady's face. I think the stern expression reflects her stormy mood...

This replica shows the structure that supports the skin of the statue.

When we came to the top of the pedestal, it was still raining hard (and I do mean hard!)

After leaving Liberty Island, we stopped at Ellis Island. Yes we were soaked, in case you were wondering why we stood kinda funny.

It was truly a humbling experience to see where 22 million people came through to enter this country (between the years 1892 and 1924), realizing that many fled poverty, oppression and strife with the hope of a new life here. How easy it is for us to take things for granted?

A Room with a View

The Empire State Building was constructed in 1931, and remained the tallest building in the world for 40 years. Being the building geek that I am, this was high on my list of "must do's"...hey, I do buildings for a living. (It could be worse....it could be a sewer plant!)

Miranda and Beth returning from powdering noses...courtesy of Chipotle (Starbucks had a line). I really love my super-wide angle lens (Tamron 10-24mm, for you camera geeks).

The lobby, reminiscent of a bygone era with it's lavish touches.

King Kong decided to take the day off, so things were quiet on the tower.

David trying to save Miranda...I guess.

I'm not sure if this bird was eyeing me for food or what. I do have to admit it is a long ways up for this guy.

Looking south towards Lower Manhattan. Fifth Avenue goes up the middle of the photo, and Broadway crosses diagonally at the Flatiron Building.

One hears just about every language on the observation deck, with people from many nations visiting.

No....Miranda is not showing off a new....um...condition. I repeat....NOT. It was windy. Maybe this is her Marilyn Monroe impersonation.

Coney Island...a Walk on the Wild Side

Coney Island...surely the epitome of amusement parks in the early part of the 20th century, which unfortunately fell into decline after WW2. In more recent years it has seen some resurgence in popularity, and still attracts its share of thrillseekers, sunworshipers and oddities of the two-legged variety.

The name originally came from the Dutch name of Konijnen Eiland (which means Rabbit Island), as recorded by the settlers in the 17th century. (yes, my Anglophile friends...New York was originally New Amsterdam. More on that later.)

A view of the boardwalk, with one of the original rides in the background called the Parachute Jump, which was part of the 1939 New York Worlds Fair.

Another view of the boardwalk. The Ferris Wheel is also called the Wonder Wheel, originally constructed in 1920 (and a sign proudly proclaims no injury in its entire history...hmmm.).

The beach and pier in the background

Miranda dancing to the roll of the tide

Speaking of oddities...we thought this was Santa Clause on his summer vacation...and to think I was worried about what to wear! (I'm talking about the guy on the right, in case you were wondering)

Nathan's...I think the billboard says it all.

A Nathan's Coney Island hot dog.

I named this guy Mr. Snake. He walked up and down the boardwalk with his pet boa constrictor...and yes he drew a few crowds, as well as more than a few "ews".

Horse on the Merry-go-Round

David and Miranda on the Wonder Wheel

No, we did not go on this ride.

I thought about asking this guy for an arm-wrestling match...

...and this was Mr. Muscle's cousin.

This photo was included in the interest of diversity and inclusiveness, so that people of all body types are equally represented.

Handball seems to be a very popular sport in New York.

A pensive image in the reflection

Scenes from the Sidewalk

"Eat. walk walk walk. Eat. drink. Walk walk walk. EAT. Walk walk look point walk. Sleep."

"Repeat 7 times"

Such was Miranda's description of our stay with them in NYC, in her blog Morellobello (and for some reason this won't allow me to place a link here). I highly recommend her blog, especially if you like food.

We indeed walked...and walked and walked. I have always maintained that the best way to become familiar with any city is to walk the streets and mingle with the people...see the sights, walk into the shops, feel the heat and smell the smells. Over the years we've done this in many cities such as Amsterdam, Florence, and Rome (though I do not recommend this for Nairobi! That is best seen from the safety of a vehicle). And so we did in New York, both in Manhattan and Brooklyn...in spades.

We have seen many scenes from New York sidewalks...sorry I couldn't resist.

This is just a couple of blocks from our lodging in Park Slope, in Brooklyn. I am very sad and embarrased to say, in the innumerable times we have walked by this establishment, we failed to stop in and explore...next time.

Jacques Torres...world famous chocolatier in Dumbo. That's the Brooklyn Bridge in the background.

Chinatown, and a street vendor of fashionable yet affordable sunglasses. (Affordable because they're knock-offs...and fashionable for the same reason)


Speaking of fashions, one indeed expects New York to be an icon of couture...and we were not disappointed (or at least I wasn't).

Art is found in the most unlikely of places, and sometimes one need not pay an exorbitant entrance to one of the many art galleries and museums to enjoy some of the finest urban art in the world.

Often the simplest of pleasures are enjoying the environment no matter where one resides, and one can even do so in the humblest of residences.

Yes...this is Times Square, the epitome of sidewalk experiences, and although Mayors Guilliani and Bloomberg have done well to clean up the area, one still finds many feasts for the eyes.

Times Square street artist

Art is not limited to the visual. We were regaled with some pretty darned good music on many corners.

Speaking of music...this young fellow played a beautiful violin, in Columbus Circle (at the southwest corner of Central Park...and Juilliard isn't far away). Most of his selections were classical. I could've sat and listened for hours.

Columbus Circle...statue with pigeon

I call this a chapter in the red shoes diaries. As we walked by, Miranda noted that the shoes with the red soles (worn by the woman in the middle) were probably $800 a pair...though we later found them online for $695 on sale. Christian Louboutin, at Bergdorf Goodman. Louboutin is pronounced "loo boo tawn'" in case you want to impress your friends. Of course, there are knock-offs for those as well). It seemed fitting to include a pair of shoes in a post about sidewalks, don't you?

Farmer's Market, at Union Square...and yes that is an ostrich egg. Only $30, and you can have just the shell for $20. It takes around 90 minutes to hard-boil, and ostrich meat is mostly red meat. That would be one heckuva omelet!