354/11

play a little Christmas jingle ~

353/12

You better watch out, You better not cry, Better not pout . . . 

352/13

a little Christmas shopping @ Bryant Park ~

351/14

I love how New York has large Christmas displays randomly placed about the City.

349/16

B was a really good sport yesterday. First I dragged took him to Macy’s so I can get a sneak a peek at Santa and instead we are greeted by hoards of screaming excited children. I would have thought my choice of “fun” places to go would be over but to my surprise he remained at the ready to explore all the ins and outs of the city. We walked the 30 blocks from 34th street to Barney's on Madison Ave, stopping off at FAO Schwatz.

Barney's is uptown and is a “high falutin” store, surrounded by Tiffany’s, Sax 5th Ave, Trump towers and The Plaza hotel. It is the last place we would have expected to find the Lady Gaga Workshop.

Admittedly, I do like her music and find her antics have the same effect on me that headlights have on a deer. We just had to go and see this spectacle for ourselves.

348/17

I just had to take a photograph of this cutie taking a photo of me.

347/18

On our travels to New York today, I dragged B into Macy’s. I wanted to see the real Santa! I have a long list to give him and I need to make sure to get it to him in time! We took the express elevator to the 8th floor and walked down the long corridor to Santa Land. A hum of energy came from the line of excited young children who wrapped around the corners as far as one could see. They could barely stand still. We anticipated waiting for well over an hour opting, instead, for the “peek line” (a back door past the village). There sat Santa in his golden throne-like chair, surrounded by children. My heart raced at the site of him. After being filled with the Christmas spirit, we walked outside and around the building to see their legendary winter display windows.

343/22

335/30

Did you watch the tree lighting celebration in NYC?  I did, I do every most years. 
It, along with Santa's arrival during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, are signs the Christmas season is official here, ready or not! 
Last week B and I walked over to Rockefeller Center. 
The tree, under the cover of scaffolding, was in place and ready for it's Christmas dressing. 

One of my all time favorite Christmas commercials is one in which a Grandfather with his small grandson bury a pine cone at the site of the tree. 
A week later they return to see the 100 foot tree standing tall, a glitter in lights, in the exact spot the pine cone was buried.
I haven't seen it in years.

The first, a 20 foot tree, was erected and decorated by construction workers who were working at the center in 1931. 
It was decorated with tin cans and a string of paper garland.  Wow! It's come a long way.

Oh, and are we in the last month of 365?!  Holy soly, did that go fast.
 

329/36

Standing, under the cover of gray skies, in South Street Seaport looking across the Brooklyn Bridge ~

view skies from around the world over @ SkyWatch Friday.

326/39

Walking down the street the other day, among all the hussel and bussel,

out of the corner of my eye, I noticed this fine gentlemen.

 There he stood dipping strawberries and other fine goodies into a vat of rich, dark, smooth chocolate.

I shook my head and blinked by eyes ~ I thought I was dreaming!

325/40

After having a bit of a respite we walked back through the craziness of the protests, down Wall Street pass the New York Stock Exchange toward the East River and South Street Seaport, home of Fulton Fish Market. It was surprisingly quite. Although it was a lovely evening most of the outside dining tables remained empty.

Oh, and I'm really hoping you're not tired of see photographs from New York City, cause guess what?? We'll going back!! This time to watch the inflation of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day balloons and the week after that... yup one more time ... Radio City to see the Christmas show.

324/41

After the mayhem at Zuccotti Park and the crowds at the 9/11 Memorial, we thought it would be time for a nice little break from all the noise and activity. We walked over to Battery Park and took a stroll along the Hudson River while enjoying the view of our Lady Liberty.

323/42

Once inside the 9-11 Memorial we were able to view the reflecting pools which stand in the footprint of the Twin Towers. They are impressive being the largest man made falls in the US and are nearly an acre in size. They bare the names of the each of the victims from the World Trade Center towers, Pentagon, the Shankville PA field, as well as the six killed during the 1993 attack.

322/43

When one looks across the river in the direction of Manhattan, it is difficult not of notice the void of the Twin Towers. After ten years this somber reminder of the horrors of that day, still saddens me.

It will still be a number of years before the Freedom Towers will be occupied and the streets full of man in pin strip suits and ladies in heels. But after yesterday’s visit we can be sure the skyline will, shortly, once again bare the silhouettes of the tall and mighty Financial Center.

view skies from around the world over @ SkyWatch Friday.

321/44

Generally when B and I go to the City, we visit Midtown (Time Square, Broadway, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick, the Public Library). We’ve not had the need or interest to head Downtown into the Financial District (Stock Exchange, Battery Park, South Street Seaport, Fulton Fish Market) and I am not very familiar with the streets. Hence, getting around can be a bit difficult, leading to the avoidance.

We made the pilgrimage to Ground Zero years ago when it was sadly, a hole in the ground. After our city visit last week we decided it was time to see the progress which was being made and tour the 9-11 Memorial which is now open. I was able to obtain tickets so plans were set.

Although the commotion of the Occupy Wall Street was going on, the mood was otherwise much lighter than our last visit 8 years ago. Construction on Freedom Tower is well underway and the World Trade Center area is a buzz with construction workers.

320/45

As B and I were preparing to leave for the City this morning, we heard the news of the “clean sweep” of Zuccotti Park. The Park has been the two month camp site of the Occupy Wall Street protesters. Our plans were to visit downtown Manhattan today and that would bring us directly into this area of town.

We decided to stick with our original route. We took the ferry over the Hudson River and caught the bus to the Financial District. For blocks around the park the presents of Police was the likes of nothing we have ever seen. At Zuccotti the uniformed offices stood tall and strong, nearly shoulder to shoulder encompassing the park. Mounted Police sat at the ready upon their horses.

Earlier this morning over 200 protesters had been arrested as Mayor Bloomberg ordered an evacuation and clean up.  Now as they were permitted to re-enter without tents, food, and drums, there was calm.

318/47

If you're in a City as large as New York and you take a photo of one marquee,

is it considered a marco shot??

join in the Marco Monday fun over @ Lisa's Chaos

317/48

When I was a child my Nana would bring my sister and I along on her many journeys into the City. We would take the bus over the bridge and upon our first steps on to 42nd street, she would announce, like it was a surprise, we would be stopping for “coffee and . . .”. Her favorite place was Chock Full of Nuts. We would sit on the shiny metal turning stools at the counter, what a treat. I can still smell the fresh coffee brewing and my mouth waters thinking of the delicious “add”.

After we had rested up from our travel, she would hurry us across the street directly into Macy’s. Macy’s was and still is larger than life. Macy’s home of the real Santa Claus. The Santa Claus who arrives during the Thanksgiving day parade. My heart still races thinking of seeing him sitting on his King like throne. I knew if I told him what was on my list, it was a certain guarantee it would be under the tree on Christmas morning.

When B and I walked past Macy’s and I saw the trees strung with lights and them preparing the windows for the Christmas season, I could not help but have a rush of fond memories. I can see Nana smiling and laughing. I could feel the touch of her hand and I remember her on this her birthday. It’s been near 20 years since her passing and there isn’t a day that goes by I don’t think of her.

316/49

~ chocolate and flowers, this is a man after my ♥ ~