Meet me at the Empire!

The Empire is an example of classic Art Deco architecture completed in 1931 it was the worlds tallest building for 40 years at 103 stories with a 62m tower on top which was designed to dock giant airships (this only happened once).  The building has been made famous in a number of movies King Kong in 1933 and my favourite Cary Grant An Affair to Remember in 1957. 

We went up to the 86th floor observatory deck  on a very cold day which was great because the usual throng of tourists weren't there (the attendants warned us that it would be 5 degrees colder up there because of the wind that day).  However we walked straight through the extensive roped corrals (which we were told in summer can take a few hours to pass through) to the lifts. 

The lobby

The Empire minus King Kong from the Hudson

Love the Chrysler and its glowing crown at night.

Trying to keep warm.

Looking towards Liberty Island in the distance.

The Flat Iron building

The Lion on the Ruby Stairs

Times Square is the hub of theatres, tourists and bright lights.  In fact buildings are required to attach neon lights, news ticker, and flashing logos which bedazzle the senses of the 2000 people that pass through here every 15 mins.

Time Square New York - trying the tripod on the Ruby Steps.

The Ruby Red Glass Steps in Times Square - the bill board above it randomly projects footage of
people on the steps.

The TKTS discount theatre ticket booth is under the steps on 47th St.

The Times Square ball on top of One Times Square building that has dropped each New Years Eve since 1907 (originated by NY Times Newspaper which was based in the building)

We booked tickets on line in Australia - the puppetry and music was amazing.

Central Park is freezing over!

The cold front moved in as promised and at its worst for us was minus 12 Celsius.  Awful when you're not used to it - purple numb noses and frozen fingers.

Feathery snow flakes floated down Broadway, the street gutters formed ice and the lakes in Central park were fringed with ice blankets.   Very tempting for my kids to crack!

Loved Central Park it felt so familiar! probably because it has been featured as the backdrop in so many movies.  In winter it has an eerie quiet barren feel to it so I will have to come back to see what its like in the green summer.

The San Remo apartment building with its twin towers 1929.

The Bow Bridge 1862 - one of the most filmed sites.

Keeping warm!

The famous Loeb Boat House, it has a very nice restaurant and a punters section (icy blanket forming).

Hot chocolates next to the fire in the Loeb Boat House - in the punters section!

A nook in the Ramble Central Park.

Strawberry Fields Central Park - John Lennon lived opposite this memorial in the famous Dakota building where he was assassinated in 1980.

The empty Bethesda Fountain for winters freeze over.

Gospel buskers in the Bethesda Terrace.

Lots of squirrels 

The expensive carriage rides in Central Park.

Their first wieners - hot dogs

Belvedere Castle - observatory/folly

On top of the Castle

Ground Zero

On September 11  2001 nineteen al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four US planes, crashing two into the Nth and Sth towers of the World Trade Centre.  The third was crashed into the Pentagon and the forth crashed into a field after crew and passengers tried to regain control.

I think everyone who had a tv still has flash backs to that day, I was shocked by the incredulous events of 9/11 - reinforced by the repeated reporting of graphic images. Going to Ground Zero to pay homage was something we felt compelled to do.

Nearly 3000 people died that day so a visit to the memorial is a quiet and respectful one.  Walls of waterfalls and the names of the victims surround the foot prints of both buildings.  We didn't realise that there was a timed reservation system so thought we were going to miss out on entering the site until we lined up for same day passes 'first in first served'. 

It was one of the coldest days so it was really hard removing jackets, scarves and shoes for security but we completely respected it too.  The gravitas of the situation warranted it in order to enter this memorial surrounded by the ongoing construction of 'The Freedom Tower'.

Ice skating in Central Park - tick!

Always wanted to go iceskating in New York - finally did it at the Wollman Rink Central Park on Fifth Ave. We were walking through the park on the way home at the end of the day and saw that the rink was being prepared for the next session perfect timing.  Before the crowds went out a couple emerged on to the rink and a romantic proposal occurred a la 'Serendipity' the movie. Love ticking off my bucket list frivolous as it is!

Skating in Central Park NY

Cruising to the Statue of Liberty

Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 created a bit of havoc with our plans, after many years of being closed to the public the viewing platform in the crown had reopened which we were hoping to go up but visits to the iconic land sight had been stopped so the only option was to either get the free ferry round trip to Staten Island or do a cruise to the statue.  (Highly recommend getting a New York City Pass - gives you entry to a number of museums and art galleries including this cruise).   

The statue is so iconic not only for its presence in our popular culture but for its symbolism of independence and freedom.  It was a gift from France to the US in celebration of the 1876 US Centennial of Independence.  French sculptor Bartholdi designed and built it from a skin of copper assembled in Paris and then dismantled and shipped to New York in 214 crates.  It was situated on Liberty Island on a granite star shaped pedestal which houses the museum. The torch is gold leaf and is a symbol of enlightenment (the original is in the museum), the broken shackles at Liberty's feet symbolise freedom from oppression and servitude.  France obviously had some issues still with England!

Ellis Island served as New Yorks Immigration Station from 1892 to 1954 and is now a museum.

Lackawanna Clock Tower - Hoboken Rail and Ferry Terminal New Jersey

Freedom tower being constructed to the left

Brooklyn Bridge

Empire and Chrysler Buildings

The Enterprise Shuttle at the closed Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum - the enclosure blew off in the hurricane so we were still able to see it on the floating air force carrier based on the Hudson.