The Rockerfeller is just a block away from the Hilton Midtown so we walked down and joined the small queue to take the lift up to the Top of the Rock as it's called. Another magnificent Art Deco building made of limestone with some amazing Deco reliefs on the outside, built in the 1930s during the Great Depression, Mr Rockefeller decided to continue the build and financed it himself since the plans were already laid at the time of the Wall St Crash.
The elevator ride up to the top of the Comcast was fun, they had a glass ceiling and the lift shaft was lit up with blue lights so you could look up and get a sense of speed as you travelled up. Stepping out at the top we could get a great view of the Empire State Building.
Radio City Hall, is also part of the Rockefeller Center.
View from the Top of the Rock. Selfie stick over the side. Woaa Kids, don't try this!
The Flags of the United Nations surround the square, famous for the Christmas Tree (not there now of course).
The Art Deco facade and Hayley almost getting stuck between these pillars. Somehow, It wouldn't surprise us if we had to phone the NY City Fire Department to rescue her.
After the hectic few days we were all in need of a good sit down and a bite to eat. On Saturday, Hayley noticed this Diner and thought it looked good from across the street, we had forgotten where it was. We started looking on Google maps for Diners and Restaurants and the Brooklyn Diner came up in the search. William and Hayley did the street view thing and noticed it was the same one so we decided to walk up 6th Avenue toward Central Park to to find it.
Immediately, as we walked through the door we realised this was a special place to be. The food on the tables looked more up market than just the usual burgers and fries, the menu offered some amazing salads and sea food dishes as well as steaks and the a variety of burgers too. Each of the booths had many small brass nameplates and we were told by our waiter they were names of either regulars to the diner or celebrities who had been to visit. We spotted names like Tony Bennett and a few film directors. The Diner almost looked out of place at the foot of the skyscrapers, but now we know nothing looks out of place in NYC!
The kids went for the Burgers and I had home made Meatballs and Spaghetti. I can't remember what Helen ordered, Chicken club sandwich I think with avocado? We all agreed this was the best meal in NYC. The manager came over for a chat, nice guy originally from County Galway in Ireland, been living in NY for over 20 years. Here's a bit of advertising for him, if you are ever in NYC EAT AT THE BROOKLYN DINER it's amazing!
So, Helen made Mark order this big ice cream thingy so she could share it with him of course😉
After lunch we decided to split up myself and Helen went back down to Times Square to do some shopping, and Hayley and Will ? Well, not sure where they went but when we came back to the Hotel there were cup cakes in boxes and new T-Shirts, they went off to spend their remaining money it seems.
We had a dilemma though. We were meant to revisit the 'Top of the Rock' to see the amazing view at nightime, but we had this Concert to attend (again, more on that later). So we all decided to walk down to Rockefeller again where we would see the sights and then myself and Helen would quickly jump in a Taxi to the concert venue leaving Hayley and Will at the Top of the Rock. The pair of them can do their own thing together on their last night too.
Empire State Building. The white dot to the right is an aeroplane that flew over it.
Video Clip. View from Rockefeller at night.
While waiting for the elevator I met a young couple who it turns out her dad was a lad I went to school with. I recognised the distinct accent, and something told me to say something to them. What a small world eh?
The queue for the down elevator was quite long, we had 30 minutes to get from the Rockefeller, we hailed a cab. These taxi drivers are nuts. Weaving in and out of lanes down through Times Square, but he made it though, just in time for the doors to open.
Video clip of Taxi ride
Billy Joel Live at Madison Square Garden
When Hayley and Will were quite young some friends came round to visit and they told us they had just been to see Billy Joel live and said he was amazing. He was doing a tour of the UK and I think Helen being a fan was aware of the tour but at the time we didn't have much money or time for nights out at all. I think she was quite disappointed back then that she missed out on seeing Billy live. I do remember saying to her the usual "ahh well, maybe next time he tours we will go see him then". It must be getting on for 15 years ago now when I said that 😔
While booking this NY trip Helen noticed that on the last night of our trip Billy would be playing one of his monthly resident shows at Madison Square Garden and there were still a few tickets available. Of course, we just had to get some to see him play live at this iconic venue, in his home city.
The Garden is incredible in itself, all of those famous acts who have performed there and the atmosphere was as they say 'awesome'. We had very good seats near the side of the stage and Billy's Piano rotated so we all got a look at him. It was a fantastic show as Helen said, she couldn't believe she was actually there.
Video Clip. Show opening. My Life
Video Clip. It's Good To Be Home!
Billy played all of his greats to include 'My Life', 'Piano Man', 'Still Rock and Roll to me' and even 'Scenes from an Italian Restaurant'. He performed at least three encores with a medley that included Jackson Browne/Eagles 'Take it Easy' and Led Zeppelin's 'Rock and Roll'.
Video Clip. Piano Man
Video Clip. New York State of Mind.
During the show a guy proposed to his girlfriend, she accepted, where Billy commented in his NY accent "yeah and I'm still playing weddings". Very funny.
Video Clip. Marriage Proposal.
Video Clip. Always a Woman.
What a show, brilliant!
So what did the kids do while we were at the show?
And they finally made it to the Black Tap and ordered one of these each
"New York, New York, what a wonderful place"
... and a fab Holiday!
