Today (Tuesday) we took a walk through Midtown along 6th Avenue back downtown towards the Empire State Building on 34th Street.We have tickets to visit right up to the 102nd Observation floor but for today only. First, it seems we had to do a bit of shopping. Will has a need to get some more Van's (footwear), Helen noticed JC Penneys was just opposite the ESB, Hayley fancied a look too, so there we have it - a shopping spree of sorts that led to mum and dad being fleeced by the kids out of new Skechers for Hayley and Van's for Will, while Helen even ends up phoning up her Dad to size up some cords he likes from the US! At least Mark got a nice NYC T-shirt. Nothing for Helen yet though, but have a feeling she is saving that for the last day!
"Enough shoes already" Gordon, if you are reading this .. you know my pain!!
Finally we escape the shops, and make our way over to the Empire State Building. We breezed through, no queues today as most of the US are back at work and no hold up at the security either. We did stop for their photo, where they take it on a Green screen and superimpose us on a picture of the ESB. Helen was wearing a green top almost the same shade of green so we reckon it would just show her head, legs and hands!
In the Lobby.
The first level we ride the lift to is on the 80th floor where they have a display of history of the building, its construction, along with many facts and figures e.g. How many bricks and its cost. It was opened in 1931, but amazingly they started digging the footings in the previous April and had the main construction complete by September of 1930! Seems unbelievable to us by today's standards!
Chrysler building.
The 80th floor, observation and display. Spot Helen in her bright green top on the left.
Magnificent views.
Lower Manhattan
Then we take a ride up to the 86th Floor and the main outside viewing platform.
Cold one today, only about 2 degrees. Sunny and clear though!
Eventually we took the lift up to the 102nd Observation deck.
Video Clip. Views from ESB, 86th and 102nd floors.
Helen back on the ground. Many thanks to Judy and Gordon from all of us. Excellent Christmas present xxxx
By now we were all feeling a bit peckish and Helen suggested we try the Tick Tock diner. On the corner of 34th St and 8th Avenue right opposite Madison Square Garden. It claims to be the largest diner in NYC and gets great reviews and wasn't far to walk. Will led the way, doing a great job of navigating using his phone and Google maps.
So, here we are at the Tick Tock. Great place to eat and we all agreed the burgers we ordered were probably the best we ever had, even though Helen did have a bit of fun trying to get the waitress to understand the burger she ordered shouldn't have come with barbacue sauce (she doesn't like it) yet they kept serving her meal with BBQ sauce each time as I think Americans just accept the sauces whatever's on it. Anyway, it all got resolved and she ordered the most amazing banana pancake and Will ordered strawberry and Nutella crepes. Mark and Hayley settled on a thick Milkshake each. Excellent!
Sucking the life out of that straw!!
For the evening we had tickets to see School of Rock at the Winter Garden. Great show we all loved it. The guy who played Dewey was so good, we forgot all about Jack Black in the Film, he played it his own way and was brilliant. The kids played all of their own instruments too, and everyone was wowed by the young girls singing who played Tomika. We love the film, but the stage show is brilliant, well worth seeing.
Helen ready to Rock and "Stick it to the Man"
Finally, before heading back to the hotel we had a walk down to Times Square to see it all lit up. Another Fab day in New York. What a City. We Love It.
Famous Radio City Music Hall.
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