Back on the bus, we continued our tour of midtown, revisiting a handful of places we've visited already. I tried to warn her about what we've already scene, but I think I only irritated her. She's obviously got a planned schtick and doesn't want to change it just because we've seen most of the things she's pointing out. I was just trying to be nice. We're headed downtown towards the financial district/ Tribeca/ Chealsea Park, etc. That will be new.
We had pizza in the village. I'm glad the kids got to see a part of the city other than Midtown. Yesterday they got to see some of Harlem, which was great, but most of the time was in Midtown.
Next we went downtown to Ground Zero. I was surprised by how much kids wanted to do this. It's not like there's a museum or even a memorial constructed yet. Then I reminded myself that 9/11 wasn't just one of the biggest historical events of these kids lives (it was certainly that for all of us), but for many it was one of the only major world events in their lifetimes that they've paid attention to, and it was formative. Ground Zero is basically a construction site, but the power of the memories lingers there, and the kids could feel it.
We also visited the church across the street which served as a refuge for many of the 9/11 survivors. Tombstones in the cemetery dated back to the 1780's, at least.
Next we came back to tour Radio City Music Hall.
(Joel, you would love this: Beneath the stage is an elevator that can lift 81,000 lbs more than the weight of the stage itself, dropping it down many stories and even raising it or parts of it above stage level for effects. They hall also has the world's largest HD TV monitor which is counterbalanced and lifted five stories up into the fly-space when it's not in use.)
The grand lounge and the bathroom were pretty impressive. You have to have quite a bathroom for 6,000 people to use it while the next group of 6,00 is coming in to see their Talkies and the Rockettes.
(Post your suggestions for the name for this Boy Band.)
Back up above we saw lots of pictures of the famous acts that have come to the show, as well as a gallery about the Rockettes themselves, before actually meeting a real live Rockette.
Finally we got to sit down.
Then we went to eat at a restaurant in Little Italy called La Mela. We were running late, so I can't tell you how th food was, because my friend showed up to whisk me off for the evening before the food arrived.
We had a wonderful evening tonight. The kids had free time to wander around various neighborhood in small groups with chaperons. Some enjoyed Chinatown.. Others returned to Times Square for more shopping. A group went to see Les Miserables. Mrs. McCarthy and Mrs. Warren caught up with Orlando Garcia, a former Central grad. now living in the village and teach ninth and tenth graders at a public high school (something I have a lot of respect for).
I had an amazing evening hanging out with some friends, Zach and Lauren Jost (who are always fun) and my best friend from elementary school, Isaac Dye, who I haven't seen in over a decade. Catching up with him was the high point of this trip for me, and we promised not to go another decade without seeing each other. Lauren escorted me on the subway from Little Italy to the Village, where we had dinner, and Zach D., escorted me back to Times Square to rendezvous with the group. Wandering the streets and riding the subway encourages good conversation.
On the way to my dinner date with Zach, Lauren, and Zach, I did get a handful of pictures of Washington Park, some very talented and funny hip-hop dancers/drummers who were performing there, an exotic pet act going on in the park, and some sidewalk chalk artists along the way into the Village. Paige, are you sure we can't move here? Not tomorrow, but someday? Please?
The day ended up being fantastic. I Heart NY.
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