New York City!

- The Drive -

We got an early start (around 5am) from the Cleveland area.  Despite taking a longer alternate (and more scenic) route by mistake, the trip there wasn't too bad. 

- Times Square -

We arrived in NYC around 2ish, and once we settled into the hotel room, we started walking through Times Square (less than a block away).

This photo of the "Naked Cowboy" is actually from our last night in the city.

- More Sight Seeing -

After Times Square, we continued on to The New York Library, The Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, and NBC Studios.

- Drinks on the First Night -

This pub was cool and the bartender was really nice, so we stayed for a couple drinks.  It was called Malloy's Irish Pub.

- 9/11 Memorial,  Freedom Tower & The Financial District -

Thursday morning, we took a cab down to the Financial District to see the 9/11 Memorial and the new Freedom Tower.  The Memorial's twin reflecting pools are each nearly and acre in size (so much bigger in person than they seem in pictures or on TV).  The waterfalls within the reflecting pools are the largest manmade waterfalls in North America.  It's kind of an eerie feeling knowing that these pools sit within the footprints where the original Twin Towers once stood.  Being there and seeing all the inscribed names of those who perished was so moving.

The Freedom Tower (now America's tallest skyscraper) was such an impressive structure.

Does anyone know what the structure is that is being built near the 9/11 Memorial? I thought it was really interesting, but have no idea what it is.

After visiting the memorial, we continued on through the Financial District to see the New York Stock Exchange and (after much searching) the Charging Bull.

- Staten Island Ferry & Statue of Liberty -

We hopped on the Staten Island Ferry, which provided us with a view of the Statue of Liberty and the Lower Manhattan skyline.  Best of all, the ferry ride was FREE!

- Lunch at Roast Kitchen -

We just walked past this place and the food looked good, so we went in.  Let me just say, this was probably some of the best food I've ever had.  We need one of these places in Cleveland immediately!  Sadly, they are only located in NYC.  :(

Anyway, it has the same kind of style as Chipotle (the whole order-whatever-ingredients-you-want-in-a-bowl thing), except they have SO many more options.  You choose your greens, 4 mix-ins (fresh veggies and herbs), sauce, grain, and a meat.

I got:

Bok Choy, Kale, & Spinach

Avocado, Cilantro, Zucchini, Roasted Summer Corn

Salsa Verde Sauce

Jasmine Rice

Spicy Chicken

It was soooooooooooooooooooo good.

Check them out here.

- Miscellaneous Sight Seeing -

Tiny old building amongst skyscrapers

A back alley at South Street Seaport & a couple more photos from the Seaport.

The Municipal Building

Street Performers

- Little Italy -

- China Town -

- Grand Central Terminal -

- Chrysler Building & Radio City Music Hall -

- Drinks on the Second Night -

We found another Irish Pub near our hotel.  It was not busy at all.  We were kind of surprised that the bars and pubs weren't busier near Times Square.  This pub was called Emmett O'Lunney's Irish Pub.

- The Plaza Hotel -

- Central Park -

Since the park is so huge, we just walked around the very south end of it.

(At this point, we knew we'd probably be leaving at the end of the night, so we went back and got the car and drove ourselves to the rest of our destinations.)

- Cathedral of St. John the Divine -

I couldn't wait to see this place again.  I remembered it being one of my favorite things from my 2009 trip to NYC.  

There were massive pieces of art hanging from the ceiling of the cathedral.  They were large dragon-like birds.  Steve and I inspected them and found that they were made from a random assortment of car parts, bamboo, fabric, steel beam, tools, and tiny LED lights.  The exhibit is called "Phoenix" by Xu Bing.  Read more about it here and see more pictures here.

These are messages to the artist, Xu Bing.

- Tom's Restaurant -

Steve and I were both really looking forward to seeing this.  I didn't get a chance to get a close view of it last time I was in the city, and it was Steve's first trip to NYC.  We were actually really hungry at this point to we decided to to stop in and have lunch.

- The Brooklyn Bridge & Manhattan Bridge -

- Spray Paint Art in Times Square -

I had seen videos of this before and I wanted Steve to see it.  He was so impressed, he bought the first one he saw the guy make!  Here's the video of his being painted, and a picture of the finished product.  It was made using only spray paint a couple random tools......pretty amazing, huh?

- The Search for Fireworks -