New York City – A Whole Other World

I attended my first and only tree-lighting ceremony in the winter of 2003 at Rockefeller Center. Our company had sponsored a trip for some of the top performers in our territory to spend a couple of days in New York City. In conjunction with the trip, we were promoting our new branding in New York, as we had recently opened a couple of new branches.I remember that the weather was really cold, which was surprising due to the number of people who attended the event. I have never seen so many people in one spot, packed like sardines. Fortunately, there was a festive mood in the air, and everyone was really friendly, contrary to what the common misconception is regarding the people of New York.

If I recall correctly, the tree was a Norway Spruce and was donated by Frances and Adolph Katkauskas from Manchester, Connecticut. The ceremony was, of course, televised by NBC, as their headquarters are located right at Rockefeller Center. This ceremony has occurred every year since 1931, when workmen decided to place a tree at the worksite of the center. It has been a yearly tradition ever since.

This year, there were 30,000 bulbs used to light the tree, which was 79 feet tall, weighed in at about 9 tons, and was 50 years old. Some of the entertainment at the event were Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson; the cast of The West Wing, who dedicated the tree lighting to the American soldiers fighting for freedom; Harry Connick, Jr.; Gloria Estefan; and Kelly Clarkson and Ruben Studdard from American Idol. Al Roker and Ann Curry hosted the event.

While attending the event was fun, I think that I will be watching it from the warmth of my living room from now on. Unless I get another free trip…

While on a business trip to NYC in 2003, I was able to spend a day strolling Madison and Fifth Avenues in the Midtown area with my friend Carolyn. We felt like the upper-crust locals who had nothing but time on their hands and money to spend, except we only had one afternoon and the limits assessed to our credit cards.We started by heading south on Fifth, intending to make our first stop FAO Schwartz. After all, they had just declared bankruptcy that week and it was only a block from the hotel. As we crossed 60th, we noticed a slight commotion to our right on the other side of Fifth in front of the Plaza Hotel. It was then that I remembered it was awards week for NASCAR Cup drivers. It seems that Richard Childress, a very prominent car owner on the circuit, was promoting his latest driver. Carolyn and I decided to go and check it out, as I am a fan of NASCAR. Skulking around like we were paparazzi, I attempted to get a picture of the new AOL-sponsored car that was going to be driven by Johnny Sauter during the upcoming 2004 season. I mentioned to Carolyn that my dad was a big fan of Richard Childress, and it would be great to get a photo with him. Carolyn suggested I just ask, so I did, and as a result, I was able to get a picture with both Mr. Childress and Johnny Sauter. I had to call my dad, at work, right then and there to tell him what happened.

Our next stop was FAO Schwartz. I remembered watching the movie “Big” with Tom Hanks and went in search of the giant piano where he played Chop Sticks. I found it on the second floor after riding the escalator past the giant stuffed animal jungle display. There was not much else to see. Personally, I prefer Toys “R” Us.

After leaving FAO Schwartz, I was drawn to a more adult toy store. Get your mind out of the gutter, that’s not what I meant. I am speaking of Tiffany’s jewelry store at 57th Street. All that gold and glitter just enthralled me. Not that I could afford anything in the store, but, hey, it never costs anything to look and dream. They have a wonderful selection of gold and silver jewelry, including pieces designed by Paloma Picasso and Elsa Peretti, and of course, the signature stamped Tiffany & Co.

After Tiffany’s, we felt like we could visit any Fifth Avenue store and fit right in. How wrong I was! We crossed the street to enter Bergdorf Goodman on 58th Street. This was the ultimate in high-end shopping. Here you could pay over $300 for a pair of jeans. A PAIR OF JEANS!!!! How could I work in the yard in a pair of pants that cost that much? I would have to frame them and hang them on my wall. But again, it was fun imagining what we could buy if we had the moolah. Here they sell clothes and accessories for both men and women. We did not spend too long here.

Stepping back out onto Fifth Avenue, we decided to continue down to 49th Street to Rockefeller Center and the skating rink. Our company was having a huge branding promotion this week in conjunction with the tree lighting. As a result, we noticed that the zambonee was decorated with our company logo. We took the requisite photos and then decided to enter NBC Headquarters located right behind the rink in the GE Building and see when the next NBC Studio Tour was taking place. We found out they start every 15 to 30 minutes and last approximately 1 hour. We chose to stick around and see what it was all about. The first thing we saw was a video tour, narrated by Katie Couric and Matt Lauer, all about the history of NBC. Next was a walk through of the actual studios used on TV. We were able to visit the NBC Sports and Saturday Night Live sets. Surprisingly, they were much smaller than I expected. Sometimes the tours are lucky enough to watch a taping of SNL; today was not one of those times. Next, we stopped at a control room that had been scaled down specifically for the tour. Volunteers were able to become meteorologists for a short time while learning how a green screen works. Lastly, we were lead to a demonstration of a three-screen-wide, high-definition television.

By now, we were getting a little hungry and needed sustenance to keep us strolling down the streets of New York. We saw that Dean & Deluca was right across the way. Walking over, we noticed that it was a little crowded but decided to take a chance and see what it was all about. Unfortunately, I was not impressed. Besides being crowded, the service was cranky, the food was mediocre and expensive, and the place was not that clean. I guess we learned what it was like to eat at a trendy spot during the holiday rush in New York.

After lunch, we moseyed on over 1 block east to Madison Avenue. Here we did not stop at too many places, but we did find one of our newly opened branches. We also found Bauman Rare Books at 535 Madison Avenue. This reminded me of what real bookstores are supposed to be like. According to their website, Bauman Rare Books was founded in 1973 by David and Natalie Bauman with a location in NYC and in Philadelphia. Three-story high cases of rare finds lined the walls. I myself am a huge Stephen King fan and have always dreamed of owning a first edition copy of one his earlier novels. One of the women there was kind enough to look and see what they had in stock. They did have a copies of Christine, Cujo and The Stand, all priced at much more than I could afford at the time. I still hope to go back and pick up something I can put into my collection.

We also stopped at Leonidas Famous Belgian Chocolates at 485 Madison Avenue. Leonidas was created by Leonidas Kestekides, a confectioner from the US who visited the 1910 World Fair in Brussels and won a bronze medal for his chocolate entries. While in Brussels, he met a girl, got married, and opened a shop. Now Leonidas chocolates are available all over the world. The New York shop was the first opened in the US in 1991. We, of course, tasted samples and purchased some to come back to the office with us.

By now it was getting late, and we decided to return to the hotel before that night’s requisite company dinner took place. We were pleasantly tired and felt we had walked enough to warrant a decadent dinner.

My friend Carolyn and I found this quaint restaurant in the lower Upper East Side area of Manhattan while looking for somewhere off the beaten path to have a late lunch/early dinner while on a business trip in December of 2003.Strolling down Madison Avenue, we turned a corner and came upon a sign for La Houppa, situated in the basement level of a brownstone. It looked inviting, so we decided to risk it.

Upon entering, we were greeted and immediately seated in the center of the narrow but deep restaurant, as we had arrived during a quiet time of day. The seating arrangement was mainly made up of horseshoe-shaped booths with a sprinkling of tables. Our booth was situated almost directly across from the brick wood-burning stove used for pizza. We expected to become overheated, but were pleasantly surprised as the temperature stayed at a comfortable level. There was a long bar at the head of the restaurant that was currently empty, but I had a feeling that it would be filled by early evening.

For appetizers we both started out with the prosciutto, mozzarella, and melon platter. It was delicious. The prosciutto was tender, and normally, I add salt to my melon to enhance the flavor, but the combination of meat and melon was perfect.

For the main courses, Carolyn decided on the orecchiette with sausage, broccoli rabe, provolone, and tomato sauce. I chose the pumpkin-filled ravioli. I had never heard of such a dish but was feeling adventurous and was thrilled when it arrived covered in a light tomato sauce. The filling did not taste as strong as I thought it might. I was thinking of Thanksgiving and pumpkin pie, but this was much different, warm and slightly nutty, with a pleasant aftertaste. I was highly impressed.

Unfortunately, we did not have room for dessert and neither of us drink, but if they are as good as the meal we had, I would highly recommend the full course at La Houppa.

I was treated to this grand hotel while on a business trip to NYC back in December of 2003. This was my first stay in NYC accommodations, and my impressions were mixed. As I entered the lobby from the entrance on 61st street, I was surprised by how small it was. I guess I am used to the larger chain hotels where the lobby is the main focus. Here it seemed like a long hallway with a tiny check-in area.Even though I was at the hotel by 4pm, I still had to wait, as the room was not ready. I ended up taking a quick walk around the block to familiarize myself with the area. Forty-five minutes later, I was allowed into the room.

As I rode the elevator to the 15th floor, I reflected on the ornate baroque style of the hotel: chandeliers, columns, and chintz everywhere. It certainly looked fancy enough to impress this out-of-towner. It looked like old money stayed here often. I stepped off onto my floor, made a right, and walked all the way to the last room on the right. As I entered, I was a little disappointed, as the room was ordinary. It had two twin beds, a TV stand/dresser, and a desk. The bathroom was done in black-and-white Art Deco tile and was a little on the small size. The closet was roomy enough, as I was only staying a couple of nights. What got me, though, was the price. I was not aware of the cost of the accommodations, as my company had booked the room, but inside the closet door hung a complete list of room rates – $585 per night for my room. HOLY COW!!!! I have never stayed anywhere that expensive. I looked towards the heavily draped window and hoped to be overlooking Central Park, but instead, I was looking at an alley and the building next door. Looking across, it looked like I was overlooking a sweatshop that was closed for the day. Numerous sewing machines were setup in the small area I could see. Not very impressive, but hey, it was free.

For breakfast one day, I decided to eat at the main restaurant, Café Pierre, with one of my colleagues, Carolyn. As I entered the first of two sitting areas, I was impressed by how quiet it was even though filled with hotel guests, old-time locals, and businessmen holding early morning meetings. I decided on regular bacon and eggs, and Carolyn had pancakes. The food was good, but the bill was killer at about $50 for the two of us for breakfast. That was the only meal we had at the hotel during our stay.

The beds were comfortable, the shower was hot, and the service was great. Rooms were clean; food was good, if pricey; and access was easy. While it was a treat to stay courtesy of my company, I don’t think I would stay here on my own.

Highlights:
My parents were never big fans of “The City”, so I wasn’t encouraged to go as a child. As I got older, it seemed so far away and such an exotic (is that the proper word?) place to visit, but I could never get up the nerve to take the journey on my own until I chose to make my first trip a group adventure.

I decided to organize my inaugural “Lunch and a Show in NYC”. I ended up with 20 fellow travelers, and never having stepped foot in New York City, I planned a lunch at Tavern on the Green and tickets to The Radio City Christmas Spectacular for the group. From there, the rest is history. I have since organized a trip twice a year into the city for a party of approximately 20 attendees.

I experienced many firsts during that exciting trip in 2001: my first cab ride, subway ride, train ride, and view of Central Park. I saw the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, visited Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, ate my first corner-stand pretzel, and saw my first show in NYC.

While I have returned to the city numerous times since then, there has never been enough time for me to visit ALL the tourist attractions. I have yet to visit the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building, although I have walked down 5th Avenue and visited Tiffany’s, Bergdorf Goodman, and Saks.

I have had breakfast at the Plaza and lunch at Tavern but have never eaten a dirty-water hot dog. I have visited FAO Schwartz and Toys “R” Us in Times Square but have never experienced Ellis Island. I have eaten at Carmine’s on 44th Street, visited Greenwich Village (briefly), and seen a few Broadway plays but have never visited the Intrepid Space Museum or been to the Museum of Natural History. However, I have spent a couple of wonderful hours at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

As you can see, there are numerous places to visit, restaurants to dine at, and museums to explore, not to mention the shopping. Each part of Manhattan has its own personality.

Quick Tips/Suggestions:
While just about any time of the year is great to visit New York City, my favorite is in early December. I love to go the weekend right after the Rockefeller Center tree is lit. You are early enough in the month to avoid last-minute crowds. It is the time to take in the famous storefront window displays at Saks 5th Avenue, visit Santa Claus at Macy’s, and just experience the festivity at that time of year.

Bring small bills for cab fare, subways, and small souvenirs. I recommend a credit card for any larger purchases. Try to map out where you plan to go early in the day. You can get a decent map at any local souvenir shop for under $10 or pull one off the Internet. If you are a member of AAA, they will provide you with a TripTik, which contains lots of useful information.

I only suggest that you do not make a big deal of looking like a tourist by bringing out your map at every street corner. While I have never had a bad experience in NYC, it is always better to be safe.

Best Way to Get Around:
Walking, walking, walking – wear comfortable shoes. It is the cheapest and best way to get around. No matter where you are in the city, there are always places to visit and things to do. If you need to travel long distances, flag down a cab, and subways can drop you at many different locations, or the horse-drawn carriage is a wonderful way to get around portions of the Midtown area.

To get into the city coming from NJ, I have driven, although parking is horrendous, and the garages can be pricey. I prefer to take the bus or the train and be dropped at Penn Station or the Port Authority. There you can pick up a cab right outside. Both the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels will bring you into the city.