NYC 4th of July & Other "Holidays"

          I grew up in Brighton, a suburb of Rochester, and Marjorie & I have lived in Albany since 1974, so there have been many jaunts thruout NY: NYC & Long Island, the Capital Region, the Catskills & Adirondacks, Western NY. I’ve seen Niagara Falls in every season (my mother lived in nearby Lewiston for many years). Mostly these travels were not written up, but here (and in other posts) are some selections from "holiday" celebrations. But first a few "archival" photos around NYC. 

 

NYC 4^th of July Fireworks

2015

 

          For some time we’ve thought about getting to NYC for the 4^th of July fireworks. That was highlighted last year when my choir director Charles went down. And the spectacular Northern Lights we saw in Iceland in March provided further inspiration. Yankee Trails does a bus day trip: leave Albany early PM, Circle Line boat to cruise & watch fireworks, back home. The package includes bag lunch, onboard DJ, a “front row seat” for the Macy’s fireworks “extravaganza” along the East River . . . all that and a bag of chips! This is the 35^th year for Macy’s, fireworks launched from a barge south of the Brooklyn Bridge and 4 barges around Midtown Manhattan (our location). 

We’re joined by friends from church Mary Ellen & Frank, Cathy & Tom, plus C & T’s neighbors Sue & Charlie. This comes at a perfect time for Marjorie; she’s just finished organizing & overseeing the weeklong Colonie Art League summer art program for 4^th-7^th graders. Whew! To kick off a patriotic weekend, she has appreciative red-white-and-blue flowers combined from her hubbie & a friend in CAL.

          A cool rainy AM in Albany, but forecast favorable for NYC. A short drive to Yankee Trails in Rennselaer. A bit of a kerfuffle when our group of 8 is split between 2 buses, but assured we’ll be on the same boat. Departure at 12:45, congenial & uneventful ride south as the weather becomes increasingly dry & brighter. Thru NJ to the Lincoln Tunnel, arrive at docks 4:30. But told we’re “too early”! 

 So some extra sightseeing as our driver expertly circles thru Midtown, lots of people in for the holiday, views of Rockefeller Plaza, Times Square, etc. Back to the docks and boarding about 5:30. More stats: boat holds 600, only 4-450 today to allow good viewing. We score good seats up top. Docked next to aircraft carrier Intrepid, which our niece Annie rappelled down some years ago in a group “challenge” race! Beautiful weather now, mostly sunny. 

Pretty sights as we sail down the Hudson and thru the harbor  ̶  close-up views of the Statue of Liberty, Freedom Tower, etc.  ̶  and under bridges up the East River. The DJ plays a somewhat annoying mix, little to do with the holiday, but a rousing singalong of ♫Sweet Caroline♫. We don’t hear the concerts & musical score from the Macy’s production . . . but we’re here for fireworks! 

We settle into our spot opposite the Empire State Bldg, Brooklyn Bridge to the south and fireworks barges a little to our north. Many boats gathering; lots of boats for Coast Guard, NYPD, & NYFD, plus helicopters overhead for security. Two fireboats showing off, spouting high plumes of water. 

Pretty lights on the skyline as the sky darkens, Empire State Bldg lighted red-white-and-blue at the top. Conditions are pretty much perfect: mostly clear, calm, not hot.

The main event begins about 9:30: 50,000 shells w/ 22 colors fired over about 30 minutes. It is spectacular! Many types & colors, some interesting formations (stars, happy faces, etc.). At the finish much whooping (well, one group on our boat whooped thruout, fueled by too much to drink) & boat-honking.

          An orange moon rising as we sail back to the dock. A quiet ride up the Thruway, home a little before 3:00am. A wonderful day!

Father’s Day and Birthday in The City

June 2014

          We did a day trip to “the city” for Mother’s Day and a dance recital for grandson Miles. Marjorie has trumped that, arranging a surprise overnight for Father’s Day and my birthday, plus another dance performance. To the pretty Rensselaer station on Sunday for the 8:10am Amtrak on a beautiful sunny day. The train is quite full, including some fathers headed to a Mets game. 

The usual pretty views along the Hudson, lots of cranes for the beginning work to replace the Tappan Zee Br., into Penn Sta. at about 11. A walk down to Leo House on W. 23^rd St. to drop off our overnight bag (more on LH later). A nearby diner for lunch. Walking along 23^rd after lunch we’re passed by a group of young Black men, one talking on his cell: “They want your Black ass out of that Jewish building. It’s called gentrification.” An excellent, succinct sociological analysis  ̶  I share this later w/ Sociology colleagues; one an expert on segregation and housing, another a demographer who suggests this would make a good New Yorker cartoon. 

Up onto the High Line, a 1-mile elevated walking park along a former NY Central RR spur. (As on our April river cruise, a borrowed collapsible cane from friend Betty helps w/ my sciatica, and garners me several offers of a seat on the subway . . . from young women; I graciously decline.) Marjorie has walked along the High Line, most recently in March w/ her sister Mary, but not in such beautiful conditions. We head north. Lots of people out today, lush vegetation & flowers along the old tracks, odd sculptures, colorful murals on buildings, views of interesting buildings and construction w/ high cranes. A delightful afternoon stroll!

Off the walkway at 30^th St.. A stop into St. John the Baptist w/ beautiful interior. Subway to the 92^nd St. Y to meet up w/ daughter-in-law Anthea & grandson William for the Annual Children’s Dance Concert in the main hall of this wide-ranging NYC cultural institution where Anthea used to work. At first glance this looked to be perhaps a tedious experience: some 25 different performances from all of the children’s dance classes, only one involving our Miles. But it proves a quite interesting 2 hours, ranging from ballet to tap to jazz and hip-hop, from beginners to quite accomplished dancers. Audience near us includes actor Anthony Edwards (“Top Gun” & “ER”). Miles is part of a “junior performance team,” w/ choreographed routine dressed as waiters w/ white shirts & bright bow-ties. Oops, he drops some plates, but makes an excellent recovery for a theatrical finish. The highlight comes during a midpoint break in the action: Miles receives 1 of only 2 “Dance Spirit Awards.” Our contingent hoots and hollers! Anthea learned of this earlier today, but kept the secret.

          Matt missed the dance performance, instead doing percussion for Broadway show “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” (winner of a fistful of Tony awards, including Best Musical). Subway to Jackson Heights to meet him for our Father’s Day dinner at the Himalayan Yak Restaurant. We share various tasty Nepalese, Tibetan, Indian dishes; no yak for us, but we do try some goat. World Cup soccer on the TV  ̶  William is quite into it, knows all the top players and teams from his collection of trading cards. Anthea’s father Brian calls to wish Matt happy Father’s Day; we wish him the same (and we enjoyed seeing him when we overlapped for our Mother’s Day visit). 

 After our gathering back to Leo House, a stop along the way for cupcakes. Leo House (est. 1889) is a “Catholic Guesthouse for Travelers” run by Sisters of St. Agnes. Marjorie & Mary stayed here in March. A pretty lobby and small chapel. Good central location, very reasonable cost, basic but very comfy & quiet room. 

 Monday is another sunny day, up to about 80.

♫Happy birthday to me♫ A nice breakfast buffet at LH, greeted by friendly concierge. Back to the High Line, we head south this time, then subway down to the 9/11 Memorial. 

A lot of construction to walk around and thru to get to the memorial plaza, much noise  ̶  doesn’t make for a very contemplative experience. But the 2 “footprints” of the Twin Towers that were destroyed, with waterfalls flowing into pools bordered by names inscribed of those killed, are impressive. Plus the gleaming tall Freedom Tower and other buildings surrounding the site. One nearby building under construction looks like some kind of alien spacecraft. A very long line to get into the museum, but we’re not so interested in seeing that. 

A stop into pretty St. Paul’s Chapel, the oldest surviving church in Manhattan (from 1766) that was “a place of rest and refuge” for 9/11 responders.


  

A lengthy walk to catch the East River Ferry at Wall St./Pier 11. Beautiful views of the Statue of Liberty in the distance and Manhattan skyline  ̶  the Freedom Tower and South Street Seaport, under the Brooklyn Br., Empire State and UN Bldgs.  ̶  to 34^th St. 

More walking from there. We’ve accomplished our plans for this visit, lots of walking and stair-climbing is wearing on both of us, so we work our way via several subway lines to Penn Sta. where M is able to exchange our later Amtrak tickets for a 2:20 departure. 

Tasty birthday snacks from Matt help sustain us during a pretty trip up the Hudson w/ several delays due to work on tracks. Back to Albany about 5:30, some R&R at home, then out for a Greek birthday dinner. A wonderful Father’s (and Grandpa) Day & Birthday!