Deb and Reid's Holidays: August 2010

Twinkie

Reid had been on the hunt for a Twinkie the whole time we were in New York, and finally found one!

I guess that box can be ticked!

To get an overall impression of Manhattan we took a boat cruise. Departing near mid town on the Hudson and looping around the bottom of the island, via the Statue of Liberty, up the East River as far as the United Nations - and back again.

The guide on the boat was really interesting and informative - pointing out the sights and giving us quirky facts or history tid bits.

Here are some pics from the boat:

Statue of Liberty

Brooklyn Bridge

Pepsi sign (Pepsi have left New York, but they left behind the sign. Colgate have also left New York, but they left behind the Colgate clock, which is on the New Jersey side of the Hudson. Both are hertiage listed)

The United Nations (Chrysler and Empire State buildings in the background)

Chrysler Building

Empire State Building

Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges (use BMW to remember the order of bridges at the bottom of Manhattan. 1 = Brooklyn, 2 = Manhattan, 3 = Williamsburg)

Downtown Manhattan

Times Square

We didn't plan on visiting Time Square, but we were in the area so decided to swing by.

We are staying Chelsea which is away from the major tourist areas, it's busy and lively, but there aren't hordes of people everywhere. In fact there haven't been large crowds anywhere we've visited . . . . except Times Square

From the steps of the TKTS booth

Can you spot the Naked Cowboy? Busy day for him (it was really hot - he would have been sticky!!)

Pizza

You can't visit New York and not have a slice of pizza, and one slice is definitely enough!! So big and so greasy!

Pizza from Ray's Famous Pizza:

Museum of Modern Art

It was baking hot so we decided to escape the heat with an indoor activity.

On arrival at MoMA only 10 minutes after it opened the queue was way down the block. I whipped out my phone and ordered tickets online, rocked up to the Will Call (pre-order) counted and voila! we are in the door in under 15 mins! And all this from the foyer - no waiting outside in the heat! Brilliant!

For modern art I thought MoMA had a pretty good collection - obviously there was plenty from the wtf category, but the top two floors were packed with works from big name artists and there was some great photography exhibits too.

From the wtf category:

Gloss white lacquer, spayed for 2 minutes at 40lp pressure directly on the floor (1968)

Some more creative items:
Comic strip without the words

Portrait - over time

Frames from Vertigo, Hitchcock

Andy Warhol

These little messages were all over the gallery - it was fun trying to spot them

We made our own art - Reid in a Staircase!

Basketball - USA v France

We went to Madison Square Garden to watch the USA v France basketball game.

USA won by miles and there was some entertaining game play - having only 25 seconds to score after the ball is turned over does it make it more exciting. But - the between play entertainment was amazing!! There were chair leaders/dancers, little kids doing gymnastics, dudes on trampolines - at times with skis on!! - plus, kiss cam, some sort of pin the tail on the donkey type game, a dance competition with people from the audience, and guess the player from their silhouette! Even when there is a time out they have entertainment!!