Category: USA2014

The women-folk wanted to go shopping at Bloomingdales, cos – well, they’re in New York.

So, onto the subway we went up to Fifth Avenue…

I’ve become an Android lover and will [almost] never go back to an iPhone [never say never]. However, the one thing about Apple that I do appreciate is their unique design…. even reflected in their New York store. The entrance is a glass cube at ground level, adorned with the Apple logo of course, with the store below:

On the way to Bloomingdales, we detoured to FAO Swartz. It become well-known in Australia as a result of the movie Big starring Tom Hanks.

First stop, the candy section:

They have a section devoted to food products provided by Saturday Night Live, such as this beauty that I couldn’t resist snapping – 30,000 times the daily recommended fibre intake:

Then, the “Big Piano” – they have maintained this ever since. Grace had a go of course:

We have video – to be loaded when we can edit it with a good broadband connection.

Then, I let the girls free in Bloomingdales – I grabbed a coffee.

We had a scheduled singing lesson for Grace today at midday, so we split a visit to the American Museum of Natural History in two around the lesson.

You might recognise this as the one (or parts thereof) used in the movies Night At The Museum. It kinda looks similar, but given the damage in the movie, it was either CGI or just a set at another location.

This is largely a great big set of dioramas, each laid out as a representative scene of whatever was displayed. It ranged from insects to small rodents to horses to elephants to a blue whale. The collection started back in 1869 (different location) and has been updated continually ever since. In 1999 a planetarium was added. It was really quite well done.

The main entrance, complete with the dinosaurs:

 

 

Easter Island Head (who called Ben Stiller’s character “Dum Dum”):

 

No Capuchian (hahaha – “Kampuchean” is wrong Mr. auto-correct!) monkeys, but plenty of others:

Look! a flying shark!

In the Planetarium we watched the same movie (30mins) that we missed in San Francisco – lucky) about Dark Matter. I tried to have a science lesson with Ellie & Grace but they rolled their eyes pretty quickly.

We sensed Grace’s boredom (after all it was a holiday, so why was she in a museum?) so we didn’t cover it all. Added to out “next time” list.

Ellie thought a singing lesson for Grace in New York might be a good idea. So, she checked with Grace’s singing teacher who has just graduated from Musical Theatre at WAAPA, she suggested the same teacher she used herself some time ago.

So, a few emails later Ellie had Grace booked for a 1-hour lesson with Adrienne Angel. Noteable celebrities that still employ her as a singing coach today include Cher and Bernadette Peters.

Grace was obviously very nervous given the company she was in, but she did well and learnt a fair bit. As a treat for Ellie & me, we stayed to watch/listen.

A great experience for her.

Since we had quite a late night last night, we didn’t rush out of bed. Our only commitment was the matinee performance.

We started with another visit to Times Square to see it in daylight. I’d really like to have that kick-arse telly you can see on the right!

The girls then had their nails done (mine were fine), so I grabbed 3 weekly passes to the subway, then a coffee.

We promised ourselves we’d have a hotdog from one off those street vendors with a cart in New York. At Bunnings you get a nice one for $2.50, which is probably why I feel a little ripped off paying $5 USD. Still we had the experience.

Ellie had consumed her 1GB of data in the first week, so we went and upped her plan. I then checked our the new Nexus 6 while the girls went shopping for makeup (I had plenty)  – cos, you know, you can’t buy it back home.

The matinee we saw was A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. Ellie had heard good things about this through her research but the cast was relatively unknown – no stars. The two male leads were brilliant and I thoroughly enjoyed it – a great laugh from beginning to end.

Unfortunately, Gracie had a bit of a headache (instead of me for a change) so we headed back to the hotel to let her rest before dinner.

We went to Virgil’s BBQ on a recommendation from an Aussie lady we met in the hotel laundry (we’ve met lots of Aussies so far by the way). Great food but as usual ridiculous portions. I “only” had the Memphis BBQ Pork Ribs – the corn bread and 2 sides (rice & mash) weren’t optional. Ellie had the chicken coated in crushed cornflakes, saltines and potato chips, smothered in country gravy. She asked if I’d like to share some “jalapeno poppers” at which point I reminded her (& Grace) of the portion sizes. So, she asked the waiter, he said they’re not that bit – holding his thumb and forefinger up suggesting a size not much bigger than a bee’s nose. He saw her coming. I told her so.

In an attempt to keep the calories and $$ down, we stopped at the 24 hour supermarket around the corner from the hotel for some breakfast cereal, fruit, water, …. & chocolate (fail!).

New York truly is a sensory overload, including smells both good and bad. In many places even farting in the street actually makes an improvement.

Ellie & I made a short visit to the White House Visitor’s Centre – Grace had quite enough “education” the day before so we left her to sleep in and pack. Since the White House is so hard to get into (3-6 month security check plus a newborn), they have set this up in the the Dept. of Commerce building. They provide lots of history, artefacts, etc. as a compromise to a real visit.

Afterwards, we boarded an Amtrak train to New York – quite comfy – like a flight but with more room, wifi, and food shop.

2.5 hours later the NY skyline came into view, and the excitement stated to build.
In 2003 I spent 3 months in Philadelphia (1 hour train ride away) but never made the trip to New York myself. Ever since I’ve been kicking myself, and Ellie has never let me forget it. Well, the wrong has been righted.

<private joke>It’s a bit like Brian’s trip to Paris 30 years ago without scaling the Eiffel Tower. Have you been yet Brian? Just in case you’ve forgotten what it was like, here’s a picture for you:

</private joke>

OK, so we arrive on holidays to perhaps the most vibrant city in the world, in a hotel that’s only a 5 minute walk from Broadway and Times Square and what do we do? Landry…. how sad is that! Very, but necessary.

Once we were clean, then we went for our first walk… straight to the Times Square: 

This trip has been meticulously planned around New York, specifically the attendance of every musical theatre performance that Ellie & Grace can see in 7 days. That would be 6 (cos Monday is a day off apparently).

Our first was “If/Then” tonight at the Richard Rogers Theatre, starring Idina Menzel (of Wicked fame)… it was fantastic.

Today was devoted to visiting the monuments – something that the US really know “how to do”. Their ability to celebrate their past is unsurpassed.

We boarded a Hop On – Hop Off bus tour that circles the town – you decide when you get on and off. Grace wasn’t that enthusiastic, but we dragged her along – it was just the cold. However, today was relatively mild – it was only -1.

Washington Monument (L) & Jefferson Memorial (R):

Jefferson and part of his declaration:

Franklin D. Roosevelt:

Dr. Martin Luther King:

Lincoln Memorial (last time, he was covered in scaffolding – now clear – yay!):

Looking back along the Mall from the Lincoln Memorial – past the Washington Monument and to the Capitol in the distance:

Korean & Vietnam Memorials:

We visited Arlington, spending quite some time there. Raising the flag at Iwo Jima:

The burial site for one of those who raised the flag at Iwo Jima:

The cemetery 624 acres where the Nation’s war dead beginning with the Civil War, over 400,000. 

JFK’s:

Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They contain remains exhumed from other places and brought here, from World War I, World II, and the Korean War. The Old Guard has been guarding this since 1921 around the clock, without exception.

When popped into the American History Museum (part of the Smithsonian) so Ellie & Grace could have a quick look at Judy’s Shoes (of Judy Garland from Wizard of Oz)…. just a fleeting visit.

Finally, you can’t visit Washington without at least pressing your camera up to the fence in front of the White House:

We were hoping to score a tour inside the White House through various friends, but the security clearance requires a lead time of about 6 months… just wasn’t gonna happen… but we will plan that for the next time, definitely.

Alas, like our last visit from Canada in 2003, we failed to get to the Washington Monument in the middle of the mall – this was our parting glimpse from the White House. Can I say “next time” again?

Having returned to the city following Mt. Vernon – we grabbed a quick lunch, then headed to the Capitol where Ellie had booked us in to the tour.

Needless to say, security was impressive. Entering at the Visitor’s Centre, standard airport-like check-in, wall-to-wall Capitol Police, we watched the regulation introductory video that described the history of the Capitol – very interesting.

When we were here last time (during our Canadian stay), for some reason we never made it to the Capitol so this was a must-see. Unfortunately, the dome is undergoing maintenance so it’s shrouded in scaffolding. Our timing is crap – it’s something they only do every 50 years or so! It needs regular maintenance as it’s made of nearly 9,000,000 lbs of cast-iron:

Under the dome (the doughnut looking cover is to protect people from falling debris):

 

The original painting of the signing of the declaration of independence:

The British surrender:

Congress was actually sitting at the time of our visit, so it was quite busy. It also meant we weren’t going into the the Senate or the House. However, they did show us the older versions used in the 1800s. In the Senate Hall they have 2 statues provided by every state.

The old House:

The old Supreme Court (now in a separate building):

Right at the end of the day, we managed to spend 10 minutes in the House gallery – after passing even more security (of course) – where we watched their democracy live. Not quite how I imagined it, the respect they show for those speaking in the chamber is somewhat similar to ours in Aus – basically non-existent. Only about a third were actually seated, and probably 80% were talking amongst themselves.

A very good day – highly recommended for anyone visiting.

Today we visited Mount Vernon – home of George Washington. Roughly 500 acres on the edge of the Potomac River south of Washington DC. It is now owned by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, who preserve, restore, and manage the estate.

In the visitors’ centre, a sculture of George & Martha, and their Martha’s grandchildren (who they raised):

 

This is where George Washington retired to after his presidency, and later died (of asphyxiation due to a throat infection),

It is displayed with furniture that was both originally owned by him, and those that are representative of the time. It started as only the lower floor and middle third. Over the years, it has expanded to what appears today. We joined a guided tour provided by Association volunteers. No doubt, they are immensely proud of their 1st president.

The house itself (as usual, no photos allowed inside):

 

There are more than a dozen individual buildings on the estate, including stables, workshops, kitchens, laundry, etc. The house itself was essentially just sitting, dining, and bed rooms.

The view of the Potomac from the front porch:

After touring the house, we walked the grounds a little:

 

George Washington’s tomb.

In his will, George Washington requested his slaves receive their freedom. In the 1983 this memorial to the African Americans who served as slaves and died there was erected to recognise their contribution to the estate: 

We had a Capitol tour booked for the afternoon, so we had to leave before we’d walked the grounds completely. It’s becoming quite clear we’re going to have to visit the US again.

 

Not much to say here: 4 hour flight, a pilot that wouldn’t turn the seat-belt sign off, & bloody cold in DC on arrival.

Celsius!

Grace did actually squeal:

We’re staying at a hotel called The George (as in Washington). I first stayed here 11 years ago when I was working with Cakytrix. The room seems to have shrunk a fair bit since then, but that might have singeing to do with 2 beds, 3 suitcases, 3 women’s toiletries & makeup, & the 2 women themselves!

The hotel is very near the Capitol & I recall is used by out-of-town politicians… we were reminded of this as we entered the hotel after dinner. We were stared down by some rather large men with Secret Service -like ear pieces and bulges under their arms all surrounding an older gentleman.