Austins in the Big Apple5/10- It's Complete!!
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disneymom9092 · 05-06-2005, 11:09 AM

Great update Maureen-and I agree-The subway to Yankee Stadium is an experience! (As is the game-the fans REALLY can get into it

)

djpooh74 · 05-06-2005, 12:11 PM

Hi Maureen,
I've just caught up with your TR. I'm glad you're enjoying what our city has to offer. Central Park is one of my favorite places to go during summertime. Around July-Aug, the park hosts free performances of William Shakespeare's plays. Last year, I saw "Much Ado About Nothing" with Jimmy Smits. The free tickets are distributed around noon for that night's performance, and the shows are always sold out. It's one of the best things Central Park has to offer.
Can't wait for the next update.

Diana

Tara O'Hara · 05-06-2005, 01:09 PM

Maureen sorry about the game being boring and wet!

Least you got your baseball food though!

Jillybean · 05-06-2005, 01:14 PM

Sorry about your wet baseball game - - hope the beer and hot dogs were good at least!

Jill

MickeyMAC · 05-06-2005, 02:36 PM

Sorry your baseball game was not exciting but at least you enjoyed the hot dog. Sounds like you had a great trip.

lauren-roxy · 05-06-2005, 02:53 PM

Looks like you had excellent seats for the game, sorry it was wet though! Can't wait to rad more!!!!

MAria R · 05-06-2005, 08:08 PM

Your better than me because I wouldn't have lasted that long at the game!!

elbug10 · 05-06-2005, 09:51 PM

Really enjoying your TR, Maureen! I think you've inspired me to finish mine from March! You sure packed in a lot of things in one weekend. I bet you were eshausted when you got home. Looking foreard to the next installment.

BabieeMelly · 05-06-2005, 10:28 PM

Sorry about the weather! I've been to a Yankee game in the rain and it's not much fun, lmao! But I do love those Yankees... even thought this season they've been HORRIBLE!! Lmao, I can't wait for more

mestitch · 05-06-2005, 10:47 PM

Sorry to hear the game wasn't exciting, but very cool you got to check it out! Can't wait for the next installment.

loobyoxlip · 05-06-2005, 11:28 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Your better than me because I wouldn't have lasted that long at the game!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Can't wait for the next installment - I think I would cry if I saw that.

statelady01 · 05-07-2005, 11:22 PM

Saturday, April 23, 2005:

We decided on a quick muffin from the coffee stand in the lobby at the Hyatt and were ready to make our way to the subway by 8 am. When we came out onto street level to do so- we were amazed by the difference a weekend makes- it was very quiet and not many folks around compared to the weekdays!

Made our way to the MetroCard vending machines- they couldn’t make getting these things any easier whatsoever! Kevan was navigator once again and I just followed. This was quite a lengthy ride downtown towards the tip of Manhattan. We had the odd company of a woman who read some sort of letter and then got pretty angry with the writer- speaking as if she were there- expletives included at no additional charge. It was sort of amusing and scary at the same time.

NYC Subway

At the Cortlandt Street stop, we got off. Climbing the stairs as we made our way to street level I was expecting a walk- but the WTC site was right there. I really am going to have a hard time describing this experience to you all because words probably won’t do it justice- still I’ll give it a go.

The whole site is well barricaded by thick strong fences but they aren’t so much that you can’t see what is there. There were several long plaques hanging on them- detailing the events and photos that were taken as well as three long panels of the names of all the WTC victims. I did notice one or two flower bouquets as well on the corner.

The last remaining beams of the Twin Towers were cut into a cross and it was probably upon sight of this that I became misty eyed and emotional.

What is amazing about this place is you realize that the massiveness of it went up into the sky and the actual ground cover of where the buildings stood is not that large at all. Work was being done and the massive hole where the Twin Towers stood is full of signs of remodeling and reworking the space- as if to say: this is our city- moving on.

It was eerily quiet on that street and we both were completely mindful of the fact this was sacred ground- that the ground on which we were standing was where so many people lost their lives. As I looked up to the sky, and then around the surrounding skyscrapers I could almost see those planes zooming overhead- and that thought alone chilled me to the bone- I can never fully imagine what it must have been like for those who endured that sight. I also caught a view of Liberty Street a block over- and my mind immediately recalled the news footage of thousands of people running for their lives down that street and all the ash and debris falling.

I won’t ever regret visiting this site and recommend doing so even if you are hesitant as I was. It was cathartic, patriotic, and emotional all rolled up into one. But now, I am so very glad we went.

statelady01 · 05-07-2005, 11:32 PM

Continued:

After our visit of the WTC we decided to head over towards the Staten Island Ferry to see if a trip on it was a possibility but by this time a light rain was falling and visibility was low due to fog.

Another stop down on the subway, we came up on the harbor and the water so choppy and view so foggy, we reluctantly decided to pass on the ferry. I tried to get the best photos I could but they didn’t turn out all that great. Still, we did get to admire Lady Liberty from afar and we did see her somewhat from our vantage point.

We headed back to the subway and contemplated our next move as our Kramer Tour did not start until 11:45 and it was only about 9:40. Remembering we needed to go back to Toys R Us for the boys gifts- that seemed like a plan. We got to Times Square about 9:50 and it was sooo cold that I needed a coffee to warm up- heading into MCDonald’s for one. We sat for a few minutes and waited for the Toys R Us crowds next door to dissipate a bit.

This trip to Toys R Us was more successful- we found a cute Thomas the Tank Engine toy for Matty and a terrific NYPD car for Kevin. We mulled around Toys R Us for some time and then decided to head over to the Virgin Megastore nearby.

On the way there were two NYPD officers manning a street corner with their squad car for a dance festival on one of the side streets. They were just standing there and I asked Kevan if he thought they would take a picture- he told me to go ask. They were so friendly and were more than willing- this picture is definitely one of my favorites:

The Virgin Megastore was mega heaven for Kevan but boring for me- so I told him I would wait for him right outside. Because of the weather, it sort of seemed like nighttime in Times Square and the lights were really something. I could have stood there all day looking at them.

After Kevan came out, we figured we should head towards the Producers Club Theatre where the Kramer Reality Tour would begin. We missed it at first- expecting some big awning and entrance- it was the exact opposite- a door barely marked with windows covered in flyers. I was a little nervous about it- it looked like a dump. We were still way too early so we headed back up the street when I spotted a pizza place- Famiglia’s- hungry I was- so we headed on in. The guys in there were super friendly (see I told you New Yorkers rock!) and recommended- we got supreme slices with cokes for about $9 total! It was AWESOME and all the stuff New York pizza dreams are made of.

By the time we finished it was approaching 11:30 and we headed back down the block to the Producers Club to find a few people mulling around. It was time to meet the real Kramer.