The Big Apple...

Frank Sinatra called New York City the "city that never sleeps." If you've ever been there you understand why he would say that- people, lights and traffic exist 24/7.  I've visited the "steel jungle" (another nickname I understand just by looking around the city) several times and have often wondered how it came to be known as "The Big Apple."

Many New Yorkers have their own story as to the origin of the nickname but the most popular ones came from very different backgrounds. First, in the early 1920's, there were many important horse racing courses in and around NYC. "Apple" referred to the prizes (like an apple for a horse) awarded at these races. A journalist, John Fitzgerald, got the term from New Orleans jockeys and trainers who yearned to race in the "Big Apple"-in other words, the tracks in NYC. Secondly, around 1930, jazz musicians in NYC began referring to the city as "the Big Apple" since it was THE place to perform. This referred back to an old show business saying- "There are many apples on the tree, but only one Big Apple." Then, in 1971, a tourism campaign adopted "The Big Apple" as an officially recognized reference to NYC, hoping that the rosy red apples would serve as a "bright and cheery image of the city" countering the dark and dangerous perception many people had. The slogan finally applied to all of New York City and was embraced by the city, state, nation and world as tourism soared.

We spent New Year's Day exploring "The Big Apple" pedestrian-style. The first thing we learned was traffic lights and "Don't Walk" signals are merely suggestions. If there is no traffic, GO! Strolling 3.8 miles over the course of the day, we shopped, saw a show and people-watched.

Our first stop was Macy's at Herald Square near where the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade ends. From the outside, it looks pretty much like any other Macy's store. The window displays depict the "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" story with hordes of people crowded around to watch the animated figures. The inside of the store... sparkles... and glitters... with decor... with smiling sales people... with lots of stuff! The store is nine stories tall plus a "lower level" and a "cellar"- all with merchandise. The floors are not unusually small but seem rather average size. The sign outside says this is the "largest store in the world!" and I would believe it! The escalators to the top three floors are ancient, wooden ones about 2/3 the width of more modern ones. They are rickety, swaying back and forth,  and quite noisy- almost an "E-ticket" ride!

From the revolving front doors to the architectural details and wooden escalators, this Macy's is a visit to yesteryear.

Ringing in the New Year at Times Square was something I've wanted to do for a long time; seeing a Broadway play in the "Big Apple" was another. Our next stop was the Nederlander Theater  in Times Square's Theater District to see the fabulous play Million Dollar Quartet- the true story of the only time Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins played together (it was an impromptu jam session at the recording studio). Nothing was "pre-recorded", the actors played their instruments and sang. How many people can play the piano upside down while lying across the top of the piano like Jerry Lee Lewis? I bet that casting call was pretty short! The play was an entertaining trip down memory lane- definitely two-thumbs up! The theater, originally named National Theater,  was built in 1921. Crown molding, wood banisters, velvet draperies tied back with thick gold cords and old-style box seats on the side are characteristic of the time and delightful to look at. The only downside is the seating area itself- I've had more legroom on a capacity-filled US Airways flight!

A trip to "The Big Apple" just wouldn't be complete without standing on the sidewalk eating a hotdog from a street vendor. Street vendors aren't hard to find- if you miss the bright red cart, just follow your nose! My hotdog had mustard, onions and sauerkraut while Richard prefers mustard and relish. No matter how you dress it, they were de-lish!

After waiting in a line around the side of the building, we finally made our way into the two-story M&M World along with thousands of other tourists. Dispensers of M&M's of every color and type imaginable lined several walls and for only $13 per pound you could fill a bag with your favorite mix. We didn't stay long since it was more claustrophobic-feeling than Times Square had been the night before.

We strolled along the sidewalk watching people. Couples walking arm in arm. Families laughing together, pointing out the Empire State Building. New York's "men in blue"... lots of them... some on horses. College students out for night of clubbing. After walking several blocks, we found ourselves at Rockefeller Center where we happened upon a gorgeous sculpture of red Christmas ornaments in a fountain.

The ornaments together with the white-lighted trees in the area were very festive, indeed!

After stopping for pizza at a coal-fired pizzeria, we walked back to our hotel. We enjoyed our time in "The Big Apple"... it is a lovely place to visit and I can't wait to go back!

Ringing in the New Year!

It has been, for quite some time, a desire of mine to watch the ball drop in Times Square on New Year's Eve. Although Richard did not share the same enthusiasm for this as me, he did arrange our trip and this afternoon we were at Times Square! People started gathering by early afternoon- and we watched them from the window of our hotel (Marriott New York Marquis) which is on Times Square.

The view from our hotel room is spectacular but does not face where the ball drops- those rooms were $1750 per night! 

We ventured down about 4:00 and immediately realized we should have gone out earlier. After being directed from one street to a farther street to an even farther street, we finally decided to head back to the hotel and see if we could find a back way or, failing that, go watch it on tv in our room. God was directing our footsteps, however, and we ended up in line for a "pen" made of crowd control barricades right outside our hotel. As you can imagine, there was a very strong police presence- the ones with "Counter Terrorism" on their backs were more than a little disconcerting. Security was very tight- streets were blocked off with concrete barriers, police were directing pedestrians, I was wanded twice and our bags were checked several times. 

Yes, those are BIG guns! As part of their security plan, the hotels on Times Square issued special New Year's Eve keycards- which we had to show to go down the street by the hotel as well as to get in the hotel anytime after 4pm.

By 5:30 we were situated in the "pen" area and began the long wait. Once in, you can't leave and come back... and there are no bathrooms. Although we took some snacks and water bottles, we realized we needed to ration them sparingly. We listened to (and sometimes could see) the bands playing on the stages... Rick Springfield, Backstreet Boys (who are now men!), New Kids on the Block, Kesha  to name a few. 

Finally, at 6:00 the ball, which is 12 feet in diameter, is raised up amid fireworks!

We passed the time chatting with people around us- ALL of them considerably younger. One young man said that he gave us a lot of credit for doing this... ouch =) 

I asked a police officer how many people they expected and he said probably more than a million! Most of the people were considerate and pleasant. A few people thought they could push their way to the barricade (and have a chance of being on tv) at 11:00 but they backed off when no one made room for them. The crowd got bigger and bigger but no one was out of control. 

This is not the place for people who are claustrophobic or have personal space issues!

Confetti began falling at 8:00. Every hour on the hour they did another fireworks show around the ball. And, of course, the announcers revved the crowd up. This was a street party of gigantic proportion!

We heard them say that over 2000 pounds of confetti were released throughout the night. It was absolutely beautiful to watch floating down!

At long last, it was time for the final countdown. The crowd roared. Balloons were waving in the air. Everyone was making sure their honey was nearby to kiss. TEN! ... NINE! ...

EIGHT!...

SEVEN!... (the crowd roars louder!)... SIX! ... FIVE! ... FOUR! ...

THREE! ...

TWO!... ONE! ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

It was an experience not to be missed. God blessed us in many ways. We met some nice people. The weather was fabulous. We ended up in an outstanding location through no effort of our own. Would we do it again? Perhaps...

Diner, Drive-in or Dive #6: Bayway Diner

According to 50 States Facts and Trivia, New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to as "the diner capital of the world." It was only fitting that we would have lunch at one that made Guy Fieri's Triple D list.

The Bayway Diner is located in an industrial area (a refinery is across the street) in Linden, New Jersey and makes good food fast for the working folks.

(In the top photo, the area on the right is a covered patio area for outside dining... look at the snow!)

The inside isn't any fancier than the outside. There is counter seating for NINE with room for one person to walk on the other side of the counter. All food preparation is done on the other side of the counter. Tito, the cook (chef?), recognized that we hadn't been in before and talked to us as he prepared our food. Our server, Kim, was also friendly in that no-nonsense diner fashion. Mike, the owner, recognized us as "new faces" and chatted with us. The other customers, all regulars, were equally friendly. It is the kind of place where you feel right at home when you walk in the door. But what about the food?

We both had the Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich and fries... a tasty trio of chopped steak, peppers and onions covered with melted American cheese on an Italian roll. The large crinkle-cut fries were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside... the kind that melt in your mouth. All I can say is...YUMMY!

As we enjoyed our lunch at a diner favored by locals, we wondered why anyone would prefer national chain fast food to the fast, friendly service and food we've experienced at the "Diner's, Drive-ins and Dives" we've tried. They take a little more work to find (google is my new best friend!) but are well worth the effort!

Christmas Gifts

We spent Christmas at the Albaecks in North Carolina along with Janne and Adam. This was a special Christmas for me- Jacob was back from Iraq for his R&R and we ALL could be together for Christmas- a first! It was a fun, memory-making time.

I thought about gifts... ones under the tree, ones from Christmases past, ones that aren't "things" and especially about the one God gave us that first Christmas so many years ago... Jesus and His gift of salvation.

Grandchildren are a marvelous gift! 

Richard and I spent some time playing with the grandkids outside on Christmas Eve. While we enjoyed gifts of good health and being able to play with our four sweethearts who are as individual as can be, they enjoyed gifts of playtime with grandparents and toys from past Christmases. 

There is nothing like Christmas morning with little kids!

Amazingly, the Albaeck children, unlike their mother when she was a child, sleep in on Christmas morning so our day didn't begin until 8-ish. Gifts are opened one at a time amid much story-telling and laughter. Every gift is special... from the homemade ones from the kids or underwear in a stocking to that one thing you "really, really wanted!"

Lexie got two tutus (for ballet class)... and being the good little sister that she is, shared with Ben!

The gift of laughter is perhaps my favorite one. As you can imagine, with four kids under the age of eight, there was a lot of laughter... listening to them sing "Feliz Navidad" ("...Espano ano demicidad...") ... or watching the "ballarinas" in tutus and Christmas pajama tops... 

Another gift... we had a "White Boxing Day!"

We woke up on Boxing Day (December 26th for those who aren't familiar with Boxing Day) to a pristine, white blanket of snow covering absolutely everything! The kids were excited! The grown ups were excited! And after lunch we went outside to play in it. We had snowball fights... ate real root beer snow cones... had fun playing together ... and just marveled at the fluffy stuff coming down out of the sky.

We had a wonderful Christmas and were blessed with many gifts!

Diner, Drive-in or Dive #5: Dots Back Inn

Realizing we have been neglecting our "Triple D" outings, we found one in Richmond, Virginia that we tried on our way to North Carolina for Christmas. Dots Back Inn is owned and operated by chef Jimmy Tsamoures and serves "diner classics" as well as a few specialities.

We thought Dots definitely looks like a dive from the outside... and the inside is "comfortable"... but the food is fabulous!

It is situated smack in the middle of a residential neighborhood and is very much a local eatery. In fact, we stood out like sore thumbs- and it wasn't just because we walked in with a camera! The first thing I noticed when we walked through the door at 11:20 am was that a local lunch crowd was already beginning to congregate. Local folks (so, everyone but us!) were greeted by name as they walked in and the waitresses were friendly and conversational to all.

Typical diner and somewhat gaudy Christmas decor greets patrons as they enter.  All the booths were taken so we sat at a center table. By the time we left, an hour later, there was not an empty table or booth and only a few counter stools were available. The place was hoppin' by noon!

Who is Dot? According to their menu, "Dot started working in the family restaurant in the 1940's and waited tables for nearly 50 years. Dot's is dedicated to her and every other waitress who has been the heart, soul and success of the neighborhood restaurant, but never had the opportunity to own her own."

Richard ordered the "Grilled Andouille Sandwich" with provolone cheese and grilled onions and I ordered the "Black and Blue Burger" with blue cheese and cajon spice- and we each had half. We both chose the spicy red potato salad as our side. The food was flavorful and fresh... and absolutely delicious! 

As Guy Fieri says, it was "good eats!"

I am quite sure we will stop back at Dots Back Inn... maybe we'll even become "locals!"

Be Prepared!

Be prepared... both the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scout claim that as their motto. Having been a Girl Scout for eleven years and a Girl Scout leader for another ten years, it has also become my motto. When I read that the I-95 corridor was expecting a massive snowstorm in late December, I decided we had better get prepared.

Just about every alphabet acronym (AARP, AAA, DHHS, MDOT, CDC, ...) has a list of items everyone "must have" to prepare for winter weather- some items are for your house and some for your car.

The "House Stuff" is on the left... the "Car Stuff" on the right and the middle is shared. Some would argue that the most important item is... chocolate!

Fortunately, we have a gas stove/oven and would be able to use them even if we are without electricity. We make sure we have a supply of bottled water (home and car) and food that needs no preparation. The candle in the coffee can is for the car- along with some matches- to provide light or thaw out a water bottle. I carried one in my car throughout the winter we spent in Calgary, Canada and never needed it- I'm hoping for a repeat performance! And the beach towels, in case you were wondering, are to provide traction should we get stuck- easier and less messy than sand! 

With the purchase of windshield de-icer, my "Winter Survival Kit" was complete... and we are now prepared for whatever winter brings this year.

Christmas Lights

Last night we went to see...

We've been to Zoo Lights at the Phoenix Zoo many times... sometimes in our shorts... but here at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park (commonly called the National Zoo!), we bundled up with pull-over fleece, heavy coat, gloves and scarf before heading out to see what we were sure would be a spectacular display. It was chilly (about 27 degrees) and we could see our breath as we exhaled. 

Most of the displays were just rope lights on wire outlines like these. The birds did appear to fly across the walkway... although my time-exposure doesn't show it. Two of the exhibits like these were set to music- if you got there at the right time.

There were some pretty trees that had lights on the trunks and branches. Strangely, these were not set to music- but they were pretty to walk by.

The almost full moon added some pretty light of its own...

My favorite moonscape!

We concluded that the light display was not as good as ones we've seen at the Phoenix Zoo... although the nearly-full moon did make for some interesting shots. The highlight of the outing, for Richard, was discovering the place inside the zoo that sells hot mini-donuts... piping hot morsels of sugary cinnamon-crusted dough that melt in your mouth. He figured out, for future reference, which entrance to drive into so that I could jump out, run about 100 yards to pick up mini-donuts and sprint back to the car before they cooled off! Yeah, they were that good!!

As I sat munching my divinely delicious donut, I paused to contemplate the real Light of Christmas... "Jesus said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" (John 8:12)