More about NYC. ;D
The first time I went, it was a school trip in my senior year. It was the day after Christmas in 1985, and we met in the parking lot at school at about 5 AM to board the bus. (I think. Now that I think on it, maybe it was at night because we got there in the morning. I can’t even remember now.) Anyway, it was a long ride and I was very tired because I didn’t sleep before the trip and didn’t sleep but maybe an hour at most on the ride up. I am the type of traveler that hates to miss anything, even if it is just empty fields. I love looking out the window of any vehicle I am in and watching the scenery.
When we got there, I was exhausted and thought for sure it was night time. When our trip chaperone, Mrs Moore, (she was the chorus teacher at West), said that we would be meeting in the lobby in an hour to walk around town, I thought she was crazy. “Why are we going out at Midnight?” I asked. My friend, Jodi, (who DID sleep), pointed out it was only about 10 AM. D’oh!
My friend, Jodi, her friend, Patricia and I shared a room. We got in, got our stuff settled in, and looked out the window to enjoy a lovely scene of a porno theatre
to the left and some kind of shop to the right. (I forgot what the shop was. The porno theatre is gone now.)
The first stop we made was a in a meeting room on the top of, (Or close to the top of), the hotel we were staying at for an orientation. (The hotel was the Edison, which is still there.) We got a safety lecture from some guy, and then started on our tour. The first stop was NBC studios, where we did the legendary NBC tour. I got separated from Jodis’ group because – being a huge David Letterman fan – I had to go to the gift shop and get a Letterman shirt. So, she and Patricia went with the first group and I went with – I think – the third.
It was a fun and interesting tour. We saw the set for Saturday Night Live and got to walk on the set for the Today Show. Several of us asked if we could see Lettermans’ set, but it was being used for something else while Dave was on vacation. Oh, well…so much for that. We were also taught the finer points of green screen usage. That was the first time I had ever seen it up close like that and it was neat. We got to see what it looked like on the monitor and a couple of people were picked to try and point out New York on the map that was only visible on the monitor. Not easy! They kept pointing at states like Illinois, California….everything but NY. It was hilarious.
After my turn through, Patricia, Jodi and I joined the group and we were told that at that point we could either go somewhere with the group, (I forgot where), or we could go off on our own. Now, keep in mind that these were the days before cel phones, navigation and Goooogle Maps. We had a map of the city, but that was about it. On the way up, we were discussing the best strategies for getting around. Jodi had been there before and bragged about how easy it was to get around. She forgot that she had been with her sister and brother-in-law who DID know their way around. One of the things she mentioned was how the Empire State Building was the landmark her sister used, so we all came to the conclusion that the easiest way to get around would be to keep it in view at all times. (Keep in mind; we were all quite exhausted at this point.) We decided we wanted to go to Macy’s. OK, we had the address and thought we pretty well had the grid figured out. No problem.
We separated from the group, made a few stops for breakfast and record shops and started looking for Macy’s. We walked in what we thought was the direction for it. And walked….and walked…and walked. I looked around…no sight of the Empire State Building anywhere. We looked over to our left and saw a large building. It said “Grand Central Station” on it. We looked at the street signs and then the map. Needless to say, we were way off course. To this day, I am not sure how we got back. A lot of it is such a blur. Patricia recognized where we were and got us back to Times Square. (She was the only one that slept.) But before that, we were hunched over the map, standing on a corner and whispering. A man walked up and asked us if we were lost. Now, we had just had this safety lecture, so we were a bit leery of everything. We looked at each other, I sort of shook my head and we said we were fine. He walked away, probably thinking we were a bunch of country bumpkins. (Well, this was my first time in a major city. What did I know?
It isn’t like being in a small town where you know every corner.)
We found our way to the street/avenue where Macys was, but did not see it. Jodi saw a police officer and tapped him/her on the shoulder. “Sir, can you help us find Macys?” “Ummm…Jodi, that is a woman.” A manly woman, but a woman. She pointed across the street where we saw the great big sign on the side that read “Macy’s”. D’oh! As we were crossing the street, a couple of guys starting shouting, “This is New York City! Why is it so quiet?” The 3 of us joined in and made some noise. (It was awfully quiet in that area.) We got a few sleepy pictures in front of Macys then went inside.
Let me tell you, this store is MASSIVE. We walked around quite a bit of it and I bet we didn’t see but maybe a quarter. We didn’t hang out in the clothing area at all. We rode the escalators up to the furniture floor and played on the furniture. It was fun, but we had to get back to the hotel to get ready for dinner and Broadway.
That night we had dinner at Mama Leones. (I don’t think it is still there.) I was so tired, and it was so small and crowded in there that I started getting sick. (Not to mention that to this day I don’t think I have ever had a meal that had about 5 courses to it.
) It was around the time I stopped eating red meat, but that was no problem. I had cheese ravioli, and it was excellent. It is true that there isn’t any Italian food in the US that can compare to NYC. There is something about it that can’t be matched. I would probably starve in Italy, but in NYC, it is amazing. We asked the waitress if she could crack open the window behind us and she kindly agreed to. I was sitting right next to it, and it helped tremendously. Even though it was December, the cool air felt wonderful in that hot building. The food was so good that I didn’t want to lose it.
After dinner, we went to the Winter Garden theatre to see “Cats”. I am not really into musicals, but being a cat person, I made an exception. It is a sweet and sad story. The special effects were amazing and I could even see the monitor that showed the orchestra playing the music. The show was great and it was back to the hotel after walking a bit through Times Square at night. (One of these days I will get there for New Years.) I actually slept a few hours that night, but not as much as I would have liked. Patricia was passed out, and Jodi and I starting channel surfing. We found a show that featured a topless lady named Robyn Byrd that did interviews – or something. I actually have no idea what she said. Jodi and I were just fascinated with the topless part.
(At that point, neither one of us had really faced up to the fact we were both gay, but I was closer to it than Jodi was, and what I was feeling while staring at Robyn was confirming things for me.)
The next day, we walked more around the city and browsed little shops. Jodi had forgotten her gloves at the Winter Garden, so we went back so she could find them. She never did though. She was fretting that her Mom would be upset – which I could see that for sure – but her Mom was fine with it. After all, they were just gloves. We walked by Radio City Music Hall, where we would be going later to see the Christmas show, and went to Rockefeller Center to watch people ice skate. (I can’t even stand up in skates, much less skate.) The Christmas tree was still there and it was the HUGEST tree I have ever seen. I wish I still had my pictures. I have no idea what happened to them, and I don’t have a scanner anyway. Again, this was way before the technological paradise we have today. I had a Minolta 35mm that my Stepfather let me borrow and about 4 or 5 rolls of film. Some of my pix were great, some were pretty bad, but you couldn’t preview them in those days.
After some more exploring, it was back to the hotel to shower, change and get ready to go to Benihana for dinner. The food was good, but our chef was boring. Around us, the chefs at the other tables were throwing knives around, telling jokes, etc. Ours just cooked and served the food. The chicken was good anyway. Thankfully, this time, I wasn't sick or hot. It was comfortable in there.
Then it was back to Radio City for the Christmas show, which…meh.
It was cool to see the Rockettes do those world famous kicks in person, and the theatre itself is breathtakingly beautiful. We sat there waiting for the show and wondered what celebrities may have sat in those chairs before us. Jodi somehow got the feeling Mark Hamill sat in hers. Maybe. We would never know, but it was fun to speculate. The only other neat thing about the show was seeing all the live animals on stage, (marking the first time I had ever seen a live camel), but the show itself was too religious in nature, and being an atheist, that wasn’t too impressive for me. But, it got me inside one of the biggest landmarks in the country, and I will always cherish that experience.
They say that Times Square is the crossroads of the world. Stand there long enough and you will eventually see someone you know. Although I did not have that experience, I do believe it and saw something similar in action years later in Chicago. Jodi and I went to the Sears Tower, and she saw someone she knew there. (She lived across the lake in St Joseph, Michigan at the time.) Weird things can happen. I would love to pick a space in front of the Flat Iron Building and just wait to see who may show. That would be an interesting experiment. However, Jodis' sister - who lives in New Jersey - did come into Benihana to say hello. I had heard a lot about Jeana, but that was the only time I had ever met her. For Jodi, it truly seemed like it was a small world.
The next day – after still too little sleep – we went for a ride on the Staten Island Ferry. It still haunts me to think of this particular day as the World Trade Center was still standing.
We did not go up to the observation deck but I have a picture of the towers from the deck of the ferry. I know that picture is on the desktop computer. I really should get on it and import some of my photos from it. I remember thinking that I would go up in them if I ever got to go back. How we take things for granted. Little did I know that 22 years later when I would next see that area, it would be nothing more than 2 giant holes in the ground, and never would I have guessed why that would be.
Standing at Ground Zero brought the Ferry ride back to me clearly. If I never remember anything else from that first trip, I will forever remember that sight. The towers were something to see and I am glad I got to.
We went past the Statue Of Liberty, which was under restoration at that time and wrapped in girders. I had seen the movie “Remo Williams” that year, which featured a scene set on the statue in that exact condition, so it was awesome for me to see it that way. When I got back home, I sent in a donation toward the renovation, and my name is inscribed in a book of contributors somewhere on Ellis Island. It wasn’t a huge donation, but it made me feel good to send something. I probably covered what it cost to send the donation package to me. LOL
After that, it was back home. I actually slept on the bus…until the driver got pulled in Virginia for having a speed detector. They are illegal in VA, which I knew. Apparently he didn’t. I went back to sleep and didn’t wake until we got to the parking lot at school and then drove myself home. (I had left my car there.) I was going to give Jodi a ride home, but her parents were there to get her. I came home and slept for a solid 28 hours. I was worn out!
It was a great trip and going back a couple of years ago really brought back the memories, and it was neat to see how the city had and had not changed since that first adventure. The first time, we never made it to the top of the Empire State Building, Central Park or to the Hard Rock Café. I did all 3 and more on this last trip.
I probably omitted some details or forgot some things that happened. I possibly could have some of the events out of order. I don't remember a lot since it was so long ago. (I can't believe it has almost been 24 years since that trip.
) At one point we had a seminar with one of the actors that was in "Cats". His name was Joe Antony Cavise. I have never forgotten that name. It was neat for those of us that were in chorus and drama. (I was in drama in my senior year.) I think it was the morning of the 2nd day. And at some point I know we walked by Trump Tower. Jodi and I spotted a window washer and watched him for a while. It was ironic because not 5 minutes earlier I made the remark that I would hate to be a window washer in NYC. ;D I am not afraid of heights, but being on a narrow platform with barely any railing....ummmm....naw. We also had our first experience of crossing the street while cab drivers are trying to rack up their "Pedestrian Points". One almost scored some major points with Jodi and I. (Bonus points for knocking the bags out of our hands.) When I looked back, he was looking at us like WE were the crazy ones. I look back on that and laugh my ass off now. ;D Also, though it was December, there was no snow. It was flurrying some when we got to the hotel, but it stopped. It was cold - especially on the ferry - and it was cloudy, but no snow.
Mushy, I really hope you get to go. NYC is an experience everyone should have. You will never forget it. It is the kind of place that gets in your blood and stays. I know I am itching to get back there.
to the left and some kind of shop to the right. (I forgot what the shop was. The porno theatre is gone now.) 
It isn’t like being in a small town where you know every corner.) 
) It was around the time I stopped eating red meat, but that was no problem. I had cheese ravioli, and it was excellent. It is true that there isn’t any Italian food in the US that can compare to NYC. There is something about it that can’t be matched. I would probably starve in Italy, but in NYC, it is amazing. We asked the waitress if she could crack open the window behind us and she kindly agreed to. I was sitting right next to it, and it helped tremendously. Even though it was December, the cool air felt wonderful in that hot building. The food was so good that I didn’t want to lose it. 
(At that point, neither one of us had really faced up to the fact we were both gay, but I was closer to it than Jodi was, and what I was feeling while staring at Robyn was confirming things for me.) 
It was cool to see the Rockettes do those world famous kicks in person, and the theatre itself is breathtakingly beautiful. We sat there waiting for the show and wondered what celebrities may have sat in those chairs before us. Jodi somehow got the feeling Mark Hamill sat in hers. Maybe. We would never know, but it was fun to speculate. The only other neat thing about the show was seeing all the live animals on stage, (marking the first time I had ever seen a live camel), but the show itself was too religious in nature, and being an atheist, that wasn’t too impressive for me. But, it got me inside one of the biggest landmarks in the country, and I will always cherish that experience. 
We did not go up to the observation deck but I have a picture of the towers from the deck of the ferry. I know that picture is on the desktop computer. I really should get on it and import some of my photos from it. I remember thinking that I would go up in them if I ever got to go back. How we take things for granted. Little did I know that 22 years later when I would next see that area, it would be nothing more than 2 giant holes in the ground, and never would I have guessed why that would be. 
;