May 10-13, 2007
After having lived here in NY for more than two years, my parents finally came to visit. They have never been to NY before, so there was much to see. On their first day, they visited famous sights around midtown - The Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, Rockefeller Center, and more. After work, I joined them for dinner and a Broadway show. I spent the next few days showing them around "my" NYC and Brooklyn.
Mom and Dad chose Monty Python's Spamelot, which was a great choice because Matthew and I had been planning to see this show.
Me, as one of the "French Taunters" from the show, getting a kiss from Matthew.
After the show, we went to Junior's Cheesecake for dessert. This was not their first taste of Junior's though, as we'd sent a cheesecake for Mother's Day our first year here.
Dad and Matthew showing off their cheesecakes.
After dessert, we walked up Broadway,
a.k.a. The Great White Way. At night, it's so bright
it's visible from a couple blocks away.
Friday started out with a visit to the World Trade Center site.
A tribute to the heroic firefighters who took part in the most tragic event of our generation.
Photos and a timeline of the events of 9/11 line the site, which is under construction.
Next stop, the Wall Street Bull.
Then it was on to the Staten Island Ferry, our (free) trip to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Mom and Dad on the ferry. Turns out we were sitting on the WRONG side of the boat to see the famous sites on our way to Staten Island! Guess I shoulda done my homework.
Mom and me.
On our way back to the city, we made our way to the other side of the ferry so we could see what we'd come for - the Statue of Liberty.
And here's Ellis Island - too bad I didn't properly prepare so that we could actually go and tour everything. Next time!
On 9/11, WTC debris knocked down a nearly 100-year-old tree in the Trinity Church yard, so its roots were used for this memorial sculpture.
After a quick lunch in Chinatown, we made a quick pass through Chatham Square, which house the Kimlau Memorial Arch, dedicated to Chinese Americans who fought in WWII.
Statue of Lin Zexu (or Xue), known for his fight
against opium.
Mom made friends with an R2D2 mailbox.
Then it was on to the Museum of Chinese in the Americas.
The museum is really small because it's getting ready to move to a new space, being designed by Maya Lin. Can't wait to see it!
On our way to the West Village, we noticed a crew of firemen gathered at Broadway and West 3rd.
Smoke was spewing from this manhole, just across the street from my office!
Splashing through puddles in Washington Square Park.
On Saturday, we invited Mom and Dad to Brooklyn. First stop, Brooklyn Heights. Here we are at the Promenade with a Manhattan backdrop.
Long line - must be something good!
Lunch at famous Grimaldi's Pizzeria, in DUMBO.
Mmm, pizza!
Beautiful Manhattan Bridge, which gives DUMBO its name (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass).
Upside-down sign
The 2007 Brooklyn Pigfest was hoppin' in the old
ferry building structure, which looks like an old fort.
People were feasting on BBQ all afternoon (at $85/person). I later read that the festival organizers had underestimated the popularity of this event, and they ran out of food!
Brooklyn Bridge and the city in the background at Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Drooling dog in front of a shop on Atlantic Ave.
I had to show my parents one of my favorite
Brooklyn gems.
We'd spent a little too much time in DUMBO, so our time at Brooklyn Botanic Garden was very limited. However, there were some amazingly beautiful flowers in bloom.
We were fascinated by the peony monument, just outside the Japanese garden.
The peonies were as big as cabbages!
Mom said she'd never seen peonies this large before. They were quite impressive.
Turtle love (or turtle stacking) over in the Japanese Hill and Pond Garden.
Mom and Dad at Uncle Louie G - our namesake.
We were on our way to a fabulous dinner at Blue
Ribbon Brooklyn, so we passed on the ice cream.
Mother's Day brunch at... Nathan's! They just had to experience this famous NY treat.
Mom shows off her Nathan's hot dog.
The Dakota, home to many famous, wealthy people,
was also where John Lennon was shot and killed.
Just across from The Dakota is Strawberry Fields in Central Park. This section of the park is dedicated to the memory of John Lennon, named for his song "Strawberry Fields Forever."
Fans gather here every year on the anniversary of his death, December 8th.
This jazz trio is one of many musical groups playing throughout Central Park on any given day.
Overlooking the famous Bethesda Fountain.
Bethesda Fountain is commonly used in Woody
Allen films, among others.
Shakespeare Garden is lovely in any season, but particularly in spring.
Rowboats and gondolas on the Lake.
On to Belvedere Castle for spectacular views.
The Great Lawn is used for summer concerts by the Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic, as well as picnics and sun bathing.
Romeo and Juliet sculpture outside the Delacorte.
The Tempest sculpture
Fat bird in a tree shows off his very hairy chest.
Alice in Wonderland sculpture
Mommy duck and her cute fuzzy ducklings swim among the radio-powered sailboats in Conservatory Water.
A must-do in NY is a stroll down 5th Avenue to see
the fancy shops, such as Tiffany's.
The Donald was nowhere to be found on this lovely Sunday, so we settled for a photo with the doorman at Trump Tower.
You too can eat like Trump, when you purchase
his Trump Steaks. (We opted to dine alfresco in
Little Italy.)