Monday in Manhattan

While in NYC a couple of weeks ago, I offered the girls the choice between a trip on the Circle Line or a visit to the top of the Empire State Building. The unanimous response was in favor of the Empire State Building. I don’t quite get the reasoning, but I think it had to do with Doctor Who, perhaps.

We checked out of our hotel, backpacks on our backs… Again, traveling light has some great perks! We walked up the few blocks to Atlantic-Pacific and jumped on the subway over to Manhattan. As we left the station and approached the ESB, we were attacked by people trying to get us to visit the Empire State Building. This drives me nuts. I wish someone would explain to me why this is necessary?

We found our way in. I decided that the girls would now be old enough to enjoy the Sky Ride. We got tickets … from one of those annoying hawkers. “Security” was annoying, but at least we could take our bags. After that, I was told I didn’t have the right tickets…I had to push back through the crowd to exchange my “vouchers” for tickets. Really? I can’t imagine being a foreigner and figuring that out. What an annoyance.

The girls *loved* the Skyride, but I don’t think I’d do it again. It was okay, but not great… and not worth the money for a second time. Then we had to get in line for the requisite (and SUPER annoying) photo before we could head up to the observation deck. Despite the very chilly wind, the girls and I had a lovely time spotting various sites — we even could see the Hershey’s store!

We had very few lines other than the one for security and for the photo. The deck was slightly crowded, but waiting for a minute or two, we could get a spot at the edge to look out over the city. Well worth it.

Empire State Building

View from deck

After our trip to the top of the Empire State Building, I decided to surprise the girls with a trip to Forbidden Planet on the south end of Union Square. We’ve always loved Union Square, so I knew even if the store were not a hit, we’d have fun anyway. The girls loved looking at all the scf-fi junk at Forbidden Planet, especially the Doctor Who figurines. We did not stop at the Whole Foods for lunch, but we’ve done so in the past and enjoyed it.

A quick stop in the very fun playground, a wander through the wonderful farmers’ market, and we made our way to another nearby favorite, Books of Wonder, a fantastic, independent children’s bookstore; in fact it is “New York City’s oldest and largest independent children’s bookstore”. We were lucky enough to get to meet the store’s founder, Peter Glassman. Chloe was *very* excited to meet him, as he often appears on Kids Place Live.

Union Square Playground

Forbidden Planet

Books of Wonder

If you recall the news about Osama bin Laden from that Sunday, maybe you’ll think I was crazy to take my kids to Ground Zero that Monday. But, I wanted them to experience the city, the spirit. As it goes, whatever rallies had been on the news were long over when we got there. The area was teeming with news trucks and reporters desperately looking for a story.

So we decided to leave the media circusand head to that all-American locale (American Girl).

Suddenly “This thing is gonna blow,.. The fir department is on its way!” People are scrambling.

Flames and sparks shoot out of a manhole cover in the crosswalk we are in as we cross a street across from the WTC site. Explosions, like firecrackers bouncing around, come from the manhole as well. We quickly retreat back across the street. The girls are shaken. Me, I’m still trying to get a photo, though with no success.

Yes, we are at Ground Zero the day after bin Laden has been brought down. Yes, there is something out of the ordinary happening. But, statistically speaking, this is a transformer that has been blown, not a terrorist’s bomb. I calmed the girls down a bit, then decided to stick around. Why? To quell any nightmares. Once they see the fire department arrive, the police control the scene and nothing more happen, they’ll not fear every noise and every “out of the ordinary” event. Knowing the situation had an easy explanation and an easy resolution is reassuring.

And now, they have yet another story to tell one day.

Ground Zero

FDNY on the Scene

Trying to smile

We rushed up to Rockefeller Center to decompress at American Girl and the Nintendo Store, then hopped on the subway out to JFK. The security line was fairly long, but moved smoothly, other than the TSA dude not liking my coffee cup. After that long and crazy day and having spent so little on food all weekend, I decided we should have a nice sit-down meal at the restaurant. Ahhh…. Cheese, fruit, hummus, nice end to a nice weekend!

My Trekaroo review of the Empire State Building.