Wednesday, November 24, 2021- We left my Mom's early Wednesday morning for NYC and had a beautiful drive across PA. We had decided to drive to Basking Ridge so we could leave our car at the Booth's. Parking during the week is tough in Manhattan and we weren't sure what the parking situation would be like due to the Macy's Day Parade. Maddy dropped us at the train station and once in NYC we took the subway to Meg's apartment. Meg was able to get off work a little early so we met her for the Balloon inflation which goes on from 12-6:00 the day before the parade. At 75th St we found Meg and piled in with the masses of people to wind our way to the balloon inflation (6 blocks of back and forth). We had to show ID and vaccine cards and then they checked bags and wanded us before we could enter the queue. It took about an hour to make it to the Natural History Museum where the inflation was taking place. I've wanted to go to the inflation for years, so I was very very happy to finally get there!!
PA sunrise
waiting for the subway
Lots of people for the balloon inflation
we found Meg!
almost there...
lots of NYPD
Ronald McDonald's leg
Astronaut Snoopy
Baby Yoda
Relaxing at Meg's apartment
Thursday, November 25, 2021-We got up early and headed down the street to see what we could see of the parade. All the floats were lined up on Central Park West and we were able to walk up and down the sidewalk and see quite a few of the floats. As we walked south around 75th St it got so crowded on the sidewalk that we had to turn back. We decided that seeing the balloons the night before and the floats the day of was kind of like seeing the parade and we headed back to the apartment to get ready for our Thanksgiving dinner.
early morning walk along Central Park West
The singing Christmas tree did lots of practicing while we were there.
Santa's float (the last one of the parade) was lined up at the end of Meg's block
The last float of the parade
Meg's block
119 West 85th St
A pumpkin pie and a mini apple (for me) with Meg's penguin creation
good looking Thanksgiving dinner
football and turkey!
A walk in Central Park to get ready for pie
cute bench built into the fence
The Dakota in the distance
We took a break in front of the Natural History Museum
Friday, November 26, 2021-We took the subway/train back to Basking Ridge to have a day with the Booth's. We went Christmas tree shopping, learned to play Paddle and had a nice time hanging out with Maddy's family. Around 7:00 we drove back to the city and after one lap around Meg's block found a parking spot on the street! Since it's the weekend, the car doesn't have to be moved until we leave Sunday afternoon.
On the walk to the subway station, down the street from Meg's, we passed the building used in the TV show "Only Murders in the Building". Had to get a quick selfie (along with the people across the street also getting a selfie)
Meg and Maddy's tree
The Booth's tree
staying hydrated for the Paddle tournament
Meg and Maddy playing Sally and Jon for the championship
Paddle Pros
Saturday, November 27, 2021- Today was a sightseeing day. I've been wanting to see the new train station, so we took the Subway to Penn and walked across the street to the Moynihan Train Hall. Then we walked to Macy's to see the windows, hit the shops at Bryant Park, stopped at a few bars to warm up and then headed to Rockefeller Center to see the tree. Maddy came back to the city, so we headed home to get ready for dinner, which was at a great little Indian Restaurant about 10 blocks north of their apartment. It was such a great weekend! I was so happy to get to get to hang with Meg, while getting some much needed NYC time in! Oh, and it's a really good weekend when you get a GOOD bagel, 3 days in a row, for breakfast!! Already looking forward to our next visit!
The old post office that has been turned into the new Moynihan Amtrak/LI RR train station
Above the columns it says "Neither snow nor rain nor heat not gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds"
Interior of the train hall
Macy's and the Empire State Building
Saks in the background
Shopping at the Bryant Park shops
The unlit Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center
