[Previous entry: "Back from Boston"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Eagles Are on a Roll"]

11/15/2003 Archived Entry: "New York City"

On Thursday I drove my first trip this season to the Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Show in New York City. I even got to go to the show (which was wonderful, as usual; I especially love the twin keyboards of the "Mighty Wurlitzer" organs), but had to leave at the intermission because the closest parking spot I could find was on 50th near 12th Avenue, a long 6 block walk from the theater. It was incredibly windy, with gusts well over 50 MPH. Some of the buildings created wind tunnel effects between them, making it almost impossible to even walk in a straight line sometimes -- people looked drunk just walking down the street! The wind made it a challenge to drive, too, requiring constant corrections on the open highway.

The Christmas tree is up in Rockefeller Center, although not decorated yet; they were just erecting the scaffolding around the tree to begin decorating when I was there on Thursday. The official lighting will be December 3. The skating rink is open, too, and despite the cold and wind there were quite a few skaters giving it a try.

Friday I was in NYC again; took a group to Sardi's on 44th Street for lunch, and then over to Long Island City to watch a taping of the comedy TV show, Hope and Faith, at Silvercup Studios East. The taping didn't finish until 11:15 PM, so it was a loooong day. Traffic was extremely heavy in the city, as would be expected on a Friday afternoon/evening, almost at a complete standstill in downtown Manhattan. Fortunately the group allowed enough travel time in their schedule that we made it on time for the taping, although it was close. I hadn't been to Silvercup Studios before, and if I hadn't done some homework in advance, we never would have made it; going through the Midtown-Queens tunnel, you have to exit the tunnel in the far right lane, or you'll miss the exit and go way out of your way, losing a lot of time. I made that discovery while doing a dry run while the group was at lunch; if I hadn't, they'd have missed the taping. Close call!

It was below 50° F on Friday when we drove through Times Square, but, amazingly, the Naked Cowboy was out! And he was getting lots of attention from the crowds, too, pretty much as usual. Many of my passengers (middle-aged ladies) hadn't heard of him, and were quite surprised to see him out in that kind of weather dressed as he dresses (or doesn't dress, in this case!).