...Bucket List: New York City

We've been visiting American places in our own life histories, and snapping some pictures which might be interesting to our new students, friends, and Peace Corps colleagues in Jamaica. Steve grew up in NYC and still has some relatives here. Reni is 99 1/2 (she's Steve's father's first cousin) - we had a beautiful visit ... and she said that if she's not able to see us again before we return from service, she will see us 'in another life'.

 

Steve was a student at Columbia in the 1960s. We visited the campus - in so many ways nothing seems to have changed in his eyes. We also went to eat at the coffee shop where he ate most of his meals as a student - Tom's Restaurant. Do you recognize it as the place where Seinfeld met with his friends for coffee?

 

 

Steve in front of Tom's (the coffee shop near Columbia University)



Steve reminiscing about his Columbia days

Lowe Library on the Columbia Campus

We went to the 9/11 Memorial site - Although Steve had moved from NYC long before 9/11/2001, he has been to the site many times, including on the first anniversary where he joined a group in Washington Sq. Park reading the names of the victims. The new Freedom Tower is dramatic, and today we saw it highlighting the skyline as we drove over the Tri-Borough bridge to LaGuardia Airport.

A subway ride to MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) to see the exhibition about Frank Lloyd Wright's designs for Utopian Cities of the future.

We often try to stay at a cute little "European" hotel on E. 87th - "The Franklin" has the tiniest rooms, but the staff has been there for decades, and we enjoy the continental breakfast as well as the wine/cheese at 5 PM too.

We went back mid-town to wander Times Square and then saw "Kinky Boots" on Broadway. We like the show because it presents a message of tolerance and acceptance, but it also is a traditional Broadway Musical full of songs, dance, and glitz. Cindy Lauper wrote the music and Harvey Fierstein wrote the play.

We're on our way to Tennessee to see Irene's 3 sisters and brother. Then back to Denver for 20 hours to finish my dental work on Wednesday before heading home to California. Then...2 more weeks till we report for Peace Corps staging.