Top of The Rock

One of my many favorite places to visit it Top of The Rock!  It is a truly amazing view of the city and really puts things into perspective.  You can read statistics upon statistics about the size of NYC and until you see it from above you really can't wrap your head around it....at least I couldn't!  What gets me every time is seeing the size of Central Park!  No wonder after a few visits we STILL haven't covered much of the park!

After visiting both the observatory at the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock they are both awesome experiences.  But if you only have time for one.......I would personally choose Top of The Rock.  Why???  My simple answer is this - When you are on top of the Empire State Building - one of the cities most beautiful and iconic buildings is missing from your view.....because you are standing on top of it!  Also the observation areas at the Empire State Building are small which makes them quite crowded, and at least when we visited the lines were a lot longer and since they can not accommodate as many people they move slower as well.  That being said - if you are near the Empire State building I would certainly stop in the lobby as it is absolutely stunning!!!!!  You will be glad you did!  But I would hit Top of The Rocks observation deck.

We have visited in the day time and at night and again both are different experiences but both are amazing!

Rockefeller Center is such a fun place to visit!  Some really neat shopping areas, inside there are shops and restaurants, the NBC studio tour, Jacques Torres chocolates (one of my favorites!), the Channel Gardens are beautiful and its just a neat vibe to walk around there.


I'd love to visit NYC in the Winter someday......and when I do I will ice skate at Rockefeller Center!!!! =)

For more information on Top of The Rock visit http://www.topoftherocknyc.com

Birthday Celebration in NYC!

So between our different trips we have both had the opportunity to spend a birthday in NYC.  Our 2012 trip was over mom's birthday.  So how did we spend the day????  Well it was pretty fantastic that's for sure!!!!

First off we made our way to North Cove Marina where we boarded the Shearwater for a beautiful and very relaxing sail on the Hudson River with awesome views of the Statue of Liberty and the NYC skyline.  We even enjoyed a glass of wine - it was complimentary - how do you say no to that?  This cruise was booked through Manhattan By Sail - we took another cruise through them last year on the Clipper City.  I'd highly recommend one of their cruises.  They are awesome!

North Cove Marina

The Shearwater - check out that yacht next to it!

Just a little lip and some rope make up the sides of this boat

After our fabulous cruise we headed back to Times Square for a bit before heading to dinner!  We enjoyed a great meal at The View atop the Marriott Marquis Times Square where we were also staying.  It really was a great view and the restaurant also rotated 360 degrees so it was really awesome to look out over Midtown!  And we tried their strawberry daiquiris - very tasty! =)

Her favorite group was playing

A birthday pic with the Naked Cowboy

                            

               

After dinner we had tickets (courtesy of The Chew from the audience giveaway earlier in the week!) to Cirque du Soliel's Zarkana at Radio City Music Hall!  We were SO excited we were going to get to see a show there!  We actually took a tour there in 2011 and at that time they were just starting to set up for Zarkana so we saw their equipment and trunks and lighting ect loaded into the building to start getting ready and here were are seeing the show in it's final week in 2012.  Kinda funny how things happen.  The show was great!  We had such a great time!  We arrived early so we walked to Rockefeller Center and wasted a little time away before the show.  Such a fun night!!!!!

Schnippers Quality Kitchen

One of our favorite places to eat is Schnippers Quality Kitchen located in Times Square - 620 8th Ave at the corner of 8th Ave and 41st Street.  Mom first heard of Schnippers on a Food Network show called Throwdown with Chef Bobby Flay.  He challenged Schnippers in a battle of Sloppy Joes.......Schnippers was victorious.  Now truth be told I have never really been a fan of the sloppy joe but I thought it looked so good on tv I was willing to give this a try.  It was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!  Unlike any sloppy joe I have ever had - I could totally see why Schnippers won the battle!!!!  It's hard to describe so you will just have to pop in and try it for yourself!!!

We both had the sloppy joes and I had some of their super amazing cheese fries!!!!  I tried cheese fries a few different times in NYC and unlike here in the Midwest where you get warmed up cheese from a can - this was the real deal in each place I tried it.  Sooooo delicious!  

Schnippers is a very quick walk through Times Square and you can eat inside the restaurant or they also have outdoor seating which we really enjoyed!
  

                    

SO good in fact after not stopping on our 2011 trip we had to go back in 2012!  It was just as we remembered!  But this time we tried their mac and cheese and potato chips too.  Both were awesome.  I don't think you could go wrong here.

And they have also open a second location at 23 23rd Street & Madison!

Manhattan By Sail

One thing I have always, always wanted to do was go for a boat ride.  And in NYC we did it BIG for sure!  We took a cruise on  the Clipper City!  I never dreamed I'd get to cruise on a boat like this!  The Clipper City was built in the mid 1980's, is 158 ft long and is a replica of lumber hauling schooners used more than a century ago.  The tours depart from South Street Seaport which is a fun place to shop as well!  I would highly recommend the tour!  It's a great way to relax from navigating through the city and just kick back and enjoy the magnificent views of Lady Liberty, the gorgeous city skyline and maybe even enjoy a beverage or two!  I loved it so much I would actually take the exact same tour again sometime!  Was an amazing experience!  If you are interested in one of their tours visit their webpage www.manhattanbysail.com.  You can book tours online or by visiting their ticket booth at the Seaport.  

On My Mind.......

Since Hurricane Sandy thoughts of those on the East Coast affected by the storm have been in the front of my mind.  Even after seeing the coverage on the news, and all the photos being published it's impossible to comprehend what it must be like there.  I hope and pray for the strength of these individuals as they fight their battle each day to clean up and rebuild and pray they remain safe if their efforts.  They have a long, hard road ahead of them.

I am thankful for the individuals who are out there lending a hand, doing whatever they can to assist.  It's been heartwarming seeing the stories online of people doing something as simple as running a power strip outside of their home, so that those without power could charge cell phones and call their families to let them know they are ok.  A news segment showed a man who put on a wetsuit and pulled a paddle boat up and down his street in 12 hour shifts - getting people to and from their homes on their flooded street.  People from other countries who came in for the marathon which was cancelled rolled up their sleeves and assisted with clean up efforts.  Those that are housing people who lost their homes, providing meals, clothing, anything they can..... There are so many good people out there......  God Bless them all!!!!!!!!

If you wish to make a donation to the Red Cross to help support relief efforts you can visit their website.  I have also noticed at many retailers you can add a donation to your purchase that goes to the Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy relief.  That's an easy way to donate a few bucks here and there.

Keep them in your prayers......