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Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Staycation continued!

New York is such an amazing city and home to The Plaza Hotel. This historic landmark, built in 1907, has recently been renovated and restored to its Gilded excellence. Nope, our family did not stay at this hotel (are ya kidding??) but I did get you a peek inside...

The welcoming facade...(you just feel the need to hail a taxi in front here!)


The famous Palm Court, home of high tea...shall we enter for scones and coffee??
The salon...let's read the paper curled up under a palm!
The gilded staircase up to the famous bar...(I did hop up there for a soda!)
Then it was off to the Museum of Natural History...
GumGum, famous from the Night at the Museum movie with Ben Stiller, is located in the back of the museum in the Margaret Mead collection. Truly, my legs could have fallen off trying to find him for my little one to see. The museum's exhibits are vast and you could really use two days to explore. Except when you have an energetic 7 year old those two days are encapsulated into one. If a forklift could have picked me up and taken me back to the hotel, my calves would have been thankful!


Now my girls were hungry so it was off to Bryant Park for lunch. This is the park that houses the famous fashion tent shows...the tents are set up on this lawn. My son, who attends college in Manhattan, was able to get into one last winter and said it was amazing (he meant the food, not really the fashions...)


And to my glee, there was Joyce Carol Oates giving a reading of her newest book My Sister, My Love in the "Reading Room" section of the park. This is where the NY Public library, each day at lunch, portions off a section of the park and lines the perimeter with carts of books for lunchtime reading. JCO is a prolific writer and Princeton professor. We grabbed salads from 42nd Street and sat and listened to her speak. I was mezmorized. The girls and my husband were rolling their eyes at me and planning the next leg of our excursion. (And boy, were my legs thankful for the rest! New Yorkers walk everywhere!!)


They decided we were off to Rockefeller Center...








In winter, this is home to the famous ice rink but in summer it houses a restaurant ...you can see the umbrella tops...


A gorgeous fountain nearby...




Ah, just what was needed at the end of the day...respite in a lovely room...
I'll take an iced tea, please! When's dinner? Hee-hee!

21 comments:

Unknown said...

I love New York in the summer. Your photos are gorgeous and you just took me down memory lane. I also love the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Night At The Museum is one of my recent favorites. Karen

Just A Girl said...

Hi Tara,
It looks like you had an amazing time in the city. I'm with your daughter...Gum Gum would have been the first thing I would have to see. Such a funny movie!
Just stopping my for a nanosecond, but I wanted to let you know that I'm passing my sweet friendship award to you (and Pat). I enjoy so much your friendship and seeing what's going on in your life. It's like penpals with pictures and instant gratification.
Have a great week...oh, and don't forget to pick up your award.

Mary-Laure said...

This post made me miss NYC..

Adrienne said...

What a great tour! You had quite a variety of experiences. Can't wait until we can visit New York some day. ~Adrienne~

Melanie said...

What fun....Thanks for sharing. One of these days.....

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hi Tara!

There is so much to do and see in NYC --- I go into Manhattan all the time and I am still learning about, and enjoying new things each visit.


I actually stayed at The Plaza Hotel for my 50th birthday! We actually found a great room rate on Hotels.com. The price of two martinis in the Oak Room lounge almost equaled the price of the room...lol! We went to a Broadway show and dinner too. It was a wonderful way to spend a special birthday!

Hugs, Pat

MeMeMe said...

New York New York!!! I love the railing by the staircase, the chandeliers in the hotel, and just the vibrance i feel in your pictures. Electrifying!!!

Thank you for sharing Tara

MeMeMe said...

Hi Tara, just send me an email at jeanniedotmyronatgmaildotcom

then i will email you back ...
thank you dear friend

Jeannie

Susie Q said...

My perfect vacation!! NYC anytime! I loved seeing all your photos! You had such a sweet time!

Love,
Sue

Cottage Contessa said...

Wow Tara, thank you so much for sharing this! My family and I have sat staring at these pictures in awe as NY is one place we have longed to see for YEARS ( for me,since I was 12yrs old!). What an amazing city!
Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)

Unknown said...

Tara,

We recently went to see GumGum too! And of course we went to The Horse special exhibit! It looks like you had fun...thanks for sharing your photos!

annie

kelly said...

great pics, thanks for sharing your trip!

Mary said...

Oh Tara, what fun! We have always taken day trips, but never stayed in the city. Hmmm... I'll have to start planning...
xoxo,
mary

Rhondi said...

Hi Tara
Thanks for the tour of New York. I love that city! It is so full of life. Your photos are wonderful and what a joy to be ablt to hear Joyce Carol Oates reading. Glad you had such a great time.
Hugs, Rhondi

pve design said...

I heart NY! So good of you to take advantage and post these photos. Most New Yorkers are so busy that they forget to take advantage of the city and all that it offers! :) (Nope, not you!)

Spot said...

who is gumgum

Gum Gum: A disciple of the God of Gum who is assigned to make sure the children don't abuse the gum's powers and to help teach them how to blow bubbles properly. Punch often picks on him because of he is so short.

Is this right??

Donna said...

Oh, wow! I wish I was there. Loved the Plaza Hotel photos. And Joyce Carol Oates, how cool! I enjoy her books.

Great photos!

Hugs,
Donna

Kelly said...

Oh wouldn't you love to meet there for scones and coffee!!?? You have taken me and shown me things I probably will not ever see there in person! thank for you including me on your staycation!!!!

Kelly

Laura said...

Never been to NYC. You make it look really appealing. Always such a treat to stop by and see what you have for us.

Gina said...

Wow..looks like fun Tara..esp lounging around in the comfy chairs in your last pic! LOL
The museum sounds fantastic..you will have to go back another time..and the opulence of the Plaza..sounds like it must be a Trump hotel!! Just think how good you've been doing all this exercise! (thanks for you kind words left..I really appreciate them :D ) Gxx

Life on the Edge said...

This was so much fun! It was great seeing this from your point of view. I didn't know that Gum Gum was a real exhibit! How fun is that! I would have wanted to see him too.

Thanks for sharing your trip!

Kady