Hotel 46 New York City Various

 Hotel 46- New York City, Playing Tourists

We did the NYC blog a bit differently than we usually do. We divided this trip into sections.  These are the leftovers that did not fit into a tidy category. 

Charging Bull, or the Bull of Wall Street, is a bronze statue in the Financial District of Manhattan. The sculpture  weighs 7,100 pounds, stands 11 feet tall and 16 feet long. The bull is the symbol of aggressive financial optimism and prosperity. The bull was created following the wake of the 1987 Black Monday. It was originally just granted a temporary permit for display but it quickly attracted many tourists to see it. Now it is considered a Wall Street icon. 

The Battery Maritime Building is an operational ferry terminal located in Manhattan. It was built in 1909. It currently has 3 ferry slips, a 47 suite hotel and event center. 

The "Edge" located at 30 Hudson Yards is the highest outdoor sky deck in the western hemisphere located 100 stories high (1100 feet above ground). The Observation deck is suspended mid-air with glass walls and a glass floor. It is described as giving you the feeling of floating in the sky. We were more than happy to admire it from the ground and had absolutely no interest in walking out on that thing. Apparently lots of people are willing to shell out $45/person to walk out on the sky deck because reservations are required. The building houses over 100 diverse stores, restaurants and bars. Window shopping at Cartier, Dior, Louis Vuitton, and all the other high end shops had a bigger attraction to me than paying to have a panic attack 1100 feet high. 

The main branch of New York Public Library was built in 1911 but does not house circulating collections or books. It does house over 15 million items of historical collections. The research division is not a special collection but it contains more than 43 million items in 430 languages. The map division was created in 1898 and contains maps that date back to the 16th century. The Manuscript division has has items that date back to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance periods.  There are nine divisions, all of which are just as impressive. Some of the divisions, such as the Rare Book collection, requires pre-registration with the researchers to enter.  

The Drone on the High Line is a sleek white fiberglass sculpture in the shape of a predator drone on a 25 foot pole with a wingspan of 48 feet. It was created as a political statement to make the "invisible war" that our country is conducting in other countries.  We are supposed to question the use of drones, surveillance and targeted killings and whether our society wants these practices to continue. The artist wants to remind the public that drone surveillance is a tragic and pervasive presence in the daily lives of many. 

We must not be that perceptive because when we saw it, we said, "hmmmm... a drone". We did not automatically pick up the political and philosophical cues it was intended to provoke. 

The High Line is a public park in Manhattan built on an elevated, historic rail line with the purpose of reimagining the role of public space. The historical rail line was scheduled for demolition, but the community rallied together to save the space and repurpose it.  It is a hybrid space where visitors can experience nature, art and design along a 1.45 mile long greenway.

The Vessel is the centerpiece of Hudson Yards in Manhattan showcasing a spiral staircase. It is comprised of 154 intricately interconnecting flights of stairs- with almost 2,500 steps and 80 landings. It is a honeycomb like structure which rises 16 stories. The final construction cost was over $200 million when it opened in 2019. There have been at least 4 suicides at the Vessel which prompted its closure to the public. We would have enjoyed a better look at the Vessel, but for safety sake, no one can climb the staircases any more.  

The Empire State Building is behind Lisa. Just about any picture you take in NYC has some icon in the background.

Grand Central Terminal, aka Grand Central Station or simply Grand Central, is a commuter rail terminal located in Midtown Manhattan. It also offers 65 shops, 35 restaurants and is a cultural destination. Over 250,000 people commute through Grand Central daily. It opened to the public in 1913. Dating back to 1871, it was previously the site of Grand Central Depot, the railroad station.  It covers 48 acres and has 44 platforms, more than any other rail station in the world. Train stations are all about travel, but Grand Central does not just help you reach your destination, it is a destination. 

We saw this while on a bus tour with pre-recorded commentary, so we were unable to ask any questions.  It was an interesting sight but we could not find information about it. We are pretty creative finding stuff on Google, but we found nada.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art of NYC, "the Met", is the largest art museum in the Americas. Its permanent collection contains over two million works, divided among 17 curatorial departments. It is one of the largest art museums in the world. The Met was founded in 1870 with its mission to bring art and art education to the American people. The museum's permanent collection consists of works of art from classical antiquity and ancient Egypt, paintings, and sculptures from nearly all the European masters, and an extensive collection of American and modern art. There are exhibits from all over the world showcased at various times. Covid greatly impacted operations and lead to its first long term shutdown. In 2019, there were nearly 6.5 million visitors compared to nearly 2 million people in 2021. However, in 2021, it was the fourth most visited museum in the world. 

The Columbus Monument is a 76-foot column installed at the center of Manhattan's Columbus Circle in Central Park. It was completed and dedicated in 1892 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus landing in the Americas. Across the nation, Cancel Culture has removed many Columbus monuments from their cities. He is no longer a popular symbol in America as a result of his exploitation and genocide of indigenous people. In 2017, the monument was vandalized twice prompting full time security. In 2018, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places to protect its future.

The Queensboro Bridge, officially named the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge in 2011 in honor of the former NYC mayor Ed Koch, located over the East River in NYC. Completed in 1909 to connect Long Island in Queens to the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The idea of the bridge was first proposed as early as 1838, but no one was able to obtain funding for its construction until 1903.

The Plaza Hotel (also known as "The Plaza") is a luxury hotel and condominium apartment building in Midtown Manhattan which debuted in 1907. At its peak, the Plaza Hotel had over 800 rooms. Following a renovation in 2008, the building has 282 hotel rooms and 181 condos. Unrivaled luxury, comfort and discreet service make the Plaza an icon for NYC society's most lavish events. For the $50,000/night option (not including approximately $7,500 in daily taxes and fees), you also get a private elevator, white glove butler service and a free breakfast. The penthouse floor has been the hotel of choice for visiting diplomats and royalty for over 100 years. Unfortunately, when we made our hotel reservations, the penthouse was not available. 

While we were in Chinatown, we wanted to eat at 17 Wohop based on a recommendation.  The wait was almost 2 hours.  So we ended up eating at 15 Wohop right next door. The restaurants are literally connected underground and are owned by the same family. The main difference was 15 Wohop doesn't serve as much seafood (ie... whole fish with eyes intact) and there was no wait.  The meal was pretty  good. Mark rated it as excellent. Service was not a priority. I would rather try another restaurant in the future instead of returning there. One odd thing was the meals did not include rice- you had to order a separate "entrée"-not just a side of rice. So to get sweet and sour chicken, or any other meal typically served with rice, you literally had to order two full priced entrees (ours were over $45/person and were on the cheaper end of the menu and nothing special).

I did buy a bunch of fruits at the outdoor markets in Chinatown. There were things I had never seen before. They had an interesting selection of produce not common in the US.  The prices at these outdoor produce markets were very reasonable. The younger family members did most of the interacting with the American tourists because their English was much better. I am not sure many of the older people in Chinatown speak any English. 

One of the tours we went on mentioned that most of the crime in both Chinatown and Little Italy was managed by the local mafias. Apparently, the mob and organized crime is still alive and well in NYC. However it looks differently today than it did 50 years ago. I was hoping to see some Godfather looking mobsters or Elliot Stabler, but I guess it was a slow week for organized crime when we were there.

The entrance to Little Italy is literally right outside of Chinatown.  No one can go to New York City without getting a slice at a NYC Pizza shop.  We had pizza at several of the stores during our visit.

Christmas Shop in Little Italy was lit up like it was on the strip in Vegas. We did not go inside. Decorating for holidays is off the table while we live in the RV. I don't have room for all my personal stuff. I am not giving up shoe/purse/clothes storage areas for Christmas decorations. Everyone has their own personal limits, and I know mine. Mark also knows most of mine- he may not agree with them, but he understands they are not open for negotiation. It is probably the one area in my life where I assert myself. Storage totes are cheaper than divorce lawyers and alimony. 

Good defeats Evil Statue outside of the UN is a bronze statue designed by a Russian artist and unveiled in 1990. The statue was created using parts of actual Russian and American nuclear missiles. It commemorates the peace treaty between the Soviet Union and the US signed in 1987.

One interesting thing we noticed at the UN was all of the armored cars and secret service all over the place. We wondered if something special was happening in town or if it was always like that. The UN General Assembly is currently in progress from Sept 15- Oct 3. Tours of the UN are on hold until after the Assembly is over.

 The UN has been headquartered in Manhattan since the building's completion in 1951. The complex is physically located in the US, but it is under the administration of the UN, not the US. The state of NY does provide police, fire and other services at the expense of the tax payers. 

The FDNY memorial wall at the firehouse across from the site of the World Trade Center, is a memorial to the 343 firefighters who gave their lives in their effort to save others on 9/11/2001.  Emblazoned across the face of the memorial are the words "Dedicated to those who fell and to those who carry on. May we never forget." Beneath the scene are listed the names of all 343 firefighters, a number larger than the total number of firefighters who had lost their lives since the founding of the NYFD.

Glenn Winuk was a law partner at one of the nations leading law firms and a volunteer firefighter based in NYC. He rushed out of his law office to volunteer and assist in the rescue effort. He made the supreme sacrifice. The memorial was donated in honor of the law firm's hero to honor all firefighters and the sacrifices they make on a daily basis. They said it was a statement to the world that Americans value human life, courage, honor, and those who sacrifice for others. We are resilient. We survive adversity and then we flourish. 

It was powerful. 

The firehouse was built in 1903, after the establishment of the FDNY as the base of the formerly independent Hook and Ladder fire company 8.  The firefighters of Hook & Ladder No. 8 were among the first responders to the September 11, 2001  attacks. 

This was also the home base in the Ghostbusters films, hence the banner. I don't recall that much about the movie, but the area makes a big deal it. 

Prometheus at Rockefeller Center is a gilded bronze sculpture created in 1934.

The art over the French building entrance pays tribute to France's contributions to NYC.

Bronze panel over the 5th Avenue entrance with figures representing nine major industries of the British.

Since 1823, the land has been owned by Columbia University (universities do not pay taxes, so this is a massive financial coup for the the companies that lease the land from Columbia).The land was used for a variety of things prior to Rockefeller's involvement, most notably it was the home of the Metropolitan Opera.  In 1928, Columbia leased the land to John Rockefeller for $3 million a year for 87 years. Construction on the Rockefeller Center began in 1931 and was completed in 1939. The media has used the ice rink in many films and TV. The annual lighting of the Christmas Tree is another famous icon in NYC. The complex consists of 19 commercial buildings on 22 acres. The art owned and displayed is one of the finest in the world. 

The Staten Island Ferry is a free passenger ferry that runs 24/7. Operation for the ferry service began in 1817. Almost 10 million people were transported by the ferry in 2021.

The Washington Square Arch, officially the Washington Arch, is a marble memorial arch in Washington Square Park, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan. Designed by architect Stanford White in 1891, it commemorates the centennial of George Washington's 1789 inauguration as President of the United States.

Washington Square Park is a 9.75-acre public park in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan. One of the best known of New York City's public parks, it is an icon as well as a meeting place and center for cultural activity. It is most known for celebrating nonconformity. Many buildings have been built by New York University, while others have been converted from their former uses into academic and residential buildings. It is a major hangout area for NYU students. 

While we were there, there was a variety of things going on- street performers, musicians, arts and crafts for sale, etc. The thing that surprised us the most was the vendors set up selling pot and pot supplies. It was like an open air head shop. that was definitely a first for us!!

Street Entertainer at Washington Square is a common happening. I have heard this man makes a lot of money by posing as a statue on this bike. We did not see anyone putting money in his bucket.

General Philip Henry Sheridan, also known as the Sheridan Memorial, is an outdoor bronze sculpture located in Christopher Park in Manhattan. The statue was installed in 1936.  He was born in Albany in NY. in 1831.  He was a career Army officer and a Union General in the Civil War. His Cavalry was instrumental in forcing Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox. He was involved in the development of Yellowstone National Park. His career was actually very impressive. He has had so many things named after him in his honor- parks, mountains, roads, schools, military forts, college dorms, yacht racing trophies, army tanks, cities, counties, and many statues and memorials all across the nation. One interesting honor was a WWII ship was named after him.. His image has been on $5 and $10 bills, treasury notes and even postage stamps.