Saturday, March 16, 2013

Exploring NYC: Ann at Lincoln Center

After a short train ride from our hotel, we arrived at the Lincoln Center excited to see our first play here. Ann is a two-act one woman play about about Governor Ann Richards, developed, written and acted by Holland Taylor. We very much enjoyed the show and humor-filled retelling of Governor Richards story. It was no surprise to later see Holland Taylor nominated for a Tony award for her outstanding performance.

The wet plaza makes for great reflections
Looking around
Outside the Vivian Beaumont Theater, seeing Ann in neon lights
The Julliard School

Exploring NYC: Times Square

As visitors to New York, it seems obligatory to visit Times Square and take pictures of tall buildings and bright lights. Never wanting to disappoint our loyal readers, we here present the requisite shots documenting our brief walk through these few blocks. Oh, and we went through the tkts line with almost no wait, thanks to the earlier snow and light rain.

Vision Expo East

One of the major activities that Shawn's company, The Vision Council, sponsors are annual industry conferences in New York and Las Vegas. They serve as professional education venues and  opportunities for vendors to showcase their new fashions and technology to buyers. Shawn was in town for some pre-Expo meetings earlier in the week, occasioning the weekend together in the city. Sara was eager to see the show, so we spent the afternoon walking through the Expo, saw a runway show hosted by Carson Kressley, and tried on many cool frames.

Waiting for the bus to the Javitz Center
Riding through town
But first, snow!
Welcome to Vision Expo
Safilo sponsored the runway show
Thousands of frames and brands
Sara says: "My bugs! I need my bugs!"

Exploring NYC: Staten Island Ferry

One of the greatest pieces of public transit in New York City is it's Staten Island Ferry, running all day (24 hours) every day of the year. It has been run by the city since 1905 and has been fare free since 1997. It makes for an easy and scenic connection to the fifth and least populous borough. We were due to get on to our next stop so we didn't see anything outside the terminal on the other end before boarding again for the return trip.

No doubts should remain about where you are when standing in front of this sign
Inside the terminal, about to board
We grabbed an outside seat for the first part of the outbound trip
Lots of good views of lower Manhattan
The new One World Trade Center is topped out and almost enclosed
Looking up the East River
The Historic Ellis Island
Statue of Liberty, up close
Brooklyn
Waiting to get back on
We stood on the bow for the last few minutes into the terminal
Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges

Exploring NYC: A Stop in Battery Park

Despite a brisk wind, we quite enjoyed our walk through Battery Park. To get here, we reminded ourselves that "the Bronx is up and the Battery's down." It sits on the lowermost portion of Manhattan, where the Hudson and East Rivers meet. Its promenade affords lovely views down the river to Brooklyn, New Jersey and other sights, as below. We were interested to find several public art installations and the Castle Clinton, which started its life over 200 years ago as a military battery to defend the growing city and the inspiration for the name of the park today.

This way to Lady Liberty apparently
In the foreground, The Sphere, recovered from the World Trade Center Plaza
Castle Clinton predates the War of 1812
It once housed the New York Aquarium
Plenty of seats to look across the river to...
... this lovely lady
Our next stop awaits...