We packed so much into Thursday in New York. Christie selected a tour of Rockefeller Center as one of her three picks, and Linda wanted to go to either the Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building. So, we combined those two wishes.

The tour of Rockefeller Center was terrific. We had a great tour guide. I’d recommend this tour to anyone who enjoys history and art. Most of the tour was outside, and it lasted over an hour. We learned how Abby Rockefeller loved modern art. Most of the art around Rockefeller Center is there because of her. It was her collection that helped establish the Museum of Modern Art, MOMA. And, we learned how her husband, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. was so conservative he wouldn’t even enter one of the entrances of Rockefeller Center because he didn’t approve of the art over the doors. (Go Abby!)

The art over the door John D. Rockefeller, Jr. would use.

We also appreciated the story of the sculpture of Atlas and the bishop at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

The bishop didn’t like the statue of Atlas. The artist told Rockefeller not to worry. He knew what he was doing when he designed it. He showed the bishop the back of the sculpture, designed to be seen from behind facing the doors of the cathedral. No more problem.

The view from the Top of the Rock is stunning. Central Park is beautiful from there. And, one view shows the Empire State Building, the World Trade Center, and the Statue of Liberty all at once.

At Top of the Rock

After Rockefeller Center, we stopped in at Christie’s. You can tour some of the art exhibits there, and attend an auction if you want. No auction that day, and I have to say the art certainly wasn’t our type. I guess we weren’t interested in giant insects.

Linda wanted to see St. John the Divine, so we took a bus there, and, because we were close, we went to Grant’s Tomb. My parents always took us to Presidential sites when we traveled, so it felt right to go there.

Christie outside Grant’s Tomb Memorial

 

After hearing the history behind Hurley’s Saloon and Restaurant, Linda and I decided that was the perfect spot for our last dinner in New York. Hurley’s was once located at Rockefeller Center, and became a favorite spot for NBC employees. In fact, they rigged up lights to let the employees know when they needed to return to the studio. Hurley’s moved, but we still wanted to check it out. We had a terrific dinner there before heading to the theater.

Fish and chips, my favorite dish at an Irish pub

MMMM. A Pink Lady

Our final show was an original musical comedy written by David Hyde Pierce, and starring Tyne Daly and Sierra Boggess. “It Shoulda Been You” was just fun, the story of a wedding with both families not to happy about the marriage. Tyne Daly was wonderful. There was a really fun twist to the show. And, those of you who remember “Cagney and Lacey” with Tyne Daly as Lacey and Sharon Gless as Cagney, might appreciate the fact that Sharon Gless and her husband were sitting in front of us. When the show was over, she turned around and said to me, “That was fun.”

Friday was our last morning in NYC before heading home. We separated until noon. Mom and Christie headed back to St. Patrick’s to tour the cathedral. Linda and I bought umbrellas because we had already packed ours, took a few pictures, and went back to Grand Central Station. Since our tour guide at Rockefeller Center said everyone should have a red velvet cupcake from Magnolia Bakery, we split a cupcake before walking to St. Patrick’s to join Mom and Christie for Mass.

Fun week in NYC, and then we flew home, staying at Mom’s overnight before I took Linda and Christie home. It was a great week with family. Mom summed it up beautifully when she said it was one of the best weeks of her life. I think we all felt that way since we shared the trip together.