We had an incredible time in NYC on the weekend, and now suffer from stiff muscles to prove it!

Saturday we arrived at 11:30am and checked into our hotel. We were given the choice between room 1D or 5B. After taking a look at both (they just give you the keys), we decided on 1D, decorated by Sheila Lawson. The room was cozy with no special amenities but its art, which consisted of large mounted B&W images, passages from the Bible and various personal to-do lists scribbled in permanent marker on the walls. Fine place.

Floor ‘B’ hallway entrance at the Carlton Arms.

On a hunt for lunch we walked about 30 blocks in a circle through Chelsea and SoHo, and back to Chelsea. Somewhere near Broadway and Canal the streets were swarming with people browsing wares at street vendors’ tables. Insanity. We had a quaint lunch at Elmo on 7th Ave, tucked in closely with diners on either side of us.

After lunch we returned to SoHo to visit a record sale held by ARC - an enormous vinyl library / association that clears out records every now and then. We found a few gems (including John & Yoko’s Double Fantasy), all priced under 5 bucks. Also bought a turntable belt & now we’re set to go. Happiness!

Later in the afternoon we braved mobs to get to the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Plaza. It was so crowded we had to hold on to each other to avoid separation. Much shoving, all in the spirit of Christmas!

I guess it’s sort of tall. (?)

Down the road, conveniently-located smack in the middle of Times Square, there’s a US Army recruitment center. I wonder how many random new recruits come into this location. ‘Oh, yeah, I’m in the middle of enjoying bright lights in the big city and somehow right at this very moment I feel compelled to…enlist in the ARMY! ‘

Times Square NYPD office

For dinner we met up with Scott & Kim at Park Avalon. While Matt & I waited outside, paramedics showed up at the restaurant and brought in a stretcher. Never a good sign when you’re about to eat there, but all turned out well. Apparently an elderly man walked out carefully, on his own accord. The food, service, atmosphere & company were equally enjoyable (including a discussion on the topic of religion), but the evening’s highlight was yet to come…

At the Comedy Cellar (in Greenwich) the four of us were assigned to a cramped corner table meant for two. There was some spilling of drinks and crushing of toes. Long story short, we were shafted out of what could have been prime seats. Coincidently, though, we were seated next to some Vancouverites.

Four or five comics were scheduled to perform, and early on the host introduced ex-TV talk-show host Caroline Rhea (not scheduled). She did a short stand, and unfortunately a miserably unfunny one. She couldn’t escape the stage fast enough.

After another comedian or two did their sets, surprise… CHRIS ROCK came out! The audience went nuts cheering and snapping photos for the first few minutes of his act before settling in to enjoy the hilarity that is Mr. Rock. He did almost a half hour which was great, but not long enough, because the man is sharp and has the raw talent to make people pee their pants. He’s hosting the upcoming Oscars and was definitely testing some material (on us) at the Comedy Cellar. Oh, and he said he hates the Oscars.

Some of his show went like this:

“Black people don’t get movies, we get TOPICS. Like Barbershop. That isn’t a movie, it’s people getting haircuts. I’m waiting for the next release, it’s called Check Cashing Place. ”

Well, maybe you had to be there. One last guy followed him which must be difficult, but what better act to warm up your audience other than… Helloo…Chris Rock!!! Not bad for 15 bucks, even if it was a squeezy seat.

Early (yes, early) Sunday morning we took the subway into Grand Central Station, which is, well, grand! Many police officers and military guards were standing about. I’ve heard stories that no tripod (or ‘professional’) photography is allowed in here without a permit now. Bad.

The ceiling is stunning, but couldn’t be photographed so well without camera stability.

The Chrysler Building, a few blocks from Grand Central.

A metrocard swipe later we were in Battery Park (south end of Manhattan) and saw the Statue of Liberty. It was quite cloudy though, so it was just a quick “Oh yeah there it is” and that was that.

Throughout Manhattan, reams of people set up tables or stands and sell goods curbside. Battery Park was no different, mith many selling purses and watches. Purses are displayed (on the sly, right Kim?) out of garbage bags or laid out on blankets, and watches are arranged inside briefcases. Well, as we were walking through the ‘market’, NYPD did a drive-by. Suddenly you see several people standing around, nonchalantly holding black briefcases, on a Sunday. Or with giant filled blankets (imagine the size of two full black garbage bags) slung over their shoulders. None of this looks suspicious…riiight. But the cops proceed on through and the nervous-looking sellers gradually display their wares again.

Just a few blocks away is the World Trade Center site with some memorial information including the names of victims of the terrorist attack. Except on the placards their names are listed under the heading Heroes of September 11, 2001. That’s Heroes, not Victims. Glad we got that straight.

We walked a few blocks east to (the very skinny) Wall Street and took some B&W photos. The vibe was completely quiet and surreal. A few tourists around, but that’s about it. Thinking of it now, I don’t remember seeing garbage in this area which, in New York, is surreal in itself.

New York Stock Exchange building.

We later ventured up to 72nd Street (at the Dakota Building) to see Central Park. We had a ‘celebrity’ sighting here, by the way, when we saw Larry David jogging in circles, avoiding any eye contact and looking rather mad-scientist-like.

Sunday was just four days after the Dec. 8 anniversary of John Lennon’s murder, so Strawberry Fields was busy with somber-looking folks snapping photos of flowers laid upon the Imagine mosaic on the path. We walked through much of the park, as the weather cooperated nicely.

Not sure what building this is, Central Park West.

From the East side of the park we heard continuous bouts of honking and cheering, so decided to see what the commotion was all about. On the way there we bumped into Scott & Kim and they joined us to discover a large, vocal group gathered in front of 927 5th Ave. At this point in the story, most New Yorkers would already know where I’m going with this. A media frenzy has erupted over the removal of a decade-old red-tailed hawk’s nest from a perch on this (richy rich) residential building. The hawk is the infamous Pale Male and average people and activists alike are furious that its habitat has been tampered with.

So begins this series of pics:

The scene when we arrived. Looks like a resident is leaving the building, causing vigorous protest.

Much honking around here.

Big media story

Bikers are softies

Friend Scott gets in on the action!

This bird needs a break

Funky hawk-hat lady

After the fun hulabaloo, we clambered down 5th Ave through the ritzy shopping zone and decided it was time to escape the holiday mayhem. Plus we were dead tired. But we did get that peanut butter sandwich earlier in the day. Tasty.

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