chuljin
Lead Service Attendant
Post-Gathering E: Three full days of my first visit to NYC
Finally in NYC, it was time to explore. While I did take a token LIRR ride, for the most part my ad-hoc itinerary was that of a first-time NYC tourist rather than hardcore railfan, though with the exception of two short car trips, all movement was on foot or by train, so I think this still qualifies for posting as an AU trip report.
Splitting this one into three posts.
Thursday, November 5
Pictures from this day are here.
On this day, I'd decided to go with Gino on his commute, then explore. Because I was now not burdened with luggage, we walked to the L train's Bedford station, where I got the first of three $8.25 all-day Metrocards, then took it to Union Square, whence the Broadway ('yellow') Line (NQRW, I forgot which particular one) to 34th/Herald Square. We parted company here, and off I went. My first stop, of course, was Penn and its ClubAcela, where the attendant asked, in an enjoyable Jamaican accent, 'Need to pick up a ticket?' 'No, Ma'am,' I said, 'just hanging out.' I stayed only long enough to have a cup of coffee...I had a city to explore. So back outside, before the station on the 7th Avenue side, I stood, suddenly paralyzed with indecision. I'd worked out in my mind a rough list of the places I wanted to see, but no optimum sequence in which to see them.
NFT to the rescue (Not For Tourists' New York version, my ever-present 'bible' for this part of the trip). It indicated that the Empire State Building was a short walk away, so I decided to start there. Walking east on 34th, I saw a sign that said 'Empire State Building', and thought 'Cool! But where?' and looked all around me. Turns out I was right in front of the thing. Due to the setbacks, from right in front of it, it looks like any other five-story building that fills a whole block, and it's only across or up the street that one notices its height. After a couple obligatory photos, I continued east on 34th, passing a kosher Dunkin Donuts and Madison Avenue, until I reached Park Avenue. I was interested, since I know some of the rail-related history of it, and so headed north (not least because there was more 'parkiness' north than south of 34th. As I walked, the tall and impressive MetLife building became more clear, and then I noticed a not-tall but beautiful building in front of it. It actually took me a little while to realize that this was, in fact, Grand Central Terminal. I'd intended to save it for after lunch, but since I'd accidentally already gotten there, it was time for a look.
What can I say? Impressive. Most impressive. I took many many pictures here, probably more than of any other single building during this trip. One intended picture, though, was not taken. As I was exploring, I noticed, through a door, the train sheds, unimpressive but for the presence of many MNRR trains. I raised my camera to take a picture of them, when an MTAPD officer informed me that picture taking was not allowed. I'd dumbly forgotten the printed rules again, so gave up without a fight or a picture. While here, I visited the Transit Museum Store (it also has an exhibit annex for the Museum, but it was exhibitless), where I got, besides 2 free copies of The Map, a G magnet, a G bookmark, and two Metrocard holders, one with a picture of a Metrocard on the front, the other with the famous view of sunlight streaming into GCT. While here, I also got a full set of Metro North timetables. At first I was overwhelmed: there were dozens; I then realized these were the individual branches, and found and instead took one each of the three combined timetables. I then took the Shuttle over to Times Square. Oooh, shiny! Everything here, even mundane things like McDonald's and Bank of America, has an impressive, expensive, blinking sign. One nice thing, fairly recent as I understand it, is that there are no longer any cars on this part of Broadway, making Times Square even more enjoyable for the many pedestrians. I walked north through Times Square, arriving at 49th Street just before lunchtime, and so took the N back to 34th/Herald Square, whence Gino's office, where he thoughtfully printed out the MTA photo regulations for me. He admired my G magnet and said he wanted to get one, so when I was at GCT again briefly after lunch (see below), I just went ahead and got him one.
For lunch, we got wraps from Kati Wrap, and took them to Bryant Park to eat. Kati Roll is interesting: They take Indian food that might otherwise be arrayed on a plate, and instead use the naan to make it into a wrap. As we ate, Gino told me that the large building we saw facing away from the park was the Library, which I'd mentioned I wanted to see. So after lunch, I explored there a little, including a very interesting exhibit, Mapping New York's Shoreline, 1609-2009. Thence the 7 back to Grand Central for a few more pictures before taking the 6 to 51st St, to see that most famous of Hugh Stubbins' (remember him from Part 4?) buildings, the Citicorp Center, and its accompanying Saint Peter's Church. I had a pumpkin donut at the Dunkin Donuts in the mall beneath, and browsed Barnes and Noble a little (trying to find a new edition of the NFT guide) before taking the E to 42nd and the Port Authority Bus Terminal (whose description in NFT suggested that I'd like it). I then walked east, back to Times Square, and took some Broadway train (don't recall which) back to 34th/Herald Square (though a 7th train would have been a better choice), then back to Penn for a bit, and to the ClubAcela just because I could (over here, AlanB recently called it 'being able to use the Club Acela's like it's the NY public library' :lol: ), before meeting Gino again at his office. Here I got the chance to meet three of his coworkers, and we went for beers and shoptalk (with the same profession, fortunately I could participate ) at Blaggard's at 39th and 6th. As there were five of us, to make it equitable there had to be five rounds, too. :lol: Fortunately we also got unhealthy bar food as well. The party partially broke up a couple hours later, but as Gino, one coworker, and I decided that hadn't been a proper dinner, we then went to Mad for Chicken (5th and 32nd) for really good wings...and soju. Thence Broadway (NQRW) and L home.
Finally in NYC, it was time to explore. While I did take a token LIRR ride, for the most part my ad-hoc itinerary was that of a first-time NYC tourist rather than hardcore railfan, though with the exception of two short car trips, all movement was on foot or by train, so I think this still qualifies for posting as an AU trip report.
Splitting this one into three posts.
Thursday, November 5
Pictures from this day are here.
On this day, I'd decided to go with Gino on his commute, then explore. Because I was now not burdened with luggage, we walked to the L train's Bedford station, where I got the first of three $8.25 all-day Metrocards, then took it to Union Square, whence the Broadway ('yellow') Line (NQRW, I forgot which particular one) to 34th/Herald Square. We parted company here, and off I went. My first stop, of course, was Penn and its ClubAcela, where the attendant asked, in an enjoyable Jamaican accent, 'Need to pick up a ticket?' 'No, Ma'am,' I said, 'just hanging out.' I stayed only long enough to have a cup of coffee...I had a city to explore. So back outside, before the station on the 7th Avenue side, I stood, suddenly paralyzed with indecision. I'd worked out in my mind a rough list of the places I wanted to see, but no optimum sequence in which to see them.
NFT to the rescue (Not For Tourists' New York version, my ever-present 'bible' for this part of the trip). It indicated that the Empire State Building was a short walk away, so I decided to start there. Walking east on 34th, I saw a sign that said 'Empire State Building', and thought 'Cool! But where?' and looked all around me. Turns out I was right in front of the thing. Due to the setbacks, from right in front of it, it looks like any other five-story building that fills a whole block, and it's only across or up the street that one notices its height. After a couple obligatory photos, I continued east on 34th, passing a kosher Dunkin Donuts and Madison Avenue, until I reached Park Avenue. I was interested, since I know some of the rail-related history of it, and so headed north (not least because there was more 'parkiness' north than south of 34th. As I walked, the tall and impressive MetLife building became more clear, and then I noticed a not-tall but beautiful building in front of it. It actually took me a little while to realize that this was, in fact, Grand Central Terminal. I'd intended to save it for after lunch, but since I'd accidentally already gotten there, it was time for a look.
What can I say? Impressive. Most impressive. I took many many pictures here, probably more than of any other single building during this trip. One intended picture, though, was not taken. As I was exploring, I noticed, through a door, the train sheds, unimpressive but for the presence of many MNRR trains. I raised my camera to take a picture of them, when an MTAPD officer informed me that picture taking was not allowed. I'd dumbly forgotten the printed rules again, so gave up without a fight or a picture. While here, I visited the Transit Museum Store (it also has an exhibit annex for the Museum, but it was exhibitless), where I got, besides 2 free copies of The Map, a G magnet, a G bookmark, and two Metrocard holders, one with a picture of a Metrocard on the front, the other with the famous view of sunlight streaming into GCT. While here, I also got a full set of Metro North timetables. At first I was overwhelmed: there were dozens; I then realized these were the individual branches, and found and instead took one each of the three combined timetables. I then took the Shuttle over to Times Square. Oooh, shiny! Everything here, even mundane things like McDonald's and Bank of America, has an impressive, expensive, blinking sign. One nice thing, fairly recent as I understand it, is that there are no longer any cars on this part of Broadway, making Times Square even more enjoyable for the many pedestrians. I walked north through Times Square, arriving at 49th Street just before lunchtime, and so took the N back to 34th/Herald Square, whence Gino's office, where he thoughtfully printed out the MTA photo regulations for me. He admired my G magnet and said he wanted to get one, so when I was at GCT again briefly after lunch (see below), I just went ahead and got him one.
For lunch, we got wraps from Kati Wrap, and took them to Bryant Park to eat. Kati Roll is interesting: They take Indian food that might otherwise be arrayed on a plate, and instead use the naan to make it into a wrap. As we ate, Gino told me that the large building we saw facing away from the park was the Library, which I'd mentioned I wanted to see. So after lunch, I explored there a little, including a very interesting exhibit, Mapping New York's Shoreline, 1609-2009. Thence the 7 back to Grand Central for a few more pictures before taking the 6 to 51st St, to see that most famous of Hugh Stubbins' (remember him from Part 4?) buildings, the Citicorp Center, and its accompanying Saint Peter's Church. I had a pumpkin donut at the Dunkin Donuts in the mall beneath, and browsed Barnes and Noble a little (trying to find a new edition of the NFT guide) before taking the E to 42nd and the Port Authority Bus Terminal (whose description in NFT suggested that I'd like it). I then walked east, back to Times Square, and took some Broadway train (don't recall which) back to 34th/Herald Square (though a 7th train would have been a better choice), then back to Penn for a bit, and to the ClubAcela just because I could (over here, AlanB recently called it 'being able to use the Club Acela's like it's the NY public library' :lol: ), before meeting Gino again at his office. Here I got the chance to meet three of his coworkers, and we went for beers and shoptalk (with the same profession, fortunately I could participate
) at Blaggard's at 39th and 6th. As there were five of us, to make it equitable there had to be five rounds, too. :lol: Fortunately we also got unhealthy bar food as well. The party partially broke up a couple hours later, but as Gino, one coworker, and I decided that hadn't been a proper dinner, we then went to Mad for Chicken (5th and 32nd) for really good wings...and soju. Thence Broadway (NQRW) and L home.
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