Day 3 of 4
Radio City Christmas Spectacular to start the day! Top of the Rock for spectacular skyline views of Manhattan.
Dinner at Virgil’s BBQ. On these four days, we had a couple of family-style meals. Virgil’s filled us up but good!
Topped off the night with the Sak’s Fifth Ave. Light Show 2021
Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show 2021
Day 2 of 4
The hustle & bustle continues!
Starting with 911 Memorial & Museum, and ending with THE NUTCRACKER at Lincoln Center — fantastic production! Another group went to see DIANA. In between Macy’s, Bryant Park Winter Village, Tony’s di Napoli. Whew!
My Four Days!
Day 1 at Laguardia.
Well the season is upon us! The hustle and bustle are back!
I started this four day tour at LaGuardia Airport yesterday. I met my group from Illinois & Kentucky. Normally I don’t do airport greets but the group will be with me for the entire weekend. So I do it as a courtesy.
How was the new Terminal B?
Very impressive! It was totally rebuilt and new for me. LaGuardia construction is still in progress. Who knows when it will finally be finished. There were some snags though.
Can you be more specific?
They have no skycap service. Since my group consisted primarily of senior citizens, my client specifically requested skycaps for the thirty or so passengers in the group.
So what did you do?
After dealing with some rude American Airlines employees (one literally walked way from me) I decided to go to the top — or close to it! Apparently the terminal is managed by a third party and the airline rents the space from them. So I was able to contact the management and they couldn’t have been more helpful. They arranged to have three of their employees help with luggage carts to bring to the coach. That made all the difference. In the meantime I walked through the terminal to take in its newness.
The ceiling artwork.
Mural depicting some of NYC highlights.
First night meal in Times Square.
The Tradition Behind the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Workers excavating the site for Rockefeller Center are lined up to receive their wages. The Christmas Tree in the photo was the first to be mounted there on December 24, 1931. Photo Credit . . . Associated Press
During the Depression, when Rockefeller Center was being built, the construction workers pooled their money and bought a 20-foot balsam fir tree to put on the construction site on Christmas Eve. After all, what better way to bring cheer to the city’s residents who were already struggling during hard economic times! Little did these workers know that their fun idea would go on to become an annual tradition.
What did they use as ornaments?
The workers’ families made the garlands out of paper and strung cranberries. Ornaments included tin cans as well. In other words, whatever was available.
Was there a tree in 1932?
The tree was to be a one-time thing so none was erected in 1932. The idea of a tree resonated with the public and with officials. So in 1933, after the completion of the early buildings of Rockefeller Center, an official tree, 50-feet tall, was selected and was decorated to celebrate the first holiday season. It was lit with 700 electric lights.
How have the decorations changed over the years?
Since 2004, the first 550-pound Swarovski Star adorned the top of the tree. It featured 25,000 crystals and 1 million facets and was 9.5 feet in diameter. The following year, the addition of LED lights made the star look as if it were radiating light from its core to its tips. The most recent Swarovski Star was designed by architect Daniel Libeskind. The star tops the tree and is backlit by LEDs, with three million Swarovski crystals across seventy triangular spikes.
When was the first tree lighting ceremony?
It was in 1951 that NBC televised the tree lighting with a special on The Kate Smith Show.
In 1969, wire herald angels were added by the artist Valerie Clarout to the Channel Gardens at the Fifth Avenue Promenade entrance opposite the tree..
The 1971 tree, a 65-footer from East Montpelier, Vermont, was the first to be mulched and recycled.
The tree usually makes its journey on a truck bed. But in 1998 it was flown in from Richfield, Ohio, on the world's largest transport plane.
1999 was Rockefeller Center's tallest tree, a 100-foot spruce from Killingworth, Connecticut.
In 2001, following the September 11 attacks, the tree was again decorated patriotically in red, white and blue.
In 2007, the tree converted to energy-efficient lighting with LEDs. Each year since 2007, the tree has been milled into lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity.
The tree lighting ceremony starts with a five-second countdown that is followed by the singing of Joy to the World sung by the Main Street Gospel Choir. The lighting takes place the last ten minutes of the program.
On November 16, 2020, the workers discovered a northern saw-whet owl within the wrapped branches during its installation.. The owl was dehydrated and hungry. The bird was nicknamed Rockefeller (Rocky) and was subsequently taken to a wildlife center for a check-up and nursed to full strength before being released on the grounds of the wildlife center in Saugerties, NY.
What is this year’s tree — 2021?
The 2021 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, donated by a family in Elkton, Maryland. is a 79-foot Norway Spruce. It arrived at Rock Center on November 13th and will be lit on December 1st . This is the first time that the Tree originates from Maryland. It will be on display until January 16, 2022.
Here is the link for information about the Tree Lighting:
🎄 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting | NYC Winter Events
Autumn in NYC
I was out and about today. The city is in full Fall season. Very festive feelings as we approach Thanksgiving.
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Exhibit in NYC
I was agog when viewing Michelangelo’s “frescos” up close and personal in this current exhibition here in the Big Apple. Having been to Rome, I had previously visited the Sistine Chapel, and had been totally awestruck by the magnificence of the ceiling. However, it was very distant from my vantage point. The details in the paintings, escaped me. With this very special exhibition in New York City I was able to view each story at eye level. This exhibition drew me into one of Michelangelo’s greatest masterpieces, seen from a totally new perspective.
How are the frescos presented?
This state-of-the-art exhibit is within a very spacious area in Lower Manhattan. The paintings have been reproduced by using licensed high-definition photos. Michelangelo’s masterpieces are floor-to-ceiling reproductions of the original frescos, and are closer than ever. The clarity of detail and color of each fresco is truly amazing. Unlike other exhibits that rely on digital technology — which loses the artist’s point of view — these reproductions invite you to visually walk right into every unprecedented detail. I was totally engaged for two hours as I stopped in front of each fresco — there are 34 in all. The images have informative signage that are easy to read. I rented an audio guide, that was very easy to understand, which enhanced my understanding of each detail in the frescos.
The Sistine Chapel in Rome was painted between 1508 and 1512 in the fresco style. Michelangelo used wet paint on the freshly plastered walls and ceilings. Michelangelo finished his masterpiece somewhere between 1535 and 1541 with the The Last Judgment. (pictured on this blog).
Where is the exhibit and how long will it be there?
This current exhibit is located at 100 6th Avenue, NYC, just north of Canal Street. The subway is nearby. For ticket information go to: sistinechapelexhibit.com/new-york/
Whether you have been to the actual Sistine Chapel in Rome , or not, I highly recommend this truly unique exhibit. My one regret is that it is only here until sometime January 2022. Wouldn’t it be great if it were permanent?!
The Last Judgement
Treasures at the New York Public Library — The Polonsky Exhibition
The library on Fifth Avenue has been around for over 100 years and has collected and preserved about 56-million items. The Polonsky Exhibition displays a very small selection of these items.
What items are on display?
Some objects are on permanent display such as Winnie-the-Pooh and Friends and the writing desk and chair of Charles Dickens. The permanent Exhibition will be changing many of the treasures occasionally so visitors can view the diverse collection. Objects that are sensitive to light will be removed and will be replaced by other treasures.
Will you need tickets?
Timed Tickets are free. But it’s best to make reservations on their website at https://www.nypl.org/spotlight/treasures.
What did you see at the Exhibition?
Some of the vast highlights that I viewed as I toured the Exhibition were Thomas Jefferson’s handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, letter from Christopher Columbus to Luis de Santángel, Shakespeare’s First Folio, the Gutenberg Bible, set model for the Off Broadway production of IN THE HEIGHTS. These are just some of the many displayed items that mark the beginnings of one kind or another. Check out the libraries website for a list of items in the collection.
Letter From Christopher Columbus to Luis de Santángel, Treasurer of Aragon, who funded much of the voyage in 1492.
Visited the World Trade Center
What Tour Group Did You Take to the WTC?
I had a tour group of baseball aficionados from Jay Buckley Baseball Tours. The group was from all over the country. I met them at Rockefeller Center and began the tour from there. They wanted to pay their respects to the Memorial sight on the 20th anniversary of the attacks.
How Long Was The Tour and What Sights Did You See?
The tour was scheduled to go for four hours and we covered a lot of areas. Actually we only did about a three-hour tour because they were heading to Citi Field to see the Yankees v. Mets game. That cut our tour down by about an hour. However, on our way out of Manhattan I took a different route in order to add more content to their tour. Traffic was light. We only made two stops — one at Robert F. Wagner Park for restrooms and views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Then on to the WTC sight. We pulled our coach about a block away. When I’m outdoors, I use a voice amplifier to drown out some of the noise. It makes for a better-quality tour. So I was able to give my tour group an in-depth history of the WTC without straining the vocal chords. Once we walked into the sight, I turned off the amplifier out of deep respect for those who perished on 9/11. Also, microphone use is not permitted at the sight. I pointed out the various interests including the Survivor Tree, the Oculus, the Reflecting Absence Pools, and gave the tour group a half-hour on their own to walk around and take photos if they wanted. After we boarded the bus,, we drove through the neighborhoods of SoHO, Chinatown , Little Italy, Greenwich Village. We kept heading east towards the 59th Street Bridge, aka The Queensboro and Ed Koch Bridge. We also drove through Times Square, Fifth Ave. to point out the library and Patience and Fortitude. This being a baseball group I made sure to tell them about the baseball hats made for each of the lions during the World Series between the Yankees and Mets.
How Long Have you Been Giving Tours?
I started in the tour industry in the early 90s. I have a strong background in professional theatre and decided it was time for a change. So I contacted lots of receptive tour operators here in NYC and was hired to work corporate events as a hostess. During that time I read a lot about NYC history and culture. Also, I was born here so I have a lot of personal history as well. Corporate events were not enough for me. I decided that the leisure market was more suited to my temperament. And so, I began my career as a tour guide after taking the sightseeing guides’ test with the DCA. In 1999, I registered Explore New York® with the city. And then I registered it with the US Patent & Trademark Office in DC. Therefore, Explore New York® is a registered trademark.
Do You Do Tours in Other Languages?
Obviously, all my tours are in English. I have a very good working knowledge of Italian.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Once Again Live On NYC Streets
Come One, Come All!! The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will once again be strutting its stuff on November 25.
How long has the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade been running?
The annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, started in 1924. It’s a three-hour parade in Manhattan and proceeds for about two and one-half miles along Central Park West. It starts at the Museum of Natural History area way uptown and ends outside Macy's Herald Square. It goes from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST on Thanksgiving Day. It has been televised nationally on NBC since 1953. In 1924, store employees marched to Macy's Herald Square, the flagship store on 34th Street, dressed in vibrant costumes. There were floats, professional bands and live animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. At the end of that first parade, Santa Claus was welcomed into Herald Square. Herald Square is named for a newspaper, no longer in existence, the New York Herald. A statue from the New York Herald Building can be seen in the park across from the main entrance of Macy’s. At this first parade, Santa sat on a throne on the Macy's balcony at the 34th Street store entrance, the site where he was then crowned "King of the Kiddies". With an audience of over 250,000 people, the parade was a great success. Macy's declared it would become an annual event.
The balloons were introduced in 1928, replacing live zoo animals. Large animal-shaped balloons, were produced by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio from the 1920s through 1980. Because there was no procedure to deflate the balloons, they were released. In 1928 five of the larger balloons were designed and filled with helium to rise above 2,000 feet (610 meters) and slowly deflate. Whoever caught the deflated balloons in the balloon race was awarded $100. This lasted until 1932.
What happens during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
The balloons in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade are of different sizes and shapes. The oldest is the novelty balloon class, consisting of smaller balloons ranging widely in size and handled by between one and thirty balloon handlers (the smallest balloons are shaped like human heads and fit on the heads of the handlers). The character balloons are the larger and more popular class primarily consisting of licensed pop-culture characters; each one is handled by exactly 90 balloon handlers. From 2005 to 2012, a third balloon class, the "Blue Sky Gallery", transformed the works of contemporary artists into full-size balloons; after a five-year hiatus, the Blue Sky Gallery returned in 2018.
Floats contain cartoon characters and celebrity performers, singers and dancers. Broadway show performers entertain the multitudes in front of Macy’s. Some of the top award-winning high school marching bands through out the country provide the festive music. I’ve seen bands as far away as Hawaii marching in the parade. All the bands are given different rehearsal schedules. The bands can be seen outside Macy’s in the middle of the night, perfecting their music, way before the start of the parade. And the parade always ends with Santa Claus welcoming in the Christmas season.
Where’s the best place to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
There are many different areas along the parade route from which to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. It does get very crowded so it’s best to stake out your location really early. I have been there with tour groups at 5:00 a.m. to grab a good spot. It’s cold so dress warmly. This year there might be new health and safety protocols so be sure to check their website before making your way to see the parade.
On September 8, 1664, New Amsterdam Became New York
Dutch Governor Peter Stuyvesant surrenders New Amsterdam, the capital of New Netherland, to an English naval squadron under Colonel Richard Nicolls. Stuyvesant had hoped to resist the English, but he was an unpopular ruler, and his Dutch subjects refused to rally around him. Following its capture, New Amsterdam’s name was changed to New York, in honor of the Duke of York, who organized the mission.
Source: History Channel
The LABOR DAY HOLIDAY originated in New York City
The following information is from the DEPARTMENT OF LABOR website: www.DOL.gov
The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.
By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a National holiday.
Frist Labor Day Holiday at UNION SQUARE PARK, 1882
St. Elizabeth Born in New York City
Elizabeth Ann Bayley is born in New York City on August 28, 1774. She went on to found the first Catholic school and the first female apostolic community in the United States. She was also the first American-born saint beatified by the Roman Catholic Church.
Elizabeth Ann Bayley was born to an eminent physician, Richard Bayley, who served as the first health officer of New York City. Her mother, Catherine, was an Episcopal minister’s daughter who died before Elizabeth’s third birthday, leaving three daughters. Her father remarried and had four additional children. At age 19, Elizabeth married a wealthy shipping magnate, William Magee Seton, with whom she had five children in quick succession. Seton’s health deteriorated after his financial holdings collapsed and he died of tuberculosis in Italy shortly before the couple’s 10th anniversary. Elizabeth’s eldest daughter followed her father to the grave nine years later.
Following these traumas, Elizabeth, who was raised an Episcopalian, received her first Holy Communion and became a Roman Catholic on March 25, 1805. Seton taught in order to support her family and believed in free education for all children, male and female. In pursuit of this goal, she founded the nation’s first Catholic school in Baltimore, which had been the capital of the Catholic colony of Maryland. The school, St. Joseph’s Academy and Free School, would eventually become part of Mount Saint Mary’s University.
In 1809, Seton took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, along with the moniker “Mother Seton.” She then founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph, also in Maryland. Her efforts to establish Catholic institutions in the new United States, protected by the Bill of Rights’ guarantee of freedom of religion, saw her beatified in 1963, and canonized in 1975. Seton Hall University in New Jersey was named in her honor.
A PERMANENT EXHIBITION TO OPEN AT THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY ON FIFTH AVE.
The Polonsky Exhibition of THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY’S TREASURES will open on September 24, 2021. It will feature over 250 items spanning 4,000 years — such as Winnie the Pooh & Friends, Beethoven’s Sketches, Shakespeare’s First Folio, Christopher Columbus Letter — from the library’s research collections. Tickets are now on sale at www.nypl.org. The NYPL is a repository for its immense book collection. It is now NYC’s newest museum!