We have been having so much fun over the past few weeks, thanks to our wonderful friends and family! Ryan's parents, Cindy and Randy, came to visit us, and we had so much fun! We also had a friend from the island stay with us for the weekend, Alexa, because she was waiting to move in to her apartment in Brooklyn. So we got to all hang out! Randy and Cindy came to Riverdale to see where we live, and we got to show them our cool neighborhood. We had to take them to our favorite pizza place: Salvatore's of Soho in Riverdale
Alexa, Ryan, and me
Getting ready for the delicious pizza
Check out that yummy pizza!
Then, we went sight seeing the next day at the High Line. Here is some info courtesy of The High Line webiste:
The High Line was built in the 1930s, as part of a massive public-private infrastructure project called the West Side Improvement. It lifted freight traffic 30 feet in the air, removing dangerous trains from the streets of Manhattan's largest industrial district. No trains have run on the High Line since 1980. Friends of the High Line, a community-based non-profit group, formed in 1999 when the historic structure was under threat of demolition. Friends of the High Line works in partnership with the City of New York to preserve and maintain the structure as an elevated public park.
The project gained the City's support in 2002. The High Line south of 30th Street was donated to the City by CSX Transportation Inc. in 2005. The design team of landscape architects James Corner Field Operations, with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, created the High Line's public landscape with guidance from a diverse community of High Line supporters. Construction on the park began in 2006. The first section, from Gansevoort Street to West 20th Street, opened June 9, 2009. The second section, from West 20th Street to West 30th Street, opened in spring, 2011.
It was really fun to walk along the High Line with awesome views of the city, and the weather was perfect for it! I can't take credit for all of these pictures. Randy and Cindy took a lot of these great ones! Here are some pictures of us there:
This was a cool artists' market in the Meat Packing District.. I literally wanted everything that I saw there.
Funky art outside of the Standard Hotel
Family
Great picture and check out that crazy building behind them
A lot of pretty scenery
Walking along
Creepy mime with a clear ball that looked like it was floating
Even creepier man in a box...
Pretty gardens everywhere
This was a cool area where you could sit and watch the city go by.
Grand Central Station (later that night)
Outside Grand Central Station I think
Mother and son
Empire state building
Getting closer
See the cross that was on top of that church?
I love when buildings have old painted signs still on them. I think it reminds me of the South. Notice the man sleeping on the concrete.. I have learned that people can just about sleep anywhere here
Awesome murals
What we are now
Empire State Building
After the High Line, we went to Carnegie Deli. We were all pretty hungry, but I don't think I will ever be hungry enough to finish one of their corned beef sandwiches! Seriously- they were huge! Delicious of course, but huge! It was really cool, and I loved that there were pictures all over the walls of celebrities that had been there.
They give you a huge plate of different pickles. Who doesn't love 'em?
This was his reuben sandwich- is there even a sandwich under there? I ordered one too, and it lasted me like 3 more meals after this one! Still good though!
Cindy and me!
Ryan and Randy- the R's
Venus de Milo like sculpture that we passed by with birds chilling out on it
Madison Square Garden
Hailing a cab like a pro
Radio City Music Hall
David Letterman's building- even more importantly, where the Beatles performed.
Cindy was our navigator
After all of that sight seeing, we rested and watched some football back at Randy and Cindy's hotel. Then, we went out for a delicious dinner.
Such a delicious dinner!
The weekend just went by way to fast, and before we knew it- it was time to say goodbye. I think they should make it to where weekends are 4 days long and we only have a 3 day work week. Wouldn't life be so much more fun?
It was so much fun to have Randy and Cindy, and we can't wait for them to come back again! :)
I met up with Holley and her friend, Catherine for a late lunch.
Check out the amazing view behind us at sunset. Woah
We asked Ryan to "zoom in" for our picture. This is what we got. Scary, huh?
Much better
Holley, Catherine, and myself. Catherine is one of Holley's good friends from D.C. who also just moved to NYC, and it was great to meet her. We were at her amazing apartment for all of these great pictures, and I can't wait to hang out with her again.
We went to the roof deck. It was very cold and windy, but it was so nice to look around and see this!
DC girls and NYC girls together
It was cold
Taking the subway
There was a funny guy on the subway that was eavesdropping on our conversation and making up random commentary. It was pretty funny. Somehow, he thought that Ryan was a male stripper.. who knows?
Then, the next day we went to see Chaplin. It was my first show to see in New York, and it was amazing! I had never really thought much about Charlie Chaplin until I watched this movie. He was famous for basically being America's first famous actor. He starred in, directed, and produced several silent films and later films with sound/talking. This was the story of his life, and I had no idea how much drama he went through! I definitely recommend this show! Two thumbs up!
That about sums up our "fun"! We have both been busy working. Ryan is now doing his Pulmonology rotation within Internal Medicine, so he has been seeing lots of hacking, coughing, and intubated patients. I think he is enjoying it though because he has gotten to do a lot of hands-on work. I have about 30 students on my caseload which is the most that I have ever had! I am now working with three different school districts in California and one in Louisiana. It is great to be busy and working though. I'm very thankful for my job!
It is beginning to feel a lot like fall outside which I am very happy about. We have now experienced what our ancient radiators/heaters sound like when they are on- like an air leak on a tire.
That's about all folks!
