Harry and Linda's Most Excellent NYC Visit
Hi Y'a,
Seven years ago we moved down to Florida after living in NYC for 57 years. Last week we returned for our first visit since our move.
Spent the night before our departure at the Hyatt. Very convenient as its right over the airport and the bellboy hauls your luggage down to the airport for ya. I packed light for the trip taking only my Fuji X-100 and the D300 + 18-200 lens. I used the Fuji for around 80% of my captures
took the tram over to the gate
After a short flight in a flying cattle car we arrived in the Big Apple
Arrived at our hotel (the Wingate on W 35th) and it was immediately invaded by a horde of tourists.:yikes
By mere coincidence the hotel was a short walk from Mecca (aka B&H).
Every salesperson I spoke with asked me about the Fuji I was carrying. $1200 later we grabbed a hot dog (all we could afford at that point) and found that the steps of the PO building on 8th Ave was still a popular spot for lunch.
Now most folks visiting NYC come for the museums, the buildings, etc. Been there, done that. After 7 years in a food wasteland I came back for food. :eat I had a pastrami jones that could be satisfied by one place.
At Katz's they give you this ticket when you enter. Its used to mark off your purchases as you order at the counter. If you lose the ticket you have to pay $50. When you go up to the counter there's this tip cup. What you do is have $2-3 in your hand and stuff the bills in the tip cup before you order or speak to the carver. This puts you in his good graces and the end result is
#2 on my list was pizza. Don't even ask me about the pizza in Florida. :nah
John's on W44 the was close by. Johns is located in a building that used to be a church. Very appropriate as it is a religious experience.
After Johns we had tickets for the Book of Mormon
The show was one of the best shows I have ever seen on Broadway. If you get a chance see it.
After the show I discovered that Times Square area has been transformed into Downtown Disney. :bash
Back to important stuff. If you ever visit NYC there is one institution that should be on your list.
Peter Lugers
For an appetizer I recommend their sizzling bacon. When you take the first bite its like someone is throwing a party in your mouth.
The menu is pretty simple. Its porterhouse for one, two, three or four people.
Linda wanted to stop in at Ellen's Stardust Cafe. The food there is nothing to rave about but its a lot of fun and they do make a pretty mean egg cream.
Short educational break for any folks who don't know about egg creams. Its a beverage invented in Brooklyn that contains no eggs or cream hence the name. You take 4 ounces of milk, 8 ounces of seltzer (real seltzer not the flat bottled kind) and two tablespoons of Fox's U-bet chocolate syrup and mix it up.
Anyhow Ellens is a retro 50's cafe whose main attraction is its singing wait staff.
Even more than food the real attraction of NYC for me is the people.
Before I knew it our time was up. I don't know how many more trips we have left as Linda is really slowing down with our luggage.
I spent a lot time just hanging out on the streets and got to BS with a bunch of different folks. Everybody was a sweetheart and I didn't have one negative experience. Flying home I realized that during those few days in NYC I felt more at home there than I have in the last 7 years.
Seven years ago we moved down to Florida after living in NYC for 57 years. Last week we returned for our first visit since our move.
Spent the night before our departure at the Hyatt. Very convenient as its right over the airport and the bellboy hauls your luggage down to the airport for ya. I packed light for the trip taking only my Fuji X-100 and the D300 + 18-200 lens. I used the Fuji for around 80% of my captures
took the tram over to the gate
After a short flight in a flying cattle car we arrived in the Big Apple
Arrived at our hotel (the Wingate on W 35th) and it was immediately invaded by a horde of tourists.:yikes
By mere coincidence the hotel was a short walk from Mecca (aka B&H).
Every salesperson I spoke with asked me about the Fuji I was carrying. $1200 later we grabbed a hot dog (all we could afford at that point) and found that the steps of the PO building on 8th Ave was still a popular spot for lunch.
Now most folks visiting NYC come for the museums, the buildings, etc. Been there, done that. After 7 years in a food wasteland I came back for food. :eat I had a pastrami jones that could be satisfied by one place.
At Katz's they give you this ticket when you enter. Its used to mark off your purchases as you order at the counter. If you lose the ticket you have to pay $50. When you go up to the counter there's this tip cup. What you do is have $2-3 in your hand and stuff the bills in the tip cup before you order or speak to the carver. This puts you in his good graces and the end result is
#2 on my list was pizza. Don't even ask me about the pizza in Florida. :nah
John's on W44 the was close by. Johns is located in a building that used to be a church. Very appropriate as it is a religious experience.
After Johns we had tickets for the Book of Mormon
The show was one of the best shows I have ever seen on Broadway. If you get a chance see it.
After the show I discovered that Times Square area has been transformed into Downtown Disney. :bash
Back to important stuff. If you ever visit NYC there is one institution that should be on your list.
Peter Lugers
For an appetizer I recommend their sizzling bacon. When you take the first bite its like someone is throwing a party in your mouth.
The menu is pretty simple. Its porterhouse for one, two, three or four people.
Linda wanted to stop in at Ellen's Stardust Cafe. The food there is nothing to rave about but its a lot of fun and they do make a pretty mean egg cream.
Short educational break for any folks who don't know about egg creams. Its a beverage invented in Brooklyn that contains no eggs or cream hence the name. You take 4 ounces of milk, 8 ounces of seltzer (real seltzer not the flat bottled kind) and two tablespoons of Fox's U-bet chocolate syrup and mix it up.
Anyhow Ellens is a retro 50's cafe whose main attraction is its singing wait staff.
Even more than food the real attraction of NYC for me is the people.
Before I knew it our time was up. I don't know how many more trips we have left as Linda is really slowing down with our luggage.
I spent a lot time just hanging out on the streets and got to BS with a bunch of different folks. Everybody was a sweetheart and I didn't have one negative experience. Flying home I realized that during those few days in NYC I felt more at home there than I have in the last 7 years.
Harry
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
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I will have to visit your favorite restaurant next time I go.
Superb street photography.
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Thanks for the tour. Oh, and that Fuji is looking great.
Thanks Dan, it was great to be back in NYC.
We got Linda a P&S and binoculars for our upcoming Africa trip. I got some 16 GD cards and a new monopod for the trip.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
--- Denise
Musings & ramblings at https://denisegoldberg.blogspot.com
I feel like I was right there with you in the Big Apple.
Were the B&Ws straight out of the Fuji, or did you convert them later in PS?
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Thanks PF, Linda and I had a fantastic time. I converted the images using NIK's Silver Efex plug-in. The Fuji does fine in B&W but being anal I like controlling the process.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Educate yourself like you'll live forever and live like you'll die tomorrow.
Ed
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Glad to hear the Fuji is working out for ya.
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
Thanks Richard the Fuji is really impressing me.
I tried that begging number outside of B&H with very poor results.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
of all those people. I used to be able to navigate throngs of people like that without a care in the world! Recently I went to Union Square in San Francisco had had flash back nightmares! And Times Square, OMG has that changed, glitzier than ever! Enjoyed your restaurant ventures. I don't think I've eaten in any one of those. Most of my time was spent on the island or Jersey and when I worked in Manhattan it was get in, work and get out of the place,
The biggest surprise the sign that said a $350 sign for honking your horn? (outside of Katz Deli) When did that happen? NYC was the horn honking capitol of the world!
Loved the photos!
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My website | NANPA Member
Thanks Denise, I thought that I had stopped being a city person before this trip but after a short time on the streets I was hooked again.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Thanks Ed and Peter Luger's is definitely a place to visit. Remember though they only take cash. The only credit card they accept is their own credit card.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Well as some one once said "its all about the food".
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Fun alignment!
Great series of fine SP, Harry.
Don
'I was older then, I'm younger than that now' ....
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That outfit is a tad sedate for Rodman
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Thanks Schmoo the Fuji is just about perfect for street shooting.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Hey Dee,
I was surprised at how fats I got back into that NYC pace. Mayor Bloomberg is trying to gentrify the city a bit. The good news is that while one's use of the horn is limited they haven't limited the most vital driving tool yet, one's middle finger.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
NYC is always worth a day trip just for the food alone.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
I'm a tad hungry myself looking at those pics. Thanks for stopping by Glenn.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Thanks Don, those were my htoughts when I viewed the capture.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
I took multiple shots at the squirrels. They just weren't taken with a camera.
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
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