The World Trade Center site is a bustling construction zone for the National September 11th Memorial & Museum, and there is a boarded walkway around the perimeter for visitors to pay their respects and view the progress of the memorial.
We didn't realize that a final decision was made on the memorial design. You can check it out here. The memorial will honor those killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993. This national tribute will bear witness to the attacks, commemorate those who risked their lives to save others, recognize the thousands who survived and reflect upon the unity and compassion shown in the aftermath.
It will definitely make a statement with two massive pools set within the original footprints of the Twin Towers and 30-foot waterfalls cascading down the sides. The names of the 2,980 innocent victims killed in the attacks in New York City, at the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C. and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, will be inscribed around the edges of the waterfalls.
It was hard to imagine two buildings, each with 110 floors, taking up this small city block. It was also hard to imagine the devastation on September 11th. For the people who worked near the Twin Towers, what is it like for them to see a blank city block? Is it a daily reminder of friends, family, and co-workers who died?
Where were you on September 11, 2001?
Richie and I were getting ready to go to our classes at LSU, when our friend, Josh Stowe, called and said "The world's going crazy, people are crashing planes into buildings. Turn on your TV." We spent the next few days, like everyone else in the world, in shock.
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On the corner of Wall and Broad Streets is the location of Federal Hall. It was built in 1703 for the British royal governor's council and assembly of New York, and served as a City Hall. Nine colonial delegates met here in opposition of Britain's Stamp Act... 1765's "no taxation without representation." And it served as the the nation's capitol in 1785.
Federal Hall is best known for George Washington's inauguration as the 1st U.S. President on April 30, 1789. And the first amendments to the Constitution (also known as the Bill of Rights) were passed here in 1790.
Unfortunately, the building was destroyed by 1812, and the present building was built in 1842 and served as a customs house. In 1862, it became (1 of 6) Federal Sub-Treasuries until being replaced by the Federal Reserve in 1920. Today, Federal Hall is a National Park Historic Site and houses a museum.
At its simplest, Wall Street is a short street in lower Manhattan that once formed the northern boundary of the New Amsterdam settlement in the 17th century. There was literally a wall there as defense for the growing town.
Today it serves as the backbone of the New York financial center. It's home to several exchanges including the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange, and NASDAQ.
After grabbing a few pictures of Federal Hall, we spotted a nearby hot dog stand and couldn't resist. While we dined on our $3 dogs, we enjoyed watching a group of Japanese business men lined up, enthusiastically snapping pictures of Wall Street.
After 9/11, security around New York City was heightened, and Wall Street was no exception. Police officers stood in nearly every entrance to a Wall Street building, and the streets were blocked to general vehicular traffic. At each street entrance stood a guardhouse and a large barrier that made us think of a lazy susan. In it were embedded a line of large concrete cylinders - strong enough to stop a tank. Before passing through, the vehicle would be inspected and the lazy susan would make a quarter turn to allow the car to pass, and then it would close again.
If you're in the area, you can't pass up the opportunity to visit "The Charging Bull." This is a giant bronze bull statue that almost continually has someone standing in front posing for a picture. Some people prefer to stand behind the bull for a more intimate shot. He's located in the Bowling Green, the oldest public park in New York City.
So why a bull?
In stock market lingo, the market is "bearish" when more people are selling and the price is dropping, and the market is "bullish" when more people are buying and the price is rising. So all that trading is just a battle between the bears and the bulls. Feel free to insert your own joke here!
Joie de Vivre by the New York sculptor Mark di Suvero
Zuccotti Park (formerly Liberty Plaza Park)
Double Check
by J. Seward Johnson
Zuccotti Park (formerly Liberty Plaza Park)
Zuccotti Park (formerly Liberty Plaza Park)
Double Checkby J. Seward Johnson
Zuccotti Park (formerly Liberty Plaza Park)
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NYC Parking, the Meat Packing DistrictA city of good food!
Our dear friends, Sandi and Rachel, adore NYC. And they gave us a few restaurants to check out. One was the Florent Restaurant in the Meat Packing District.
Unfortunately, after 30 or so years in the business, the Florent Restaurant closed for business a month before our visit. What timing. Fortunately, a new restaurant, Gansevoort 69, has filled the void.
They specialize in gourmet comfort foods - with items like chicken and waffles, homemade granola, oatmeal, buttermilk pancakes, mashed potatoes, sweet potato fries, meatloaf...
I had spaghettios, which weren't actually spaghettios from the can. The menu describes it as: "Annelini pasta, san Marzano tomato sauce, shaved parmigiano-reggioano, and fresh basil." I added spicy meatballs, too.
The Meat Packing DistrictFunny story:
Our waiter was especially enthusiastic, and we had a great time chatting and laughing with him. Before heading out, he asked "Where are you from?" We told him Louisiana. His response - "Oh, so that is why y'all are so nice and cheerful. You are the happiest people we've served today!" It turns out, his grandmother is from New Orleans, but he grew up in Alaska. When he came to NYC, he said "I have found my people!" and has been here ever since.
So if you find yourself in the Meat Packing District of NYC, check out Gansevoort 69.
Sandi and Rachel also suggested The Cupping Room Cafe in SoHo. While we were supposed to try their lemon gelato, we couldn't help but share a plate of salmon eggs benedict and a cup of coffee. (Yes, I've been able to stomach eggs benedict again!)
Just a quick note on SoHo...
The SoHo neighborhood in New York is named because the area is South of Houston Street. And the NoHo neighborhood is named because it is north of Houston Street. By the way, Houston Street in NYC is pronounced "Howston," not like Houston, Texas. I love random facts.
And one more food stop... this time in the Little Italy neighborhood. My junior high English and Home Economics teacher, Mrs. Evans, makes an annual trip to NYC with her dear friend, Mrs. Marue. Every morning of their visit to the city, they stop at Caffe Roma for some espresso and pastries. We had to try it!
We learned that Little Italy is getting smaller - no joke - because Chinatown is buying and renovating more buildings in the neighborhood.
We stopped by St. Patrick's Cathedral to read some history, when we spotted a billboard with naked people on it advertising a perfume. So much for scratch and sniff! What do you think churchgoers have to say about that one?
To read more about St. Patrick's Cathedral history, click here.
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We were excited to spend the afternoon touring the USS New York. My sister called to tell us that the ship was going to be in NYC - and that we should stop by and see it. However, we didn't check the schedule, and we were disappointed to discover that the USS New York had departed at 6am the day before.
What is the USS New York?
It is the fifth ship in the San Antonio class, and is an active Naval vessel whose bow stem was built with 7.5 tons of steel from the World Trade Center.
Commander Quentin King said "The significance of where the WTC steel is located on the 684-foot-long ship symbolizes the strength and resiliency of the citizens of New York as it sails forward around the world. It sends a message of America becoming stronger as a result, coming together as a country and ready to move forward as we make our way through the world."
More Facts:
- Home Base: Norfolk, VA
- Motto: "Never Forget"
- Length: 684 feet
- Speed: 22 knots (24.2 mph)
- Armament: Two 30 mm Close-in-Guns, for surface threat defense; two Rolling Airframe Missile launchers for air defense
- Crew: 360 Sailors (28 officers, 332 enlisted) and 3 Marines
- Troops: 699 (66 officers, 633 enlisted); surge to 800 total.
- And probably the coolest fact for us - it was built at the shipyard in Avondale, Louisiana.
And to top off our visit to New York City, we caught the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, featuring The Rockettes!
Things we learned about our visit to Radio City Music Hall:
- The Rockettes were originally called "Missouri Rockets" and were actually formed in 1925 in St. Louis, Missouri by Russell Market.
- Samuel Roxy Rothafel brought the dance troupe to New York City to perform at Roxy Theatre.
- The "Missouri Rockets" were renamed the "Roxyettes"
- Rothafell opened Radio City Music Hall, and the dance troupe was named "The Rockettes"
- Radio City Music Hall almost shut down in the 1970’s, but New York City Government decided that the hall was too important to the city’s success, so they granted funding and the hall reopened in 1985 – along with the famous Rockettes!
We were fortunate enough to see the second show on opening day. It was spectacular – and even incorporated some 3D imaging.
It is a romantic idea to spend the holidays in New York City, but I can’t imagine it would be as glamorous as it was in the show! But one thing is for sure...
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