New York City Adventures, Part I

The energy of New York City somehow gets right into my core and pulsates through me. I find myself feeling more alive and acutely alert to every detail of my surroundings. 

Our hotel room on Pearl Street had a window with a view of the majestic sight of the new Freedom Tower, which most people still just call, the World Trade Center.  It was our first time seeing this towering tribute to the former structures so tragically lost on 9/11/2001. It is easily my new favorite building in all of Manhattan. As you can see from the photo I took as our ferry left the Battery Park harbor, it sparkles and shines and stands proudly on the horizon of the financial district.  It is almost unreal how beautiful it is.  

We had an early start the morning after gala, with plans to spend our day with several other NF families who were also in town for the event. The day began with a visit to Rockefeller Plaza and the Today Show with our dear friend, April Anderson (mother of Dakota, 8, NF1) from California.  We watched as the famous Radio City Music Hall Rockettes performed a number from the Christmas Spectacular, but we didn't get to see any of the anchors live on the plaza. 

The 76 foot Norway Spruce, from Shelton, CT arrived at the Plaza just moments before we did. How exciting is it that we had a once in a lifetime opportunity to watch as the crew prepared and hoisted the tree to its upright position? We secured the prime spot along the barricades  positioned just behind the tree's massive trunk; precisely where all of the action was!  We watched for about 3 hours as the tree went through the lengthy process to be set in it's final resting place just above the skating rink. It truly was an unforgettable experience and we even walked away with a small branch as a memento.

You can see Jesse, Alexa and I watching behind the barricade in this press photo!

April appears in this photo found on the Huffington Post online article.

April, Alexa and Peter posing in our prime spectating spot.

The tree being lifted by a massive crane.

 From the plaza, we continued on our adventures to meet up with the Perfetti and Markland families at the Central Park Zoo.  Although it was a chilly day, we all had a great time and enjoyed the time we so infrequently get to spend together as families. 

From left to right: Jesse-NF1, Rodney, Blake, & Jill Markland, Jesse, Alexa, Peter, Me, April Anderson, Jacque, Julia-NF1, Laura, Anthony, Alex, & AJ Perfetti

 Our next stop was the Starlight Diner on Broadway to meet up with Bailey and Anita Gribben. All of the budding stars/wait staff kept us entertained as we ate burgers and drank milk shakes.  Laura even performed a darn good rendition of a Stevie Nicks favorite and Bailey was publicly acknowledged for his new Ambassadorship!  We continued on foot to the unparalleled Times Square Toys R Us to take a ride on the indoor ferris wheel and explore 4 floors of toys! It was then time for the exhausted families to hug, vow to meet up in Daytona for the Racing4Research event and sorrowfully part ways.