Got off to an amazing start today and then just went where the wind took us. I think I've mentioned in previous posts that our current aim when visiting NYC is to get out of Midtown. We've been really focused on exploring Lower Manhattan, which is just what we did today.
Our day started at One World Trade Center, also known as the Freedom Tower. We've been to the Memorial and the Museum on previous trips, but never inside the actual building. Fortunately, we have a friend who works for Conde Nast, the building's largest tenant.
As you can imagine, security is pretty tight. We checked in at the security desk and had to provide IDs. They even took our pictures for our temporary passes. Madison forgot she had her X-Acto knife (from art school) and pepper spray in her purse, so it took a few extra minutes for them to hold them for her.
The building is completely state-of-the-art, too. When you press the digital screen at the elevator, you not only get to select your floor, but it also tells you which elevator is coming for you. That was pretty cool.
She took us up to the 34th floor so that we could look out the giant windows at the city below. There were great views of the 9/11 Memorial and the Statue of Liberty off in the distance. Even the office itself was pretty darn amazing.
Then she led us down to the basement level and through an underground tunnel to Brookfield Place, the shopping center next door. They have an excellent food court upstairs (satellites of actual local restaurants and high-end chains) where we grabbed lunch and caught up.
After we walked in, we realized that we'd wandered in there before a few years ago. It may have been before One World Trade Center opened. Back then there was hardly anyone there, but today it was chock full of people. We also realized that the NYC location of Amada is there, which is where we'll be eating dinner tomorrow night.
While we were waiting to get Madison's things back, we spotted a familiar face going through security. It was Jenna Coleman from Dr. Who. Our celebrity sighting for this trip.
Afterwards, we walked up to the Federal Building at Federal Plaza, which is where the FBI has their New York field office (the IRS is there, too). Wish I could have gone up there, but they don't seem to offer tours.
From there, we walked down to the Hudson and walked down the pathway alongside the river, which is one of Marsha's favorite things to do. It has great views of New Jersey and the Statue of Liberty. We followed the path all the way down to Battery Park.
That's where we stumbled upon the Seaglass Carousel, which for some reason, we'd never seen before. The outside looks like a big fishbowl and you ride in these giant translucent fish. Well you know, we just had to ride it. How could we not?
We had wanted to go to Governor's Island, which is a small island on the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn. A friend from home had recommended it, so we thought we'd check it out. But the ferry building was already closed, even though the times on the door said it would be open for until 6:00pm.
We decided to take the Staten Island Ferry instead, which we've never done before, despite it being New York's best free attraction. Mark another one off the list!
Once we got to the other side, they made everyone leave the ferry, even if you just want to go right back. We didn't really have any idea what to do there, so we walked around through the terminal (which has several places to eat, just like an airport). Then we went outside and sat on a bench for a few minutes to enjoyed the view across the harbor.
As soon as we saw another ferry pull in, we went ahead and hopped on for the return trip. On the way back, we got a good view of Governor's Island. So, mission semi-accomplished there.
After we got off the ferry, we walked over and checked out The Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog (named for one of the infamous Gangs of New York), a bar that serves small plates as well as drinks. I'd discovered them recently and love their website and menu. I wanted to go in and check it out, but the guy working the door made me rethink that idea.
Instead, we walked around the corner to Fraunces Tavern, which is the oldest building in New York, and where we had our dinner reservations. The building has been painstakingly restored to its Colonial-era days, and they even have a small museum inside about the building's history.
We were a little early, so we planned to see the museum first. Sadly, it was already closed, but they weren't packed, so we went ahead and ate. George Washington delivered his farewell address to the Continental Army in the very room where we were seated, which was really cool. The food and the service were both excellent.
It was too late to catch a show or anything (and we were nowhere the Theatre District), so we just decided to walk part of the way back and take the subway the rest of the trip. We walked up several blocks through the financial district and passed Federal Hall, which is where Washington took his oath of office as first President. Basically the sequel to his speech at Fraunces Tavern, which was pretty cool. All pretty apropos for our Fourth of July vacation.
We made it all the way to Union Square, which was perfect, because that's about where we started walking last night. After we got settled back in the room, we watched a few episodes of Chopped and part of The Proposal. Good way to call it a night.
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