Over Labor Day weekend, my partner and I traveled to NYC for a wedding (not ours, not yet anyway!). Of course I took plenty of photos along the way.
Flying into LaGuardia - apparently the fringe winds of Hurricane Cristobal were just reaching the area, which made for a bouncy approach and less than crisp shots. Ah well, at least we didn't end up with an "unexpected water landing"
Unfortunately we were on the other side of the plane so I had to use the telephoto across the aisle - can't win them all, I guess.
After a hard landing, we're all ready to get to our hotel - Trump Soho:
Not every building is iconic.
But c'mon, it's NYC!
Finally on the island of Manhattan - I love being in the taxi and seeing which landmark buildings are off in the distance when we hit the cross-street:
Here we are!
Surprisingly tasteful (for Trump!)
Skinny building going up a block away:
Found a good divey spot with great happy hour deals and decent beer on tap
Over to the heart of Soho:
We had hoped to get manicures at Bliss spa but they were booked - ah well, might as well get a shot of this adjacent cool space:
A little more shopping in Soho:
But it was a little warm, time to head back to the hotel:
And hit up the pool - I was more interested in the views:
Enough of the pool views, this is the view from the bocce court:
Anyway, it was a long day with travel so skipping to the next morning, I go out for my usual early morning vacation walk:
We've been to NYC several times, but this time I put my foot down and said we would go to the Top of the Rock
This was as close as we got to Times Square which was fine by me:
Almost there!
Woohoo!!!
Okay, it's about time...
To get back to earth:
Or maybe we're going to heaven? As I always try to do whenever I'm on vacation and I see a historic house of worship - gotta see if they're open:
Sure enough - and Mass was just wrapping up.
And this was a cool moment:
Gotta love the Helmsley Building!
Uh oh, the trains weren't running local between Brooklyn Bridge and Union Square so we hopped off at Union Square - neat area:
Heading back to Soho:
Hey, it's just like being at home!
That night we went to a few bars - the Standard and the Jimmy rooftop at the James Hotel; what a fun night - wish I had my tripod but I did the best I could.
Next morning, I decided to go to the World Trade Center - the weather was appropriately somber:
I hadn't been to the site in ten years - in 1987 on a high school band trip, I went to the observation deck in the South Tower, thinking it was impossibly high. I remembered that thought on September 11th, 2001, when our 'SSP family' was posting feverishly as the horrifying events unfolded, thinking how are those people going to escape. Like millions of others, I lost it when the towers collapsed. Those emotions came rushing back that morning - I didn't go to the museum, I simply paid my respects the best way I know how and let my camera lead me.
I then remembered - the last time I was here, it was 2004. Most of the rubble had been cleared but the damage to surrounding buildings was painfully evident. I had read about 90 West Street in a book and when I saw this, I gasped in shock.
This day, I sighed with gratitude:
I took that as a sign to move on:
And time for the main event - our friends wedding at Sohi on the 46th floor of the Trump Soho. The views, the venue, the evening was just incredible. Again, no tripod and a rain shower passed by so these aren't the best or clearest shots but I did the best I could.
Next up, Central Park, more city shots and the High Line
NEW YORK CITY - Labor Day Weekend, Part I
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