Yesterday morning we both slept in after the night before's shenanigans. When I finally got my ass prepared, I went straight into midtown and left Ros behind to do my washing! I grabbed a breakfast of fruit salad and juice because I was still full from the previous evening.
My first destination was the photography institute, I figured that there would be an exhibition that I could see. Now if anyone knows about my trip to Japan last year, you would know that I had earmarked a couple of photography places to checkout, but everyone one I went to was closed on the day I was there. So I find the place in NY, only to see that they were installing a new exhibition so the place was shut except for the shop. Unbelievable! It reopens on the 9th, just after I leave.
My next port of call was the Morgan Pierpont library - the famous banker collected treasures, mostly books, and his residence is now a museum. I went straight to his library when I got there. If any of you ever have the opportunity to come to New York, you simply must have this on your list of things to do. But then I am a lover of books, and I place a lot of value on them. More than art. The library, besides being fabulously ornate was wall to wall books (lower half wall only), then there was a hidden room behind a secure door, something like a massive safe where the more valuable books had been stored. This room had a ladder in it as the book shelves went up to the ceiling.
On display behind glass, were books such as the Gutenberg bible (the man owned three of them); drafts of the constitution to end slavery; and the collection had also been updated to include letters to/from people like Matisse, Pollock, Voltaire and even a letter from JD Salinger to one of his children.
I checked the museum's store to see whether they had a book for sale that showcased the collection, but it is out of print as they are updating it. I will have to seek this out online in future.
From there I headed back to Times Square to meet up with Ros again. When I got there I had time for a quick lunch. I ventured into "chop't", a salad bar. One can either choose from the menu or make your own. You select the type of lettuce, other ingredients, dressing, and they chop it all up in front of you. It was a great salad!
I met Ros and told her she could not leave New York without seeing the Morgan library. Whilst she did that, I went and purchased tickets for the Jersey Boys. Then I headed towards another library I had read about back in Oz, apparently it is another must-see - The University Club Library. It is located on 5th ave so I trek all the way back there only to find that only members or guests can enter! However the building itself was certainly a fine piece of architecture.
Because I was on 5th I decided I may as well head further up and go to the famous toy store with the big piano. You can take one home yourself for a mere $200,000! The staff there have the best jobs as they just show kids the toys, there was one grown up kid just on a skateboard going up and down the aisles.
I was due to meet up with Ros again at 5.30pm but I literally couldn't take another step, so I rested on the seats in front of the gorgeous Plaza hotel and Pullitzer fountain and then caught the train back to Times Square on a line I hadn't used before.
We went back to the hotel and rested for a bit before heading out to see the Jersey Boys. Another amazing theatre production! When that finished we grabbed a quick slice of pizza and headed back to our hotel for a well earned rest!
Waiting for the train to come, there was a busker singing and playing guitar.
Anyone who has been in any subway at any day, time or season would know that it is the equivalent of stepping into a sauna. So I figured this guy had already earned a dollar just for being there. I watched a few people drop him some cash and then I did. He STOPPED playing, much to my embarrassment, and called Ros over and asked whether he could please keep me. Whilst I am a sucker for the odd musician, Ros thought it best that she keep me because I am her navigator and she would be lost without me..... Aaawwwww, it's nice to be wanted by many....
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Location:Broadway,New York,United States
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