Keep Calm And Enjoy New York

The T-shirt in New York City’s LaGuardia Airport gift shop proclaimed the words "Keep Calm and Enjoy New York".

I only wished I saw this shirt on my inbound trip to the “Big Apple” rather than as I was leaving!

No matter what time of year you visit this top tourist destination, you can be both wowed and frustrated. I was both during a recent beautiful early fall visit.

On any given week NYC is a busy and frantic draw. Our visit didn’t stray from that axiom.

Couture Fashion week had wrapped up, but new fall fashions graced the windows and racks of both the chic boutiques and large department stores.

Fashion in NYC is everywhere: in stores, on the streets and even in the city’s museums. Killer Heels: The Art of the High-Heeled Shoe, will remain at the Brooklyn Museum (at 200 Eastern Parkway, Prospect Heights,) Brooklyn through February 15, 2015.

The other city museums have lots of new exhibits and shows, from the Tour de Paris by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec which he captures through a myriad of facets of Paris in his Belle Epoque paintings. This show remains through March 1, 2015 at the Museum of Modern Art, 11 W. 53^rd Street. (212) 708-9400.

Broadway was packed and tickets for the award-winning productions are still hard to come by. Sometimes you can get lucky, like the woman sitting next to us, at a matinee production of the fabulous musical,” Kinky Boots” at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. This newly arrived visitor presented herself at the box office a hour or so before the show and was able to secure a single seat in the front orchestra. We had purchased our tickets several months earlier.

The New York Philharmonic, which performs Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, Columbus Avenue at W. 64^th Street (212) 875-5666, opened in mid-September with the Divine Diva Renee Fleming, America’s beloved soprano.

Another new and very special opening was that of The National September 11 Memorial Museum at the World Trade Center. This museum is not meant to entertain but rather inform, memorialize and bear solemn witness to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993.

The museum accomplishes this goal superbly by honoring the nearly 3,000 victims of the attacks on the twin World Trade Towers that existed prior to September 11, 2001. The museum also recognizes all those first responders and thousands who survived and still others who acted with extraordinary compassion in the aftermath.

The entire complex is filled with so many different exhibits, including  large damaged pieces of the original structures, recorded remembrances of survivors, families of those who perished in the terror and other artifacts that one visit of a half-day or more is not enough time to cover it all.

One visit shouldn’t be anyone’s goal. We need to make recurring visits to continue to remember and pledge “Never again.” You can even add your own voice to the Museum exhibitions by recording were you were on 9/11.

With this extremely close-up view demonstrating the consequences of terrorism on individual American lives and the impact of communities throughout the United States and even other countries the 911 Memorial is very reconfirming.

While we waited in line to enter the Memorial  we enjoyed not only the beautiful fall day (much like it was on 9/11 when the attacks occurred) but also talking with other visitors from Argentina and Australia. The family from Australia accompanied by two teen-age sons on school break, planned their New York City visit with the Memorial high on their list of must see places.

Once inside the building, the Memorial Hall which occupies the space between the footprints of the former North and South Towers of the World Trade Center is the first location that grabs your attention. The box column remnants mark the former locations of the Twin Towers.

In another space I was especially touched by the piece of artwork composed of 2,983 squares, each of a unique shade of blue.  In this piece, by Spencer Finch, he wanted to commemorate the individuals killed in the attacks of both September 11 and also February 26, 1993. By using all the different shades of blue the artwork is titled, “Trying to Remember the Color of the Sky on That September Morning.”

Since the blue sky of the September morning we visited was so brilliant, it was easy for me to visualize the colors of the sky that some victims of the attack experienced as they arrived for work on that fatal morning.

In still another contemplative space, “In Memoriam” permits visitors to learn more personal information about each victim in the recorded remembrances by their family members.

I suggest you do what we did, go online and purchase timed-entry tickets for the day you wish to visit. This enables you to enter the museum without spending a long time in line. There are various admission fees, including one for senior citizens. Automated ticket machines line one side of the museum for those who want to purchase onsite. Ticket purchase instructions are given in several languages. The museum is located at 180 Greenwich Street. You can access info at 911memorial.org.

You can also download the free 9/11 Museum Audio Guide app for iOS and Android phones. Headphones are available at the Information Desk located on the Concourse Lobby level in the museum. The used of cell phones for talking is prohibited in the museum, but mobile devices, including cell phones, used to play audio tours may be used if connected to a headset. Photography (even using a cell phone) is permitted for private, non-commercial use only.

Be sure and check out the 9/11 Memorial Museum Store. I found the merchandise to be of good quality, unique, educational and all net proceeds are dedicated to sustaining the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

Keeping cool in New York City applies to getting around in the city. On the week we visited, besides a very large amount of tourists and other out-of-town visitors, the United Nations was in session. With representatives from 80 countries and nations, along with the heads of state from many of those countries and President Barack Obama in town, traffic which generally is  bad, at many times, came to an absolute stand-still.

Trying to transverse the city streets between 42 and 52 Streets on the Eastside of Manhattan was impossible. So many of those streets were either totally blocked or reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction. “This happens every year when the United Nations come to town,’’ said one long-time New York City resident. “We forget about the visits until you try and get somewhere on time or with less hassle.’’

The police and security presence of not only New York’s finest but also details from other countries were extensive and obvious. Even with seemingly every yellow taxi in the fleet on the streets and the addition of new livery companies such as Uber and Lyft, finding an available cab or car became quite a chore.

Hopping the bus didn’t help, they too were caught in traffic. So traveling by subway became the only means to get around. Needless to say, they too, were extremely busy. Five and half million people commute by subway daily to work. Many commuters, who are able to so, are now turning to bikes for their commute. But these bicycle riders have proven to be very dangerous to pedestrians as well as moving vehicles.

One saving grace, in the subway, was the free operatic performances given by members of the City Opera in the passageways of the subterranean system.  These impromtu performances were a bright spot in our day and seemingly provided a calming effect for subway riders, as many stopped to listen and sing along with the performers.   

For a great above-ground sightseeing experience take the “High Line.” This fairly new project constructed along the old (elevated lines) rail tracks have now been given a wonderful re-purposing of no longer needed space by a non-profit conservancy. The week we visited also saw the opening of the park’s northernmost section of the High Line at the Rail Yards.  This section of the elevated railway runs between West 30^th and West 34^th Streets to the north and south and between 10^th and 13^th Avenues to the east and west.

We found this elevated freight rail line transformed into a public park on Manhattan’s West Side to be a not-to-be-missed attraction, especially under sunny skies. Owned by the City of New York and maintained and operated by Friends of the High Line you can experience this park for free.

Throughout the fall the High Line will offer many free events, including Stargazing, Haunted High Line Halloween and other holiday events. You can also enjoy a meal or a snack from various vendor kiosks while you watch leaves turn russet and gold.

Fall brings a new site-specific sculptural work to the High Line at the Rail Yards by Argentinian artist Adrian Villar Rojas. Fall hours are in place now through December 1 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Seating areas are provided by benches, wood recliners, and step-benches. A roof-covered space is located at the 14^th Street Passage on West 14^th Street. There are various access entrances to the High Line, some with elevators. There are also many children’s activities scheduled after the school day ends or during school vacations.  For more information: www.thehighline.org

A great way to see the sights and sounds of New York City with less hassle and cost would be to purchase New York CityPASS  booklets. These package tickets permit you to skip most ticket lines and get into the most visited city attractions. Priced at $109 for adults and $82 for kids ages 6-17, the pass is good for nine consecutive days. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), along with The Metropolitan Museum of Art , American Museum of  Natural History and the Guggenheim Museum are included.

So too, is the Empire State Building Observatory, Top of the Rock, Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island or a Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise.

CityPASS really pays for itself in saving time and money, 41 % savings for using just 6 attractions. You can get more information at citypass.com or by calling(888)330-5008. The prices stated are good through February 28, 2015.

So keep calm and you will have many great experiences in New York City.

Diane Siskin

dsiskin123@gmail.com