If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere

Thursday in the NYC started early for most of the Anseth crew.  Kari, Katie and Grace cleaned up dressed quickly and head to Good Morning America.  Signs were made and they felt confident soon they would be in millions of homes greeting people as they enjoyed a morning cup of ☕️.  I took a slower pace, relaxing shower,  packed my gear and joined them over by GMA around 7 AM.  The girls had scored VIP bracelets without any regard for the father who slaves away everyday in order to do fun stuff. I was 😭.  The time came and they were escorted into the outdoor patio seating area leaving me behind.  Michael Strahan came out and curled some groceries.  The girls sat patiently with a large group of Packer fans, yuck!!

 

The girls waiting to go national on GMA.

They set the outdoor studio up and Katie was close enough to hold Michael Strahan's hand.  However the camera only had eyes for me.  Yes on 10/20/2016 the world was treat to 20 min of my smiling face over George Stepheninopolis shoulder.  I expect CAA to be calling any day to rep me.

 

Getting the studio going

 

My man Michael Strahan, second favorite Giant behind John Goff.

 

Gracie talking smack to Strahan

 

Mission accomplished.

All this happened before Ashley was out of bed.  We retuned to the room and woke the bear.  At 9:45, we were down in the lobby getting ready for our tour of NYC.  

We went across the street to Juniors.  It's signs says proclaims famous cheesecake.  We stopped at the bakery for croissants and Ashley got a donut.  She literally to one bite and started to complain.  I snatched from her hand and began a lecture on trying new things and not being so picky.  I culminated this by taking a large bite out of the WORST DOUGHNUT I HAVE EVER HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF PLACING IN MY MOUTH.  It was awful is too kind.

Mindy our tour guide met us outside the Marriott and off we went on a walking tour of NYC.  

 

 We passed Radio City Music Hall

 

First stop was 30 Rock.  It was quite beautiful with the flags, sculptures and flowers.  We even ran into some of our Eden Prairie soccer crew.

 

Girls at 30 Rock 

After 30 Rock we stopped at St Patrick's Cathedral.  It was amazing and probably my favorite stop of the day.  The architect who build and designed it did only one church before.  Amazing elements inside and we ran into yet another family from EP.  Kari literally knows someone everywhere in the 🌎. 

 

The front of St Patrick's 

 

The doors at St Patrick's 

 

The cathedral 

 

The organ

 

An alcove with the image of Christ 

 

Catholic girls lighting a candle. Praying for my immortal soul.

Then it was time for metro cards and a little ride on the 🚋.

 

Down to the Subway.  Can't wait for a Buffalo Chicken sandwich 

 

Two expert NYC citizens on their phone riding the 4 downtown

We came out downtown near Fulton Street. This is north and west of the financial district.  We stopped at St Paul's Church on Broadway.  This was George Washington's church.  The pew he sat in was removed as some restoration was taking place.  It is still pretty tripping to think about the fact my family stood in a church where his family stood.

 

The organ at St Paul's

 

The front of St Paul's 

 

Woolworth Building 

 

New York Supreme Court.... Law and Order

 

The girls on the steps of the New York Supreme Court

 

Brooklyn Bridge

There are many amazing photo of this bridge.  This is not one of them.  PT Barnum marched 21 🐘 across it to prove its safety.  The majority of the construction and the 1st person across the bridge was Emily Warren Roebling.  

After the Brooklyn Bridge we head to Chinatown for the best egg roll in Manhattan.  It did not disappoint.  It was so good that an old lady with a bad leg said lunch was worth every painful step as we stood in the street eating our egg rolls.

 

Downstairs, tiny, the walls were covered with dollar bills and NYPD badge sticker.  Any place this popular with th NYPD can't be too bad

 

Ordering Egg Rolls Chinatown style

 

Chinatown shows its colors 

Art house portion:  Chinatown in Black & White

From there we walked to Little Italy. 🇮🇹 .  Little Italy has decreased in size significantly and is now probably not much more then 3 square blocks.  We stopped at a place that has been open for more then 100 year for the "best Canoli" in NYC.

 

Ferrara's in Black and White

 Ferrara's in Color

 

Kari enjoys a mini Canoli 

 

They are delicious 

From Little Italy to SoHo.  Amazing cast iron architecture.  

 

Amazing detail

 

Haughwout Building:  home of the first commercial passenger elevator.  Mary Todd Lincoln bought her White House dishes here.  

From SoHo we travelled north to Washington Square, the unofficial quad for NYU.  Chess games for 💰.  Classic New York, Bobby Fisher in the park.

 

Washington arch

 

Girls by the fountain

 

Kari, Katie and the Washington arch

Empire State Building through the Washington Arch

From there we cut over to Greenwich Village.  The Village was home to artist and musician back in the day.  It still has a pretty cool vibe.

 

Best Falafal in Manhattan, this place has been around since 1971.  Just after this picture the line started to stretch out the door.  Great food 

 

The girls thought this was a better choice 

Thanks, Sheri Neumeyer.

 

Girls in the corner of Cafe Wha.  Bob Dillion use to play here back in the day.  It was owned by David Lee Roth's uncle.

Across the street is the Minetta tavern and restaurant, where Jack Kerouac use to kick it when writing.

From there we took the Subway up to Central Park.  A beautiful autumn day with some beautiful girls 

 

Katie at Strawberry Fields

 

My main squeeze at the fountain.  We still got it.

 

The girls walking underground by the fountain to the mall.

 

On the mall in Central Park

 

The mall in all its glory

 

Gracie's signature move 

 

Down to the 🚋. Our day is done but what about our night???   Stay tuned