I have become such a New Yorker

[puppetmaker]

When I was a child, we use to come through New York on occasion to visits friends of my parents. I can remember various landmarks in the Central Park and a couple of other places in the city. I remember being shown around the city and thinking it was a pretty cool place to be.

Now I am living up here on Long Island. I go into the city at will and wander around. Sometimes I pass a place and I recognize it as somewhere I went as a kid. And I have discovered new places to explore and wonder through out the city.

Yesterday I was the guide to a couple of old friends. I have known Mike for almost 30 years now. We met at Fantasy Fair oh so many years ago. I met his wife Janet through him. Both are people I call good friends. I feel comfortable around them and we talk about everything under the sun including our kids. Over the years we have been catching up at DragonCon on the fly. Through the wonders of blogging, I have been able to keep up with their lives a little more as they have with mine.

We went out to lunch and then I took them to the New York Public Library just off of Bryant Park. I enjoyed show them the building and what was contained with in. I hadn't seen the renovations to the Reading Room but it looks great. It smells like books all through the building. We also saw Winnie the Pooh and Friends on display in the children's corner. They fell in love with it as much as I have.

I then took them up town to the Disney Store which will be going away in 2010 once the lease is up. I showed them the mobile that John Henson created for the HA! brownstone. It's only a third of it but it still represents the whole structure. We admired the collectables and geeked over the Star Wars stuff.

We then ambled up to FAO Schwartz and I showed them the Muppet Workshop and we wandered the rest of the store looking at the various boutiques. I hope that Toys R' Us doesn't change it much. It was very busy the day we were there.

We parted ways as I needed to get back because of bowling. But I had a lovely time and I am glad that I went.

I am grateful for good friends and a fun city to explore.

Comments

[millysdaughter.livejournal.com]

Is that the library branch that shows up in old movies with the stone lions?

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

That's the one. The lions are still there.

[hazelwitch.livejournal.com]

The lions and I are BFF. :)

The entire library is amazing. I hated to leave, but the plane probably wouldn't have waited on me, I think.

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

I love the NY public library!

[papillon-enrage.livejournal.com]

We had so much fun! And at the rate we're going this year, I think we're absolutely making it up to the city at least one more time. Will the world implode if we see each other more than once per annum?

[wherdafux-d-cat.livejournal.com]

It smells like books all through the building.

Definitely one of my top five smells, maybe top three. Regular (i.e. new) bookstores don't have it. It belongs to libraries and used bookstores and I love it.

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the ideas of what to see the next time I visit my friend in NYC!

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Make sure that you see the Library. It is a temple to books. The mosaics are breath taking and the wood working is of a time that is not done anymore. Make sure you look up since there are hidden treasures in the ceiling.

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

Actually, we did visit the Library back in December, but we didn't check out the Children's Corner to see the Winnie the Pooh display. You're right; it's a beautiful place. My friend lives not far from it.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

I don't think the Winnie the Pooh display was in place until February this year but I could be mistaken. Easiest way to get to it is come in the entrance that is next to Bryant Park since it is right there.

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

I don't know when we'll visit my friend again, but we'll keep that in mind.