Events of Monday, November 22, 2010

          Day 150 - Caitlin wants me to remark on this milestone, but as we will be on this journey for over 390 days, it seems rather trivial, but I mentioned it so she will be appeased.

          Quick – what do you think of when you think of Christmas in New York City? I bet the Radio City Rockettes and ice skating at Rockefeller Center came to mind. That is always the association I have had. So I was excited as this was the day in NYC that I had been waiting for: a lunch time skate at Rockefeller Plaza followed by a matinee performance of “Radio City Christmas Spectacular: The Rockettes”.

          We have refined our morning routine in New Jersey to near perfection. So we were ready for our New York bound bus when it pulled up at 8:19am. The journey seems so much shorter than it did a week ago when we first ventured into the city. Now it is old hat. Arriving at the Port Authority Terminal we first headed to the Visitor Center at Times Square. Our Wednesday’s plans include a visit to the Lincoln Center and Jim needed the phone number to check about a tour. While he investigated that option, the rest of us took the mini self-guided tour through the visitor center and learned all there was to know about Times Square.

          Next we headed to Radio City Music Hall to purchase our tickets. Using a coupon and taking advantage of non-peak shows, Jim was able to get us excellent seats in the rear of the orchestra level. Then it was off to Rockefeller Center. The Christmas decorations are beginning to go up all over the city and several are even illuminated. Last week, we saw the Christmas windows at Lord and Taylor and read that the Macy windows would be unveiled November 18th, so we will need to return to view those.

          Rockefeller Center is also getting ready for Christmas. However, we were disappointed to see the tree enveloped in scaffolding. We knew it wouldn’t be lit until after Thanksgiving, but we were hoping to see it standing there decorated but dark. But it was not to be. Our second disappointment was in the size of the ice rink. We had been told it was behind the building, but it is also below the street and so tiny. I don’t know how they make it look so expansive on TV, probably camera tricks and angles. We descended the stairs leading to the rink to investigate. The Rockefeller website had listed a $5 lunch time skating session so we were eager to participate, only to be disappointed again. The cashier informed me that the lunch time skate is suspended during the holiday season until January 2nd and then said something about adults costing $19, plus $9 skate rental and that all the kids except Abby would pay the adult price. Sadly I led the kids out. I know everything in New York is expensive, but I just couldn’t justify spending $28 each for skating on a tiny rink in front of a covered tree. My fantasy was shot to bits.

          Then one of the kids remembered that we had seen an ice rink at Central Park. "The Bishop’s Wife" is another of our family’s holiday movie favorites. In that movie, the angel Gabriel (Cary Grant) takes the Bishop’s wife (Loretta Young) for a spin on the ice in Central Park. Perhaps we could enjoy the ice there. So off we headed, toward Central Park. We walked up 5th Ave and admired the many store fronts and shops of expensive clothes and jewelry, all decorated for the holidays. Arriving at the ice rink we were disappointed again. Although it was less expensive, the incidentals quickly added up to make it as expensive as Rockefeller Center. There was a $5 spectator’s fee, a rule about no backpacks stored near the ice or allowed on the ice, and a $6 storage charge per backpack. Yet, I had to admire our kids’ flexibility. Yes, they were a little disappointed not to be able to ice skate, but all would be well if we could buy some New York pretzels. So that is what we did. They were hot and delicious!

          Having some time to kill before our Rockette matinee, we meandered back toward the Rockefeller Center. We stopped in the Apple store and enjoyed playing with iPods and iPhones and riding up and down in the round glass elevator. Then we stepped into the lobby of Trump Tower, just to see it and then it was on to lunch at Rockefeller Center. We had lunch on a circular bench right on the Plaza. While that wasn’t great for family discussion, it was an excellent place for people watching. As we ate we noticed a Lego store nearby. In the window and in the displays inside were replicas of many of the sculptures and insignia of the Rockefeller Center made out of Legos. They even had the Rockefeller Plaza complete with its many flags, ice rink, and holiday decorations, all in miniature and all out of Legos. Then we went inside the Rockefeller Tower to view the Swarovski Crystal chandelier. “Joie” is a beautiful 35-foot waterfall chandelier of pure timeless elegance. Made of 450 free hanging strands and 15,000 crystals it echoes the upside down outline of the building that is the heart of Rockefeller Center. Unabashed, Lindsey laid down on the floor to get the ultimate picture shooting up this crystal chandelier. Then we wanted a family shot, so I said, “Everyone, heads in.” In response, Jim and Caitlin brought their heads in rather quickly and knocked noggins. I’m not sure what sort of pictures Lindsey got, but we were all laughing at the absurdity of the moment. On our way out we passed by a replica of the Swarosvski star for the top of the Rockefeller Tree. It took 15 engineers, lighting technicians and craftsmen from three different countries to develop this special star.  

          Now it was time for the highlight of the day: The “Radio City Christmas Spectacular: The Rockettes”! No disappointments here. It was truly spectacular. My children have been lamenting the Christmas traditions that they will be missing due to our trip: singing the Messiah, seeing the Nutcracker ballet, visiting Bethlehem A.D., a living nativity. All of these were part of the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City. The entertainment started fifteen minutes before show time with dueling pipe organs playing a variety of holiday favorites. The music was fantastic. Next, the orchestra played the Overture while their “pit” was raised to stage level. The Rockettes started off as Santa’s reindeer with lit antlers. Next was some 3-D animation complete with 3-D glasses to ride along with Santa as he flew into New York City. Scene 3 was the Rockettes tap dancing their way through “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. The footwork and synchronicity was amazing. The Nutcracker was performed next, a condensed version with life-size teddy bears as the primary dancers. Then the Rockettes let loose with several numbers highlighting their high kicking, dancing talent. After a brief black and white newsreel type movie, highlighting the history of the Rockettes since their 1932 debut, it was time for the living nativity. This portion of the show was truly spectacular. While Scripture was read the scene unfolded. Humbly dressed shepherds, live sheep, elaborately dressed kings and their processionals, including live camels and donkeys filled the stage. The Hallelujah chorus from Handel’s "Messiah" was sung as a backdrop to the reverent pageantry of this beautiful story of the first Christmas. The show ended with a rousing rendition of “Joy to the World”. All my hopes for this experience were fulfilled; it was in a word, fantastic.

           Here I pause for a side note on the inequities of life. At my request we arrived at Radio City Music Hall a bit early. I wanted a chance to use the restroom and was glad we did. There was no line when we arrived, but by the time we emerged the line went out the door, around the statue, across the lower lobby to the bottom of the stairs. When Jim and Ben returned from their foray, they reported on the great unfairness of life. Three men had 24 holes at their disposal while the line for the ladies room now stretched halfway up the stairs‼

          Leaving Radio City Music Hall we headed for the bus terminal and “home” to New Jersey. We arrived in time to have a timely dinner of leftovers. The kids raced through dinner clean up, showers and getting ready for tomorrow so we would have time to finish the movie, “Enchanted”. We finished the movie with time to spare so we watched the bonus features, especially enjoying how the grand musical scene in Central Park came together. With thoughts of “happily ever after” ringing in their heads, the kids headed for bed, on time, to rest up for our next day of adventure in New York City.