New York Memories

This morning while sitting ensconced in my warm, soft swivel chair, I was reading about a favorite author, Lee Child. He was telling about his career and life while writing his “Reacher” books. In one chapter he tells the readers about his apartment in Manhattan where he did some of his writing. Looking out his window, he could see the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings. He explains how the view tended to be rather non-productive, continually pulling him away from his writing.

    Reading these paragraphs made me think of my own visits to New York City. Looking back I have been there seven times. I have to say that each of the times I was there had been pleasurable and if given the chance, I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

    I’ve always thought of New York as a great place to visit. Figuring out when it became a destination in my mind would be hard to narrow down. I’ve read so many books that use the city as their background and there are countless movies and TV shows that have been based there. Even though most of them were fictional, in my mind they have come to represent the town. I came to feel as if knew the place. I’ve always thought it would be great to explore and a wonderful town to photograph. All those buildings clustered together are extremely artistic, just begging to be photographed. It has an edge to it, it’s a bit risqué. There are some places that could be dangerous, crime isn’t unknown but it also has so much culture and so many sights, so many places that I’d want to see.

    My first visit was just a drive-through. In the late 70’s I had a job to drive some packages from Pittsburgh up to Hyannis Port. I brought my friend Ed along for company and we did some sight-seeing on the way up. One of the places we stopped was in York, PA where we took a tour through the Harley Davidson plant. We sat in their parking lot for an hour waiting so that we could get on the first tour of the day. After being overwhelmed by seeing so many H-D motorcycles, all brand new and un-ridden, we headed towards NYC.

    We had no plans to stop in the city, we only wanted to see if it was as big and exciting as we had heard. We arrived in the afternoon and it was amazing! Traffic was bumper to bumper and most of the cars on the streets seemed to be Yellow Cabs. Horns were honking, people were overflowing off the sidewalks, there was too much to see. We didn’t know which way to look, all the while; I had to watch the road since I was driving. The size of the town was phenomenal; it just kept on going and going.

    I’ve lived my whole life in the outskirts of northern Pittsburgh. I have always thought of Pittsburgh as a BIG city, after all, it is the second largest in the state. I was shocked at how small my city was as compared to New York. I was enamored by the wide streets and sidewalks, the heights of the buildings, the combinations of the old and the new; even the alleys and the trash in the streets grabbed my eye. It was unbelievable and I wanted to go back. It took me a few years before I did.

    When I was married, Barb and I decided on a whim, to take a trip to Washington DC and New York City. We thought we could spend a night or two in both places. Unfortunately we didn’t plan as well as we should have. We figured by using our AAA card and directory we could find a place to stay when we got there. What we didn’t take into consideration was, that these were “tourist towns”, there were no rooms to be had without reservations. After being turned away at a couple places in Washington DC, we went to the AAA office and begged for help. So, while we went sightseeing, the Automobile Club managed to find accommodations for us.

    While in New York, we did what most tourists do, visited all the regular sights. We did the Empire State Building and we sat in on the filming of the TV show, Kate and Allie, starring Jane Curtin. We went to Times Square. We meandered around the town, enjoying everything we saw.

    On this trip I found a wonderful travel bookshop. Located only a block or two from the Empire State Building, it was filled with guides to other cities and countries. In the back room was a wall of Baedeker travel guides. All those red covers with gold lettering, sitting side by side, they looked so classy and aristocratic. 

    The Baedeker Guides were first published in the 1830’s. Their distinctive red covers weren’t produced until the 1850’s. Published in Germany, they were known for their accuracy. The guides not only gave the basic information about the cities, they included history, the transportation, currency, customs and even how to tip. They included detailed maps to help the visitors find their way around the towns. The guides were a nice size, easily stored in a coat or pants pocket. In time, these volumes became time capsules into the past.

    Their red covers were eventually faded out and while the guides are still produced today, their pages and covers are glossy paper, looking much like any other guide.

    It was in this bookshop when I first thought about collecting these books. I could picture a shelf in my house with a collection like this. Sadly, I didn’t have the funds to purchase one of them and the next time I visited the city, the store had gone out of business. I have since collected a small group of Baedeker Guides and have them in a place of honor on my shelves. My collection is rather shabby looking as compared to the nice crisp and clean books I saw in that store!

    A few years later, I took a trip to the city with Tia, Barb’s aunt. She took me to see Phantom of the Opera. We flew into New York and spent some time roaming around and then after dinner, we went to see the play and then returned home. Wow, we stuffed so much into that one day. A favorite memory was the two of us sitting on a wall or bench and Tia commenting on the odd smell coming from some guys sitting near-by. I explained to her that it was marijuana. To this day I can’t imagine that she didn’t know that.

    My daughter Chelsey and I took two trips to New York City, one in 2009 and the other in 2011. During one of the trips we had an unfortunate incident with a pigeon that I will never forget! Some say that having “this” happen to you is good luck but neither of us thought we were very lucky when it happened! We took a walk down to Canal Street so Chelsey could find a “knock-off” purse. We visited a couple storefronts and were escorted behind the displays to see their “goods”. I felt as if I was seeing the underworld of the city.  

    We called the 2011 trip our Diabetes Tour. Chelsey had recently been diagnosed as being a diabetic. So, the two diabetics of the family headed into the city to visit, among other things, The Donut Factory and a macaroon store. Sweets and diabetics are sadly, often drawn together! 

    During the day we compared our sugar readings and were usually with-in a few numbers of each other! We walked a lot that day, visiting tourist spots such as Times Square and the Grand Central Station. We did a couple geocaches and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. We walked through the famous New York Library and we found a weird little store that sold odd things such as medical instruments and old doctor’s charts and displays, things you’d never imagine seeing in a store, let alone want to buy! There might have even been a skull or two in it. You never know what you might find when you’re roaming around this city.

    After Chelsey and Jaime were married, we went to a wedding reception held in Queens. While this wasn’t in Manhattan, it is still a part of New York City. We drove in following Jaime and Chelsey’s car on a rainy evening. It was spectacular driving across the huge bridges and seeing all the views of the city across the water. I didn’t take any pictures of the city; it was a night for celebration, not sightseeing. We spent a wonderful evening with Chelsey and her new relatives, another trip to New York I’ll never forget!

    My last trip was after my grandson Mateo’s second birthday, in 2021. On a Monday morning, Ann Marie and I drove to a parking lot across the river from the city and then took a bus through the tunnels and into town. This visit was recently after the Covid Pandemic and the majority of the people we saw were wearing masks. The streets weren’t as crowded as I remembered, the sidewalks seemed almost empty. The town definitely wasn’t closed but it sure differed from my other trips. This was Ann Marie’s first time in the city so we (I) had lots of things on our to-do list.

    We checked off a few of them, we visited Times Square and took the elevator up to the observation deck on the Empire State Building. We had to stop at the library; it is something we both deemed important. We squeezed in a visit to a book store and had lunch and a beer in an Irish pub. By then the walking was starting to get to us and we took a cab back to the bus station and then left the city behind. I discovered that my tolerance for long distance walking just wasn’t the same as my last visit.

    I know the city has returned to its previous fever pitch and I’d like to be able to experience it at least one more time. If I had the chance, and I still might, I wouldn’t hesitate to go back. Much as I hate to admit it, my days of continuous walking are in my past, maybe I’ll do some research on how Uber works. The idea for a visit is lodged in my head once again; perhaps with some more planning I might be able to do it. I’m going to have to pull a couple of those travel guides off my shelves…

Tia

Mary Kay Breinig was a woman I’ve had the pleasure and the honor of knowing for close to fifty years. Intelligent, funny, and extremely giving, she lived a life of sharing with others. Tia, as we knew her, loved hearing about other people’s achievements and helping them to achieve their dreams. She had numerous degrees; before her retirement, she worked in medical research at Pitt and was an assistant professor. She loved to share knowledge and to hear about people learning! Every so often we come across people that we can't help but admire, Tia was one of these!

    One of her biggest loves was to share the arts with others, especially her nieces and nephews. Museums, ballet, the opera and the symphony, she was a frequent viewer. Culture was so important, she often asked, “Did we bring our manners with us?” Being an accomplished cook, she was forever trying new recipes for the family dinners held at her apartment and house. She was no stranger to new restaurants or chefs that were making the news. She loved to travel and often brought her nieces and nephews along on her trips.

    Tia wasn’t one to voice her displeasure; at least I never heard her complaining. No matter what your interests might be, she was happy that you were being successful in them.

    Mary Kay was the eldest of four sisters. Their family grew and grew, she had 11 nieces and nephews and like most family trees, the limbs kept increasing. She was God-Mother to eight.

    I have two fond memories of this woman, out of so many…I went with her, Barb and Joellen to London, “Across the Pond”.  She never led us anywhere, she allowed us to explore the city as if we were the experts, not her. We visited pubs, all the touristy sites and saw 3 different plays. At one of the theaters, we sat in a small box, just large enough for the four of us, and then enjoyed drinks which were served to us in our seats during intermission. We felt like royalty!  

2 of the playbills that she saved. (She saved them all!)

    We ate in style at a memorable New Years Eve dinner; meeting and sharing the evening with a couple from Canada that was sitting at a table beside ours. The menu was later framed and hung in the house for years. The next day, the first day of 1986, we took a bus tour to Stonehenge. There we walked among the prehistoric stones, seeing a site I had always dreamed of visiting.

    Tia and I took a trip to New York City to see Phantom of the Opera. Flying up in the morning and exploring the city and then after dinner, seeing the play which was still fairly new, in its first few years. Besides the enjoyment of the performance, I’ll always remember sitting on a wall in a small park that afternoon. We stopped to let our feet rest a bit before we continued exploring the city. A couple young men were smoking a joint near-by and after she commented on the smell, I told her what it was. I still have a little trouble imagining that she didn’t know…

    Being avid readers, we had often shared favorite authors and books. How could I not like a woman who enjoys reading?

    She taught us all to keep learning, keep exploring our world. And also to be kind and share yourself and your skills with those you love. She set a wonderful example of how we should live and hopefully we will come close to reaching her high standards!

    On February 24^th, 2023 she passed away, going to join those of the family that have left us before. Tia has left us behind and has gone on to further travels into the world(s) beyond. She spent 86 years on this earth, admired and appreciated on every one of the days that she was with us! We will all miss her deeply!

Driving East to the Son

 

        There was a party we had to attend. A very important party! It was my grandson’s second birthday.

        As is usually the case, Ann Marie and I opted to take rt.22 across the state rather than the turnpike. The day was great for a ride; the windows were open with our arms resting on them. We showed up at their doorstep around 3:30 ready to party!

        The party was fun; there were lots of family members there, many we hadn’t seen in years. Mateo had a blast! The festivities tapered off as Mateo’s bedtime neared. We returned on Sunday morning to visit some more with the family and to play with Mateo’s new toys!

        On Monday AMB and I took a “short” drive to New York City. Ann Marie had never been there and we wanted to just drop in for a short visit to let her to see the how big the town really is. If we were lucky, we’d stop at a couple bookstores in our travels. 

        I always find it fascinating to see the skyline as I near the city. It never ceases to amaze me seeing how big it is! I remember thinking Pittsburgh was a big city. That was before I saw NYC the first time. New York just seems to keep going on and on.

        After a quick jaunt through Times Square our first stop was the New York Public Library. The huge building is often thought of as the main branch, in reality it's a research library not a lending library. We stopped outside to take some pictures of the iconic lions before we entered the building.

        The lions were named Patience and Fortitude by Mayor LaGuardia in the 1930’s, qualities he figured New Yorkers would need to survive the depression. Patience is to the south and Fortitude, pictured here with AMB, is to the north.

        Inside, we viewed murals painted in the halls and enjoyed the beautiful architecture. It is a temple to reading! Sadly, we weren’t able to visit the Rose Reading Room. This is a huge room lined with bookcases with murals painted on the ceiling. There are tables stretching from one end to the other with brass lights on them. Chandeliers hang overhead. The room is huge, 78 feet across and 297 feet long, nearly the length of two city blocks or a football field! It has recently been renovated. It is off limits to everyone but researchers.

        Here is a link to a great time lapse movie of the librarians re-shelving the books after it was renovated. It gives you an idea of how big it is!

Time Lapse: Thousands of Books Get Reshelved Before the Rose Main Reading Room Reopens - YouTube

        Our next stop was a visit to the observation deck on the Empire State Building. This whole building is a monument to commercialism. Everything is very pricey! At the top we enjoyed the views, we picked out a few landmarks and were amazed by the size of this city.

        Going back down to street level we were led through the HUGE Empire State Building Gift Shop. (Did I mention commercialism?)

        Back on the street we looked for a place to eat our lunch. We found a nice Irish pub. Dark inside with good food and cold beer, it was just what we needed to cool down and rest a bit. We took a cab while we were in the city. (It was AMB’s first cab ride!)  We only visited one bookstore and it was part of a chain, nothing to write home about! 

         We made it back to the hotel in time to visit with the family again, to wish Mateo a Happy Birthday and to eat dinner with them. When Mateo headed to bed, we did likewise, it had been a long day and the next day we were heading back to Pittsburgh.

        Since our trip to the Big Apple didn’t include any good bookstores, we figured we would try again on the way home. We stopped in Bethlehem PA, where we planned on visiting the oldest operating bookstore in America. Opened in 1745, it has been selling books for two hundred and seventy six years! 

        Bethlehem was hosting a week long music festival, roads were blocked off and food carts lined the streets. We found an open parking meter and tossed an hour’s worth of coins in it. We got some coffee and freshly made bagels at a corner deli and sat outside enjoying the views.  

        Walking down the block we came to the “old” bookstore. It wasn’t what we had expected. It looked like any other college bookstore. It had a large gift shop where students could get textbooks, coffee mugs and other necessities with the Moravian College name imprinted on them. To get to the bookstore we walked through a Christmas shop filled with glittery ornaments and Moravian stars.

        Once we got into the bookshop, it looked like a Barnes and Noble store. (B&N is now running the operations.) There were clean polished floors, a wheelchair ramp on one side, tables spread nicely with new books displayed on them. It looked very modern, nothing like the old bookshop we were expecting.

        We were thinking it would be a small, dark, dusty store. Shelves would reach up to the ceiling filled with a variety of older books, some there for decades. The shelves would be placed to create passageways and little dead ends, places you could get lost in. The bookseller would be an older person, not a young girl with a computer ID tag around her neck, standing in front of a large computer screen. Walking to the front of the store I saw my image projected on a large screen from one of their security cameras. NO, it wasn’t what we had envisioned! I didn’t see one old book! We bought nothing and returned to the car.

        Our last chance at getting a bookstore experience was in Harrisburg. We took a break for lunch at the near-by Fort Hunter Park, sitting under a small tree in Adirondack chairs overlooking the Susquehanna River. After we ate we drove into town to the Midtown Scholar, a huge bookstore selling new and used books. I have found many books while rummaging through their countless stacks. I had once asked where I could find some books on iron furnaces and the staff member told me that he would show me the way. “It’s easy to get lost here!”

        Parking around back in their parking lot, we walked to the front of the store only to find out that it was closed. Carts filled with books that usually sit outside were gathered inside the doors. They have instituted new hours and are now only open Thursday through Sunday. Since it was Tuesday…we were out of luck.

        Returning to the road, we drove through a couple extremely powerful storms. We could see the storms ahead of us, dark clouds blotting out any details behind them. When we drove into the storms, cars slowed to a crawl, everyone had their flashers on and cars and trucks were pulled over to the sides, riding out the deluge. The windshield wipers couldn't keep up, lightning and thunder added to the mayhem. Coming out the far side, we were treated to sunshine on the mountains. The wet leaves looked vibrant and healthy with small clouds of mist clinging to their tops. The trees looked like a carpet covering the steep hillsides with no buildings or roads marring their surfaces. It was truly a beautiful sight!

        It was a great trip but sadly bookstores weren’t a part of it. We had fun, we enjoyed the travel and the exploring! Another good thing about it was, it was the start to my retirement! 

        The thing I enjoyed most though, was playing with my grandson, watching him play with his toys and better yet, listening to him read his books to me! He showed me the different pages and told me what was on them. I know he is my grandson and I may not be objective about it, but he sure is smart! His parents are raising him well. He is a very lucky boy! Seeing them and their son was definitely the best part of the whole trip!