After raining nearly all day, the sky finally dried up but the sidewalks were still wet. There were people behind me so I couldn’t just stop for a picture. However, I did manage to snap this while still walking.
I like the pops of color, the dark moodiness, all the people and the way the sign reflects in both the sidewalk and the window.
It’s just fun.
Read more reflections on rain here.
When taking a trip, ideally the weather will cooperate and you’ll be able to venture forth freely into the sunshine. Sadly, this is not always the case and sometimes it rains on your parade. Literally. When it happens to you, you are left with a choice. Either make the best of your circumstance or don’t.
It rained off and on one day of our New York visit. Actually, it rained cats and dogs for much of the day. While disappointing, it wasn’t the end of the world. After all, we were in one of the world’s most exciting cities!
We dodged the rain, enjoying cafes and window shopping at Oculus Center, a fancy indoor shopping mall. When we had to go out, we mastered the art of keeping umbrellas upright in the wind.
Plus, wet sidewalks made for interesting pictures!
We don’t always get our way and sometimes have to make do with the circumstances we’re given. It is what it is and there’s no way to change the weather. Best to just grin, bear it and shoot down for those sidewalk reflections!
Iguana is a Mexican restaurant and dance lounge in New York. It was across the street from our hotel one night. I didn’t even know it was there till we were leaving but it looked like my kind of place. Their website boasts lots of vegetarian dishes.
Perhaps another time.
Meanwhile, the sign is amazing.
It was well past my breakfast time and my blood sugar was hovering in a place between “ok” and “getting kind of snippy.” We were en route to Grand Central Station to find breakfast before our Summit One Vanderbilt tour when this little number practically yelled my name.
Isn’t she fun?
She reminds me of the Dancing Hippos in the Disney classic “Fantasia.” She was part of an installation outside Grand Central Terminal through December.
I’m a little sad to think she won’t be there for future visitors to enjoy but that’s the thing about a city that we don’t see so much in our more rural communities – things are always changing.
This larger than life bronze sculpture is the work of Danish artist Bjørn Okholm Skaarup.
When visiting Summit One Vanderbilt, it’s easy to become so distracted by what’s happening inside the building that you forget to look at the view. Fortunately for me, I was hyper focused on this view of the Chrysler Building. It feels so close that you could almost reach out and touch it.
Did you miss the story about this crazy observation deck experience? Mirrors and a glass elevator make it a unique experience. Click here to read about it.
If you visit New York City, one thing you really must do is visit an observation deck and take in the vastness of the city. There are a few to choose from and each offers some kind of unique experience.
Perhaps the most unique among them is Summit One Vanderbilt. It’s the fourth tallest building in the city with a spire at 1,401 feet and the observation deck is just over a thousand feet high, providing an extraordinary view.
However, this attraction includes more than city views. First you stand in a long line through security and to claim booties for your shoes and sunglasses for your eyes. Then they shoot you up to the 90-something floor where you emerge into a strange new world. It’s a an art installation that employs light, air, mirrors, technology and silver beach balls to create an intriguing and sometimes disorienting atmosphere.
The aforementioned booties protect the mirrored floors while the sunglasses protect your eyes and help to tone down the mirror effect. While three walls are windows, the fourth wall, ceiling and floor are all mirrored.
It is wild and makes for some great pictures. In fact, everywhere you go, there are people standing, sitting and even lying on the floor posing for those Instagram worthy shots.
We paid a little extra for some options including an observation deck with a glass floor. It was a bit of a wait to do this so my inner coward that didn’t want to do it in the first place happily said no when my friends didn’t want to wait.
We did take advantage of the other perk – a glass elevator ride up an additional 200 feet. Yup. They tacked a glass elevator to the side of that ginormous building and send you on an excruciatingly slow climb toward the heavens.
I lived.
There are two ways to enter Summit – one from the street and the other from inside Grand Central Station. This is the entrance we chose and I was so glad because it gave us an excuse to grab breakfast, explore a bit and shop the Christmas market. Read about Grand Central Station by clicking here!
Restrooms are a little hard to find in New York but they are available at Summit and there’s one particular ladies room that has an incredible view.
If you’re looking for an art installation with a view, this is an excellent option. If you’re just looking for a view, keep looking. This was a lot of extra time and bling just to see the city from up high.
Still, no regrets. We had a great time and I’m glad we went! Want to visit? Click here to get your tickets and to learn more.