Wall Street Bull




View of Times Square from open top double-decker bus.




Top of Empire State Building

 It's that time of year in New York to turn back the clocks one hour as it adjusts to daylight savings time.  As the New York City Marathon got underway today, the Fab 5 and I started out on our Lower Manhattan and Downtown Tour.  We went shopping in Chelsea at the Chelsea Marketplace and bought those yummy brownies from Fat Witch Bakery.  We went through Soho, Greenwich Village, Tribeca, Meatpacking Industry, China Town and had lunch at an Italian Restaurant at, where else, Little Italy.

After lunch, we went to South Street Seaport and the Financial District.  We were only allowed to walk part of Wall Street because most of it was blocked off due to filming of the new Batman saga, which stars Christian Bale.  But, we were able to see the New York Stock Exchange building and took picture with the Wall Street Bull.

Then, in the evening we took a Night Tour on the top of a double decker bus through Lower Manhattan, over the Brooklyn Bridge and back to Times Square.  The girls were all bundled up.  I'm so lucky I have fur!



Keoki

 Today was nice and sunny, but very cold at 48 degrees.  The Fab Five walked enough miles put together to finish the New York Marathon.



Flags that mark the "Marathon Route".  (Can't see it but that's what the flag says.)

 Speaking of the NY Marathon, it's this weekend!  In fact we witnessed a pre-marathon today.  We needed to cross the street the runners were on.  You know that game Frogger?  It was so hilarious seeing five ladies trying to cross a sea of runners.  It's like they were in a live video game.


Frogger

 Oh, did I mention that Justin Bieber is in town?  He was taping on the Today show at the NBC Studios at Rockefeller Center.  Did I mention our hotel is across Rockefeller Center?  The famous skating rink is all lit up for the holidays.  Speaking of our hotel room, the ladies are in a 2 bedroom, 2 bath suite.  Every night is like a pajama party for the ladies.  They are so loud and crazy.  I never get a word in edgewise, so I sit in silence with a smile on my face updating this blog.  And they call me an animal?  They should be locked up in a cage.  Is there a cage that fits five?

The Fab Five and I toured upper Manhattan riding on the top open deck of a tour bus.  They were freezing their butts!  We saw the Lincoln Center, Grant's Tomb, Apollo Theater, Juliard School of Performing Arts, Columbia University, Metropolitan Opera House (the place where Cher went on a date with Nicolas Cage in Moonstruck), the projects at Harlem, the apartments of Lady Gaga, Madonna, Yoko Ono, Jerry Seinfeld, Jackie Onasis, Billy Crystal, Mike Douglas and Katherine Zeta-Jones.  We saw the Trump International where Donald Trump, Janet Jackson and Tony Bennett lives.

We took a walking tour of Central Park and saw various places where movies were filmed on location, such as the ice skating rink on Serendipity and Step Mom.  Literary Walk where Jennifer Lopez sat in Maid in Manhattan.  Bow Bridge was used in Enchanted, Kramer vs Kramer, episodes of Glee and many more.  We also walked past Strawberry Fields, which is a quiet area named in honor of John Lennon.


The beautiful color of the leaves in the fall at Central Park





Literary Walk in Central Park



Then we went to Serendipity to eat their famous chocolate dessert that John Cusack and Kate Bekinsale ate in the movie Serendipity.  Unfortunately, it was a two-hour wait.  Guess all the tourist had the same idea.  We'll have to try again on a weekday.  Dylan's Candy Bar (owned by Ralph Lauren's daughter was just as packed).  We went to Bloomingdale's and walked through the men's department that was in Serendipity.  Harley Davidson and the Apple Store were the last stop before heading off to dinner at Junior's Restaurant, which is famous for their New York cheesecake.



The famous cube at the Apple Store.



Famous New York chocolate mouse cheesecake from Junior's Restaurant. 





Lady Liberty is so beautiful at 125 years old.

 It was a historical, emotional filled day with special memories for Keoki and the Fab Five.  It started out with an adventurous trek from Manhattan to Battery Park on New York's famous subway (Red line #1).  We freezed our butts on the ferries to Staten Island, Liberty Island and Ellis Island.

Unfortunately, the interior of the Statue of Liberty was closed for renovations, so we could not climb the stairs to the crown or visit the museum, so we could only roam the outskirts of her pedestal.  Lady Liberty is looking good at 125 years old!  We felt in awe in her presence.  We looked up at her and just couldn't believe we were standing before her.  We stood in silence together and savored the moment.  It was 45 degrees with 25 mph winds.  BRRRRR!!!!  But, we didn't want to leave her.

Then, it was off to Ellis Island where more than 12 million immigrants first entered America between 1892-1924.  It was especially moving to be standing in the same place that Delphine's father actually stood as a 16ish-year-old.  For us, and especially for Delphine, to be standing within the walls that he actually walked through filled with hopes and dreams was so touching.  We felt a sense of greater appreciation for what previous generations had to endure for us to be where we are today.

Then, it was off to the newly opened 9/11 Memorial (http://www.911memorial.org/about-memorial).  It was poignant as we stood within the very presence of where the famous Twin Towers once stood and gazing upon the reflecting pools.  It was heartbreaking to see many engraved names of mothers along with "Unborn Child" next to their names.  We saw the  engraved names of Hawaii-girl Heather Ho and the husband of a Leilehua High grad.

The evening was spent at Times Square again.  Now, we're hanging out in the room and the ladies are talking story and laughing so loud.  I hope the guests don't complain...

More to come...



Riding the ferry to Staten Island.



We are having the best time of our lives.  The ladies are so crazy fun!!  They take me everywhere.  On our first day that we arrived (yesterday), we walked and shopped at Times Square and sat on those famous bleachers in the middle of Times Square (it was featured in one of the scenes on Glee).  We sat in the same spot that the cast sat on with the Wicked and Jersey Boys billboard in the background. We ate lunch at Carnegie Deli and had the best reuben and pastrami sandwiches we ever had.  The matzoh balls were awesome!  The ladies were having multiple foodgasms.  OMG!!  The corned beef melts in your mouth.  We capped off the day with dinner at Applebee's.

Today was a very exciting day.  The NBC Studios Tour was fascinating.  We sat in studio 8H, which is the actual set where Saturday Night Live is broadcast.  We witnessed the actual filming of the Today show.  Julie Andrews was the guest.

We went to the "Top of the Rock" at Rockefeller Center where you get a 360 degree view of NYC from the 67th, 69th and 70th floors.

We visited St. Patrick's Cathedral where John F. Kennedy, Jr. was married.  We strolled on famous 5th Avenue and went to the Apple Store, which is open 24 hours and was filled with wall-to-wall people.  We went to the famous toy store, FAO Schwarz and took pictures at the famous big piano made famous by Tom Hanks in the movie Big.




The Big Piano at FAO Shcwarz

 

We visited the Trump Tower where Donald Trump says "You're Fired" on his T.V. show, The Apprentice.  We had Italian for dinner at Azalea Restaurant before heading to the Gershwin Theater to watch the Broadway musical, Wicked. 





Dinner at Azalea Restaurant

 Wicked is the best show to watch with friends because it is about friendship.  It is a different perspective on the story of the Wizard of Oz.  "So much happened before Dorothy 'dropped' in."  After the finale, we were on our feet teary-eyed and cheering.



Waiting for the start of Wicked at the Gershwin Theater. 



More to come....

The eagle has landed!  After 13 hours of travel time, New York City here we are.  Whew!!



Listening to my iPod.



"Please ensure that your seat belts are securely fastened."



Watching "Mr. Popper's Penguins".



To be continued....



Ready for the Big Apple!

TODAY IS THE BIG DAY!!  SO EXCITING!!  After a whole year of planning, ready or not....here we come!!

Here's a song on my iPod to get us in the right state of mind while on the plane:

Alicia Keys Empire State of Mind (Part II) AOL Sessions

State Farm-Empire State of Mind (Part II) 9/11 Tribute

To be continued.....Next entry will be when we are in New York City--the concrete jungle (barring any technical difficulties with the laptop).

BOO!!  Trick or Treat!

  Just one more day before our big adventure to the big apple!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!



Check out my new outfit Flo made for me.  I'm ready for the New York weather!

7 more days until our big NYC adventure!  I am so happy, excited and grateful that this trip is possible for these ladies who have been best friends since high school....some since elementary and intermediate school.  With everyone so busy building a life, it's been challenging at times just for them to get together for dinner--let alone a trip.  And now at age 50, they are in a stage in their lives where a trip together is now possible.  Think about it....everything personally, profesionally, financially, as well as their health and well-being needed to be in sync with each other for this trip together to be possible.  The stars are truly aligned for them now.  And get this....they didn't even realize until after they made reservations that numerically, their departure date is 11/1/11 and their return date is 11/11/11.  How auspicious is that?!  That's gotta be a sign from the heavens.  It gives me goose bumps under my fur just thinking about it.  After all these years, it is now the right time at the right place with the right people with the right feeling.

 

Wil, the baby,
 finally turned 50,
 so the ladies
 celebrated with a group
 50th birthday cake....



......and they let me blow out the candles!



 

 To be continued...

  

Keoki

Frenz

 










14 Days!


That's how many more days until the start of five lifelong friends' big New York City adventure on November 1, 2011 to celebrate their turning the big 5-O.  And, they're taking me, Keoki, along!

It all began a year ago when they decided they wanted (needed) to go somewhere special to commemorate this milestone.  So, over food and drinks at Dave & Busters they each chose three places by secret ballot.  The unanimous place that they all chose was, you guessed it, New York!   

And so the meetings and planning began.  Imagine five women experiencing "the city that never sleeps"....together....for the first time....all on their own.  No husbands, no boyfriends, no kids, no tour group.  And, lucky me, I get to tag along.  What an adventure it promises to be!

Their very first meeting was dinner at Tsukiji's.  Then, they realized they needed to save money, so their subsequent monthly get-togethers to plan their itinerary were at Flo's over food, drinks, love, laughter and fun.  They sure love that moscato.  Whew!  It's a wonder they got anything done.

To be continued....

50th birthday present from Rob--bracelet from Tiffany's.

Coming soon!  Under construction.