5 Ave/Museum Mile

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Katherine here--Today was a little bit earlier than yesterday and we drove in with Phil instead of taking the train. Phil found a great (and free) parking spot along Central Park. So we walked to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was right along Central Park and not far from the parking spot so we didn't have to travel that far. However, once we got tinto the museum we saw our fair share of walking. Through the multiple stories, there are exhibits with room after room of sculptures, paintings, drawings, and artifacts. Some of the exhibits we went through were the Egyptian, Mideival, Arms and Armory, the American Wing, European, and many more. We spent the most time in the huge Egyptian section looking at actual jewelry, carvings, statues, and even mummies. But throughout the rest of the exhibits we decided that we are all "painting people" as my mom likes to call it. Although we were interested in the artifacts and sculptures, we spent the most time looking at the paintings in each section. After over three hours of the museum (and a quick run through the gift shop) we left to go to the FDNY gift shop. After looking around a while we ventured over to St. Patrick's Cathedral. We walked through and lit some candles before yet again going into the gift shop. Yes St. Pat's has a gift shop. One in the cathedral and one across the street near the back. It is a beautiful cathedral with amazing stautes and architecture. After this we went to Rockefeller Center to show the boys the golden statue. We also stopped at Teuscher Chocolatier to see the lovely shop again and let the boys test out the chocolate. We made plans with Phil to have dinner together so we waited for him in Rockefeller Center while he took the subway to meet us. While we were waiting we had drinks in the Rock Center Cafe right next to the Rink Bar. While we were sitting at the tables outside, it started to sprinkle, but not too badly. When he arrived, we walked down to a restaurant he found on the East Side. We kept a pretty good pace because it was raining the whole time there, giving us motivation to get there faster. It is called Il Vagabondo and was a great little Italian restaurant. It is pretty much a little whole in the wall that you wouldn't even notice if you didn't know it was there. It had great service and even an area for bocce ball upstairs (a traditional Italian game of lawn bowling). Then we walked to the nearest subway station and took it back to the car. After a great day of art, sights, and laughs we got home at 10:30. The earliest we have gotten home from the city all week.

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Photos

The Thinker
One of the many amazing statues in the Met

Monet
An actual painting by Monet himself

St. Pat's
One of the front sections of the cathedral

Rock Center Cafe
Nice and warm with a slight breeze...and some sprikles here and there

Il Vagabondo
Posing after a great meal

Comments

[catsie]

Suspense!!
The suspense of what you will do on Friday increases The suspense of what you will do on Friday increases!! Have you ever taken the kids to Chinatown in S.F.? You got rain, but Phil and I were wondering, on Sunday, if there would be lightening to go with the fireworks!! Guess not. later xo P.S. Mark said he is following the blogs, but doesn't stop to comment.

[Sally]

Hello!
How were the fireworks? Great, I bet. ( You're missing 109 here........ but I'm sure some will be left for you when you get home:-) Sarah put on a good display for us last night. The pictures are fabulous. Love, Sally

[CarolB]

The Met
Hi all, wow I envy you, Grandpa and I spent about an hour in the Met (we were pressed for time), but we loved it. Felt it was a must see when we were there. We did 4 days and only a few hours to see things. I saw more as I had 4 days on my own. We loved it. Great city.