Santa Claus takes flight in Charlotte Douglas airport before we departed for EWR
Savannah is returning to her birthplace!
Maddy took this great picture - that''s the Big Winter Storm under those beautiful clouds. We are flying over Washington DC - they closed the airport there for 18 hours! Wonder if we'll get any snow in NYC?
Maddy is the iPhone Game Girl
On the move in Newark Airport to new york.
Waiting on our checked bag so we can get on a train and head to the big city!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lunch was pizza at a great little italian place on 3rd avenue
Yes, Madison CAN wolf down TWO pieces of NYC pizza.
On the Subway headed to Times Square!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here comes the 7 Train
By now it's snowing fairly steadily
They closed off some of the main streets in Times Square to handle the crush of pedestrians. It was a zoo@\!
Living in the Lights
Times Square looking North
Ron just before he got in the TKTS line to score some half price tickets for Mary Poppins
It's a tradition to ride the Ferris Wheel in Toys R Us!
Looking very stylish in the Barbie Car!
"You will never make it!"
Maddy loves the view
Yikes! Riding in a pink Barbie car with Pink presents!
The place was a madhouse, filled with shoppers
Maddy did some schooling on the Wii
Time to eat again! Pre-Theater meal at Applebees on 42nd
No, not a glass of wine. Just water that cost almost as much!
Three Lady Libertys
Mary Poppins is playing in the New Amsterdam theater. When we entered the theater at 730p the snow was picking up intensity
Great musical about life on 17 Cherry Tree Lane
The New Amsterdam is one of the oldest two Broadway theaters, built in 1903. It was renovated by Disney and is a true jewel. We had great seats on the sixth row in the Mezzanine
My lovely ladies before the show began
Maddy catching a few winks at intermission. It's tiring work seeing the Big Apple at Christmas time!
Back underground headed home
Grand Central subway station. Off the 7 and on the 6
When we hit street level we faced a blizzard! Block and a half to the Kimberly, the snow was really coming down
Armed and ready. This girl has an deadly delivery
Squaring off
View from our suite on the 14th floor, it's around 1130p and the snow is steady
Maddy on the balcony
she is getting really cold!!!!!
Yep - BIG flakes coming down
Skyline view across 50th street
Maddy starts Sunday morning off with a few edits on her website
Our view from the 14th floor shows traffic is moving (slowly) and shopkeepers already clearing the 11 inches off show off the sidewalks
Overnight the Big Apple has indeed become a Winter Wonderland
Maddy and Savannah are bundled up and ready to go
First, breakfast (ok, it was late enough to be brunch) at the New York Luncheonette. It's right beside the Kimberly and one of our favorite eating places in NYC
What goes with bacon and eggs and pancakes? Why hot chocolate, of course!
Maddy checks in by cell phone with her Dad back in Charlotte
The ladies are huddling together for warmth early
The 11 inch fall means drifts and plowed areas a little deeper!
Christmas in NYC is a time of tradition. One of our favorites is the carriage ride through Central Park. It's especially wonderful just after a big snowstorm!
Otis was our steed
Grammie and Maddy find the warm blanket helps!
Beautiful views of the snow in Central Park from the carriage
The Chess and Checkers House, featured in "Searching for Bobby Fischer"
Enjoying a family tradition
In the lobby of the Plaza Hotel
Plaza Hotel tree
Madison takes the stage at Eloise's
Shopping in the Plaza is elegant and beautiful
Those are BIG candy canes!
Madison enjoys the Disney Christmas Magic
Back out on the streets, making our way through the snow at every turn
Sidewalks are a little clearer today, but it's COLD!
This accumulation on some 51st street trashcans shows how deep the snow was
We stepped into St Patricks
Madison is lighting candles
A classic cathedral
Trees in the median of Park Avenue, in front of the St Bart's
In the lobby of the Kimberly
Dynamic Duos was the theme in the windows at Saks
Can't make the Christmas trip to NYC without a stop at American Girl Place
Savannah needed a new do, Kaisha was a great stylist
Always plenty to shop for at AG
On the way back to the Kimberly, Granddaddy gets to carry the AGP purchases AND give Savannah a warm ride home
Lights on the Waldorf-Astoria
Suppertime in the New York Luncheonette Yep, we ate brunch there earlier. We love the place.
Hot chocolate with milk and whipped cream tastes good when it's a cold 25 degrees outside
Savannah sporting her new do and sharing Madison's hot chocolate
Gotta save room for dessert when it's Apple Pie a la Mode
Those beautiful eyes
Back onto the subway for a late night shopping trip to Macy's
Here we are - Miracle on 34th Street
Macy's will always mean Christmas in NYC
Macy's wants you to just "Believe"
Those escalators are OLD
So old they are made of WOOD
Madison writes one more letter to Santa
Santa Mail - direct delivery
Trying on a cool, I mean warm, hat
The outside windows at Macy's are a source of wonder
This window has letters to Santa spinning around
Maddy composed one MORE letter to Santa - on an electronic touch screen in this Macy's window. It's a high tech world out there
Home again, home again
Monday dawned clear and cold, streets and sidewalks somewhat clearer
Breakfast platter back at the New York Luncheonette
Grammie opted for oatmeal and strawberries
Headed out from the Kimberly, Madison handles driving the elevator
After catching the 6 up Lexington Avenue, we walk the three blocks over to Central Park
Beautiful view of The Pond in Central Park from 59th Street (Central Park South)
Maddy really enjoyed the snow in the park.
We scrambled to the top of several hills
Ron and Madison on another summit, the fun part was coming down!
Madison and Grammie skated at the Wollman Rink in Central Park. Maddy started wearing her red coat
It was a beautiful day to skate in the shadow of the midtown skyscrapers, on the same rink that starred in Love Story and Serendipity
Can you spot the pink skating outfit? The red coat was given to Granddaddy after a few warmup laps
There she is!
She was the only skater on the rink without a coat!
Two lovely skating ladies
Grammie took a few laps around the rink by herself just before we left
Ron and Madison
Wonder if that's the Donald driving the Zamboni?
Walking along East Drive, still in Central Park
We took a side trip by The Pond
That water not only LOOKS cold, it IS cold!
Several blocks east of Central Park, Serendipity 3 on 60th was supposed to have scrumptious Frozen Hot Chocolate. Unfortunately, there was a two hour wait and the next available reservation was in January, so we had to pass on the experience
While looking for the Serendipity, we found Dylan's Candy Shop
Candy, candy, everywhere
Now that is a big chocolate bunny!
Back to the Kimberly, change clothes and get Savannah so we can head to the Christmas Show
From the moment you walk into Radio City Music Hall you can't help but be in the Christmas Spirit
Madison and a real live Rockette - Two very lovely ladies
Granddaddy even got to pose with the Rockette - with Grammie's permission!
Radio City Music Hall is simply majestic, it bespeaks Christmas from the top of the ceiling on down
Madison with her 3D glasses
It looks like Savannah is peeking
These picures don't do it justice - the opening number featured the fabulous orchestra
Christmas in New York and the Rockettes - that says it all
The famous Toy Soldier Cannon scene
It's the Toy Factory with the Rockettes as Rag Dolls
They've changed the way the Nativity is presented, it's now even more dramatic and colorful
The Nativity still honors the birth of Jesus Christ
After ths show we tried to get in Ellen's Starlight Diner, but the line was down the block. So we had a great italian dinner in Famiglia's at 1630 Broadway. (L to R) Garlic Knots, Calzone, Pizza!
Colors on Radio City as we walk back toward Rockefeller Center
Our lovely ladies in front of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Madison on 5th Avenue with the view behind her of the tree and Rickefeller Center
The lights on the side of Saks Fifth AVenue, synchronized to music every few minutes
The spires of St Patrick were beautiful in the crisp night sky
Back to the Kimberly one last time
Home again for our last night's sleep in the Big Apple
We started out our last morning in NYC by getting a picture taken with Peter the Doorman
Peter was doorman during our first Christmas visit to NYC with Maddy in 2005. She's grown a little since then, hasn't she?
In the interest of time (and money) we went around the corner to Mickey D's for pancakes for breakfast
Not exactly NY Deli eating, but it got us on the road
All packed up and ready to leave our suite. We really like the Kimberly
Grammie and Maddy wait while Peter flags down a cab for the ride to Penn Station
One last look back at the Kimberly. You can see the balconies that come with most suites
Madison in the cab on the way to NYP. This is very similar to the last picture taken on our December 2008 trip - where Ron apparently left the camera in the cab with all of our pictures on it! It was never recovered.
Drove by NYFD Station One on the way to the train station
We took NJ Transit train from Penn Station to Newark Airport, then rode this Air Train over to the terminal building
Madison looking cheery (always) and festive as our Continental ride awaits us (behind her)
Talking to Daddy while eating lunch at the Garden State Diner in EWR
Madison (and Savannah) explaining one more thing to Grammie just before we touch down safely in CLT. Good to be home again!
