Wednesday First Full Day in NYC

I rise with the sunrise at 6. I slept until 2 on Wednesday morning, couldn’t get back to sleep for an hour or so, finally fell back asleep at 3-ish, woke at 4-ish, slept again, and then had an unpleasant dream. But at least I woke up not tired. I started the blog and arranged the various Quicken transactions, mostly from this trip or visa expenses. My Social Security income is on the middle Wednesday, and I learned it is next week. My decision to pay off my credit cards with IRA money (with 10% withholding) was sound. I am still getting used to this timing.

I spent most of the time in my room watching the sun brighten NYC while I wrote the blog for Tuesday’s travel day. The room seemed cool in the morning, with clear skies, and up here, 33 stories (or so), it got cooler, so I ran the slightly clunky AC. Everything works in the room, and the walls are not too thin, but the hall noise wakes me when I’m falling asleep. There is a loud thud sometimes.

I shower, and the water is hot enough, and the tub isn’t too slippery, but it is cramped, and I tapped my head on the sink in the tub while scrubbing. I smiled and was more careful. I was soon dressed in an Oregon UFO Festival T-shirt, which got lots of questions all day. Locals wanted to know where that is and what it is like.

I find Tick-Tock, the 24-hour diner at the hotel, and use my Breakfast Voucher for coffee, a small juice, and a toasted bagel with cream cheese. I tip three dollars. I respond to a church item on my laptop. I decide not to order anything else and enjoy NYC. I return the laptop to my room and stash it. I take my battery with me, as the iPhone will run out of power, and I need it for navigation and for my tickets.

I walk to Times Square, about ten blocks, and then five more as I find the theater for tonight’s Oh, Mary! show. I nearly miss it, and then there it was. I notice The Public House: Bar & Restaurant on the next block. It is not even 10, and I look at the Complete Strategist location, one of the best war game stores in NYC,  and start to walk towards it, but then I realize it opens at 10:30, and I need to be at the Frick Collection Museum at 11. I can’t do both.

My back hurts from the walk, and I stop at Bryant Park to sit for a while until the New York Public Library opens. I am a member. The huge bronze door opens, and the guard/staffer is amazed by the long line. I walk right to the Treasures of the Library display (disappointed that Thomas Jefferson’s handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence is a facsimile, and I learn the original is shown every July 4th). But the NY copy of the Declaration of Rights is presented (hand copies were sent to each state to consider), and also the call sheet for approving the 13th Amendment is simply tacked up in a civil rights display. I pointed it out to someone and said, “It should be presented wtih gold around it; this is it and what ended slavery.” There is an exception to slavery; incarcerated people are excluded, and many states, including Oregon, have passed state constitutional amendments banning slavery in any form. Tears, again, came to my eyes as I looked at the call sheet.

I find the facilities but not the exit. Two sets of steps down and then a door to the street. Funny that it is easy to get in, but getting out requires asking for help!

Somewhere I saw the large inflated rat and people striking at a luxury store. I had last seen that rat in California. I tipped my hat to them.

I managed to get to uptown and near the Frick without issue on the subway. I walked some well-heeled blocks and saw it was the consultant area. I heard a lot of Italian and saw folks with FedEx mailers. I then noticed many folks with them, as this is the area where visas and other important documents are made.

I reached the Frick, went in, already had a ticket for the time, and went right in after heading to ticketing first, only to be pointed back to where I started. This is a Gilded Age mansion re-formatted as a museum and contains lots of furniture you cannot sit on (and some that you can). The paintings of El Greco, Rembrandt, Van Dykes, and other Dutch masters were excellent examples, and many were huge. There were plenty of security folks watching (and many folks had to be reminded that no photographs were allowed), and I moved quickly to see the interesting paintings. I am not the read-and-study-everything person. I look for what I like. I really enjoyed even a painting by a student of Rembrandt. Endless portraits, but still all of excellent quality and a certain match to the others and the setting. A catered experience, if you like.

There is a cafe on the second floor, and I needed lunch. The prices were high, with a $31 club sandwich, but it was the Frick, so it seemed OK. I ordered a drink, the Saint, for $ 19, which was sweet and maybe was a poor choice for the sandwich, but I liked the name. The second floor has the gift shop that has a waiting line to get in; I never made it in. The French Impressionists are on the second floor, along with some medieval pieces.

I believe I have seen these pictures in my college textbook, which must have paid the Frick for the images. It was interesting to see them. All very well lit with no glare or protective glass. You can get within inches of some. Other paintings are high on the wall above fireplaces and like. I find it fun to look at them close up and then from a distance. It often seems like two different paintings.

I got a call about church items, and my room key fell, but mostly I just marveled at and enjoyed the place. Two basements below is the coffee. I got some. I watched their films in the sub-basement theater (I saw there is a third basement!). The second floor, gift shop, and extra stairs are additions. Also, the research has moved to another building. I knew it was a huge revision, but wow! The 1940s-built vault was now the theater. I walked out and was told by one of the staff that she looked up the Oregon UFO Festival and area and can’t wait to visit. I smiled. She directed me to the exit, another place without a clear way out.

With that, I reversed my walk and again enjoyed the area. Lots of folks walking around fast with FedEx clasped in their hands.

More friendly questions about my shirt on the Local 6 Train and off at 33rd. I backtrack as my navigation gets confused about where I am, but soon the source of many gaming hours in NYC is located: The Complete Strategist. They have everything new and often multiple copies. I also see collectible Dungeons & Dragons items, including a few I still play with. My Gods and Demigod book is the first edition and in good shape. Mine is worth about $150+. I did find something: Death Test and Death Test 2 from the Fantasy Trip, a newer boxed edition, and decided to buy them for $20. I still remember James G running us through Death Test and later Death Test 2.

I was five long blocks from the hotel and walked them. It was just getting to the point where I had to push through when I saw the hotel. I did enjoy walking by the Empire State Building. I showered; it was hot and sticky, and took a short break with likely a 30 min nap.

I redressed and walked to the theater and The Public House. There I spent a few hours at the bar having some beers and Irish-style starters. I watched the Finance news while eating, drinking, and chatting here and there with the bartender. The bar was busy, but the restaurant was empty. There were lots of staff with nothing to do.

Oh, Mary! was OK. I think it might even be rated great from the audience’s reaction. I have hearing issues, and I missed many of the jokes from Meg Stalter as Mary Todd Lincoln. There were also some uses of words and gestures I did not know. I would recommend the show as it is imaginative and an irreverent retelling of the historical story. My seat, D2 in the balcony, was excellent. I am not good with comedy. The show is traveling now, and I recommend it if you like comedy.

With that I done, I stopped by the Irish place near by for a porkchop and a drink. I think the mashed potatoes were the highlight of that meal. So let’s not dwell on it.

I headed back to the hotel, walking the ten blocks. I was asleep by midnight (even though it seemed early) and slept through the night. It could have been the 7 1/2 miles I walked that got me to sleep.

Thanks for reading.