Since my last blog, we checked out Rockefeller Center and the beginning of holiday glitz. It is so fun to visit sights from the morning news.

Sunday, stepping off 5th Avenue toward Church, a sign outside a Presbyterian church read, “Post-it Prayers. Step inside & post yours.” So I did. A first.

At St. Thomas Episcopal was a sign, “…Choir of men & boys.” So, I joined the service , a first, and enjoyed the crystal range of voices. Inside, I saw several signs, such as, “Use side aisles.”   “Service in progress, do not disturb.” So, I sat on an empty bench at the very back of the sanctuary; out of everyone’s way and not disruptive. Near the closure of the service, an usher whispered to me, “You cannot sit here. It’s for ushers only.” The message on their literature said, “Everyone welcome.” Not true. I felt many emotions, but welcome was not one of them. 

I finally made it to St. Patricks, and I enjoyed the final Christmas Hymn. I lit three candles. 

Cal and I did anything we wanted the rest of the day. It was slow, a little boring, but needed. We did go into Trump Tower and acted as though we were comfortable in the brass and marble

Lady Gaga, in an interview on CBS Sunday Morning, mentioned her parents had a restaurant on the Upper West Side; Joanne’s, named after her aunt who died when she was nineteen. It sounded fun, so we made reservations.  A first. But, it wasn’t that great. Service was s-l-o-w, wine was sour (even after we sent the first one back), and the food was mediocre. And, Lady Gaga did not show-up.

Monday was another lazy day. We tried to get tickets for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a first, only to find it was the wrong day. They were not filming. We indulged in Frozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity’s and made a long trek to 90th street on the Upper East Side. The culture was varied from the Upper West Side. Mainly, we didn’t see one Italian restaurant.

Tuesday, after walking in a downpour, we enjoyed lunch at Sardi’s on 44th Street, a first.  Caricatures of theater stars adorned the walls. Only four artists have contributed to the renditions, a tradition beginning in 1929. I would go again; the food and ambiance was exquisite.

I think I am finally getting a feel for being a New York resident.

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Two Months of Firsts – #7

Written on November 29, 2016