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FAO Schwarz & 9/11 Museum
We caught the news this morning as we were getting ready. The man on the bridge – a 24 year old Russian – was up in court today. His passport was confiscated and couldn’t post his bail of $5,000 so was remanded until his court hearing on Friday. He seems to be into extreme photography as he’d taken some selfies of him on the edge of the Grand Canyon.
Last full day in New York – better get some shopping done then! First stop for breakfast and we found a deli for coffee and some awesome muffins.
First stop was FAO Schwarz – the big toy shop near Central Park. There’s a guy at the entrance dressed as the Toy Soldier associated with FAO Schwartz and it’s all bright and fun on the inside of the store.
It’s no where near as big as Hamleys but what they do they do really well. We started at the top and worked our way down. Callum couldn’t resist adding another Zebbie to his collection – a little disappointed that we wouldn’t let him have the 5ft zebra – a bargain at $1400!!
We also found the giant piano and Callum had fun jumping along the giant keyboard. Jon and Callum both decided they would buy the flying UFO between them … and some Jelly Beans to bring back home. They had a huge sweetie section from Wonka stuff to Jelly Beans, Hershey Bars to M&M’s!
Immediately outside the toy shop was an Apple Store. The only part visible above ground level was a glass cube with the Apple logo, but head downstairs and you’re in Apple Heaven!
Last lunch and a check on Trip Advisor sent us to Trump Tower, home of the US Apprentice. In the basement they have a café, an ice cream parlour – and a Grille – which is the option we went for. A fixed price set menu for $23. Callum had Black Bean Soup for starters whilst Jon and I had the Caesar Salad. For mains, Jon and Callum had the Chicken Sandwich and I went for the burger. Puddings was ice cream for Jon and Callum and I had the Brownie. It was all really good and very tasty.
Callum was now getting a little impatient … not only were Newcastle playing Gillingham in the League Cup, Reading were playing Scunthorpe. Jon and Callum headed back to Legends to see if they were showing the match(es) whilst I decided to head to the 9/11 Museum.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. No queue so straight in. The whole place is underground – and the outer exhibition space initially incorporates items rescued from the debris of Ground Zero. The Freedom Staircase, Ladder Number 3, the transmitter from the top of North Tower. The retaining wall built in the 60’s to protect the area is also on display. All the bases of the steel columns of the North Tower are also on display and you can walk around the footprint of North Tower.
Inside the North Tower footprint, and underneath one of the Memorial Fountains is the main exhibit. No photography allowed (although people kept trying much to the frustration of the museum staff inside). It starts off as a timeline of 11th September, from the planes taking off and then striking the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon.
There’s pretty much complete silence inside; all you can hear are the recordings from that fateful being played. Be it last answer phone messages to loved ones, to conversations between officers and the control centre. It’s incredibly moving; so hard to believe that this happened nearly 13 years ago.
Outside I found the Survivor Tree – this tree was still alive once all the rubble had been cleared from the site.
I met up with Jon and Callum back at the hotel; Callum wanted to go back to Jimmy’s for one last meal. Callum wanted the hot dog with fries and onion rings (huge plate!!), and this time Jon had the Quesadillas and I had the Chicken Pitta with salad. Once more all really tasty.
Back to the hotel to finish packing and ready to move down to DC for the last part of our holiday.
