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General discussion

Back from NYC

by Bill Osler Jun 24, 2007 9:48AM PDT

My older son just graduated high school, so he got to choose the vacation destination. He wanted to see 'Wicked' and as many other plays as possible so we ended up in NYC. Not my first choice, but we had a great time.

I haven't spent much time in the other boroughs, and I know that there are very poor sections in NYC, but I have to admit that Manhattan is spectacular. There are a lot of parks, there are a LOT of things to do, and most of the areas are quite attractive.

We stayed near Battery Park, and I especially enjoyed walking along the Hudson River Park. We rode the subway most of the time, and that was mostly straightforward. A few times we encountered problems because a portion of a line was under construction. For example, the 1 Train in Manhattan nominally goes all the way South to the Staten Island Ferry terminal. Except it doesn't right now. Oh well. At least they offered a free shuttle from Chambers St. to the Ferry terminal. The trick was figuring out where to get the shuttle. The station attendant sent us off in the wrong direction.

The only thing I thoroughly dislike about Manhattan is that I feel like somebody sticks a faucet in my wallet about the time I step off the plane and they leave the faucet running wide open the whole time I'm there. I'm always shocked at how much everything costs.

Discussion is locked

19 Posts
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"The medium of exchange is
by drpruner. Jun 24, 2007 3:10PM PDT

the $20 bill." Or so I've been told.

Glad you had a nice time. I guess Giuliani, and now Bloomberg, actually do get the trains running on time and suppress the muggers.

Any metro river areas are nice because there's always something going on. It's the counterpart of today's freeways and air hubs, but at a human pace.

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Expensive to visit; expensive to live there too.
by EdH Jun 24, 2007 9:06PM PDT

Among other ripoffs they have a city income tax. When I lived there I truly felt like I was being penalized for being productive, i.e. contributing something to the city, while idlers were being rewarded. It seemed like the city especially had it in for freelancers or sole proprietors.

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My memory of NYC
by Dave Konkel [Moderator] Jun 24, 2007 10:38PM PDT

is being physically oppressed and overwhelmed, Dr. Bill. For some reason, Manhattan is the only large city that makes me feel insignificant. It's not just the skyscrapers or the crowds -- didn't get the same feeling in Downtown LA, or Chicago, or even the world's largest city, Shanghai. But somehow that city just seems to dwarf one -- or at least me!

-- Dave K, Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

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The closing along the #1 train tracks....
by Josh K Jun 26, 2007 11:24PM PDT

....may be due to construction on the WTC site, which is right above the Cortlandt Street station. The station was badly damaged in the attacks and has been closed ever since. When we were there a few weeks ago the train went all the way to South Ferry but it's possible they've had to shut that portion of track temporarily due either to construction on the WTC site or the subway station.

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(NT) Almost six years, and not yet recovered. :-(
by drpruner. Jun 27, 2007 1:55AM PDT
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The reach of NYC:
by drpruner. Jun 27, 2007 10:23AM PDT

I know that Cortlandt Street is important to the history of US (an immigrant group, maybe). I know why "crossing Delancey" is important. I know Fulton St has (had?) a fish market. Etc. Why? I've never been there, but all these things came into popular culture or even the history books. Curse you, Scorsese and DeNiro! Happy

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They closed it while we were there ...
by Bill Osler Jun 27, 2007 10:36AM PDT

According to the signs in the stations the closure of the south end of the #1 line was new and not expected to last long. We just had bad timing.

OTOH, our timing wasn't all bad. I saw this article about a power failure in Manhattan and the Bronx today.

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aaaah yes, I remember NYC
by Rolway Jun 29, 2007 2:26AM PDT

I think it was back in 1945 during WWII when a group of us ventured into NYC on a HS field trip.

What I remember most was, Pigeons, Pigeons, and more Pigeons. Lots and lots of Pigeons. You would hear them start cooing, then the loud flapping of their wings as they fired up in random formation. We would start yelling, INCOMING and cover up as they started dive bombing us poor innocents. Pass the word, "Don't look up". Spat, spatter, spoosh, uggggg. awful.

George

P.S. Glad to hear you and your son had a wonderful time up there in NYC. We did too, in spite of those $%#@* pigeons.

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Aw c'mon, Boston has lots of pigeons too
by Josh K Jun 29, 2007 7:23AM PDT

They like to hang out in the pahk. Wink

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Here a pigeon, there a pigeon ....
by Bill Osler Jun 29, 2007 9:01AM PDT

Everywhere a pigeon.

Yep, that's NYC.

I didn't get dive bombed, but I did have to duck a couple of times when a pigeon appeared to be on a collision course. That didn't happen to anybody else in the family, though.

First squirrels, now pigeons. Why is all the wildlife trying to run into me?

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(NT) We call them flying rats.
by Josh K Jun 30, 2007 8:13AM PDT
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The Hobo's up here call them..
by Rolway Jun 30, 2007 8:49AM PDT

Squab. Say they are good eating too. Probably why we don't have an abundance of Pigeons up here. Lot of homeless people up here in Boston, sad to say. Cook'em on a spit over a barrel full of burning wood. Just like eating chicken. So they say. They do NOT like eating Seagulls, so they also say.

While your on here Josh. Give a little root for the Red Sox. They have a car running in the NASCAR race at NH Loudon International speedway tomorrow. Carl Edwards #99. Go Red Sox, Go

George Happy

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Looks like Boston will walk away with the AL East this year
by Josh K Jun 30, 2007 11:13AM PDT

The way the Yankees are playing, I doubt they even have a shot at the wild card. My only question is: Is Kei Igawa the single most expensive blunder Brian Cashman has ever made? I have no idea what he was thinking.

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Squabs
by Bill Osler Jun 30, 2007 11:45AM PDT
Rock Pigeon - Wikipedia
Pigeons are also bred for meat and by fanciers to develop many exotic forms. Among those forms are the carrier pigeons, a variety of pigeon with wattles and a unique, almost vertical, stance (pictures). Young pigeon meat is often sold under the name squab.

I can't vouch for the recipe from personal experience, but I saw this:
Squab / Pigeon Recipes
The trouble with pigeon is that when it gets beyond the squab stage -- and a pigeon can live for a goodly number of years -- it definitely is tough. The best solution for an old pigeon is a good strong marinade.
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Some interesting facts ..
by Rolway Jul 1, 2007 4:35AM PDT

About Pigeons ..

They come in about 28 different colors.
Some can fly 50 mph.
They make great pets.
Some became honored Hero's in WWII

Would you like to become a "Pigeon Watcher"? No, probably not. Didn't seem exciting to me either. Maybe scotch taping peanuts to the window sill and watch the pigeons go crazy trying to pick them off might be fun. But, just in case you do want to be a pigeon watcher, heres a site that tells you everything you ever wanted to know about Pigeons.

http://ehrweb.aaas.org/ehr/parents/Pigeons!.html

So whats the big deal about pigeons. I don't know, but it begins to make one wonder. When buying a Capon at the store, is it really a Capon or a Squab.

So much for Pigeons, I love NYC. Happy

Geo.

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I have a patient who raises pigeons ...
by Bill Osler Jul 1, 2007 7:10AM PDT

As I recall, he breeds them for racing.

I've never really understood how that works. How do you tell a bird where to fly?

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A former teacher of mine used to have
by Terry Browne Jul 1, 2007 9:40AM PDT

racing pigeons and I was amazed about their navigation capacity too.

Here are some links that may be of help to those interested in knowing more:

Homing Pigeon.

Pigeon Racing

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If you think NYC is expensive, Dr. Bill,
by Dave Konkel [Moderator] Jun 29, 2007 10:52AM PDT

you should try Honolulu, or even worse, London. The prices in London are about the same as in NYC, except everything is in pounds -- exchange rate now well over two dollars apiece!

-- Dave K, Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

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I just checked...
by J. Vega Jun 30, 2007 3:59AM PDT

I just checked the exchange rate. It's 2.0063.

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