We braved the crowds at Battery Park for the Ellis Island/Liberty Island ferry. When I was in NYC back in 1999 with my family I remember climbing into the crown of the Statue of Liberty and having spectacular views; since 9/11 they have tightened security, meaning only a select few people are allowed up the statue every day. We were content to view Lady Liberty from our ferry, which we then took to Ellis Island to visit the Immigration Museum.
I don't think Nik or I have any ancestors who passed through Ellis Island, but the guided tour was interesting nonetheless. Listening to the Park Officer explain the process, it also seemed comparatively easy to what people have to go through today just to gain entry to Australia.
We got back to the mainland with just enough time to shower and touch base with our families before heading to Jazz at the Lincoln Center. Nik had booked us a table there for Christmas Eve, showing initiative I didn't think he had. The actual club is called Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, so named after the famous Dizzy Gillespie.
We arrived at 6pm and were shown to our table - right at the front of the room, by the stage. The floor-to-ceiling windows behind the stage looked out over Central Park, with the city lights providing a glittering backdrop. It really is a spectacular venue. The food also did not disappoint: I started with the "Arugula and Endive Caramelized Apples Salad" with Coyuga blue cheese, spiced walnuts and cayenne cider vinaigrette; then had the "Maple Glazed Pork Chop" with sweet potato mash and roasted green beans. The drinks menu was equally varied (though also very pricey): I had the "Ginger Manhattan" (made with their homemade ginger cordial) and a "Dark & Stormy" - the Ginger Manhattan being my favourite.
The act that night was the Marcus Roberts Trio, featuring Marcus Roberts on piano. Roberts lost his sight when he was five years old, and began teaching himself piano from age eight. He is an amazing musician. The trio played both original and other famous jazz numbers to the small but completely captivated audience (including a very vocal gentleman at the bar).
We caught the subway back to our hotel, sharing it with all the usual crazies who come out of the woodwork only on the NYC subway lines.
Christmas Day dawned; we went back uptown to Rockefeller Center where we met Maddy and Justin for Christmas Day lunch at the Rock Center Cafe, overlooking the rink. The food was delicious and we had a great time.
I think it would have been a little depressing spending Christmas Day on our own, this year being the first time either of us had spent Christmas apart from our immediate families.
After lunch we parted ways for the afternoon. Nik and I walked to Central Park which was picturesque in the snow.
We took a 30-minute horse-drawn carriage ride through the south end of the park, something I had been looking forward to since we planned our trip.
Our driver was a great source of information. He pointed out landmarks where movies had been shot and other buildings of note. Afterward we fed our horse, Pickles, who seemed happier than most about working on Christmas Day.
I am not sure why we thought this would be a good idea, but it being our last night in New York and all, we decided to go up the Empire State Building. We walked in to the lobby at 4:30pm...and did not leave until 6:30pm. Since we only spent 30 minutes at the top, I will let you do the math about how long we spent waiting in lines...
But a fantastic view nonetheless
That night we went to the apartment Maddy and Justin were staying in. We had wine and pasta carbonara (kindly made by Justin) and watched Starlight. It was a lovely way to end our Christmas in New York.
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