New York Nortons

My dad took the train up from Philadelphia this Saturday, and I met him at Penn Station. Ashley and I gave him our patented “first time visitor tour of the city.” ©

First, Dad and I got off the subway at the World Trade Center site and walked around the site and through St Paul’s. We then met Ashley at the apartment and went to the roof for the spectacular view. It was a beautiful, clear day, and we could see the entire city. It’s an incredible site for someone who has never been to New York before.

We then went for lunch at the South Street Seaport. The restaurants there aren’t that great, but it’s fun to go sit by the water and eat. We then went on the Staten Island Ferry… a must when you’re visiting the lower Manhattan and the weather is so nice. After the ferry, we took the subway to 66th street and walked through Central Park along with every other New Yorker who has been couped up inside for the last 8 days waiting for the rain to end. After the park, we took Dad to Times Square just so he could get a taste of it. I think that all of the sights, advertisements, and people really impressed him (as they do everyone visiting New York for the first time.)

Dad and I rode back to Penn Station around 7:00. We had been touring non-stop since 10:00 that morning, and we were both exhausted. It was definitely worth it.

Here we are in Central Park. I look a little goofy… must have been the angle…

family, nyc, travel, visits

I added a photo album on flickr.com with pictures that Ashley took of our apartment. However, I set the pictures to only be viewable by family and friends. If you want to see the pictures, you’ll need to sign up for an account on flickr.com and send me an email – dnorton [at] gmail.com. I will add you as one of my contacts and you can see these pictures.
Our Place pics

nyc

Annual ticket for the Georgia Aquarium went on sale today, and we bought ours. In fact, we already have reservations.

See, we haven’t given up completely on Atlanta…

Get your tickets now: GA Aquarium

atlanta

Mom came up for her first visit to see us. We decided to try something a little different since she’s come up a few times already this year. So, instead of doing the typical touristy thing like going to Times Square or Central Park, we saw partsof the city that are usually reserved for people new to New York (still excited enough to want to discover the city but experienced enough to know to avoid the major tourist stops.) *update* On Friday, Mom and I met a couple of Mom’s good friends, Marianne and Mike, at a small Mexican restaurant in the east village. The food was delicious, and it was great to finally meet Marianne who I’ve been meaning to meet for a while now. On Saturday, we went to the Forbes Museum and then to Buster’s Garage for the UGA/Tennessee game (which Georgia won with authority I might add.) On Sunday, we took the A to Fort Bryon Park and the Cloisters ( see this map)

Fort Tyron Park is beautiful and felt totally disconnected from the rest of Manhattan. Ashley loved breathing in the fresh fall air and really didn’t want to leave. The park overlooks the Hudson River and has beautiful trees and small gardens. It’s Central Park without the people. Ashley and I will have to go again when the leaves start changing colors (very soon.)

Here’s a picture we took at the Cloister’s. I turned on black and white because it was overcast, and I thought it would have a cool effect on the picture, give it some depth. Now I think it would have been better in color, but that’s alright. I still like this picture.

family, nyc, travel, visits

$5 to the first person who can name where they have seen this? And by $5, I mean $5 internet money… which is pretend money… I think.

family, nyc, travel

Skype is a simple application that you can use to talk to other people over your Internet connection. It uses a technology called voice over IP or VOIP, and the calls are exceptionally clear.

If you are interested, you can download Skype here: skype.com and click “Add me to skype” to add me to your Skype contacts.

Another very useful VOIP tool is Google Talk: talk.google.com
I use this at work to talk to my co-workers. It’s easier than picking up a phone…really.

The only drawback to these applications is that you have to have a microphone that will work on your computer. They sell cheap ones on amazon.com if your computer doesn’t already have a built in mic. I’m fortunate because both my work laptop and my iMac at home have mics already.

If anyone is interested in help getting started with either Skype or Google Talk, please let me know.

techie

Please read this post immediately after or preceding the post about September 11, 2005 because that’s when the events described occurred.

We had our third visitor recently… well, it was Ashley’s dad who is actually a repeat visitor, so how do you count that? Since it was just him for the weekend, I say we count his visit as visitor number 3.

As a birthday treat, Jerry (aka Dad to some) came up specifically to go to the US Open with Ashley since Robbi Ginepri was playing in the semi-finals against Andre Agassi. They had a great time at Arthur Ashe stadium and Robbi almost came away with the win losing in the 5th set. Afterwards the two of them met me at Buster’s Garage, our local spot to watch UGA football with the UGA Alumni Association.

Sunday was September 11, and Jerry and I went to ground zero which I wrote about already. He called Taylor to let her hear the names being read out, and after I went home to make breakfast for Ashley, he attended a church service at St. Paul’s which he described as one of the most moving sermons he’s ever heard.

Here are Jerry’s own words about the rest of the day:

Later on Sunday, something fantastic happened. We went on the best bike ride ever (excluding Sanibel) for 20 miles. We went several miles with the Hudson River on one side and tall buildings on the other. Near 59th street, we cut over to Central Park, about 600 acres and a six or seven mile ride of perfect land. Thousands of NY’ers were all over the park having a super time. There were so many bikers and skaters, it was so fun. I also got something I was looking forward too, that is a relish hotdog and a sour kraut hotdog (YUM YUM). Daniel got a fairly plain dog, something is wrong with him. We biked several miles back and finished of the ride in typical NY Norton fashion, cream filled doughnuts before returning home. After a quick shower, we were off to Times Square. You have to see this before you die, you have too. There are just too many incredible lights and advertisement signs lite up with so much activity. It is to die for. We ate at the Times Square Brewery and I had the best ever crab meat sandwich.

Here are a couple pictures from his visit.

atlanta, family, nyc, travel, visits