December 19, 2010

This afternoon Jon and Colleen took the commuter train from New Haven, CT to NYC for a (Colleen) weekend getaway.  Although they missed their hoped for train because they had to park in a satellite lot, the extra time gave them a chance to check out the way cool schedule board. Basically when there was an update, the letters and numbers would scroll through at a ridiculous pace (like an old-fashioned alarm clock on steroids) before settling on the correct info.

From New Haven, it took about an hour and a half to get to Grand Central.  Jon and Colleen's hotel was only two (short) blocks from the Times Square & 42nd subway stop so it was easy to get around.  After making sure the Bills had won, Jon and Colleen walked to Times Square, checking out the Pop Up History Channel shop, the Hershey store, M&Ms store and Colony Records before going to dinner at a favorite of Colleen's dad, Rosie O'Grady's, on 52nd St. and 7th Ave.

Dinner was followed up by a very weird sight across from Radio City and Rockefeller Center -- apparent homeless people dressed as Shrek, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Minnie, Mickey, Woody from Toy Story and other assorted characters.  The costumes looked cheap and homemade.  Colleen thought they were raising money for a charity until she saw the signs that said, "Tips: $5."  Suppose getting in a costume and posing for pictures might net you more money than simply begging for money, but still - it was a bit weird.

The interesting thing at the skating rink was a woman who's sole job was to tell people when they came through her area, "Exit only."  She told some others ahead of Jon and Colleen that she'd been doing this a year.  (Jon and Colleen had to wait a while to see any skaters as they hit the Zamboni shift change.)  The best part about the trip down this way was seeing staff members inside the Today show set POLISHING THE SILVER for the next day's segment.

Jon and Colleen ended up the night by meeting up with her friend Sarah, a student at NYU.  She shared with them the joys of Hungarian dishes (hello, beet soup!) and also took them to Washington Park - a part of the city Jon and Colleen otherwise wouldn't have come across.  -- POSTED BY COLLEEN