I Love New York

Like Mary Tyler Moore twirling around in the middle of Minneapolis and throwing her hat in the air with excitement, I was twirling around in the middle of Times Square last weekend taking in the towering buildings with colorful, digital billboards, large flakes of snow slowly weaving down from the sky, but keeping my hat on because of the temperature.

But let me back up and tell you why I was there. And while I think this through logically, you might be best served to get a cup of tea and settle in. This story may take a while.

My friend, who shall be called Lisa, was a finalist in a contest sponsored by a tooth whitening product (I would tell you which one, but hey, let them pay for their own advertising). Three finalists were flown to New York to compete in the events, which took place at Penn Station. Lisa could take a friend with her...her mother could not go, her good friend in Lexington had a commitment and Lisa's husband was preaching, so....I minded not one bit to be fourth choice (See previous blog on flying).

Three contestants had two minutes each to do the following, one at a time, using the same supplies: decorate a mantel, make a centerpiece, set a holiday table, dress up in a holiday outfit, do their hair for the holidays and finally put on the strips of teeth whitening product blind-folded. Three celebrity judges rated each event. The idea was that a crowd would gather to watch and during the audience trivia questions between events, would have the opportunity to win packets of these products, which retail for over $20 apiece.

Temperatures outside were in the 20s; temperatures inside were in the 60s. Therefore many homeless folks had come into Penn Station and were happy to stop and watch this unusual diversion. These particular homeless also knew a whole lot of trivia: what happens when a bell rings? where does Santa live? what department store is featured in Miracle on 34th Street and other similar questions. They also had loud clear voices. They were winning the white strip products right and left.

I was standing between two homeless men. The one was holding two boxes of the white strips. He saw I did not have any myself and asked me if I would take one of his. I took it for my friend. Every time he won, he came over and handed me the prize. I ended up with five boxes of white strips...which do not work on capped teeth. Lisa was going to make a killing.

Do you see the irony? A homeless person had given me gifts worth over a hundred dollars. I dug some bills out of my purse and looked around to compensate him in some small way because although he probably did not have the means to sell them on eBay and probably could not sell them on the street, and did not appear to have the natural resources needed to use them himself, he had been very unselfish in giving them to me.

He was gone, on his way to the next warm place.

Our hotel was in the theatre district, within walking distance of Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Station, Sacks Fifth Avenue, the city library, Lord and Taylor. The Mansfield is billed as a boutique hotel (read: small). Thanks to a mix-up at the front desk we were given a suite, quaint and European.

Christmas in New York is magical. The tree in Rockefeller Center towers over the skating rink. Our lunch table at Sack's overlooked the site. St. Patrick's Cathedral was open and a quick walk-through encouraged us to put an early Sunday mass on our agenda (neither of us are catholic, but hey, it is New York and it is St. Patrick's). We hurried to pick up tickets at Radio City Musical Hall to see the Christmas Spectacular. The precision of the troupe and intricacies of the routines delight. During our performance one of the Rockettes slipped and fell on her hands and knees. She got up quickly but had caught her heel on her costume, ripping a long piece of trim which 'tailed' her the rest of that act. One does not see that very often.

The show ended with a beautiful depiction of the Nativity, with sheep and camels and a donkey, kings and shepherds and reading of the story of the birth of Jesus. The profoundly Christian aspect of this closing was a delightful surprise.

My friend, whom I will call Marty, met us at the hotel. The best way to see New York is with a New Yorker. By subway, bus and taxi the three of us walked, shopped, looked (read: gawked) at New Yorkers and ate. First a lovely restaurant on the Mezzanine at Grand Central Station, then Sardi's in the theatre district, where casts and backers go after the opening night of a show to await the first reviews in the papers.

Up in Harlem we ate pastries across from St. John the Divine Cathedral and met a lovely woman about my age, with a New York story: taught college near Washington, D.C., divorced, kids all scattered and on their own, quit to live in this city and write her book. She's lived in New York for eight years....not one word down on paper yet.

In addition to the Rockettes, we saw Boeing, Boeing a revival of a play which bombed the first time it was produced yet was made into a successful movie starring Jerry Lewis and Tony Curtis in 1966. In the current stage version Christine Baranski steals the show. Paige what's her name from TV's Trading Spaces also has a lead role.

The three of us were delighted to see Gypsy before it closes in January. Gypsy Rose Lee was by far the most famous of any burlesque dancer (read: stripper). Her mother, Rose, probably became the negative stereotype of the stage mother of all child actors.

The World Trade Center site was a must-see for Lisa and since Marty had worked two blocks from the site his perspective and knowledge of the event was poignant.

A wintry stroll through Central Park, looking at the decorations and store windows was a never-ending treat. Marty gave up his weekend to show us the city.

Lisa did not win the contest yet not bad for the runners up to receive four days in the city and a make over from a salon that charges $750 for a hair cut. Not bad for the contestants' friends either.

There is an old saying "Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold."

My friends are priceless. Thanks for reading. That's what I'm thinking about today.