Tuesday, January 26, 2016

New Year's Eve: Only 4 Miles to midtown Part II

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Christopher (left) and Nico inside New York City MTA Red Line 1 Broadway - 7 Avenue Local 

January 26, 2016

Read Part I Here: Home » New Year's Eve: New York Time Square, Part I

My backup plan since I decided not going to Time Square on New Year’s Eve was to walk the Brooklyn Bridge. I read when I Googled, “Things to do in New York City on New Year’s Eve” that fireworks from the surrounding area could be seen and it was amazing.   
I thought it was interesting that we could walk across the top of that bridge. Maybe grab a beer or some wine. Who knows?
While sitting at O’Hara’s Restaurant and Pub my attention was drawn to a shouting man behind me.

“Yes, Time Square baby,” the well-dressed man said to the three other people at his table. “ I just got a room at the Marriott for $500. Now I can say I once saw the ball drop in Time Square.”

His comment added fuel to my deep desire to travel those four miles to see that damn ball drop in Time Square! I kept telling myself, self, it's a short subway ride or walk to satisfy my urge and extinguish this feeling from my mind with this darn obsession. This lack of decision-making is killing me. My companion saw the burning desire in my eyes to forgo the romantic evening of wine, candles and unruly kids who were surely fight me on that walk. She saw that there was a Mission Impossible brewing. Keep two kids calm as we waited among millions to see 2016 in the heart of Manhattan.

We left the restaurant and started to walk towards the Brooklyn Bridge. “Go Chris, go, just do it,” the inner conscience said.  The area was dead.  A ghost town like atmosphere.  A lone NYPD Officer was walking towards us.  
“Hey Officer, Time Square with the kids would be totally insane right?” I said.  
“Hell ya man, I patrol this city and I wouldn’t even go!” he said in his New York accent. “Stick to the bridge.”
That’s it, problem solved. Going to the bridge. Nothing to see in Time Square other than a few million people, confetti, celebrations, music, eh, who needs it. When my boys are older I will go and satisfy this urge. I finally settled the dispute but, as luck would have it, we found ourselves at the entrance to subway train tunnel number 1.  Which goes from Brooklyn to uptown Manhattan.  We’d pass right under Time Square. Damn, the 4-mile trip was meant to be!
I looked at the red sign with the numeral 1 in the center. 

“It’s New Year’s Eve in New York City!  Do want to spend the holiday walking on a bridge?” I said out loud with the same spirit of a football coach who was cheering on his beleaguered team!
“No!” a homeless man shouted.

He stood up from his sleeping spot and wandered over to us. 
“That’s right,” I said, 

“We want to have an experience of a lifetime. This is New York.  Dreams happen here!”

“Not really,” the homeless man said. 

“That’s why we are going to walk down these steps.  Gets on that train!  We are going to ride that steal monster to midtown and we are going to celebrate with New Yorkers and tourists from all over the globe, are you with me!”

“Well, I got a really nice spot to sleep tonight with the crowd gone and all.” He said. 
“Time Square! New Year’s Eve! Let’s go!”
“Are you crazy? Tonight?” Our homeless friend asked. 
My companion and kids nodded their heads in agreement.
“I can’t hear you! Are you with me!
“Yes.”
“Sure.”
“Okay.”
They replied.
“Can I have a dollar?” the homeless man asked.

“i really need enthusiasm out of you.”

“Can I have a dollar!” He joyfully asked.  

“Yes” my family said in unison.  

We turned to walk down the stairs.  

“Here’s a 5,” I said to the homeless man extended the bill straight up from my hand. 
I bought a subway Metro Card, the timing was perfect because the train was there and waiting to help us on our 4 mile journey into a our possible bucket list moment.  

New York!  Tons of people. Lots of naysayers! A man on a mission. What could possibly go wrong?





You are here: CLICK HERE FOR PART III » New Year's Eve: Bucket List Part III
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Captain, Nico (left) and Christopher aboard the Intrepid Museum


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