Weekend in New York City

With crazy New York hotel prices for the first official Christmas shopping weekend, I opted not to pay $1,500 a night at the Peninsula or Four Seasons, and went with the all suite London NYC.  The hotel is conveniently located for theater and shopping on W. 54th between 5th and 6th.

Our spacious one bedroom suite.  Quite comfortable but a little spartan without the luxurious trappings of the Pen or Four Seasons.  

After we settled in, we headed down to the bar for a drink before dinner.

Gordon Ramsay's Maze.  Not nearly the atmosphere of the original Maze at the Marriott on Grosvenor Square.

And the view next morning from our suite.

On the agenda today was a visit to the new 9/11 Memorial Museum at the site of the twin World Trade Center towers.   We booked ticket earlier this morning with the assistance of a great concierge Raphael.  Tickets are issued on a timed entrance basis and we were booked for 12:00 noon.  Uber was our friend today as we had three amazing drivers.  Five minutes after we requested it, our Black Car and driver Jamel pulled up to the hotel... just as Kevin Spacey and entourage hopped into their car.  Thirty minutes later we were at Freedom Tower and the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

Even with timed tickets, we had to wait about 40 minutes in a snake queue before entering.

Once inside, what a wonderful and moving experience that covers every aspect of that day...  Amazing photos, video and audio recordings, pieces of the twin towers, artifacts and a stirring tribute to those that lost their lives that day.  The sheer volume is simply overwhelming to see and appreciate in one visit.   We were there for two hours and only scratched the surface.  I recommend the audio guide which is narrated by Robert DeNiro.  Not to be missed is the Historical Exhibition which presents a timeline of the day and the aftermath.   

Our third Uber of the day took only 3 minutes to arrive, and we were at 6th and 50th about 20 minutes later.

Mrs. SFO requested a pic with the Tonight Show sign in the background.  

And down the street to the always impressive Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, which officially lit up the night before.

And more of the beautiful Christmas lights.

And our short walk back up to 54th and our hotel.

And now the real reason to come to New York... every husband's worst nightmare.  Nothing much scarier than a shopaholic wife unleashed on Fifth Avenue.   

First stop was Bergdorff-Goodman where Mrs. SFO could have spent all day.

And into Cartier where I merficully escaped with only a sales rep's business card and couple of wish list items.   

Then to Madison.

And Wolford.  How much damage can one do here?

Then a stop to check out the Four Seasons.  Glad we didn't stay there.   Crap location east of Madison, lots of kiddies screaming in the lobby bar.

And back to Fifth.

And finally to Saks fighting pedestrian and unbrella gridlock.

And finally the 5 block walk back the hotel.