A great day!

We had a fabulous day today.

Up early, and off to Yankee Stadium in the rain. I elected to leave my camera in the bus due to the drizzle, and regretted it quickly. I figured I got all the pictures I needed last year, so it was no big deal, right?

Unfortunately enough, or fortunately, this year's tour was much more thorough. We got to sit in the press box (amazing view), and we even got to check out the Yankees dressing room. Interesting that Jeter and A-Rod sit on opposite sides...our tour guide was excellent, and it was neat that we got to walk a behind the scenes corridor.

Following that, we were off to Grand Central station for lunch. Excellent food (real NYC pizza for me), and some wonderful photos were taken. It's an amazing place.

We then walked over to 5th avenue, where we went on the most excellent Radio City Music Hall tour. What an amazing building, with attention paid to every detail. We even met a Rockette.

Following that, the kids had some free time to explore 5th Avenue. Ms Ming picked up her Couch purse, and apparently that's a big deal. :) She seems happy anyways. That's also where I picked up my new lens, which I'm very happy with, even though my camera bag now weighs a ton. Unlike Chinatown, everything there is real. Ms. Todd got into a huge line to buy an FAO Schwartz bag, which happened to have a little something for Klaire in it. I'm still looking for my Maya's Coco Calypso doll - no joy anywhere on that one.

We then had dinner at Mars 2112, which was really good food and fast service. I have to be complimentary to the kids - last year we trashed the place, and Mr. P and I were both surprised we were welcomed back. No worries at all this year - we had to pick up a couple of napkins that had fallen. (Can you get the sense I'm enjoying this year's trip a lot more?)

We had a few more minutes of free time after dinner, then off to the Top of the Rock. I hate to keep putting down last year's trip, but the Empire State Building was a joke. Top of the Rock was wonderful - short lines, excellent views, and a cool place to take pictures.

The traffic on the way home was brutal, and I have to be very very glad I'm not driving. I'm coming back in July with my lovely wife, who is not having the best week single parenting (plus my dog got skunked - New Jersey air suddenly smells better) and I've pretty much decided - we're walking everywhere. Even in from the airport if I can pull it off.

Anyways, kids are in their rooms, and I think some of them are going to sleep all weekend on their return. Tomorrow's a big day - we won't be back until very very late, and we won't see the buses all day. Lots of walking.