New York City

As you might have noticed, our good friends, Matt and Kristina Kern, have been absent from our blog since they moved away from Portland last summer in favor of following their careers to New York City.  We have missed hanging out and traveling with them, so we decided to book a trip to New York back in December to pay them a visit.  As with all great friends, we were able to pick right back up where we left off, and we still remembered all of our inside jokes (and created some new ones).  It truly is amazing to have friends like these, and I feel lucky that we crossed paths with them 10+ years ago when we all lived in Chicago.  Their hospitality is such that they also let us bring along a few other friends to crash in their apartment.  We enjoyed a long weekend of taking in the sights of NYC, with the best tour guides in town.

 Grand Central Station reminds me of our wedding (which was in St Louis Union Station)

 Em in a corridor of Grand Central Station

 Our Portland friends, Hiep and Trami, along for the trip to NYC

 of course, we couldn't go to NYC without the ladies wanting to go shopping....Kern does not look enthused

 Are we in Gotham City?

Despite being a week after Christmas, we were happy that the Rockefeller Center Tree was still on display.

 St. Patrick's Cathedral

 RIP Steve Jobs

For this next part, I gotta admit that I was a little skeptical at first.  When Kristina described Ann Hamilton's art exhibit at the Armory as a bunch of giant swings that are connected to a large sheet that flaps in the wind, I did not get it.  Add in softly spoken poetry, carrier pigeons, and a lady signing on a balcony, and my left brain was spinning at what my right brain struggled to comprehend.  I'm a scientist, so understanding art does not come easy.  I balked at the idea of going to see such an exhibit, yet I had no choice, because Kristina had already graciously bought tickets for all of us to go.  "OK, Brad, be a sport, go with the flow," is what I told myself.  However, once we arrived, and I observed the magnitude of this creation, I was in awe.  As I lie on the floor, staring up at the curtain flapping in the breeze and hearing people giggle on swings, it takes me back to my childhood and being outside on a hot summer day.  I don't know why, but it definitely transformed me, and I am richer for the experience.  It was a valuable lesson:  we need to expose ourselves to novel experiences in life, especially if outside of our comfort zone.  

 After having visited the Museum of Modern Art, Kristina and Emily practice their best "Scream" while on the swing...

...which causes Emily to fall off of the swing

 hilarity ensues

While on the swing, Hiep directs us to pose for the camera; Emily exaggerates a cheesy 'lean in for the kiss'...and we both crack up laughing.  I love this girl!

 Hiep and Trami share the conviviality that the large swing induces

 Em must be missing our pup Penny (as I catch her petting inanimate objects)

 We had an exquisite dinner at David Burke's restaurant.

 The Staten Island Ferry affords the best views of the Statue of Liberty.

(pun intended, as it's free to ride)  

The Freedom tower is the reason Kern had to move to NYC, as he has been working on engineering, fabrication, and installation of the outer glass panels.  It must give a great sense of pride to contribute to such a monumental project, which is so close to the hearts of many New Yorkers.

(NYC trip to be continued...)