New York New York Day 2

Here’s the answer to NY for James: a very smart phone.  There was an app that told us what subways to ride to get anywhere in Manhattan.  Another app for walking the streets of NY to find places (like the doughnut plant).  We bought unlimited subway passes that were good for a week.
People watching was never better than on the subways.  Tourists, workers, executives, parents, high schoolers & preschoolers.  Once we were in a half empty subway car when two young men got in with a boom box (really) and base ball hats.   As soon as the car got going they turned on their music and did a dancing, flipping, swinging routine from the poles and bars in the car that was choreographed to end right before the car got to the next stop. After passing the baseball caps for change, they exited quick, looking for another half emptied car.  We were almost kicked in the face but were being entertained, so we didn’t mind.    
On the second day we went to see the lady.  She’s beautiful and under renovation so we couldn’t climb up inside her toga and crown.     

And then a boat ride to Ellis Island, which was fascinating!  Folks desiring a new life, the US organized at receiving them, the whole process was laid out well.  A day in the life of an immigrant!  In my mind all I hear is the way it’s said on West Side Story…eem-me-grint…       
The view coming back from the island is the financial district.  We hadn’t made an appointment to see the site of the twin towers, and ground zero. We would have gone had we known, we would have been close.  Instead, we walked over the Brooklyn bridge.  Over in two ways.  The pedestrians and cyclist are literally walking over the cars passing below. 
 
To Gimaldi’s we went to eat pizza for linner where the tight eating quarters lead us to getting to know our seat mates; a couple from Spain on their honeymoon.   The baked-in-a-coal-brick-oven and the use of  a lot of cheese, plus a coke, led to a great meal.    

We moseyed the shore a little and then took the subway back to Manhattan.  It was Target-get-in-free night at the MOMA (museum of modern art).  Art for free is James’ favorite kind.    
Van Gogh,  Monet,  Jackson Pollock, Picasso…

What the…?  Very tired feet as well.

We ended the night with dinner at the mysterious "burger joint" behind a curtain in the lobby of the super swanky Parker Meridian hotel.  Why have it hidden?  Why is it so trashy?  I had questions but there was no one to ask.  There are only three people working the whole place and you can see them taking orders, at the grill and one guy was doing drinks and shakes.  We split an order of everything and had father son seat mates from Chicago share our table.  I wouldn't say it's better than Five Guys but it was cheap-ish and unique.  

We walked to Rockefeller Center, I saw some folks camping out for standby tickets to Saturday Night Live (and it was only Friday night) but it was COLD so we headed back to the hotel.