View from Rockefeller Center - Top of the Rock

A MUST on your list of sights to see in NYC. Go at sunset and you hopefully will see a beautiful setting sun like this. There are 360 views: Central Park, New Jersey, Lower Manhattan (in view), Queens and Brooklyn. I highly recommend the tour too. Lots of interesting architectural and historical info about Rockefeller Center.

Afternoon near Washington Sq Park

Cozy place to meet: Camaje

Mother Duck for a Day

Recently, I volunteered to be a guide to groups of students from the University of Texas at Austin, my alma mater, during their Spring Break trip to NYC to learn about their prospective fields.  Being a mother duck to 13 other souls in crazy New York City, in and out of random subway stations, up and down unfamiliar streets, was fun and exhilarating. Fortunately, no one was left behind or mugged and I didn't get us lost. So it's a good thing I've explored the city so much during the last six months!

The NYC UT alumni chapter, Texas Exes, puts together an amazing lineup of meetings and info sessions with competitive NYC companies. Students visit the workplaces, ask lots of questions, and some of them get on-the-spot interviews (and nail them!) for internships. I am pleasantly surprised at how many UT alum live & work in NYC, across many, many industries such as media, visual arts, advertising and journalism.

This slideshow sums up the outings for the day! Click the Qwiki link below to play.

Play the Qwiki

Two Three Island and Orchard Beach, Pelham Bay Park, Bronx, New York

The largest park of the five boroughs, Orchard Beach in Pelham Bay Park, is a favorite destination for thousands of sun seekers during the summer months. However, I visited on a stunningly beautiful, densely foggy day during January. The scenery was eery and enchanting with only a few joggers and lots of ducks, seagulls and Canadian geese. During low tide, the walk to Two Three Island was accessible and worth the trek.

The dense fog made it seem like a dream

One of a handful of people seen during the morning

Orchard Beach sits empty in January

The trek to Two Three Island

Through the trees and down the path to Two Three Island

The seagull sits on a seemingly floating rock

Two Three Island falls into the fog filled bay

Manhattan Bridge

To see great views of lower Manhattan without the crowded chaos of Brooklyn Bridge, I recommend walking across Manhattan Bridge. Cyclists have a dedicated lane on the north side while the walkway on the south side is for pedestrians only. And there are few, if any, tourists. If you don't mind the roar of the subway trains every few minutes, it is worth the spectacular view of Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO and Manhattan. It's worth the 1.3 mile walk across.

View of Brooklyn Bridge and lower Manhattan over East River

Graffiti written over bridge plaque

Plenty of room

Bridge details

L

View from bridge on Manhattan side

Rooftops below the bridge, near Chinatown

Around City Hall & Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge

Do these work?

Welcome to the Brooklyn Bridge - I think they could add a few more signs just to be clear

A footpath after you cross under bridge and head toward City Hall

Artwork in front of police station behind City Hall