Post by nydiva on Nov 1, 2016 16:56:01 GMT -5
...is what I devised for a long absent member, Lily Fortune, on her very first visit to New York last week. I'm still recovering.
Among many other sights, we started off by visiting the Paley Center for Media where we viewed an old Johnny Carson show during which Ross disclosed the address where he lived as a child (more later). We then had the thrill of discovering a show (from somewhere in the early 1950's if not late 40's!) where a group of actors improvised scenarios sent in by viewers. It is NOT (yet) listed on any of Ross's credits - so we were the first to even know if it. Anyway, Ross was in three skits - the first in a group of Russian scientists trying to figure out the function of a piece of top secret equipment from the US (a pinball machine). The second as a shy 16-year old trying to ask a girl for a dance (soooo sweet and adorable). The last (and best) was a scenario where two lost tourists asked a cop on the beat (Ross) for aid. The catch was this had to be done in operatic style - sung through. It was hilarious and divine watching the wheels turn in Ross's head as he tried to improvise lyrics that made some sort of sense - all the while singing in an excellent baritone. We watched that segment at least five times.
Another day we attended a Broadway show (Wicked). But before that, I took Lily by the stage doors of the two theatres where Ross had performed on Broadway. Couldn't go inside, but that's where he had to enter/exit the theatres.
Then came the really full day - in more ways than one. We started out at Baruch College (where Ross attended). From there we headed to the Lower East Side to a trio of (very Jewish) food establishments that existed when Ross lived in the area. We chowed down at Katz's Deli (est. 1888!) where HALF a corned beef sandwich (each) left us full for the rest of the day! YUM! We then waddled over to Yonah Schimmel's Knishery (est. 1910) and forced down a half a knish each (buying more to take home). All I can say is thank goodness this store is highly inconvenient for me to get to even when I do go into Manhattan. Another equally out of the way store is Russ and Daughters (est. 1914) - a takeout deli. The (many varieties of) smoked salmon is heaven on earth - high prices to match!! Salmon and whitefish salad, trout mousse, not to mention amazing variety of dried fruit - don't get me started!
Finally, full and laden, we strolled over to 3rd Street, where Ross lived. The actual building is no longer there (a housing complex was built in 1935), but it was easy enough to approximate the location by the current building numbers.
Of course we did other touristy things too - the Bronx Zoo (delightful), the Cloisters (gorgeous), Metropolitan Museum of Art (humongous), American Museum of Natural History (fascinating), The Intrepid Museum (the Star Trek Academy Exhibit) and a very rainy day where we just plain stayed home and watched my entire collection of Stump the Stars!
Here's me (on the right) and Lily at Yonah's. Yes, we wore the hats on purpose!
Among many other sights, we started off by visiting the Paley Center for Media where we viewed an old Johnny Carson show during which Ross disclosed the address where he lived as a child (more later). We then had the thrill of discovering a show (from somewhere in the early 1950's if not late 40's!) where a group of actors improvised scenarios sent in by viewers. It is NOT (yet) listed on any of Ross's credits - so we were the first to even know if it. Anyway, Ross was in three skits - the first in a group of Russian scientists trying to figure out the function of a piece of top secret equipment from the US (a pinball machine). The second as a shy 16-year old trying to ask a girl for a dance (soooo sweet and adorable). The last (and best) was a scenario where two lost tourists asked a cop on the beat (Ross) for aid. The catch was this had to be done in operatic style - sung through. It was hilarious and divine watching the wheels turn in Ross's head as he tried to improvise lyrics that made some sort of sense - all the while singing in an excellent baritone. We watched that segment at least five times.
Another day we attended a Broadway show (Wicked). But before that, I took Lily by the stage doors of the two theatres where Ross had performed on Broadway. Couldn't go inside, but that's where he had to enter/exit the theatres.
Then came the really full day - in more ways than one. We started out at Baruch College (where Ross attended). From there we headed to the Lower East Side to a trio of (very Jewish) food establishments that existed when Ross lived in the area. We chowed down at Katz's Deli (est. 1888!) where HALF a corned beef sandwich (each) left us full for the rest of the day! YUM! We then waddled over to Yonah Schimmel's Knishery (est. 1910) and forced down a half a knish each (buying more to take home). All I can say is thank goodness this store is highly inconvenient for me to get to even when I do go into Manhattan. Another equally out of the way store is Russ and Daughters (est. 1914) - a takeout deli. The (many varieties of) smoked salmon is heaven on earth - high prices to match!! Salmon and whitefish salad, trout mousse, not to mention amazing variety of dried fruit - don't get me started!
Finally, full and laden, we strolled over to 3rd Street, where Ross lived. The actual building is no longer there (a housing complex was built in 1935), but it was easy enough to approximate the location by the current building numbers.
Of course we did other touristy things too - the Bronx Zoo (delightful), the Cloisters (gorgeous), Metropolitan Museum of Art (humongous), American Museum of Natural History (fascinating), The Intrepid Museum (the Star Trek Academy Exhibit) and a very rainy day where we just plain stayed home and watched my entire collection of Stump the Stars!
Here's me (on the right) and Lily at Yonah's. Yes, we wore the hats on purpose!