NYC Trip: Day 3 & 4 ~ Taking it Easy

Monday morning was the start of Kyle's conference (which was just downstairs at the Marriott Marquis). It was like a work day for him because the conference was from 8-5. Isaac and I had our instant oatmeal in the room then took a walk to get coffee and hot chocolate. Of course the Starbucks on the first level of OUR own hotel was closed for a remodel so we had to walk the block away to the next one :-P which normally isn't a big deal, but hey I was very pregnant and it was very cold outside.


We were also killing time for Toys R Us to open. It was just across the way from our hotel. We walked around there for a little bit.


Watched the Ferris Wheel, which we probably should have rode... but we didn't.




We did pick up a play-doh toy at Toys R Us and came back to the room and played with it  before lunch. It's a fire truck that makes molds and other fun stuff.



Then we met Kyle for lunch downstairs and walked across the street to this little deli type place: Junior's (known for their cheesecake). We can actually see it from our room. It was a Jewish deli, with pickle and coleslaw appetizer and all! It reminded us of a place we have here called Mort's. Amazing sandwiches. 


Isaac being goofy and making funny faces.


Then back to the hotel for the first good nap since Thursday.


That afternoon we hung out in the room and played with his playdough until Kyle got finished with his conference. Here are some views from our room:


Finishing lunch








And there's the place we had lunch, in the bottom left corner of this photo:


Then we went uptown (West Side) to a BBQ place that had 'kid's eat free': Brother Jimmy's. Was already getting tired of buying $10 mac n chz that Isaac would just nibble on. Isaac was a big fan of the crayon holder, not so much coloring but taking the crayons in and out.


Of all the places in New York to eat we found the place that served drinks out of mason jars :-P


On our walk back, from the subway to our hotel we have to cross through the heart of Times Square. Right through all the dressed up characters and people taking selfies. It was so fun to hear Isaac yell out "Elmo!" or "Mickey!" as if he knew them. We got a little too close to Mickey because he insisted we get a picture with him (we otherwise tried to avoid pictures because well you can see below). Isaac was a fan of Mickey until he actually came up close, lol.
 

Tuesday was much of the same thing. We weren't in a hurry to get anywhere, had our instant oatmeal in the room, took baths, and got dressed for the day. I settled for the Starbucks in the hotel gift-shop (which was Starbucks but I couldn't use my rewards card here... what's the point of paying for Starbucks if it doesn't build up my rewards...)

We did go to the 9th floor of the hotel to go over by the windows and check out the view. Here's the hotel's elevator system, pretty fun and not your ordinary elevators


Instead of just going up and hitting up or down, you punch in the floor you need to go to then it gives you a letter and you go to that designated shaft to get to your destinations. Isaac had fun hitting the number and then calling out the letter and leading us to the correct set of doors.

Times Square view:




They must have JUST taken the ball down because it was up Saturday and Sunday when we walked by. But I noticed this day it was gone and on display down the road a bit inside some place that had a sign on the door saying come in and see the 2014 ball.


We sat there for a bit and counted taxi cabs and watched the characters wonder the street.




Hotel side:


I got a good view of the hotel we stayed at on New Year's Eve three years ago (2010-2011):


And there is the balcony we stood on to watch the ball drop:


Here's a good photo to show scale with Isaac standing watching the elevators:


We headed back to our room to grab our coats then went across the street to get lunch at a hot dog stand:


And back to the room for another good nap. He sleeps in such funny positions and I was stuck in the room with him so I couldn't help but snap a photo :-)


After nap we went across the street to the Disney store. Times Square isn't my favorite part of New York (maybe actually my least favorite) but I will admit it was kinda nice for a pregnant mama because at least we had things very close to keep us busy and make quick little trips out of for entertainment.

Isaac was happy to squeeze the Nemo... but again not so happy I wanted to take his photo.


After exploring the Disney store we went down a few blocks to the M&M store.


That night when Kyle was finished we met Cousin Patty for dinner on the Upper East Side at a fun little place called The Meatball Shop. It was a really fun place and really good. They obviously served meatballs, I got my 'naked' and Patty & Kyle got there's on a sub.

Isaac staying busy playing on his 'phone'.






We took the train back to Times Square. I haven't seen this kind of train on the tracks before so had to snap a photo.


Then off to bed, here's daddy reading books to Isaac before night-night: