Post Weekend Review: New York, NY!!

So, this weekend I went to visit Tim and Lindsay Amundson in New York City. Tim is one of my best friends from the University of Minnesota and I was the best man in Tim and Lindsay's wedding. We had been talking about a possible visit to NYC for a long time but I've never had the money or time to go. Tim and Lindsay are moving back to Minnesota at the end of June so I had to go! Plus, it was my birthday weekend, so NYC was my present from me.

From Williamsport, I drove 2 hrs and 45 mins to Dover, NJ where I caught the Amtrak. Tim met me at Penn Station and we went to eat. After that, we went to their local pub where Lindsay's friends threw her and Tim a surprise going away party! Good times were had by all. The next morning, Tim and I hit the ground running with the touristy spots. In order, this is what we accomplished over the weekend:

Saturday

First New York Subway ride

Chrysler Building (outside, plus my first NYC taxi ride!)

Grand Central Station

Chinatown/Canal Street (Lots of replica stuff, I heard "Oakley, Rolex, Gucci" a lot)

Walked over Brooklyn Bridge

Grimaldi's Pizza (New York Style Pizza, delicious!!!)

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Boat Tour of the Hudson (aka view Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, USS Intrepid, Chelsea Pier)

Battery Park

Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian (George Gustav Heye Center)

Wall Street Bull

Outside of New York Stock Exchange

Outside of Federal Hall

Ground Zero (Lots of construction here, tough to see and understand what is what)

NHL Pro Shop (Lot's of Blackhawks stuff, aka awesome!)

Outside of Radio City Music Hall

Sunset at The Rockefeller Center (Amazing view, probably better than at the Empire)

Mexican Radio (It's a restaurant, amazing food!!)

Times Square at Night

Sunday

John Lennon Tribute in Central Park (Went early to get pics before tons of people showed up)

- Strawberry Fields

- Dakota Hotel (Across the street from Central Park)

Shake Shack (Great little burger place!)

Columbia University Campus (One of the original colonial colleges! Beautiful campus!)

Grant's Tomb (Pretty awesome little museum, got some sweet pics and video)

Central Park (Took some pictures, tossed a baseball around, there is so much to see there!)

After Central Park, I was beat. I'd been in the heat all weekend and decided to throw in the towel. We went back to Tim's, I gathered my gear, and pushed west to Williamsport. I got home about 10pm. I may have been exhausted but it was well worth it.

I will recommend two things: 1. make sure you have an extra camera battery with you at all times and 2. you can do so much more with someone who knows the city and subway really well. I would not have seen half the things had it not been for Tim. I'm not sure how I'm going to post the pictures. There's kind of a lot. Maybe a movie? We'll see. Overall, great weekend! Thanks to Tim and Lindsay for their hospitality!