We had lunch at this little pizza place, we toured Pratt, then we took the subway to China Town. Then it was off to the Empire State Building where we went up to the observation deck. The observation deck at the Empire State Building is very cool, you go outside and can look out across the city. I asked people who worked there and they all said business was still way off from before 9-11. After the Empire State Building we went to Time Square, then to have dinner with our friend Jack Pontillo.
We've known Jake almost all of Danielle's life. We met Jake when he taught at Illinois State University and lived in university housing with us. We've kept in touch with Jake over the years and he's been a really good friend to Danielle. It's great to know we've got a good friend in New York who has taken care of Danielle when she's needed help from someone who knows people in the city.
We had dinner with Jake and then he gave us a short driving tour of his neighborhood, Queens. We saw the original Steinway Piano factory and the housing Mr. Steinway built for his workers. Mr. Steinway would spin in his grave if he knew what those houses sell for now! If you watch Law and Order and they go to Rikers Island, that's right down the street from Jake's house.
We took Danielle home (about 30 minutes at night with no traffic, hours with traffic) and Jake and I reminisced back at his air-conditioned house. I spent the night in cool comfort at Jakes. The next day, Friday, Jake and I had breakfast, he dropped me off at the subway, and I made my way back to Brooklyn, on the subway, alone. What should have taken 45 minutes took me 3 hours - but it was time well spent sightseeing in the subway. People were very friendly and helped me get on the right train.
Back at Danielle's we went to Home Depot in Brooklyn, and bought her a large fan in addition to the other fans she brought from home. Home Depot in Brooklyn is way different than any other Home Depot I've ever seen. You know how most of them are at the center of a parking lot? This one was under Brooklyn - Queens - Expressway(BQE) and if you didn't know where it was you'd never find it.
