Josie and Chloe in Gotham City

We were so excited to have Joe, Charlotte, Josie, and Chloe come from Highland, Utah to visit us for a few days.  We were on a break from our temple service during the temple's routine two-week summer maintenance.

Here we are checking out the view from the top of our apartment building.

We went to Manhattan's Chinatown for some authentic Chinese dim sum.  We got along pretty well until they brought around the fried chicken feet.
The next day they were thrilled to discover "Shake Shack," and that quickly became their favorite New York meal.

Chloe was especially excited about our visit to the huge Nintendo Store at Rockefeller Plaza.

 Many say that Juliana's in Brooklyn is supposed to have the BEST (thin-crusted) New York pizza--and we agree.

 It was a thrill to watch the city put on her sparkling jewels of light as dark fell.  The Manhattan skyline was stunning!  Afterwards we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge.



Another highlight was visiting Ellis Island, Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty.

We enjoyed walking through Central Park several times.  Central Park is a huge, beloved, public space which is vibrant with activity all day long in the summer.  The Bethesda Fountain is an especially lovely spot.

 When we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Chloe was particularly excited about seeing the Degas ballet paintings.

Charlotte, with her training in and love for art, was a wonderful guide for her girls as they got a taste of the treasures in this incredible collection.

We thought Josie looked a lot like the woman in John Singer Sargent's elegant portrait of "Madame X."

We all loved the vast collection of Egyptian art.  Here Joe and Josie check out the Temple of Dendur  transferred here, block by block, from the Nile Valley of Egypt.

Both girls were fascinated by the displays of arms and armor.  These horsemen ride beneath banners  of some of the knights of the Round Table.

A little weary after more than four hours at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, we reluctantly decided to call it a day--even though there was still so much yet to see.

We hope  this dear family we come back and see us again soon!

Around the City

Down near the southern tip of Manhattan is the financial district including the New York Stock Exchange.  Wall Street was so named because it ran along the line of defensive walls the Dutch built to protect themselves from the British .  Close by is Federal Hall, the site of our nation's first capital.  A grand statue of George Washington stands on the site of his inauguration.

A surprising sight right in the midst of busy downtown New York City is this peaceful colonial-era graveyard near Trinity Church.

 We attended a splendid New York Philharmonic concert in the mammoth, Anglican Cathedral of St John the Divine. Started in 1892, it is still only two-thirds finished.  When complete, it will be the largest cathedral in the world.

 The Solomon R Guggenheim Museum, on Fifth Avenue along "Museum Mile," is home to a fine collection of modern and contemporary art.  We enjoyed the stunning architecture of the building itself more than the art it housed.  It was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, his only building in New York City.

We spent one morning biking on Roosevelt Island, located in the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn. We got great views of Manhattan's east side.

This now-abandoned smallpox hospital, built on the island in 1856, served about 100 patients until 1875, when it was converted into a school for nurses.

"Roosevelt Island" honors President Franklin D Roosevelt.  It has residential areas as well as an impressive park commemorating his presidency.

We were deeply moved by this visonary statement he made near the beginning of World War II.

 From the island we got this spectacular view of Manhattan from the east.  Prominent along the river on the left is the UN Building.  Center is the spire of the Empire State Building; the pointed crest of the  Chrysler Building rises on the right.

We were thrilled by a performance of the Tabernacle Choir in famed Carnegie Hall on July 2.

One hot afternoon we took the subway south about an hour to the southern edge of Brooklyn along the Atlantic Ocean to "Coney Island."  It was a fun change of pace to get sand between our toes on the beach and stroll the historic boardwalk, built in 1921.

 The amusement park rides included the rickety, wooden roller coaster,"Cyclone," a designated New York City Landmark.

Of course we had to try a "Coney Dog" from Nathan's. (And, truly, it was the best I have ever eaten!) They claim to have invented the hot dog and have been selling them here since 1916.

New York City is full of music, from street performers to the finest classical concerts.  Dozens of free summer concerts in parks are sponsored throughout the City. We have enjoyed several, including this one by the Boston Symphony Chamber Players in the huge Naumburg Band Shell in Central Park.