Adventures at the Natural History Museum

This last week, my BF and I visited the American Museum of Natural History. I always loved the Natural History Museum. I love seeing examples of other cultures and reading about the traditions and ceremonies of the people. I am thrilled by the reassembled fossils of prehistoric creatures and seeing how groundhogs (for example) have evolved. I am inspired by the exhibits about space travel and the study of our galaxy and beyond.

We literally spent hours studying one exhibit after another and we still did not see everything. (I overheard one patron mention that they had been there for 7 hours.) I strongly advise you to take a few minutes at the beginning of your excursion to study the museum map and determine which exhibits you are most interested in seeing. Begin with those. Of course you will end up traveling through the "Animals of South Africa" section on your way to the "Creatures of the Sea" exhibit and there is no reason not to take a few moments to marvel at the gorilla diorama. But there is so much to see that mapping out your interests in advance will help insure that you will get to see all the things that are on the top of your list.

I would also suggest visiting the website http://www.amnh.org/ in advance of your visit to see if there are exhibits that are especially exciting to you. We, for example were disappointed to find that we had missed the "Mythical Creatures" exhibit by about a week. The museum also hosts lectures and presentations that might be of interest.

This is a great trip for the entire family. The dinosaur exhibits are particularly alluring to kids, but many of the displays are kid friendly offering interactive things to touch or try. It is truly a joyful experience to witness 3 ten year old boys as they excitedly explain to each other the idea of continental drift.

As with most attractions, weekends tend to have much larger crowds, which can add to the excitement and energy of the day. However, if you prefer the quiet serene of calmly strolling through the museum, I suggest going during the day on a weekday.

Admittedly the first 20 minutes of our visit was a little overwhelming as we traversed the throngs of families and tried to orient ourselves. However, we quickly found a cozy little spot to have a bite to eat and what better way to start our day than to have lunch while pondering the giant fossils a woolly mammoth? From that point on, the day was filled with discovery and fun.

Insider Tips

• Wear comfortable shoes.
• Take the time to study the museum map and determine the exhibits you are the most interested in. Start with those.
• You can bring food and drinks to the museum. If you are planning to spend the day, you can either bring your lunch or buy nourishment from the museum cafeteria.
• Check out their website in advance of your trip to find out what special events are going on or what new exhibits are on display. http://www.amnh.org/.

A Night at the Opera

I have never been to the opera. Honestly I have always been intimidated by it. To begin with, opera is usually performed in a foreign language which, for me, makes it difficult to understand and therefore difficult to relate to. Opera is traditionally very grandiose and has a reputation for being over dramatic, which can also make it difficult to relate to.

However a few weeks ago my BF and I saw an advertisement for MacBeth by Giuseppe Verdi being performed at the Metropolitan Opera. I am very familiar with the story of MacBeth and I thought if I am going to go to the opera, this would be a good one to start with. Even if I didn’t understand the actual words they were singing I would still be able to follow the plot. In addition, it was at the Metropolitan Opera, the premier company in the country and what better place to get my first taste.

I was worried that tickets would be out of our price range. It is true that tickets can be quite expensive for orchestra seats. However, I was surprised to find that there are “family circle” seats (meaning seats in the back of the theatre in the fifth balcony) for only $15 on weekdays. Of course there are price points between $15 and $280 depending on what day of the week you go and where in the theatre you sit.

My BF and I made a date of the evening beginning with dinner at Planet Sushi located at 78^th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. A moderately priced Japanese restaurant, the food is tasty and the sake is warm. My favorite part of the meal was that every time a customer walked through the door, the entire staff called out a friendly Japanese greeting. To get a look at their menu, check out their website at http://www.psushi.com/.

Following dinner, we decided to walk the few short blocks to Broadway and 65^th Street. Lincoln Center is gorgeous at night. It is such a lustrous sight to round the corner into the plaza filled with folks who are attending the ballet, the opera or an evening of theatre dressed up in suits and gowns, the fountain lit up and the inspiring architecture surrounding you. The Metropolitan Opera House is opulent with a three story crystal chandelier, red velvet stairs and marble walls.

We were sitting quite far up which has its advantages and disadvantages. A friend of mine, who is an opera aficionado, schooled me on the benefits. None of the performers are mic’d, so the amplification is due only to the acoustics of the theatre and the amazingly powerful voices of the performers. At the higher levels of the theatre, the acoustics create a perfect balance between the voices and the orchestra. You also have a great view of the entire stage. The set and lighting design was incredible and it was so nice to be at a vantage point to fully appreciate it. Of course the biggest drawback to sitting so far from the stage is that you can’t really see the performers faces. This is where opera glasses come into play. Even a cheap pair of binoculars that we got as a promotional gift for a magazine subscription works well. Plus its fun to spy on your fellow audience members and check out what everyone else is wearing.

As for the opera being sung in Italian, it was not an issue. The Metropolitan provides a personal monitor for each seat that scrolls the words along with the singers.

We thoroughly enjoyed our night at the opera. There were things about the production of MacBeth that I thought were inspired; the voices were world class and I was pleasantly surprised by the innovative staging. Admittedly there were some things that did not necessarily speak to me, but it was a great cultural experience and nothing to be intimated by. My BF and I agreed that we would have to return to see another production soon.

Insider tips:

• Go to the bathroom before the opera starts. Operas tend to be long and unless you are sitting in an aisle seat, it is extremely disruptive to get up during the performance.
• Upon arrival, you should ask at the box office if upgrade seats are available. Occasionally unpurchased seats are released for upgrade.
• You don’t need to dress in a tux or gown to go to the opera. You can if you want of course, but slacks and a button down shirt or a casual little dress are also acceptable.

To check out their season and for dates and ticket prices visit the Met’s website at http://www.metopera.org/.

A Visit to the Rock

Rockefeller Center offers any sightseer a lot of bang in a relatively compact area of town. Although it is a not-to-be-missed destination year round, it is truly magnificent during the holidays. The plaza is home to the largest Christmas tree in NYC and the surrounding buildings are adorned with some very clever and beautiful decorations that make it a winter wonderland to behold.

Of course one of the most identifiable New York City images is the bronze gilded statue of Prometheus that is so prominently displayed at the heart of Rockefeller Center. In the winter months, the sunken plaza also provides the perfect environment for ice-skaters to become a part of the scene. A hot cup of tea from a near-by coffee shop and a camera will provide you with the tools you will need to have a lovely time people watching and snapping photographs.

One word of caution though is that the plaza can be incredibly crowded in late December. My friends and I like to visit after Christmas when the crowds have thinned out a little and we can truly enjoy the environment.

If you are an early riser, you can join the crowds outside the Today show and maybe meet Matt Lauer or Al Roker or even find yourself on national television saying "hi" to mom. While you are there, you can also check out the famous window displays of Saks Fifth Ave and visit St. Patrick's Cathedral http://www.saintpatrickscathedral.org/.

Now all of the above can be done absolutely free of charge and makes for a delightful afternoon, but for a small investment, you can take advantage of the many tours that take place in and around Rockefeller Center.

My favorite Rockefeller tour is a trip to the Top of the Rock. I personally prefer it over the Empire State Building. The view is breathtaking and the lines are considerably shorter. On my trip it was 15 minutes (compared to the 3 hours I waited for the Empire State Building - granted I visited the ESB in the summer so….) I enjoyed the video history provided in the elevator ride and I especially liked the glass bottom deck.
A trip to the Top of the Rock is $17.00. Check out their website http://www.topoftherocknyc.com/ for special events and special offers.

Radio City Music Hall, home to the "world-famous Rockettes," offers both tours and shows. The one-hour "Stage Door Tour" is a walking tour that points out the architectural and historical highlights of the Radio City Music Hall. This tour is $17.00. Radio City also provides a full season of entertainment. Everything from stand-up comedy to music concerts to the Christmas Spectacular plays the boards of this historical theatre. It always makes for a glamorous evening to get dressed up and visit one of the most renowned theatres in the United States. Depending on the show, tickets can run from $30 to $500 per seat. Check out their website at http://www.radiocity.com/ for a calendar of events and more information about the tour.

NBC offers tours through the halls and studios of their New York City base of operations. It is marketed as an hour and a half walking tour. I have not taken the tour, but a friend of mine did and was very disappointed. He noted that half of the time was spent waiting for elevators and that there was only time enough to see 2 studios. This tour is $18.00. Check out their website for more information http://www.nbcuniversalstore.com/index.php?v=nbunbcmktnbt.

If you want the experience of ice-skating in Rockefeller Center, you can visit between October and April. For Adults it runs $10 per person, per session on weekdays and $14 per person, per session on weekends and holidays; plus $8 for skate rental. Sessions last approximately 2 hours. http://www.rapatina.com/iceRink

For more information about Rockefeller Center and the myriad of events that take place year round, check out their website http://www.rockefellercenter.com/home.html.

Celebrating away from the crowds

If you are like me and the loud, raucous crowds of Time Square seem a bit overwhelming, you might opt for a different kind of New Year's celebration.

My boyfriend (my BF) and I spent this New Year's having a very romantic meal at the River Room which is located at 145th Street and Riverside Drive. Far from the screaming party goers of midtown, this upper west side venue is sharp and elegant. The amazing view of the Hudson River and the George Washington Bridge is definitely worth traveling the few extra blocks.

The special prefix New Year's menu created by Executive Chef Idris Muhammad included some Cajun favorites along with some exquisite holiday fair. The most popular item on the menu was of course the lobster, a luxurious dish that melted in your mouth and made you want to savor every single bite. The deconstructed banana split that was offered as dessert was a surprising dish that perfectly balanced sweet and salty. At $95 a person (not including drinks or tip) the three course meal was a little expensive for me and my BF, but it was only part of the experience.

Live jazz with a Caribbean twist enlivened the ambiance and soon had happy couples swinging and swaying on the small dance floor.

My only criticism of the evening was that service was slow. The staff seemed overburdened by the holiday crowd, but they kept up their spirits and were friendly despite the demands of the full house.

A champagne toast at New Year's followed by more dancing and drinking was a lovely way to say goodbye to 2007 and ring in 2008.

A lovely spot for anyone looking to have a romantic meal with one of the best views in Manhattan, the River Room is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday - Sunday with live jazz on Fridays and Saturdays. For hours and menus check out their website at http://www.theriverroomofharlem.com/.