Going Home

"There's no place like home; there's no place like home." -- Dorothy in TheWizard of Oz

What do you think of when you hear the word "home"? Is it the place where you were born? Where your parents live? Where you've spent the most time? For me, it conjures up the place where I lived the longest, from the age of 24 to 51. I traveled "home" recently, 678 miles from Greensboro to Meridian, Mississippi.

While there I visited with former students and old friends, went to a high school pep rally and football game, ate out, and drove around. Every street was so full of memories that as I drove around, the present was nearly crowded out by the past. I spent my entire young adult life in that town; it is FULL of memories. Having the time to revisit some of those memories was therapeutic and painful. Going "home" is possible, though not always as simple as merely making the journey.

**Meridian Notes:
Meridian is a town of about 40,000 people in east central Mississippi. It sits at the union of interstates 59 and 20 very close to the Alabama state line. It is not a tourist destination but is a spot where tourists often stop on their way to someplace else. If you find yourself to be one of those tourists anytime soon, I have some recommendations for your time there.

Best place to hike and take in nature: Bonita Lakes Park. There are bike trails through the woods and a gravel trail that goes around both lakes. There's also a playground and picnic tables in nice shady areas.

Best chicken salad: Cater's Market   It is too far from the interstate for a quick stop, but a perfect place for lunch if you are in town for 24 hours.

Best hamburger: Mugshots   There are several locations in Mississippi and Alabama and one in Louisiana. The Meridian one is located very near Cater's Market. The hamburgers are scrumptious, partly due to the yummy sourdough buns!

Best crab cakes and Southern food: Weidmann's  This is an older restaurant in downtown Meridian, not far at all from the interstate. It is slightly expensive, but worth it! Lunch is very casual, and dinner a little more formal. It comes highly recommended from several sources.

Speaking of the Sun

"God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also. God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good." -- Genesis 1:16-18

Today, we will experience an amazing natural phenomenon, the total solar eclipse. The last one in the United States occurred in 1979, and the next one will not be until 2024. People are excited! Me, not so much. I had a 10.5 hour drive across the Path of Totality yesterday. I had to cut short a special trip due to traffic concerns. The traffic was crazy!

We humans are fascinated with the sun, the moon, the stars, and the planets. My prayer is that we would be more fascinated by the Creator of these heavenly bodies. The fact remains that people always seem to put great stock in the movements and behaviors of these celestial objects. The whole thing has made me think about another one of my New York Moments.

I am always on the lookout for interesting and unique things to do on my trips to NYC. Prior to my summer of 2016 trip I saw online that on an evening during my visit the sunset would line up exactly with New York's east-west streets! That sounded like a really neat thing to see! As I planned my trip I scheduled myself to be in Riverside Park at sunset of that night. What did not occur to me (in my self-absorption) was that many people would want to see this same unique event. 

I went to the park a little before sunset and got some great pictures, and then made my way east along the closest street. (I was in the 90's.) I soon realized that the street was quite empty! I turned around and was shocked to see that the police had set up barriers blocking off the street, and there were hundreds, maybe thousands, of people there to see MY unique event! I ended up feeling even happier that I was involved in a New York special event and got over the fact that my important sunset discovery was not as secret as I had thought! It is now one of my very special New York moments.

New York City Restaurants

"The most splendid dinner I ever saw, a profusion of rich dishes." -- John Adams -- First Continental Congress, 1774 at Fraunces Tavern

A 2010 survey found that New York City ranks #4 in the country for number of restaurants per capita. I personally am astounded by these findings. I would have thought it would come in higher than that, for sure. (To see the top ten, click here: Top Ten Restaurants per Capita; #2, what!!!!) In all my visits to the city, I have only repeated three restaurants; there are just too many out there, and I feel the compulsion to try as many as possible! I do have my favorites, however, that list is totally fluid; with each visit, I find another restaurant to love. I am definitely not a restaurant critic, or even a foody. I am drawn to the restaurants I like using these criteria: historical importance, location, service, interesting clientele, cost, and taste. None of the places on my list are 5-star or even terribly spectacular; I just like them.

One of my favorite "go-to" restaurants in the city is Manhattan Diner. It's just around the corner from my hotel, so it's a good place to go when I need to grab a bite before heading out somewhere. The food is good, and the portions are extremely generous (especially for New York). The staff is very personable. One of the things I love about Manhattan Diner is that it's a locals restaurant. I've seen people come in and not even have to order their drinks because the server just already knows. I love that! Once I watched them lay out an entire meal at a table before the elderly lady who sat there even arrived! Their menu is varied, and I have ordered several different items and loved them all. They have desserts, but I've always been too full to get one. I think my favorite selection there was the Argentinian Style Grilled Skirt Steak Wrap. Mmmmmm! It was one of my try-something-new choices, and I was very satisfied.

Located at 2532 Broadway (between 94th and 95th Streets)

Manhattan Diner Info and Menu

Another restaurant which I love for quite different reasons is Fraunces Tavern. This small quaint establishment is located in the Financial District. The building was first used as a restaurant in 1762. It has been the meeting place for the Sons of Liberty, a headquarters for George Washington, and is currently a museum and restaurant. I am always in awe when I eat there, because, hey, I'm eating exactly where George Washington ate!!!  The attraction of the restaurant for me is the history, but the food is yummy (though not inexpensive). My favorite is the chicken pot pie! 

                                                                                                                                                                                                               Located at 54 Pearl Street
                                                                                                            Fraunces Tavern Menu 

The next two restaurants on my list are strictly touristy. I have been to both of them more than once, but never by myself. I only go to take someone who has never been. The food is pretty expensive at both places, but you're paying for the entertainment at the first and for the name at the second.

Ellen's Stardust Diner is the restaurant where aspiring Broadway actors and actresses work while they are trying to get their "big break." To the delight of all diners, these talented young people sing in the restaurant while serving you. Having a meal there may be a chunk of change, but it's also a very unique experience!

Located at 1650 Broadway (on the corner near Wicked)

Ellen's Stardust Diner Info and Menu

New York City (including all boroughs) is simply packed with pizza parlors, restaurants, stands, etc. The most popular is probably any that say "brick oven." It is almost overwhelming when you try to choose a place to get a pizza. The locals all have their favorites, so if you want a really good pizza, ask the doorman at your hotel, the cabby, the guy next to you on the train. For a certified tourist-fix, go to Grimaldi's Under the Bridge. The "bridge" is the Brooklyn Bridge, and yes, Grimaldi's is in Brooklyn. I did not find the staff to be the friendliest or the pizza to be the ultimate best, but I have been twice to experience it with two different friends. I like the pizza, and it's an interesting place to go. Tons of celebrities have been there, so pictures are everywhere. Brooklyn is a great place to go anyway, so why not Grimaldi's? There are many "Grimaldi's" out there, so make sure you go to the one under the bridge.

        Located at 1 Front Street in Brooklyn (white building)

                                    Grimaldi's  





Wherever you go, rest assured it will be an experience (hopefully good). New York has so many ethnic restaurants that you'll never have to eat the same kind of food twice unless you just want to. One of my favorite things about any NYC restaurant is people watching; that always makes the meal anywhere more fun! Enjoy and comment below about your favorite New York restaurant!

Summit Avenue in St. Paul

"Most men who have really lived have had, in some share, their great adventure. This railway is mine." -- James J. Hill

James J. Hill, the financier of the Stone Arch Bridge, (The Bridges of Hennepin County) made his home on Summit Avenue. On the recommendation of one of the kayak guides from my trip down the Mississippi River, I made my way to the famed Summit Avenue and James J. Hill's home. I was pleasantly surprised by the avenue and the home!

Summit Avenue makes its way from the area around the Cathedral of Saint Paul to Grand Avenue. It is one of the most gorgeous streets I have ever had the pleasure to stroll down. The homes are large, elegant, and speak of a time gone by. I was snapping pictures left and right! I apologize ahead of time, but I'm posting the pictures here; they're just to amazing not to share!

At the end of Summit Avenue nearest to the Cathedral of Saint Paul, sits the huge home of James J. Hill. The home is no longer a residence. It sits at the top of a hill, with the backyard overlooking Interstate 35. Hill's descendants gave the house to the Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul in 1925. Years later, in 1978, it was obtained by the Minnesota Historical Society. It is now open for daily guided tours.

 I took one of the 75 minute guided tours, and it was well-worth the $10 I paid. The tour was informative, thorough, and well-planned. We were able to go in rooms on three floors of the house, ask questions, and even view china, silver, and other important artifacts. The home is full of special architectural touches, including hand-carved wooden paneled walls, a pipe-organ, and a call-system used when it was full of a staff. (shades of Downtin Abby) The home was completed in 1891. The house is composed of 36,500 square feet, including 13 bathrooms. Hill built it for his family to really live in, as a place for business associates to meet with him, and as place for entertaining. The tour points out how the mansion met all three of his visions.

Front of the Hill house

Front stairway

** Link for information on James J. Hill and the house

James J. Hill House

Where to Stay in NYC...

"To an outlander a stay in New York can be and often is a series of small embarrassments and discomforts and disappointments: not understanding the waiter, not being able to distinguish between a sucker joint and a friendly saloon, riding the wrong subway, being slapped down by a bus driver for asking an innocent question, enduring sleepless nights when the street noises fill the bedroom. Tourists make for New York, particularly in summertime -- they swarm all over the Statue of Liberty (where many a resident of the town has never set foot), they invade the Automat, visit radio studios, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and they window shop. Mostly they have a pretty good time. -- from Here is New York, by E. B. White

I have visited NYC eight times over the last several years and have developed some strong opinions about the city. First of all, I LOVE IT!!! I do; it's fantastic! Second. I don't really like Times Square. I know; what's wrong with me? It's just too full of tourists, and I'm like a part-time resident now. (I wish!) Those two opinions being stated, I stay in a hotel well removed from the madness of Times Square. One of my favorite areas in New York City is the Upper Westside, and I've found a hotel there that meets all my needs. It is on a quiet corner, halfway between Central Park and Riverside Park. It's around the corner from a major 1, 2, 3 Subway stop. (By riding a 2 or 3, you can be at Times Square in three stops!) The hotel is near a great restaurant, a deli, a frozen yogurt shop, and a Duane Read. It's my home-away-from-home.

My hotel of choice is Days Broadway. It is on Broadway and 94th Street. There may be fancier hotels further downtown, but I am quite happy with this small quiet setting. They are gradually renovating the rooms, and I have been impressed with the new look. The rooms are on the smaller side, but since I usually vacation alone that has not been a big deal. There is no restaurant, but that's not unusual for a hotel in the city.  There is a concierge on duty through the day, a doorman, a friendly front desk staff, and conscientious housekeeping staff. There is also an onsite fitness room, which I have never used because I usually get enough exercise from power-walking everywhere.
NEW INFORMATION!!! This hotel has become very rundown. They have also gone up in price. Does that even make sense???? I have read terrible reviews lately. I will not be staying there again until I hear anything different!!!

I have stayed in three other hotels on different visits. The first I can't even remember the name of; I was THAT unimpressed. I have also stayed at Hotel Pennsylvania and Milford Plaza (now called Row NYC). Both of these hotels are in the Times Square area. They each average $150 - $160 a night in the summer, while Days Broadway averages closer to $140. A bigger consideration for me than the $10/night difference is that I can walk out of my hotel at any time and not have to step over or around a homeless person. That has become a big problem in the Times Square area.

Through research, I have found that it is better to reserve your room directly through the hotel, especially if you are a member of any rewards program like Wyndham Rewards. Also, direct reservations increase your chances of a free upgrade. I got that once at Days Broadway, and it was awesome!

If you decide to visit NYC and you stay here, be sure to comment and let me know how your stay went. I hope that you are satisfied with anything that I recommend, and if not, I'd like to know.

**Hotel Notes:
Days Hotel Reservations
Address: 215 West 94th Street
Phone: 1-866-238-4218

How to Make Your Trip More Meaningful

"'You don't know how kind people are until you go traveling,' she thought. 'Travel is very broadening.'" -- Betsy in Betsy and the Great World

This is a list of suggestions you can apply to a myriad of travel destinations. Visiting other cities, hitting the tourist hotspots, and following the guidebooks is one thing, but here are some ideas to make your trips stand apart.

1)Find a hiking/nature trail.
This is not difficult, especially in recent times as more and more cities are encouraging their residents to walk more. I have searched "nature trail" in my GPS, asked residents, or just driven around till I found a surprise trail. Walking outside on a trail enhances more of your senses which in turn gives you more memories. The sights you will see while walking will also give you more to remember!

I have walked trails in Florida, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi and have special memories of each trail. I found one of my favorite trails at Lettuce Lake Park in Tampa, Florida. It is boardwalk trail along the Hillsborough River. The walk is easy and gorgeous. There's even a 3-story observation tower  On one visit, we counted 15 animals! You can't forget something like that. (See link below for park address and complete description.)

      View from the boardwalk trail.

2) Try a new food.

I'm the kind of person who has my regulars at different restaurants. I just know what I like and am usually afraid to deviate from what I already know is good. While traveling however, I always make myself order a dish I don't usually get. I have not often been disappointed. (Yes, there was that one time at that restaurant in New York's Chinatown, but we'd better not go there.) The shrimp tacos order at The Seasalt Eatery was one of my successes. 

One of my most memorable "I think I'll have..." meals was in Wytheville, Virginia at the Bolling Wilson Hotel's Graze on Main. I am not usually a fish-person, but on the server's recommendation I ordered the blackened salmon. It was delicious!! Not only that, the outside dining area was quiet and peaceful, and the staff was very friendly. (Address and link below.)

My most recent success was at the Mall of America. I ate at the Twin City Grill and tried the Minnesota Wild Rice and Corn Chowder. It was delectable! I even went back another day and ordered it again. I totally recommend it. 

3) Visit with the people around you.

This applies to local residents and other travelers. There are so many occasions when you can just strike up a conversation with someone near you -- a restaurant, a bus stop, a train, an airport, and so many more. The conversations you have and the connections you make with other people will stay in your memory forever, and the people themselves may actually have a lasting impact on your life. I have a friend who met another American while traveling in Italy and ended up with an offer of a place to stay in downtown Chicago. Wow!! 

I personally met a couple while I was visiting Jacksonville, Florida. I enjoyed dinner and a show at the Alhambra Dinner Theater, and was seated with a couple also visiting the area. We struck up a conversation, found that we shared a faith in Jesus, and just really hit it off! That was four years ago, and Jessica and I still "chat" and play Words with Friends. That's a memory that's not going anywhere! (The Alhambra Dinner Theater is also a must if you're ever in Jacksonville. The link is below.)

4) Shop for t-shirts at local thrift stores resale stores.

I have found these shops the absolute best place to purchase t-shirts. This is especially true in big cities. New York City is my big city of choice. I love to go to the Salvation Army stores in Manhattan and Brooklyn and pick up locally-themed t shirts for $5 and less. I now have shirts from Shakespeare in the Park, local schools, sporting events, and more. The shirts are also great for gifts for the people who have everything. Who doesn't need an already worn t-shirt from New York City with the name of a NYC public school printed across the back??? Awesome!! Also, it is so much fun for my ultra-organized self to shop for t-shirts on racks that are totally organized by color. These shirts are way more interesting than the usual touristy I 💙NY. (There's a list of a few addresses below.)

A few of my favorites!

5) Do something you've never done.

This is important to me. I make it a goal of mine on every major trip to do at least one thing I've never done. This applies to even my return trips to New York City; I do something new on each trip. Sometimes and in some places, this might mean you have to get creative, but do it. Creativity heightens memory. It's hard not to list all my "new" experiences here, but I will resist temptation and keep it at two. 

I stayed in a lodge at a state park. This was such a fun and relaxing experience! The lodge had a great buffet style restaurant, there were nearby trails, there was a beautiful lake. I never had to get in my car and go anywhere if I didn't choose to. The lodge was located at Pennyrile Forest State Park. (link below) I recommend this especially for a long fall week-end. The scenery is gorgeous, the food delicious, and the rooms comfortable. 

Another new experience was the Hard Hat Tour at Ellis Island. I absolutely love Ellis Island and have visited the museum about 4 times. I've read many books about people who passed through years ago. I dreamed of learning more about the experiences those people had, then I learned about the Hard Hat Tour! It gives visitors the opportunity to see behind-the-scenes rooms and hear more stories about the island's amazing history. I even got to go into a condemned building! It is a new experience that I highly recommend.

**Helpful Links

Lettuce Lake Park

Graze on Main Restaurant 

Twin City Grill

Alhambra Dinner Theater

NYC Salvation Army Thrift Stores:

120 W. 14th Street  (my favorite)

220 E. 23rd Street

536 W. 46th Street

1243 Fulton Street (Brooklyn)

Pennyrile Forest State Park

Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour

Favorite New York Moments

"I love New York even though it isn't mine, the way something has to be, a tree or a street or a house, something, anyway, that belongs to me because I belong to it." -- Truman Capote

I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it many more times; I love New York City! It's hard to even describe what it is that I love about it -- the history, the energy, the culture, the people. I'm excited when I'm headed there, consumed when I'm there, and despondent when I have to leave. (Once I even cried on the airplane as it rose into the air above JFK.) That being said, it's not the easiest task to come up with my favorite moments in the city. After much deliberation and looking over old journals, I have chosen three.

My all-time favorite moment took place on the 1 train headed uptown late one night after I saw Phantom of the Opera. I was holding my playbill and (as usual) a book. An older lady across the aisle asked me if I would read to her. What!!! I told her that I wouldn't mind but didn't think she'd be interested in either of the items I had with me. (The book was in fact a discussion of the economic disparity of NYC.) She said, "Oh, I thought you had a Bible." Well, she didn't have to say that twice. I moved across the aisle to sit beside her and opened the Bible app on my phone. I chose a portion of Romans and began reading to her. When I paused she said, "That's nice, but I was hoping you could read John 3:16." My heart just turned over. What an opportunity! I quickly "turned" there and read the verse to her. As I was reading she started crying and laid her head on my arm. I put my arm around her and just held her. I asked her if I could pray for her, and she nodded. I prayed for her dear heart and for her physical well-being. We were nearing my stop, and I knew that at that time of night I couldn't ride any further uptown. I told her that I had to get off, and she pulled herself together, thanking me repeatedly. I let her know that I would continue to pray for her (and still do daily) and exited the train. I kind of floated up the stairs and to my hotel. The whole experience was surreal and wonderful, a New York moment that I will NEVER forget!

Another favorite moment occurred on the same trip as my subway encounter. I was walking along the Greenway near the East River. Due to some construction I had to cross over FDR Drive using a pedestrian bridge. I was pretty far north, in the Harlem vicinity. I was (as you always should be in New York) very aware of my surroundings. As I made the turn to ascend the ramp to the bridge, I noticed a man above me on the ramp. My immediate inclination was to turn around and go back where I came from and cross the FDR further north. That would mean backtracking 5 miles! I know that backtracking in travel can be fun and enlightening, but I had already been walking over 15 miles that morning and didn't relish an additional 10 miles of already covered area. I forged ahead and moved up the ramp. It was one of my best New York decisions! The gentleman greeted me as I neared. Then he welcomed me to his "home." He and his wife (I met her a few minutes later as she looked out from her tent.) live on the bridge ramp! He showed me the mirror hanging on the chain link fence which he uses to get ready every morning. He showed me the cooler where they keep their food. He showed me the tent they sleep in. It was amazing, humbling. I was careful to thank him for showing me around and for allowing me to pass through. It was another surreal New York experience. I returned the next day and gave his wife some cookies, bottled water, and $10. I let her know that her family would be in my prayers. They remain on my daily prayer list. Below is a picture of the area very close to where the bridge ramp started.

My final New York moment to share does not belong in the same class as these other two events, but I have to share it. This was one of those true touristy situations which I usually avoid. On this particular occasion I gave in to tourist-temptation. After seeing the play If/Then (which was not very good and soon closed) I hung around the theater afterwards to meet the star. Wait for it.... Idina Menzel! I had to wait along with the other 50 million tourists (slight exaggeration) to catch a glimpse of a famous person. Really?? Well, an hour of post theater waiting paid off. As she made her weary and protected way to her black SUV (There are a million of them in New York.) she chose my playbill to autograph! Really!! It was one of those New York moments that everyone wants to experience, and I had done it!

It's hard to see, but look at that black scribbly mark across the title and the girl!

Three New York moments. In my memory forever. Moments that have changed my perspective, my prayer life, my passions. New York moments are the best! Be sure and share yours in the comment section below.