Christmas 1999 in New York

View from the Empire State Building

This page is about a Christmas vacation in New York City in 1999, nine years after we moved to France; it was originally published on January 8, 2000. All photos were taken with our first digital camera, a Fujifilm MX-700 at its maximum resolution of 1280×1024 pixels. The trip yielded a substantial crop of photographs, way too many to display on a page using our usual format; after all, this was the time of slow dial-up Internet connections. For this reason, we only included small partial views of each photo on the original page. Clicking on any of these 100×100 pixel images would then display the entire frame at 500×400 pixels.

I used ON1 Photo Raw 2026's Resize AI feature to produce 2500×2000 photos from which I also generated thumbnails of 500×400 pixels; those are displayed as 250×200 pixels. I added a few more photos; throughout the text, there are links to individual photos; just like clicking on a thumbnail, these open a large photo in a separate window or tab. Simply close that window or tab to return to this page. Enjoy this old Christmas trip to the Big Apple with us!

We arrived in New York during the afternoon of Saturday, December 18, 1999, having taken a non-stop flight from Nice to JFK. While in Manhattan, we stayed at the Milburn hotel on West 76th Street and Broadway. The Milburn used to be an apartment building that was converted to a hotel a number of years ago. We had a two bedroom apartment, complete with a small kitchen on the fourteenth floor, the second to the last floor in the photo [1].

The day after we arrived we had breakfast at Big Nick's, as typical a New York eatery as one can find. It's located on Broadway between 76th and 77th Street, and their bacon and egg sandwiches are simply put, excellent [2]. After breakfast, we walked through Central Park [3] to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.


The Milburn Hotel	At Big Nick's	In Central Park

In the afternoon, we strolled down Fifth Avenue where we visited Saint Patrick's cathedral [4] and admired the huge Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center [5]. We also spent some time watching people ice skating under the statue of Prometheus [6].


Saint Patrick's	Rockefeller Center	Skating at Rockefeller Center

Of course, we couldn't resist the large pretzels (served warm and covered with salt) -- a favorite snack of Eric's [7]. On Monday, it pretty much rained all day, but it was also the only rain we saw during our entire vacation, so we were really very lucky. Since we were not in any great rush to venture outside, Vicki finished the Sunday Times [8] begun a day earlier. In the afternoon, we went to the Citigroup Center [9] on Lexington Avenue.


New York Snacks	Sunday New York Times	The Citigroup Center

There, they had their annual "The Station" exhibit: a gigantic train set that features four distinctive scenes, each modeled after a different part of New York State and set in a different season. For example, in the portion of the summer scene shown here, we see a parade marching down Main Street of a small town in the Catskill mountains [10]. For the fall season, we move to the Adirondacks [11]. "The Station" is on display once a year during the holiday season. One can do quite a bit of indoor shopping in the Citigroup Center as well, and there are many eateries where one can take a load off one's feet as David demonstrates here [12].


Summer (Catskills)	Fall (Adirondacks)	David taking a break

But what could be more appropriate than to visit a real station after admiring the model trains? We got wet walking to the recently restored Grand Central Station, but it was definitely worth it. The main hall is magnificent, and the clock, one of the most famous meeting points in New York City, is still there [13]. The following morning (Tuesday), Vicki took the kids to the movies while I went to the Marriott at Times Square to have lunch with two former colleagues (now friends) from my American Express days. Dave [14] and I had not seen each other since 1990, and yet we both claimed that the other had not changed a bit (perhaps we're going blind). I usually get to see John [15] once a year, and it's always a treat.


Grand Central Station	Dave	John

A friendly waitress took the picture of what I hope will be our first annual reunion [16]. After a delightful three hour lunch, I made my way across Times Square [17] and up to the Plaza hotel where I was to meet Vicki and the boys for high tea at the Palm Court [18]. This is not our typical kind of venue, but once in a while it's fun to indulge.


Amex reunion	Times Square	The Palm Court

We had a good time nibbling on watercress sandwiches, scones, and miniature pastries [19], while sipping tea and watching the other patrons. We also made an obligatory stop at CompUSA where David picked up a Mac game. That night, in our hotel room, we see him busy studying [20] the "Total Annihilation" manual (by the time we were back in France he knew it by heart). Right around the corner from our hotel was a store that was home to a very cute cat (but then we think all cats are cute). It would sit on the scale and peer through the bars [21], acting very brave. We passed our feline friend every day on the way to breakfast.


Treats at the Palm Court	Studying a user manual	A Guard Cat

On Wednesday morning, Vicki's sister Gail had come to town from Long Island, and after a bite at Big Nick's, we were off to the American Museum of Natural History [22], just a few blocks away. I liked the dinosaur in the lobby [23] and the small collection of moon rocks. The one shown here [24] is sample 14305 and was collected from the lunar surface on February 5, 1971 by the Apollo 14 crew. It is supposed to be Kreep Basalt (whatever that is). Isn't this an educational web site?


By the Museum of Natural History	The dinosaur in the lobby	Moon rock sample 14305

After the museum visit, we just wandered around Manhattan for a while, looking up all the time like all tourists [25]. Thursday was our day to reach new heights! We took the number 1 subway [26] to 34th Street and made our way towards the Empire State Building. The sheer size of this New York landmark is just awesome! [27].


Skyscraper	On the subway	The Empire State Building

Eric [28] and David [29] spent a few quarters zooming in on selected details of the glorious view from the visitor's terrace on the 86th floor (see the top of this page for an example of what New York looks like from up there). Then we took a small elevator to the 102nd floor. On top, there is only an indoor viewing area, but the view is fantastic [30].


Eric is enjoying the view	David is doing the same	The vista from the 102nd floor

In the afternoon, we split up. Vicki and Eric headed towards Macy's (boooring!) while David and I walked to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on Pier 86 at 12th Avenue and 46th Street. We were there all afternoon. How many times does one get the opportunity to walk around on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier [31]? Or touch a legendary Lockheed SR-71, at Mach 3.6+ the fastest jet plane ever built [32]? Or walk onto the bridge of a destroyer [33]? There just doesn't seem to be anything one cannot do in New York City!


On the deck of the USS Intrepid	The Lockheed SR-71	The USS Edson

The variety in the architecture of New York City is spectacular. The photo of the red building [34] was taken somewhere on 45th or 46th Street between 10th and 11th Avenue on the way to Pier 96 on Thursday. The Flatiron building [35] and World Trade Center [36] were photographed during a stroll from Union Square to lower Manhattan on Friday. While the weather was spectacular, it started to get really cold on Friday, forcing many warm-up breaks in coffee shops (no one complained).


Red building	The Flatiron Building	The World Trade Center

Downtown, we walked down Wall Street [37] and to the South Street Seaport [38]. Right next to the East River, there was an icy wind blowing, and we barely could make the kids sit down outside long enough to take a picture [39]. It was Christmas Eve, though it certainly did not feel like it. Still, the South Street Seaport is worth a visit any day.


On Wall Street	By the South Street Seaport	The boys braving the cold

Inside, it was a little bit less cold, and David took this picture of us [40]. By Canal Street and Broadway [41], temperatures were higher, and walking around outside became more bearable. On Christmas Day we did something we had always wanted to do: we took a ride in Central Park in one of those horse-drawn carriages [42].


David's photo of the three of us	By Canal Street and Broadway	On the carriage ride

This was a great deal of fun [43], even though we were ripped off by our driver. But maybe we are too fussy? Should a ride that's advertised at a certain rate for half an hour end after a mere sixteen minutes? We don't think so. After arguing for a while, we eventually settled the matter by not paying the tip. Anyway, we liked our horse [44] better than the coachman. Walking back to the hotel through Central Park, we watched the ducks on a portion of the lake that had not frozen over completely [45].


On the carriage ride	Our horse	Ducks in Central Park

We also stopped to watch the skaters on the Wollman Rink [46] and then rested a couple of hours at the hotel (these steam radiators were wonderful!) and headed back to the Times Square area [47] to see "Putting It Together", a musical review of Stephen Sondheim numbers [48]. We knew most of the songs, but seeing (and hearing!) them performed by people like Carol Burnett and George Hearn was a delight.


Skaters on the Wollman Rink	Times Square at night	What we went to see

On Sunday we left Manhattan and took the train to Gail and Andy's house in Kings Park where, unbelievably, we were treated to a belated (but nonetheless delicious) Thanksgiving dinner (thanks, Gail!) This was also our first opportunity to see Andy's brand-new Eclipse [49], and I even got to drive it. Now if they could only get rid of those stupid speed limits! On Wednesday we drove to Huntington, our former home, and visited with Pop [50] and Dora. Right next to the Chinese place where we ate, they had a Sale at The Gap. Need I say more? Gail and Vicki were in their element [51].


Andy's toy	Our friend Pop	Bargains!

On Thursday we were invited to what has been called "the best pasta joint in the world" elsewhere on this site: the home of Richard and Annette [52]. A good time was had by all, and the Christmas tree [53] was duly admired. The time passed all too quickly, and the very next evening we were already in an airplane bound for Nice [54]. Our mind is already made up: we shall do this again.


Richard and Annette	The Christmas Tree	Homeward Bound

The photos on this page were taken between December 18 and 30, 1999.
They were reprocessed from the original 1280×1024 JPGs in July 2026.
You can still view the original page published on January 8, 2000.
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