Light reflections

We awoke to rain hitting the hotel windows so the day didn't feel quite as promising. We decided to try and base our day around indoor things so our first stop was the New York State Library which has a beautiful interior with lots of wall paintings and ornate ceilings.

The rain was coming down heavily when we left so we popped into Grand Central Station which is the largest train station in the world by number of platforms. The tracks are on two levels, both below ground, with 41 tracks on the upper level and 26 on the lower and the terminal covers an area of 48 acres. It has a beautiful concourse and there were a number of wedding shoots taking place.

We carried on up 5th Avenue popping into shops before we got to the Rockefeller Centre. The Rockefeller Centre was completed in 1939 and is now a National Historic Landmark and was the perfect place to grab some lunch.

Our next stop was FAO Schwarz which is the oldest toy store in the United States and was founded in 1862. Matt and I were in our element trying all the toys, putting on silly hats and trying to resist buying everything. The 'Big Piano' was swarming with kids so we had to give it a miss but up made up for it watching 'Muppets' being created.

We had dinner at a steakhouse called Keens and were lucky as we had no reservation but only had to wait half an hour to be seated. This gave us a chance to get a drink in the bar and soak up the atmosphere. The steak was amazing and almost as good as our favourite steak restaurant 'Hawksmoor' in London. The restaurant had a warm and cosy feeling due to the low ceilings which were also covered in pipes. The service was also excellent and I would highly recommend a visit.

With our tummies full I wanted to visit Times Square to see the lights at night. It amazes me how the lights can have such an impact and draw in so many people. I also think it's quite a romantic place and we were happy to mull about taking it all in before catching a cab back to the hotel.


Times Square, New York