27th December 2006 - Top of the Rock

We've been watching the weather reports for clear or rainy days to plot what to do next. And the 27th was supposed to be a clear day which meant it was great to go to the Top of the Rock - the top of the Rockefeller Centre. We took the local advice and avoided going up Empire State Building as the queues are always long. The Rock took us 15 mins at best. It was freezing up there but we has the best views of New York and of course, Empire State building herself!
We experienced the only snowflakes up there in all of our entire trip. It was either raining or terribly muggy - it was the warmest Dec for NYC for 80 odd years with temps 15F above normal. It was averaging 50 to 60F everyday. We didn't get to see any snow (although the West Coast and especially Denver got a huge continuous dumping). With the freezing air, we all had a few snowflakes land in our hair. No White Christmas but it made us happy!
We took so many pics but I'll only post 2 :)



Later that afternoon, we went to NYRRC on the east side near Guggenheim to register DS for the Emerald Nuts New Years Eve 2006 Midnite Run. DS was excited to join the event and it would get us out of Times Square that nite. News reports were already estimating a turnout of at least 1 million people anticipated there!
Later that nite we met up again with our grand aunt and cousins. This time we headed off to Flushing for Steamboat! or as it's known here, Minni's Shabu Shabu. Inexpensive and the variety fantastic, the place had a queue going out the door. It is advisable to try and make it here btwn 5.30 to 6pm to get a table. I was tempted to order the exotic items on the menu but decided agst it as DH's lot appeared to be a little on the conservative side. Love the condiments and quantity of food!