Sara Davidson
|November, 10, 2025
Was it a good idea? Taking my two grand-daughters, 7 and 9, and my daughter-in-law to New York city? My son dislikes the noise and traffic and has no interest in New York, but his wife, Fay, born and raised in China, was eager to visit it for the first time, along with their daughters, Siena and Emma. In school, Siena had been learning about the Statue of Liberty that welcomes immigrants, and Emma, two years younger, was always up for adventure.
I’d prepared an itinerary, but Fay had read reports from Chinese tourists and mapped out what she wanted to do each day.
We started at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which would not have been my first choice for young kids. But they not only enjoyed it, they stayed the entire day. I went back to the hotel to have a nap after lunch, while they took numerous tours of different wings.
In the following days, we took the boat, jammed with tourists, to the Statue of Liberty, but no one was allowed to climb to the top, as they had been in past years.
We waited in a long line in the rain to get into Katz’s deli on the Lower East Side to eat pastrami sandwiches and matzo ball soup.
We saw a Broadway play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, followed by a trip to New York’s most famous toy store, F.A.O. Schwarz, which had a long line outside to enter and was packed inside. The girls picked out stuffed animals and had their names embroidered on the ears. And, I confess, I bought an animal for myself—a chocolate colored dachshund that reminded me of our first family dog when I was growing up, a brown mongrel with dachshund blood whom we called Ginger. He was male, and my mother had said Ginger was not a boy’s name, but my sister and I insisted, so she said, “OK, we’ll call him Ginger-boy.” (I never did)
Can you guess what the girls’ favorite thing we did was?
—Harry Potter on Broadway
–the Slime Museum
–Hershey’s chocolate world Times Square
–the Museum of Natural History with its gigantic dinosaur skeleton, 122 feet long
Their hands-down favorite was the Slime Museum, called the “Sloomoo Institute,” opened in 2019 on the lower East side.
The girls were free to run through the slime, bask in it, and mold it to their fancy.
They insisted on staying until the place closed, then took the subway back to our hotel.(Btw, there’s no slime museum in Colorado. A biz opportunity?)
I stayed in N.Y. after they flew home so I could see friends and shop for clothes. My favorite store used to be Bloomingdale’s, but it’s too pricey now and I’ve come to prefer Macy’s. The home branch, on 34th Street, which opened in 1902, is the largest department store in the U.S. There are three floors of women’s clothing, but I’ve never made it to more than one—the third floor, where you can find a dizzying area of sportswear from almost every company you’ve heard of—and it took me two afternoons to cover it. I’d make my way, arms loaded with clothes, to the fitting room, where, mercifully, no one bothered me, offering to help.
Another joy was shopping at Barney Greengrass , the deli on Amsterdam and 86th Street, which I believe has the best chopped liver apart from the one my grandmother made. I brought a good amount back to the hotel—the Beacon, which I love because every room has a kitchenette—and the liver was gone by the time I flew home.
All in all, it was my favorite trip of the year.
What was yours?
PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT: What was the last trip you enjoyed? Or, what’s on your mind today?
Sounds like a wonderful trip! I love NYC. It’s mythical for those of us growing up after WWII, right? So glad to know you are doing well! Aloha, Michael
great to hear from you, Michael. I’ll be in HNL Jan and Feb of ’26. Will you?
Bob and I went to Ohio for a wedding in September. We figured we may as well make a vacation of it and went on to 3 zoos, 4 distilleries and a horse farm tour in Kentucky, and then on to Mammoth caves!
Wow. you know how to get the most out of a trip. Miss seeing you at Chors.
I had a male dog named Trudi when I lived on the beach south of Eilat in Israel.
Great to hear from you, Tom. I have fond memories of time together. remember the Black eye? Not fond, but memorable. Warmest, Sara
I’m in awe of what a fantastic time you had with the “grands”. It inspires me to do the same with at least one g’kid who is now 8 and lives here in Boulder. I have a “new” cousin Abby now Rothschild who lived in a very comfortable 4 bedroom apt in the city. Two of her 3 sons now attend Colorado College in the Springs, and in the last few years we have started to get to know each other as she stops off in Boulder now and again visiting CO.
About a year ago she sent me an email asking if she could interest me in “this”, which was an 8 day retreat at the Insight Meditation Society in the middle of April last. It took me about 30 seconds to feel the “yes, why not!”. I’ll tell you that story another time. Now the story goes, that after we spent time together last spring, she gleefully extended an invite anytime with or without daughter and g’son to come stay! 480 West End Ave. She just bought a house in New Patz so her kids could have a place to ski which they all do! Some day in the not too distant future, it’d be as gas after reading you piece above, to take Rowan and Annie to NYC to visit oh so many possibilities and most expecially to play in slime. Rowan is gonna flip, as am I!
Great piece. Cheers into the “holiday” season. Hope we bump into one another soon.
With love,
Trudy
Hi Trudy, great to hear from you. you’re lucky to have a relative in NYC. Go! I love the uper West side. hope our paths cross soon.
Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn
Love this, Sara, and it’s a great list of what to do and see in NYC, as well where to stay.
Yes, Gail, I highly recommend the Beacon Hotel on Broadway and 74th St, right across the street from Fairway Deli, one of the best deli’s in the city. So you can stock up there for meals in your hotel room, so you don’t have to do restaurants several times a day. I Hope our paths cross soon. Would love to see you. Sara
Hi Sara. Looks like big fun😊. 8 lived in NYC for a year back in 2000-2001. I will bring thought to what was my favorite trip of the past year. Missing you at Spirit Voices.
Miss you too Jennifer. I go to Janis’s singing group on tuesdays twice a month at Grace Church, 1001 13th St. 6-7:30. Hope you might come some time and we can sign togher. I like it because there’s nothing to memorize, no part to take. Just full out fun. Warmest, Sara
Sounds perfect. You gave your family a magical time full of “Firsts” that they’ll never forget. It reminded me of the first time my parents took me to FAI Schwarz in NYC. A man was putting on a puppet show and after, my parents bought me a marionette, a little Scandinavian girl. The Sound of Music had just come out (1965) and I used to play the record and make the puppet dance to “High on a hill was a lonely goat…” I still remember that whole trip and all the things we did. I’ve been to NYC many times since and it’s always fun, but the first time I saw that dinosaur, that big toy store, the Empire State Building, etc…. Holds very special meaning. Those aha moments when something lights up inside are the experiences that stand out. You gave your grands a lot of those! What a gift!
Happy Thanksgiving, Sara!!!
Thanks, Joey. Love hearing from you. and hope your Thanksgiving is wonderful. Warmest, Sara
We did not have the same joy of taking our grands to New York but took ourselves to Chicago. It was an easy access to and from without any flight delays nor plane dynamics. My husband home town from the south side we visited his synagogue who’s then Rabbi Schultz truly saw Stan and told him his birthday of December 12 had much meaning and that he should devote his life to jewish thought and who knew that seeded Stan’s desire to become a rabbi. So Rabbi Stan now at his childhood synagogue led by Rabbi Capers Funnye, second cousin of Michele Obama. It was a treat to revisit this now orthodox synagogue Temple Beth Shalom B’nai Zion Zaken with Rabbi Funnye other rabbis leading the service with delivery like being in a pentacostal church. It was beautiful to witness and realize how jewish people all over the world find their way into spaces that reflect their souls and direct their praying. The congregation has been described as being “somewhere between Conservative and Modern Orthodox” with distinctive African-American influences; while men and women sit separately as in Orthodox synagogues, a choir sings spirituals to the beat of a drum. It follows traditional Jewish liturgy and laws, including Sabbath and a modified version of kosher dietary laws. Notwithstanding, this shabbat service was most memorable we also so enjoyed the architectural boat tour which takes you on the Lake around and about the stunning designs of each building, their history and how this city was planned graciously and well designed with purpose. Chicago to me is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, in deed with plots of greenery and parks no matter which way your turn and the leaves were just beginning to adorn each corner we turned. The weather end of October averaged a crisp 50 degrees. We didn’t go to FAO Schwartz nor shop at all but enjoyed the Art Institute a not to miss stunning museum with a staff of many with smiles and at the ready to help no matter the query. The noted exhibit of Elizabeth Catlett whom I had never heard of was a most stunning review of her work. She was an african american scholarly artist, Howard University graduate cum laude, refused admission to Carnegie Inst. of Technology when they found out she was black, a sculpture, print maker, taught art and she was an activist in the civil rights movement and identified as “subversive”. She eventually moved to Mexico, married, had three children all of whom are in the arts and was refused entry back into the United States for many years. She lived a full life to 96 and her pieces were magnificently exhibited. Becoming acquainted with her work was like enjoying the best meal at the best michelin restaurant. It was certainly the highlight of our trip next to visiting with our close friends living in the comfort of and inviting retirement community on Lakeshore Drive. As Tony Bennett sang “it’s a toddalin town..we lost our blues, felt nurtured and had the time of our life!
thanks so much for writing. wonderful to hear about your time in Chicago. warm wishes, Sara
My favorite trip was to New Orleans with my 14 year old daughter and 25 of her principal actors and young actresses from Children’s Theatre of Elgin Il. who were in The Wizard of Oz. We were taking the train from Elgin, Il. to New Orleans for a few days of sightseeing before heading to Pineville, Louisiana to meet up with another children’s theater. They would supply the munchkins and flying monkees for the two shows we would put on. We took a tour of the Superdome and went in a skybox. Had Benets and toured an old plantation. We were given a tour of the French Quarters ghost experiences. Then it was on to Pineville. Our hosts had a crawfish boil and the Wizard ate two many crawfish from the bottom of the pot which had the hottest crawfish. He almost lost his voice for the show. At the rehearsal The director for the very first time put me on as a follow spot operator. With my headset on listening to the director call the show I had found a new activity that I loved. I had always dreamed of putting our daughter in lights and as she had the role of Dorothy I was doing it literally as she sang “Somewhere over the rainbow dreams come true.” That trip and show was 25 years ago. Our daughter has married, become a teacher, and a mother to our 3 grandkids. She still acts in community theater two years ago as Good Witch Glinda while her two daughters played Munchkins. Last year she was narrator for Joseph and one daughter was one of the brothers while the youngest was in the chorus. Children’s Theater of Elgin was one of the best activities for all of us while she was growing up. Incidentally the Wicked Witch from Children’s Theater’s Oz -Courtney Reed grew up to play Jasmine in Alladin on Broadway and had a starring role in Moulon Rouge.
Thanks, Clarence, loved hearing about you trip to New Orleans. And your ongoing involvement with children’s theater. Long may it live! Sara
We just completed a glorious housesit in the Peak District of England in a small town named Birchover.. The Princess Bride was partially filmed on their property!
So happy to hear about your trip, Annie. I’d love to visit England as you did. Warmest, Sara
My favorite trip this year was a 2 month trip to Canada and the eastern US to see friends and family. It was my first trip to Ottawa and I was amazed to find great bike paths throughout the city – not on city streets – and a great way to see the museums and other attractions. One of my stops was in NYC for five days to see friends – every meal including coffee, drinks and after dinner drinks were with pals of long-standing. I also visited Southampton, Provincetown, Boston, Raleigh and Charlotte as well as the Shenandoah Valley, the Poconos, Toronto and two weeks in Marin County and Lake Tahoe.
Mark, you’re a lucky dog to have so many fabulous trips. Kudos! and Warm regards, Sara
We met at a book launch for Brent Green. Thanks for the Sloomoo suggestion. Visiting my granddaughter on 89th in a few weeks
Have a great visit, Madeliene. And let me know how she likes Sloomoo. Warmest, Sara
I just recently returned from a few days in London where I attended a production of “Twelfth Night” at The Globe, great fun, then a surprisingly enjoyable performance of musicals highlights at the Royal Albert my travel companion wanted to attend. Some touristy things as well. Then to Nancy, France via a stopover in Paris where I was pick pocketed just before viewing the newly restored Notre Dame. On to Nancy for an E. M. Forster conference which concluded with a long, lovely dinner with youngish scholars and academics. Good talk, wine, and good food for several hours. Enjoyed walking this agreeable city and visiting Art Nouveau museum showcasing much Gallé glass, himself a homeboy of that fair city. The trip ended with a couple of days in Luxembourg, a first for me. Lovely, expensive, and that is all!!
Wow, Ronnie, I’d love to visit London as you did. And I’m a great fan of Forster, so a Forster conference would be heaven! Warm regards, Sara
Sounds like a lovely time Sara. That chopped liver made me salivate. It was wonderful to see you the other day. I hope you had a good Thanksgiving.
Good to see you too. Hope all is well. Happy holidays. Warmest, Sara