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Martini
A Taste of South in the City
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Run…Forest…Run.
My favorite part of the ‘Bubba Gump’ experience was the unique way of getting a servers attention. Two license plates on each table read: “Run Forest Run” and “Stop Forest Stop”.
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Hail a Cab
While in the city, make sure not to be shy when it comes to hailing a cab. Stand partly in the street, close to the curb and stick your hand up in the air. Make sure you are on the side of the street that is going towards the direction of your destination! Be aggressive and act like you know what you’re doing!
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Bike Tour
Enjoy a bike tour through Central Park
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The Hearst Tower
The Hearst tower is located on 57th street and 8th ave.
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Ride a Subway
Do not be afraid to take the Subway because it is a much cheaper option than taking a cab! It is $2 per person per ride on the subway.
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Times Square Cabs
Times Square
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Times Square
Times Square from above
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Looking out at Times Square
Looking out at Times Square
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Yankee Stadium
Make sure not to leave New York without going to a Yankees baseball game.
Lisa O’Quinn is a former Roanoker photography intern and promising photographer currently studying at Hollins University. Over the summer she spent two months interning in New York City, and with camera in hand she captured her experience and brought back a taste of the big apple. Take a look:
I never thought I would say this but, I love New York City! I am a true southern girl raised in Alabama & Virginia, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t have a special place in my heart for the Big Apple!
I am a former intern at Leisure Publishing Company in Roanoke. I am currently a senior at Hollins University, studying art and photography. and just returned from a two month summer internship in Manhattan as an intern for the Hearst Corporation at Marie Claire magazine.
Let me share with you some of my summer experiences and newfound knowledge about life in NYC as a college intern! I hope you will enjoy reading about my summer experiences and someday enjoy a fun filled vacation in New York City.
The Hearst Tower.
Lisa O’Quinn, a former Leisure Publishing intern, spent her summer interning for Marie Claire magazine in New York City. The new Hearst Tower opened a few weeks before Lisa arrived. The Marie Claire office overlooks the vast and beautiful Central Park! The Hearst tower is located on 57th street and 8th ave.
My adventure began by deciding how I was going to get from my home in Fredericksburg to my destination in lower Manhattan! Driving was basically out of the question! It’s too expensive to find parking and the stress of driving in the city is too much for me to bear! The question was whether to fly, take the train or bus! I decided on the train because AMTRAK service is very affordable, and runs directly from Fredericksburg to the Penn Station in midtown Manhattan in only five hours. I loved the scenic ride and, unlike the bus, I was able to walk around the train and enjoy a cup of coffee and sandwich in the café car. Flying was not an option for me due to the long security lines and the cab fare from LaGuardia or JFK airports is a pricey $50.
How to catch a Cab.
While in the city, make sure not to be shy when it comes to hailing a cab. Stand partly in the street, close to the curb and stick your hand up in the air. Make sure you are on the side of the street that is going towards the direction of your destination! Be aggressive and act like you know what you’re doing!
One mistake I always make is over packing. It is not fun trying to tote around large suitcases in NYC, so take my advice and make sure you pack lightly and layer up. Don’t forget to leave a little room in your suitcases for clothing and souvenirs you will surely purchase! It is also important to wear comfortable shoes because New York City is made for walking! Podiatrists and shoe repairmen are a common sight in the city. They are happy to accommodate the tourists who have not brought their walking shoes with them!
When going from place to place it is always important to allow plenty of extra time for delays; you will be happy that you did. It will always take longer to get to your destination than planned. Do not be afraid to take the Subway because it is a much cheaper option than taking a cab! It is $2 per person per ride on the subway. At first the Subway map may be very intimidating, but if you have any questions ask the Metrocard booth teller for assistance. When all else fails, take the 2,3, A or C. These trains stop at most of the tourist sites.
Save a Horse Ride a Subway.
When going from place to place it is always important to allow plenty of extra time for delays you will be happy that you did. It will always take longer to get to your destination than planned. Do not be afraid to take the Subway because it is a much cheaper option than taking a cab! It is $2 per person per ride on the subway. At first the Subway map may be very intimidating, but if you have any questions ask the Metrocard booth teller for assistance. When all else fails, take the 2,3, A or C. These trains stop at most of the tourist sites.
If you become lost in the city, do not panic…Do not be afraid to ask for directions, but do not ask other tourists because they are also lost! Tourists can be spotted holding huge fold out maps, looking up at the tall buildings, and pointing in different directions with their cameras, and wearing foam statue of liberty crowns! Ask for help from someone who is dressed in business clothes or looks friendly. Most New Yorkers are thrilled to give directions to tourist because it shows that they know their way around the city, which is quite an accomplishment in itself.
I found myself printing out trivia about the city from the internet to read during the day. This kept me excited and gave me a lot of ideas for exploring new and interesting places. I soon had more places to visit than days left in New York. This, of course, is a perfect reason to return next summer!
While in the city, make sure to check out an art museum such as the Guggenheim, the Metropolitan Museum of Fine Arts, or the Museum of Modern Art. Enjoy a bike tour or carriage ride through Central Park.
Enjoy a bike tour through Central Park.
If you can find your way to Central Park, make sure to take a bike tour or carriage ride through central park. The bike tour will allow you see all of Central Park without even lifting a foot!
If you find time to attend a Broadway show, the best bet for getting discounted Broadway tickets is to find the TKTS booth in Times Square (47th Street & Broadway). Tickets for same day performances are generally at 25% to 50% off the full price. When I was in the city I saw “The Wedding Singer” on Broadway (front row for only $22), and it was just amazing! After the last curtain call, a real life marriage proposal took place on stage. Only in New York could this happen. The whole theatre came alive with cheers of joy and happiness as the young woman accepted her boyfriend’s proposal. The local news media ended up taping the whole event, while one of the actors came onstage and began throwing tissues for the audience to wipe their tears of joy! Real life had met the theatre that day!
If at all possible, don’t leave New York without going to a Yankees baseball game. Going to the ballpark rates as one of my favorite events this summer! This was my first Yankees game and I enjoyed every minute! The subway from Manhattan to the Bronx dropped me off right at Yankees stadium. I followed the fans, who were dressed in all types of Yankees apparel and I was soon in the stadium with no chance of getting lost this time! While at the game, I really enjoyed watching the vendors walking up and down the isles singing their mantras to the crowd in an attempt to sell their hot dogs, sodas, crackerjacks and peanuts! I also became a huge fan of doing “the wave”. My ticket was only 20$ which is inexpensive entertainment in New York City. Make sure to add this to your agenda while in the “Big Apple.” You will remember your day at the ballpark for many years to come.
Yankee Stadium.
Make sure not to leave New York without going to a Yankees baseball game. Going to the ballpark was one of my favorite events during my time in New York! This was my first Yankees game and I enjoyed every minute! The subway from Manhattan to the Bronx dropped me off right at Yankees stadium. I followed the fans, who were dressed in all types of Yankees apparel and I was soon in the stadium with no chance of getting lost this time! While at the game, I really enjoyed watching the vendors walking up and down the isles singing their mantras to the crowd in an attempt to sell their hot dogs, sodas, Crackerjacks and peanuts! I also became a huge fan of doing “the wave”. My ticket was only 20$ which is inexpensive entertainment in New York City. Make sure to add this to your agenda while in the “Big Apple.” You will remember your day at the ballpark for many years to come.
If you are a music lover, you might want to check online to see what concerts are being held in Madison Square Garden. The Garden is host to most every type of music concert. When I was in the city, Kenny Chesney and the Dixie Chicks performed concerts there but I was unable to get student priced tickets. Take note that moderately priced tickets for these concerts must be purchased well in advance.
Last, but certainly not least, your list of things to see and do must include spending a night on the town in Times Square! The lights are mesmerizing! Words can’t describe how beautiful they are! Millions of lights and decorated signs light the night as if you are enjoying Christmas in July! The overwhelming lighting displays join together with the delicious smells of every type of food you can imagine. The streets are alive with humankind from all walks of life and most every country of the world. These are the sights and sounds and smells that make you glad that you are part of this great city. If you can gather yourself together, make sure to take the classic photo at the spot the New Years crystal ball is dropped! Before leaving Times Square, venture into the Toys’R Us Store. It is the largest Toys ‘R Us in the world! This store features a Ferris wheel, a life-size Barbie house, Lego sculptures, and a giant dinosaur from Jurassic Park!
Bright Lights.
Your list of things to see and do must include spending a night on the town in Times Square! The lights are mesmerizing! Words can’t describe how beautiful they are! Millions of lights and decorated signs light the night as if you are enjoying Christmas in July! The overwhelming lighting displays join together with the delicious smells of every type of food you can imagine. The streets are alive with humankind from all walks of life and most every country of the world. These are the sights and sounds and smells that make you glad that you are part of this great city. If you can gather yourself together, make sure to take the classic photo at the spot the New Years crystal ball is dropped! Before leaving Times Square, venture into the Toys’R Us Store. It is the largest Toys ‘R Us in the world! This store features a Ferris wheel, a life-size Barbie house, Lego sculptures, and a giant dinosaur from Jurassic Park!
If the smell of food eventually overwhelms you, you might consider one of my favorites haunts, Virgil’s Bar-B-Q! This is the one place I visited each time I became homesick! Virgil’s offers New York City’s best barbecue, including Memphis Ribs and Carolina Pulled Pork. There is also a full bar with signature drinks like the frozen appletini (Big Apple Martini) which is incredible! My favorite food to order with my drink was the Train-Wreck-Fries! This is basically a large plate of loaded fries with ranch dressing mixed into the madness. These are definitely worth trying! The price range is between $8-$22 for entrees and the portions are generous. I always left Virgil’s with a full stomach and the cure for my homesickness!
A Taste of the South in the Big City.
If the smell of food eventually overwhelms you, you might consider one of my favorites haunts, Virgil’s Bar-B-Q! This is the one place I visited each time I became homesick! Virgil’s offers New York City’s best barbecue, including Memphis Ribs and Carolina Pulled Pork. There is also a full bar with signature drinks like the frozen appletini (Big Apple Martini) which is incredible! My favorite food to order with my drink was the Train-Wreck-Fries! This is basically a large plate of loaded fries with ranch dressing mixed into the madness. These are definitely worth trying! The price range is between $8-$22 for entrees and the portions are quite generous. I always left Virgil’s with a full stomach and the cure for my homesickness!
Run…Forest…Run.
If Virgil’s is too crowded, go over to Bubba Gump’s Shrimp Company Restaurant. This is a chain of seafood restaurants inspired by the 1994 film Forest Gump. My favorite part of the ‘Bubba Gump’ experience was the unique way of getting a servers attention. Two license plates on each table read: “Run Forest Run” and “Stop Forest Stop”. The “Run Forest Run” sign signals the servers that all is well at the table but “Stop Forest Stop” signals that the table needs service! Bubba Gump’s Shrimp Co. Restaurant offers a wide variety of shrimp dishes as well as a mixture of southern, Cajun and seafood entrées. This chain has 20 locations but I think the Time Square “Bubba Gump’s” is probably the most unique of them all due to the Times Square location. The entrée prices are typically in the $20 range.
Lisa’s best friend, Christina Arens, painted the Manhattan skyline in Lisa’s back.
As my summertime in Manhattan was drawing to an end, I was filled with loneliness, knowing that I would soon be leaving the city. I knew I would miss the people, the food and the buildings that are the signature of the city that never sleeps. I would no longer be part of the hustle and bustle of New York. Alas, the pace of the city was taking it’s toll. My energy levels were waning! I was ready to return to a much quieter life in Virginia!
It is always good to go to new and exciting places and likewise to return home when the adventure is over. I am enjoying with restful pleasure, my return to Hollins University. As I walk up and down the streets of Roanoke and gaze up at the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, I cannot help but catch myself in a daydream of New York City memories!
Southern By the Grace of God. It is always good to go to new and exciting places and likewise to return home when the adventure is over. I am enjoying with restful pleasure, my return to Hollins University. As I walk up and down the streets of Roanoke and gaze up at the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, I cannot help but catch myself in a daydream of New York City memories! Lisa was excited to come back from NYC to partake in Hollins’ senior tradition of “First Step” onto front quad.
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Talking Skin
From January/February 2007 Issue
Construction of the steel structure for the new Art Museum of Western Virginia began in November. By the end of February, almost 60 percent of the structure should be in place, with the remainder of steel erection to be completed by the spring.
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Following construction of the steel framework, some interior work will begin, including construction of the elevated decks that will form the second and third floors of the museum and mechanical and electrical work. Construction on the framework and “skin” of the facility will also begin.
The skin of the building consists of the roof, wall metal panels and curtain wall glazing. The roof, stainless steel with an angel-hair finish, will provide a soft reflection of the nearby buildings and scenery. The exterior wall sections are made of pre-patinated zinc surfaces on aluminum panels. The customized patina of these panels contains the unique coloration of the surrounding landscape. The insulated curtain wall glazing, the part of the building façade that will be infilled with glass, is designed to provide the maximum amount of daylight into
the building.
Air Space Rental
In order to build the new facility, the Art Museum is literally renting thin air from the City of Roanoke. The air space that portions of the new Art Museum will extend into belongs to the city. Land owners own not only their lot, but also what is under it and what it above it. The term “air rights” refers to the space above or around a building that is allowed for construction purposes but that has not been enclosed. If signs, balconies or even roof lines of a building extend out over someone else’s property, such as over municipal sidewalks or streets, the building owner is required to lease or buy that “air space.”
Read the complete article in the new Roanoker, now available at bookstores, on newsstands or by calling (800) 548-1672. Or try our Free Issue Offer.