Empire State Of Mind . . .

Greetings Loyal Readers!   I am blogging to you live from the Starbucks on W. 55th St. and 7th Ave. in New York!

I am on vacation and have a list of things to do and see while "re-charging" in the Big Apple.

First stop after an overnight flight and a brief nap at the hotel; Times Square.   

Where's Just Jon?  I am standing on the middle left edge of this image that was projected on one of the giant screens above the Forever 21 store in Times Square.  My one hand is waving at you all.

As I walked down Broadway I happened upon a long dining table that was set up to serve a feast in honor of Food Day.   Among the honored guests were celebrity chef Mario Batali and Mr. "Super Size Me" himself Morgan Spurlock.  Two celebrity sightings in less than six hours of being in the City; not bad.

For lunch I headed to Midtown Manhattan for some Garden Vegetable Soup from The Original Soup Man.   The Original Soup Man is also known as "The Soup Nazi" from Seinfeld.    True to the urban legend after I placed my order the cashier barked, "Step To The LEFT!"

Then when my order number was called there was no, "Thank you please come again."

Just a stern demand, "RECEIPT!"

Thank you, I think.

After lunch I hopped on the E Train to make my way to the World Trade Center Memorial.  I took over 100 photos on Monday and there are not words to describe the solemnity and beauty that is the 9/11 Memorial.  The City of New York really did a fantastic job designing a tribute to all those who lost their life on Sept. 11, 2001.

Construction of the new One World Trade Center.

My friend Ron Gamboa and his family Daniel and David Brandhorst's names on the South Pool.

A piece of steel from the World Trade Center that will be a part of the museum that is still under construction.

My visitor pass to the memorial with the North Pool in the background.

The North Pool with the Museum still under construction in the background.

The only tree from the original World Trade Center complex that survived the attack.   The tree was removed from the property and nursed back to strength and was returned to the grounds to be part of the memorial.  It is now known as "The Survivor Tree."

Recovered items on display.

A very moving day.

The Song Of The Day - Empire State Of Mind by Jay Z and Alicia Keys