We reached the halfway point of our time in NYC. It’s been a hectic few days. Today we decide to take it easy. No two or three hour walks today. We have a lazy morning in the room. When we do head out, we keep it local.
A quick walk around the Bryant Park Christmas Markets. The Bryant Park Christmas Markets are a festive highlight of the holiday season in New York City, transforming Bryant Park into a winter wonderland that attracts locals and tourists alike. Set against the backdrop of the iconic New York Public Library and the dazzling skyscrapers of Midtown Manhattan, the markets feature a charming array of artisanal vendors and seasonal delights that embody the spirit of the holidays.
Each year, the park is adorned with twinkling lights, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Visitors can browse through over 100 kiosks offering unique gifts and handcrafted items, including handmade jewelry, gourmet treats, and one-of-a-kind souvenirs that are perfect for holiday gifting. The market is particularly known for its vibrant food scene, where guests can savour a variety of culinary delights, from gourmet hot chocolate and roasted chestnuts to international street food, ensuring there’s something to satisfy every palate.
At the heart of the market is the ice skating rink, which provides a quintessential winter experience. Skating amidst the festive decorations and surrounded by cheerful holiday music adds to the joy of the season.
We see some t-shirts that we’ve seen before at Chelsea markets. The T-shirts have unique design ethos that we like. I buy one featuring squirrels climbing up the Empire State building. It’s quirky.
After the markets we head home, the cool change has hit and we have a big night.
A few months ago I secured a ticket to see the legendary Alan Parsons. His music is a little niche, but I’ve been listening to him since the late 1970s. He produced Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon in 1973 and when I saw his record Pyramid in 1978, I was very curious. I was also very much into Egypt mythology at the time. Plus Pink Floyd’s artwork on Dark Side was also Pyramid themed. I’ve been a fan ever since. Parsons (the original project with Eric Woolfson) never performed live and today tours infrequently. Woolfson died in 2009.
So, seeing him live whilst in New York was a rare opportunity. Sadly though he wasn’t performing in NYC. It was in New Jersey. Thats just across the Hudson isn’t it? So I bought a ticket. Google maps said the Bergen PAC, where he was on at was a 25 minute drive. Easy in an Uber. Right?
So the date has arrived. Research in the last couple of days taught me Uber wasn’t the answer. Over $100USD. What? So I start looking up buses. The 166 goes from the Port Authority bus terminal and takes an hour. Ok. Let’s go adventure. Getting home was a different story. This is where my darling wife says she’s coming with me. She’s worried I’ll run into trouble. I must admit I’m a bit nervous. Finding the right bus is like finding a needle in a hay stack. And then navigating an unfamiliar area is just as hard. Mardi is just fantastic and comes with me on what will be a five hour exercise. The things our loved ones do for us. I’m so appreciative. It takes out all of the cognitive stress of getting to the concert, and as it turns out, she needed to be there.
the first hurdle was finding the bus bay. Our bus the 166 goes from bay 2-112-A. We wander the cavernous Port Authority Bus Terminal in search of this bay. Mardi navigates us around corners, up escalators and down corridors and eventually we arrive at the bay. We board the bus a few minutes later. We notice its humber is 166T. Who knows what the T means. We head off and all starts well with the bus following our planned route. About 45 minutes in people start ringing the bell and getting off. Before we know it, we are it. There is no one else on the bus. The driver us asks where we are going. Nope, not this bus, get off and walk to another bus stop. We are in the middle of New Jersey somewhere and it’s 7.20. 40 minutes until the show starts. It’s dark and the sidewalk is like a construction zone. Somehow we find the bus stop. A lonely poll that looks like the last passenger got on in the 1980s stands crookedly on the side of a main road. We wait.
We wait some more.
At 7.33, at which time two buses should have passed, we call an uber.
A few minutes later we are back on our way.
We finally arrive at the venue with 10 minutes to spare. I go in and Mardi finds a nearby Starbucks.
the show was awesome. Two hours spanning the entire catalogue with favourites like time, Limelight, Eye in the Sky and Pyramid. For a full set list visit: https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/alan-parsons-live-project/2024/bergen-performing-arts-center-englewood-nj-1352dd05.html
it’s an awesome show, with Parsons exploring the genesis of many songs and paying homage to Woolfson.
After the show, Mardi is waiting. She’s enjoyed some Starbucks and Maccas and has worked out how to get home. A brisk ten minute walk finds us at another crooked poled bus stop. This time there are lots of concert goers, so we are confident a bus will arrive. Which is does 5 minutes later. Fifty-five minutes later we pull into the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Mardi again somehow navigates her way out onto 8th Avenue.
What was going to be a stress filled and anxious night for me has turned out to be stress free, thanks all to my darling Mardi.
I grab a Shake Shack burger as we walk home.
