2023 New York

We were in New York twice before, in 1985 when I lived in the city and in 2008 in Albany (one of the best BNEA’s). We never explored Long Island until this trip. A very interesting Adventure as you can see from the photos.

The Cradle of Aviation Museum (Their Website)

Bruce always finds at least one attraction that he knows I like and I like aviation museums. From Hill Air Force Museum to the Pima Air Museum we have been to dozens. This is one of the best. It is worth a trip to Long Island if you are an aviation buff. Besides one of the most interesting displays, it has an IMAX theater bigger than Long Island.

The Cradle of Aviation Museum

In the Spirit of St. Louis mockup.

Bruce in the Spirit of St. Louis mockup.

School Kids artwork.

I flew to Israel on this plane in June of 1963.

This is the cockpit display of the aircraft.

The story of the plane,

The IMAX sdcreen.

What life aboard the Pan Am Clipper. Diana worked at Pan Am for 21 years.

The list of airlines that became Pan Am.

A copy of a flight timetable and schedule

Sally Ride.

The Pan Am display.

The Spirit of St. Louis cockpit instrument panel photo.

Long Island Music Hall of Fame Museum  (Their website)

It is early in the Adventure and the map took us to the wrong place but we finally found this wonderful small museum. The exhibits are top notch and if you’re a Billy Joel or Joan Jett fan you will love it here. The cherry on top are is the staff. “Nice” is too restrictive of a review. “Excellent” is better. Lili, Denice and Steve were our guides and we had a terrific time with them,

We were very excited until we were told they just park their bus here. Back we went about 18 miles to get to the proper place.

We arrived and Denice and Steve were our guides. Very knowledgeable and just nice.

The map on the floor shows the location of all music venues on the island.

Billy Joel's Harley.

Long Island performers donated equipment for the display.

This is the story about the Joan Jett car.

This is Joan Jett's prized Jaguar XJS which then was the tippy top of the XJ line. When she returned home she did it in style.

Joan in the elevator.

Some of the best documentary and formal work by talented photographers. I know. I was once myself.

Album covers are everywhere.

Bruce chats with Denice. More of her later.

Told you Denice would be back along with Lili.

These are seriously fun gals. "...Party all night long" kind.

Our official trip photo. Denice immortalized us.

Bruce will remind me what he was showing them. Until then enjoy the range of emotion on the audience.

The gentleman in the foreground id the manager whose name I couldn't hear because my hearing aids were on mute.

Coe Mansion and Planting Fields (Their Website)

The Coe Mansion is located on a 409 acre property and is one hundred years old. Read about it on their website. We took a tour of the house and had a terrific docent. leading it.

The story behind Planting Fields and Coe Mansion

A view of the property in the '20's

The mansion is classic Tudor architecture.

The stained glass is a restored original

These hand painted murals by a prominent artist of the day adorn the walls of the small dining room.

The birds are on the ceiling.

They feature western scenes and there is a Buffalo Bill Cody bronze statue.

The mud room for horse riders.

The big dining room set up for a conference.

The upstairs bedroom section of the house.

The owners bathroom.

The owners bedroom.

Missess owners bedroom.

Path to the garden.

Bruce is checking out the interior of the pool house.

What it looks like inside.

While we were wandering the grounds we chanced upon a watercolor class painting a flower. Bruce naturally struck up a conversation and commanded me to photograph them.

These women were painting flowers in a class

Bruce struck up a conversation

They are very good artists

Another artist.

Flowers were in abundance which is natural since it is a garden destination

Shelter Island Mashomack Preserve (Their Website) 

A short $26 ten minute ride on a small ferry takes you to Shelter Island. It is a scenic drive to the Preserve and it’s worth the trip to me. Bruce was unimpressed although he did like the turkey. 

Queens Botanical Gardtal and confusing.en (Their Website)

We did this on the way to Belmont Park Racetrack. Some great flowers, lots of Chinese women dressed in red and a few airplane photos.

The Wedding Garden.

Queens Garden

Belmont Park Racetrack (Their Website)

There are very few attractions that disappoint but none more than this. The track holds 70,000 people and if there were even one 1000 here on this day I would be surprised. It was a long day made longer because there were only two food stands and the betting was digital and confusing.

Visiting Belmont Racetrack was a Bucket List item.

We had dinner at Jackson Hole Diner. Bruce ate the biggest hamburger I have ever seen.

It is part of the New York Racing Authority. This is where you can bet except in California.

The horses walk to the starting gate.

Bruce looks at the horses as they walk to the track.

This female jockey's brother also rides in the race.

My friend Barry isn't a builder.