Nighttime New York

This past May, when I went to NYC, I wasn’t really allowed to experience much (okay, any) of the city at night, being all of fifteen years old at the time.  But from what I did see, the only thing better than New York City during the day, is New York City at night.  They don’t call it “the city that never sleeps” for nothing.

Night skyline over the water

I’ve always had this idea that as much as any city is always alive, at night is when it wakes up.  I don’t know what it is about it, but the noise gets louder, the lights get brighter, the dark gets darker, and everything is that much more vivid.  I guess when the sun sets, everything else rises.

What do you think?  Do you think this is true, that nighttime is the best time?  Or do you think cities are most alive under light of day?  When does the metropolis come to life for you?

Dinos and whales!

You know, I see no reason not to talk about past trips for now.  This past May, my family and I went to New York City.  Of course we had to make a stop at the American Museum of Natural History.  For those unaware, it’s the museum that features in Night at the Museum.

I think everyone knows someone (or was someone) who went through a phase of being obsessed with dinosaurs.  My brother had his around 8 years old.  I’m having mine now.  Now, if you’ve ever been to the AMNH, you know that their dinosaur exhibits (yes, plural) are massive. It was such a geekgasm to walk through those rooms filled to the brim with the best collection of skeletons I’ve ever seen.

I think this baby is my favorite.

At the AMNH, there’s also a very large 2-level room that is all about sea life.  Hanging from the ceiling of this very large room, is a model of a blue whale.  Full size.  That’s how very large this room is.  I have a baby cousin who’s in love with whales, so of course I had to take some pictures for him.  Unfortunately, the room was dimly lit and all my pictures of it came out badly.  But there was something even better.  The exhibits in the room were set up as little alcoves.  One of them was almost pitch black.  Couldn’t see a thing.  It wasn’t until I took a photo with my night flash on that I could make it out.  And of all the scenes to see so momentarily flashed upon, where my imagination can run buck wild, it would be this one:

Yeah, it's what you think it is.

Why yes, it is a giant squid fighting a whale.  Why yes, it is one of the coolest things ever.

So I guess what I’m saying here is, if you’re in NYC, don’t pass up the AMNH.  Just do it.