The Pontiff Visitor's Guide
The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, is making his first trip to America today. His trip will feature stops at Ground Zero, Washington D.C., and two baseball stadiums to hold Mass (and maybe throw a first pitch). While he's here, however, I hope that he would take some time to visit some great locales in the New York and D.C. areas. Afterall, he'll celebrate his birthday while he's here, so it would be nice for him to have a little bit of fun.
Here are a few ideas for the Pontiff, just in case he's reading:
The Carnegie Deli. If you're going to be in New York, you might as well make sure you have the best cheesecake in the history of the world. You may want to consider splitting it with someone, because that cake his as big as a miter. Now, if you're going to go for an entire meal, then I recommend the cheeseburger, which is somewhere around fifteen pounds of beef (I'm pretty sure). You'll also get a whole bowl of pickles to munch out. The best part is that while you're there, you'll be able to sign a photo of yourself for the famous wall of people. You just might edge out Mayor Giuliani, Woody Allen, and Bill Clinton!
The Apple Store. The Apple Store on Fifth Ave is certainly one of the coolest hangouts in the Big Apple. The large glass cube is easy to miss, but once you're inside it'll be hard to leave. Since the Popemobile follows a similar glass-enclosure design, you'll surely appreciate the setup.
Rockefeller Square. If you're in a hurry and want to check out something fairly brief, I recommend the famous ice rink at Rockefeller Square. It's such a tiny, unimpressive space that you can whiz right by it and still get the full effect. It always looks way bigger on TV, especially during those NHL on NBC specials (which I'm sure you've watched). But if you time it right, you may be able to sneak into the NBC Studio Tour and get yourself a photo behind Conan's desk!
Little Italy. You'll definitely find friends in Little Italy, which is just teeming with Roman Catholic imagery and faith. Your arrival may even inspire some sort of street festival. Just don't accidentally wander into Chinatown, which is situated just a few blocks over. You'll know you're getting close when you start smelling fish and knock-off handbags.
Once you're finished in New York, there are certainly a couple good places to check out down in Washington D.C.
Open City. While I was in DC for C-PAC a year and a half ago, I visited a hip corner coffee shop every day I was in town. Open City made one of the best Americano's I've ever had. They also serve a great dinner if you're looking for a small candlelit spot to eat. There are plenty of coffee shops and diners in DC, but Open City is one of the best.
World War II Memorial. There are plenty of memorials and monuments in Washington, but the WWII memorial is one of the newest and best. It's a massive, patriotic spectacle dedicated to the greatest generation. It's pretty impressive to see everything designed in the appropriate style of the '30s and '40s.
The Capitol Steps. If you're looking for a cool place to take a photo, you can't do much better than the steps of the U.S. Capitol building. Tell the photographer to stand at the bottom of the steps, and if you stand at the top, you can probably position yourself like you're leaning on the Capitol's dome. It's awesome!
Here's hoping that your trip to America is both productive and inspiring. But don't forget, it's good to have a little fun as well!
Posted by MikeRubino at April 15, 2008 2:41 PM | TrackBack