The next day, we ended up traveling to Colobus Circle (59th street station) to visit Carnegie Hall before splitting up. When we exited the train, the elevator up to the street was not "right there" just like at the other stops; I had to find it. I headed in the direction that everyone else was traveling, thinking that the elevator would be where they were exiting. I came to a door; a door that looked like every other door I had been exiting (since I am unable to pass through the turn styles). Here, there are no turn styles; there is just that door. I almost exited though that door, but I am so glad I did not. Through that door leads up to the street, but only by a set of stairs! I quickly learned this and continued on my search for the elevator. I went passed the door and continued on until the platform opened up; to my left were the tracks and to my right a little ways further, I could see the elevator.
To the right of the elevator sits a ramp. I thought to myself, "I rather roll down that ramp than take the slow elevator!" I had this thought for a slight moment; this was until I noticed a sign hanging on the wall saying that the ramp is NOT handicap accessible. My thought instantly changed to. "Why would anyone construct a public ramp that is not handicap accessible?!" I also questioned why this ramp is not accessible. Could it be that there are steps at the bottom of the ramp? Or could it be that the ramp is just not up to ADA grade? This time, my first time at this stop, I did not venture down this ramp, I just waited for the elevator. However, the next time, I was super curious to figure out why this ramp is supposedly not accessible to me. Well, there are not stairs at the bottom of this ramp, and I DID access the unaccessible ramp! Never the less, I am pretty sure that the ramp in this subway station is a steeper gradient than the ADA warrants. So, my suggestion would be to replace the sign with a new one that explains exactly what is wrong with the ramp. For example, if the ramp is not up to ADA standard (a slope of 1/2 ft.), then say exactly that. WARNING: THIS RAMP IS NOT TO ADA STANDARD. Or CAUTION: STEEP GRADIENT.
After traveling down the elevator (or the ramp), there is a second elevator that leads up to the street. My family and I took this elevator to go to Carnegie Hall. Unfortunately, this building was closed, as it was under construction. After taking pictures of the outside, Mom and Gina went back to the subway, and headed downtown, while Dad and I ventured back to the other side of the subway to go up town.
My sister playing Vanna White at Carnegie Hall
When my dad and I reached the subway station, we went down the elevator that we had taken up to the street earlier that morning. We went over to the information desk and asked the attendant to please open the accessible door. I need to ask the attendant every time I want to progress to the train as there are turnstiles that any able bodied person just passes through after swiping their MetroCard, but as a person who uses a wheelchair, I cannot physically pass through turnstiles. Another thing I am unable to do is swipe my MetroCard; fortunately, I was traveling with my dad, so he could swipe my card for me. However, I am pretty independent, and question whether or not I could travel the subways by myself. My first obstacle is actually getting down into the station, but once I am down, who is going to swipe my card? Do I trust a random person, or will there be an attendant at the information booth and will they assist me?
Okay, back to having to check in with the attendant. We asked him to open the accessible door, and he did when my dad swiped my MetroCard. We went to the next elevator that we needed to take in order to head north. Well, it was broken. I found it odd that the attendant did not ask us if we were headed north; therefore, he did not tell us that the elevator was broken. I found out why the attendant at the INFORMATION booth did not inform us the elevator was broken: HE DID NOT KNOW! When my dad told the attendant, he was shocked. So shocked, he was apologetic and gave us two tickets for the next time we road the subway.
So, our plan to go to the Natural Science Museum was foiled since it would take too long to walk or ride the bus there and back. By the time we would arrive to the museum, we would not get our money's worth before we had to venture back to meet up with my mom and sister near Rockefeller Center. Instead of visiting the museum, my dad and I ventured around Columbus Circle, experienced a New York City marketplace (that went on for blocks), and we also found Rockefeller Center.
Columbus Circle was the only area that I found a crosswalk that did not have a curb cutout at both ends. The first time I crossed, I was pulled up the curb, but the second time, I found an alternative route to access the curb. Even though I had to deal with the missing curb cutout and the elevator mishap at the subway station, I really enjoyed Columbus Circle; the architecture is unique, and I absolutely loved the fountain!
Favorite fountain I found in NYC
After taking pictures in Columbus Circle, my dad and I continued our venture through the streets of New York City. We came across a marketplace that seemed to go on forever; we could not see the end. I love to go to the market here in Bellingham, so it was exciting to see one so large. We browsed through about four of the tent lined blocks and then decided we had seen enough. We did end up having lunch at the market; I ate a thai chicken kabob and my dad enjoyed a corn dog. We also stumbled across a sweet treat that both of us could not pass up: deep fried Oreos.
At the market
The deep fried Oreos
When we were finished exploring the market, my dad and I went to Rockefeller Center. We looked at the flags and saw where the outdoor skating rink is in the winter. We found the elevator to go down below the street level where there is a mall like area with Starbucks, restaurants and bathrooms. Dad and I sat at a table for a while, then we decided to head in the direction of where my mom and sister would exit the subway. As we headed in that direction, my dad received a text from my mom that they should be a little longer than we thought, so we stopped and sat down by a fountain.
After about four hours of separation, I was extremely happy to finally be reunited with my mom and sister; I really needed to use the bathroom and my dad and I could not find one that was accessible and unisex! I am so glad that Dad and I had explored Rockefeller Center earlier in the day and that I had discovered exactly where the elevator sits and that there are actual bathrooms that I could use!
Our next stop: F.A.O. Swartz. This toy store, featured in the movie BIG, is located near the Rockefeller center. When we first arrived at F.A.O. Swartz, I thought I was not going to get to go inside as the courtyard area in front of this toy store is up three steps. I kept driving along the steps until I came to the end of the court yard. There I found a ramp that was tucked away near the building. When facing the main entrance to F.A.O. Swartz, the ramp is located to the far left. So, my initial assumption was wrong; I could get into the toy store!
Once I got inside, I learned that there was a lower level of the toy store that could be accessed by a set of stairs or a ramp (that is located on the right side of the store when just having entered through the front doors). There is also an upstairs as well, however, there is only a set of stairs to access the second level. Never the less, F.A.O. Swartz is a pretty sweet toy store; the ton a toys, candies and figures that fill this store are so BIG! There are life-sized stuffed animals, giant lolly pops and peeps, along with a humongous minion from Despicable Me!
Gina and I with Zoltar from the movie BIG
PEEPS
With a Minion from Despicable Me
Onward we went to the next store on our list: Bloomingdales! Getting there was an adventure. A construction company was working on one corner of the store. This meant that there was not a curb cut out where I needed to get down. However, a temporary ramp had just been poured. This was neat because I have never experienced this before; here in Bellingham, every time I have found a curb cut out to be out of service, there just is not one for a while. Even though I was impressed with the fact there was a temporary ramp, I was disappointed to find out that when I drove down it, I sank in the fresh, gooey pavement. My question is, why was this ramp not blocked off until it was dry and solid? I wish someone would have informed me that the pavement was still wet. When I exited off the sidewalk via the temporary ramp, I sank into the squishy pavement, covering my tires in black goo. I was super embarrassed to go into Bloomingdales when we arrived, as I did not want to leave tire prints on their nice, shiny floors. Fortunately, the majority of the goo had rubbed off by the time we got there. To my relief, I did not make a mark on the tile floors of Bloomingdales.
I really enjoyed exploring Bloomingdales. To get up to the main store, my sister and I took a small back elevator. From there, there were about nine elevators working on all main floors on which we could all ride. Gina and I browsed for awhile and found a ton of cute things, but they were way too expensive for our college student budgets! When we were finished looking around, we went to find our parents. They were waiting for us in the restaurant. We eventually came to a stair case which has an accessible lift for those of us that are unable to access the stairs. As we approached the staircase, one employee ran off to go get the key that activated the lift. Once we made our way to the stairs and were waiting for the nice man to return with the key, another employee asked me if I had been assisted yet and I had the pleasure of telling him, "yes"! I did not end up using the lift, as my parents were finished eating and joined us at the lift and then we exited the store the way Gina and I had entered. I was so amazed at how helpful the employees were at Bloomingdales. Thank you so much to anyone who helped us while we were there!
In my family, we could not go to New York City and go to F.A.O. Swartz without going to Toys R Us. So, we headed to Time Square. My sister and I were curious to see what the Ferris Wheel in the center of the store actually looks like. We did not end up riding on the colorful wheel, but we did explore the store. There is an elevator; it is in the center of the store as well, tucked right behind the Ferris Wheel. I did not necessarily enjoy my time spent in Toys R Us; the elevator was dirty and there were a ton of kids that made it difficult to move around. I was glad when it was time to venture some where else.
The Disney Store is located right in the middle of Time Square. When we went inside, there were employees that automatically told us what we would find upstairs and said they would show us to the elevator whenever we would like to go up to the second level. All the workers were helpful here too. Even when I could not get to the check out counter, they made it possible and easy to pay. Now it may be because they did not want to hurt their business, but I do not think that is the case. I have been shocked at how many places that are not completely accessible, hurt their business by letting a costumer's needs slide by. I was impressed by the employees at the Disney Store throughout my entire visit; even to the point when two different workers headed to open the door for me as I was leaving, even though I was not alone!
After our long day of shopping, we just wandered around the streets of Times Square while we were deciding what we should eat for dinner. We were all pretty hungry, so we ruled out going back to my grandma's cousin's house to make dinner. We kept on walking though the sea of people; while in this dense area, we saw and heard so many diverse things. There was a group of people all dressed as different characters like superheroes and Hello Kitty; they all wanted people to get their picture taken with them in return for money. We also saw The Cowboy and a black man who claimed we could not get this (referring to himself) at Starbucks! I also was informed by a guy that, "there are male stripping midgets over there," while pointing into the crowed. Fortunately, we were headed in the opposite direction and I just kept rolling along.
Mom, Gina and I in Time Square
When Mom and I were in London, we ate at the original Hard Rock Café. So, I thought it would be cool to eat dinner at the Hard Rock Café in New York City too! In NYC, the gift shop is located on the floor right off the street, while the actual restaurant is located one floor down. There is an elevator that is located at the back of the gift shop, in the storage room. It was quite interesting to travel through all the shelves and boxes. After about only fifteen minutes we were seated. I ordered a tasty salad!
Before we left the restaurant to head back "home" for the night, we used the bathroom; they are located on the same floor as the restaurant, but on the opposite side of the building. There is a handicap stall, but it can be kind of tricky getting there while having to maneuver through all the people.
The lights over the bar in the Hard Rock Café
Gina and I at the Hard Rock Café
Overall, it was a good day. I had an amazing time with my dad at the market and I am pretty sure my mom and sister had a great adventure as well. It was quite intriguing for me to visit such large, popular stores and to top it all off, I had a delicious dinner with my family at an amazing restaurant!
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