This week, I’m sharing a few NYC moments we experienced with our daughter in celebration of her 21st birthday, both enjoyable and somber.

New York City…the Big Apple. Every time we visit, it’s like discovering a brand new destination. There is so much to see and do, we could spend weeks here and still not run out of things to do.

A few snapshots as we roamed around this infamous city for a few days. It was evident that Covid restrictions were slowly being lifted. People were out in force, savoring the gorgeous spring like weather and new found freedoms.

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Bryant Park, designed after beautiful European parks, is a great area and we unearthed a few interesting facts we had never heard before. A sweet escape perfect for picnics and people watching and just minutes from the craziness of Times Square, Bryant Park was the site of deadly race riots during the Civil War. In the 1880s, it was subsequently renamed in honor of a New York Evening Post editor and staunch abolitionist, William Cullen Bryant. A lesser known but intriguing fact, all of Bryant Park rests over the main stacks of the New York Public Library.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral and 5th Avenue Presbyterian Church

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Views from Central Park. We always make it a point to spend some time in Central Park. It’s such a unique experience, to be in the middle of a massive 843 acre lovely oasis, filled with graceful bridges and serene ponds, yet still be able to glimpse soaring architecturally impressive skyscrapers in the distance.

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Restaurants, Street Vendors and Food. There is food everywhere, from upscale dining establishments where it’s impossible to get a reservation to delicious street hot dogs and donuts. One of our favorite discoveries this time around was Mazu Szechuan Cuisine on 495 3rd Ave New York, NY 10016. The food was excellent and so was the service.

We also stumbled upon an exceptional French/Italian Café called Angelina, a hidden gem near Bryant Park which we wished we had discovered on day 1. They offer Italian donuts, sweets, cakes, desserts, coffee, and amazing hot chocolate!

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Current Window Shopping Fashions. I love photographing different styles and fashion as the years change.

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Beautiful, unique art and sculptures while strolling and window shopping.

Night time views to end our days. The lights and fountains at night come alive.

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If I have time, I may share more about our time at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Until then, here are a few photos…

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And last, but certainly not least, we happened to be visiting NYC on the anniversary of George Floyd’s death. Law enforcement was out in force, keeping watch silently and solemnly. There were subtle signs of unrest and mid-afternoon, we watched as a small group of demonstrators marched through the streets (see video below).

This unjust, unbelievable incident, as well as many others, have grieved our hearts. We pray for those who have lost their loved ones in such a tragic, horrific, unbearable way, for peace and comfort. We pray for the perpetrators of these crimes, that their hearts are brought to repentance and remorse, even as they serve out just punishment. We pray for those who have hate and racism buried deeply in their hearts, whether evident or hidden even from their own consciences, especially when they are in a position of authority or influence.

And finally, we pray for honorable, trustworthy police officers and law enforcement officials who not only grieve with the hurting, but then unfairly encounter abuse, danger, and disrespect as a result of the actions of their colleagues. I John 2:11 “But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

May we all examine our own hearts, seek truth, compassion, and love, and be courageous when the situation demands.