Only in New York City (Kramer's Reality Tour)

We recently had an Only in NYC experience.  We took Kramer's Reality Tour.

Kenny Kramer is a long-time NYC stand-up comedian and he is the basis of the Seinfeld character Cosmo Kramer.  Kenny was a neighbor of Seinfeld co-creator Larry David and remains his close friend.  And, once you meet Kenny in person, there can be no doubt whatsoever that Kenny is the real Kramer. 

On the 3-hour tour (no shipwreck involved), we heard all about the creation of Seinfeld.  The tour began in a small theater setting where Kenny shared stories.  Then, we ventured out in a tour bus to see all the Seinfeld sites on the West Side of Manhattan.  As Kenny said, "If there can be a TV show about 'nothing', there can be a tour of places that no longer exist".

Some spots still exist, however, most notably the soup stand where the Seinfeld characters stood in line to get hot soup.  We braved the 9 degree windy weather to get our soup, too.  (No questions are allowed or you might be told, "No soup for you!").  The Mulligatawny was very tasty, and best of all, it warmed us up.

The tour was a great experience and we highly recommend it (unless you have no idea who or what Seinfeld is).  Kenny has been doing it for twenty years, and he now limits the outings to four months per year, and only on Saturdays.  We got lucky!

Here are some photos from the tour.

Kenny Kramer, the real Kramer, tell stories and jokes

Photo of Kenny Kramer in front of Monk's Diner near Columbia University.  The diner where Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David created the Seinfeld Chronicles (original name) is on 9th Avenue near 44th Street.

The tour includes a stop at the Original Soup Man, aka the Soup Nazi.  The Mulligatawny was excellent!

Kenny Kramer with some random hottie

Serving up the soup, plus extra treats if you behave.  Otherwise, it's . . . . (next photo)

Translation:  "No soup for you!"

Kenny sells some great merchandise.  And yes, that is an authentic autographed Assman license plate.

P.S.  It turns out that The Kramer Reality Tour is not an Only in NYC experience.  Kenny travels the world with a stage version of his show, from Ames, Iowa to Israel.  Who knew?

Polar Plunge Completed

On January 1, Greg did the unthinkable and got the year off to a memorable start.

Greg joined a thousand like-minded lunatics on the beach at famed Coney Island for the annual Polar Bear Plunge.  The air temperature was around 30F but the wind was biting.  Thankfully, the water temperature was a balmy 50F.

If you have never plunged into cold seawater, you should try it.  The experience was unlike anything that Greg can remember:  time stopped, muscles contracted, heart slowed.  In short, it was great!

The best thing was raising money for a worthwhile cause--Camp Sunshine, where families with sick children create lifelong happy memories.   

Below are some photos that tell the story. 
 

Pre-plunge:  Keeping a stiff upper lip

Pre-plunge:  Waiting to the last minute to disrobe

Waiting the staging area.  That's Greg in the white polar bear hat on the left.

Borat and a patriotic friend

The Chief Bear led the way

Post-plunge:  On the warm subway, soaking wet, happy as can be.

Drying out at home

Good times!

  

Return from Hiatus (Finally!)

Greetings from New York City!

After travelling here and there, our hiatus is ended.  Blogging resumes and we will do our best to make it interesting.

What have we been up to?  Well, here is a summary:

• we have traveled to North Carolina, Florida and Arizona
• we endured the greatest single snowfall that NYC has seen . . . ever (Well, make that in recorded history.  NYC probably had some serious snowfall during the last ice age when it was under a mile of ice.)
• we endured the coldest February 14 that NYC has seen . . . ever
• we enjoyed a visit from Sally
• we have enjoyed time with family and friends
• Greg took the polar plunge and survived
• we have enjoyed many plays, tours, restaurants and sporting events

• (drum roll . . .) we met the real Cosmo Kramer of Seinfeld fame

Thanks for being patient while we were on hiatus.  Please stay tuned for more blog posts.

Susan and Greg

January 24, 2016 (the day after the record snow), in Central Park in front of The Plaza Hotel

Hiatus

A note to our friends and family.

We are traveling and probably will not share any new blog posts until our return to NYC in late January.

We wish everyone health and happiness in the new year.  Be well.

View-Master Revolution

Do you remember the View-Master from many years ago?  It was a stereoscope that created a 3D photographic image, often showing a city scene or a natural wonder.

What became of it?  Well, the View-Master has taken a huge leap forward during the past decade.  It is being re-popularized as a 3D viewer for virtual reality video.  With a mobile phone inserted into a viewer, the image on the screen takes on a three-dimensional aspect.  The phone's GPS then allows you to look not only straight ahead but also up/down, left/right and behind.  You see imagery in every direction.  You will feel as if you are in the middle of the action. 

Seeing is believing in this instance, figuratively and literally speaking.  We suggest taking advantage of any opportunity you have to test drive a device.  All you need is a mobile phone and a cardboard box from Google or a higher priced viewer from Samsung.  We received our cardboard device from the New York Times.  Some photos appear below.  (Sorry, they are only 2D images.)  We downloaded a NYT video, slid an iPhone into the cardboard viewer and were amazed at what we see.

A lot of venture capital is already invested in this technology--from improving the viewers to enhancing the cameras and software that capture and create the 3D imagery to creating content.. 

The viewer has all sorts of existing and future applications: 

• gaming
• video and film
• simulation
• and so on. 

Warning:  Please be careful if you are viewing while standing.  You might walk into something (you can't see anything else while viewing) or you might become disoriented, lose your balance and fall over.  

NYC Holiday Decorations--Still More

Here is the final installment in the series NYC Holiday Decorations.  Since October, wherever we have ventured in NYC, we have seen all sorts of holiday decorations.  Many longtime New Yorkers say the holiday season is one of the best times to be in the city.  We agree.  Here are some more photos showing why we agree.

Bloomingdale's Flagship Store, Lexington Avenue Facade, windows changing from green to red

Zuccotti Park (formerly Liberty Plaza Park), near Wall Street

Free-range reindeer along Avenue of the Americas

A very tall nutcracker standing guard, holding hands with some random hottie

Good times.

Holiday Greetings from New York City