I was very excited to be visiting New York City this past week, especially since my last trip there was 30 years ago. The most delightful and pleasant aspect of our visit was the friendly, helpful and positive attitude that we were greeted with virtually everywhere we went. From cab drivers to shop clerks to bellmen to fellow theater-goers, we were greeted with smiles, easy-going banter, and tips and ideas about what to see and how best to get there. That’s not precisely my memory of my last visit; and while I don’t know precisely what to ascribe such an upbeat vibe to, we certainly enjoyed and were thankful for it. Another bonus for us was that the weather for the most part was dry and not too cold during our stay. Our home for three days, the venerable and lovely old Roosevelt Hotel, was perfectly situated for walking to Times Square, Rockefeller Center and other sights. When we wanted to venture farther than a comfortable stroll, we were only a few blocks from Grand Central Terminal and the subway. We had no problem finding a tremendous assortment of dining options nearby, too. Tuesday night found us at Charley O’s in Times Square for a quick but tasty dinner before we took in Chicago just across the street. We had the chance to compare mountain-high pastrami sandwiches at both Roxy Delicatessan and the Carnegie Deli (Carnegie’s won out!), and enjoyed among other dishes a light and tasty prosciutto and arugula pizza at Naples 45 in the MetLife Building. One of the challenges for me on this visit was deciding which Broadway shows to see. We decided to purchase our tickets at the TKTS booth (where the half-price tickets could still cause coronary arrest if one isn’t prepared for them), so that only slightly limited our choices. In addition to Chicago, we attended a Wednesday matinee of August: Osage County, the 2008 Tony winner for Best Play. The performances were all very fine, but 81-year-old Estelle Parsons completely amazed and impressed us in her role as the matriarch of an unbelievably dysfunctional family. She tears up and down the stairs of the set with a boundless energy that is truly remarkable. We spent our final evening in New York at the Global Traveler fifth anniversary celebration at the Renaissance Times Square. The food was fantastic, the setting and views unbeatable (looking south down Broadway over all of the bright lights of Times Square), and the company and conversation delightful. I relished the opportunity to get to know my fellow GT staffers better and meet some of the contributors, supporters and friends of GT as well. Our positive experiences of New York City will ensure that we will be back to visit far sooner than later. There was much that we wanted to see and do that our limited stay did not allow. What will draw us back, at least as much as those still-to-be-experienced sites, is the welcoming attitude of those who live and work in that great city. Thank you, Manhattan! Patty Vanikiotis, proofreader