On Monday, 30th July, I went to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, as I’d heard about it a few months before I left that the Enterprise Space Shuttle was going to be part of an exhibit at the museum. After a moderate wait in line, I got into the museum and got a tour packet that included the Shuttle Exhibit. After the tour – which we got a lot of interesting information on this history of aeronautics and the beginnings and current forays into space, the moon, and the technologies used.

Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, New York, NY, © J. Lynn Stapleton, 30 July 2012

My only complaint with the whole tour was the complete lack of any coverage of the Canadian contribution to aeronautics and the Space Program – the focus was primarily US (but that’s a given, since I was IN the US), but also British, German and Russian. That said, what I did see was pretty awesome. We were toured through the Hangar Deck first, then the Enterprise Exhibit was up on the Flight Deck.I have to admit, I’m not great at remembering all the names of the planes I saw on the Flight Deck, nor their specifications, but I had taken a bunch of photos of the planes for my Dad and my nephews. We also got to go to the Navigation Bridge and the Command Bridge, as well as take a look at some of the crew and officer quarters, the anchor room, and a few other areas that were in the public area of the former active aircraft carrier. However, rather than overwhelming you, these are some of my choices to include:

Mercury Capsule Replica, Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, New York, NY, © J. Lynn Stapleton, 30 July 2012

Types of Rockets Used, Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, New York, NY, © J. Lynn Stapleton, 30 July 2012

Going into the Enterprise Exhibit was impressive. It’s in a domed enclosure on the Flight Deck. The area has a number of informational posters about the Enterprise, pictures from the Hubble Space Telescope, the International Space Station, past & future space ships.

Enterprise Shuttle Exhibit, Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, New York, NY, © J. Lynn Stapleton, 30 July 2012

Enterprise Shuttle Exhibit, Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, New York, NY, © J. Lynn Stapleton, 30 July 2012

These are but three of the several planes that were on display at the Intrepid Museum:

Lockheed A-12 (Blackbird), Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, New York, NY, © J. Lynn Stapleton, 30 July 2012

USS Intrepid VA-95 Navy Green Lizards, Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, New York, NY, © J. Lynn Stapleton, 30 July 2012

British Airways Concorde, Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, New York, NY, © J. Lynn Stapleton, 30 July 2012

I knew it would be a while before I ate again, so I grabbed a soup & sandwich and drink from the cafeteria on the carrier before heading uptown to Jill’s to get a key for Tuesday, as I would be checking out of the hostel in the morning and my train didn’t wouldn’t leave til after midnight. So, we hung out for a while in the evening, chatting before I headed downtown to go see the independent film, Farewell, My Queen. I’d been wanting to see this since I first saw the trailer in the spring. I knew the opening date was mid-July and the likelihood of it ever appearing on the big screen where I live was next to nil. So, I found out where it was playing in Manhattan and made a plan to go. Well, with about 3 minutes to spare, I made it to the Angelika Film Center for the 10pm showing. I am SO glad I did. I loved the story and the filmography and costuming were gorgeous.

If it’s playing anywhere near you, I recommend going to see it! I got out of the film at midnight and walked over to nearest 5/6 train to go up to connect to the E train. It should have stopped at 51st but because of work being done on the line, they were bypassing the station after 10pm on the northbound run. Which meant the next stop was 86th St. So, I get off there, go topside, cross the street, and take the southbound train back to where I should have gotten off, and then transferred to the E train. I finally got to the West 23 St/8th Ave Station about 2am-ish. By which time I was hungry. Fortunately for me, the New Venus Cafe & Restuarant was just to the left as I came out of the station, so I went in and had a lovely soup and quiche, and for dessert bread pudding. All very yummy. Well fed and more than a little tired, I walked the rest of the distance back to the hostel – at about 3ish am.

My hostel mates were still up at the time so I was glad I wasn’t disturbing them when I came in. Got ready for bed and flaked out after another great day in the city. Sad to realise that there was only one day left.