Grant Gochnauer - Blog : Technology : Foundation

While seeing my dad open NASDAQ (see post below this), there was plenty of time for sight seeing New York. It was quite an experience as this was really my first time being able to explore the city and only my 2nd time in NY.

The other reason we had as a family gone to NY was to attend the Anti-Defamation League dinner which honored my father for raising money for ADL. It was quite an event and many United Stationers employees attended. The event was hosted at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel which is quite old, fairly famous, and very fancy.

This event was on Thursday. Friday morning was NASDAQ. Friday night my sister and I decided it was our duty and responsibility to go out and visit some bars and clubs in NY.. You know, to make sure they are up to par with Chicago standards. :). Since it was pride weekend, both in NY and Chicago, we decided to start at a couple gay bars which were very nice. We eventually walked around stopping in various different bars with the ultimate goal of ending up at Pacha. Pacha is an internationally known club. There is one in NY, and one in Ibiza, Spain.

The next morning we took a tour of the city. We were able to visit many of the highlights but of course there is no way you can see everything in an afternoon. We were able to walk through Central Park,visit many of the areas of NY: Little Italy, SOHO, Downtown, Upper East Side, Chelsea, and most importantly Ground Zero. I think we all really wanted to make sure that we saw it. Now everything is wrapped in construction fences and there are huge construction trucks all where the towers were standing. It definitely gave a sense of awe to be there. Just thinking to yourself, wow, this was the place it all happened.

Ground Zero:

Central Park:

There are a TON of pictures so if you want to see more, definitely check out the entire album