Sleeping with the Dinosaurs

Starting next month, the Natural History Museum in New York City will host all-night sleepovers.

I thought this would be a great opportunity to save some money on rent in Manhattan while actually having a view of something other than a brick wall, but that was just too good to be true….Not only is the invitation extended only to kids 8-12 years old, you also have to pay $79 per person. And no, I don’t think you get Best Western points for that, either.

According to Newyorkology, $79 is a good deal. The Bronx Zoo apparently charges $4,500/group and FAO Schwarz sets you back $25,000 for a private sleepover. Unless Michael Jackson pays, of course.

Taste of the Ivory Coast in the NYC

Treichville may be a neighborhood in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, but it is also a restaurant in New York City, both of which I have never explored personally. However, for a sampling of the Ivory Coast and for less than half the cost one may consider swinging in for some fare. This Village Voice piece does a fine job taking us to the real Treichville by describing its bustling open-air markets, transportation terminals and nightclubs complete with French influence, yet the most African part of town. And just as quickly as the writer takes us across the Atlantic he ships us back across to the Treichville located at 339 East 118th Street, NYC where crab legs, mussels, clams, and shrimp can all be found on the menu.

From the sound of the piece it looks worth filling your tummy with a plate full. Again, I’ve never been, but if I were near by, without a question I’d be fueling up too.

Contest: Moses on the Move – Week One

After seeing the results from Karen’s Where’s
Walrond
contest I feel it’s time to place one in effect myself, but before I jump into the meat and rules of
the challenge it is very important I make known how Moses came about. You see, it was never my intentions to bring a
stuffed, fuzzy, Holy Folks, companion to keep me company on the long journey
walking across America, but things just sort of happened that way. I’ll provide you with the condensed version.

It was a cold early morning in NYC and the team had just made it to the CBS Early Show, where we would shout and go crazy
when the older guy with the cue cards instructed us to do so. Our mission was quite simple: Spread the word about health and fitness by letting folks know we’re walking coast to coast
and tracking all our steps with a pedometer. Between the breaks I went down to the catering table to fuel my
practically frozen body with a nice, warm cup of hot chocolate. It was at that time Moses fell into not only my life,
but the entire group’s life. The catering fellow reached down into a box, pulled out a tiny, stuffed man with a large,
stuffed smiling face and asked me to name who the biblical man was. I was clueless and just before I could open my trap
to utter my final answer of um, Goliath one of my fellow
walking cohort
, Jaime, blurted out the correct answer.

"That’s Moses."

"Yes, that’s Moses," I said.

Naturally I pretended to know the correct answer all
along, ashamed of my inability to recognize even the stuffed Ten Commandments placed on the doll’s hands, but I made
sure I offered the doll to Jaime (who refused) before becoming the official parent of our new unofficial mascot and
walker. So now that he is a part of the team you’ll see him here in photo safari across America, but don’t think Moses is limited to the great
outdoors. He loves the wild indoors as much as anyone else.

Now onto the contest… Over the next couple of
weeks I’ll need your help telling me where Moses is in the country, but you’ll have to be pretty specific. The city and
state will be provided for this first set of clues, but you’ll have to check out the Steps Across site to see where in America Moses and the rest of us are
over the next couple of weeks. The correct answers will score you some pretty cool and exciting gear for your own
future travels or walks across the country, compliments of myself. And I promise they’ll be exciting so long as you
stick around. Here’s the first set of clues and photos:

Moses was as much on the move as any New Yorker
during his stay in the Big Apple and to prove it he stopped at two pretty popular places.

Clue: While a few of the girls perused the cosmetics department in this famous department
store
located between 34th and 35th on Broadway, Moses decided to hang back in the comfy chair at one
particular counter. When it comes to make-up you could say it’s just what the doctor ordered. While he
waited he noticed several tourists snapping pictures of the beautiful flower show inside the department store.

What is the name of the store and make-up counter Moses was at?

Clue: Earlier that same day Moses was seen sitting on the counter (not drinking) at this popular
Times Square dive restaurant and bar where the folks have real Noo Yawk attitude
according to City Search Editor’s. Located at 8th Ave and W 44th Ave, the place has gotten many a good review at City
Search as well and has an overall rating of 9.4. Moses thinks it’s pretty cool too.

What is the name
of the restaurant and bar?

Good luck and look out for Moses across the country.

Disclaimer: Moses is by no means an official mascot, member, walker, or representative of the Sportline Steps Across America program. He just likes to tag along.