On the morning of Friday, June 23rd, my brother Glenn and I got up late, and were already behind schedule for our visit to New York City (for the first time in years).

After a quick breakfast (of onion rolls and coffee), our older niece Erica drove us to the L.I.R.R. station in Wantagh, where we'd lucked out in getting the necessary round-trip 'off-peak hour' tickets, within minutes of the train's arrival. (For the record, this was only the second time - since the mid-1980s - that I'd ever commuted via the Long Island Railroad.)

We'd reached Penn Station in midtown Manhattan by a little after 11:00 AM, as we began to walk north on 8th Avenue. I'd recognized the Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd Street, as we continued on our way to a special destination. We finally got to an area between 46th and 47th Streets, where our late father (Joaquin Martinez) ran a restaurant/bar called the Café Barcelona. Sadly, the building where it was situated was replaced with a 30-story-tall office building. Nevertheless, Glenn and I took photos of the replacement structure (I, with my disposable camera, and Glenn, with his smartphone).

At this point, my sibling and I went off in different directions. Glenn went west to the Hudson River, where he took in the Air & Space Museum on board the Intrepid, while I headed east towards Times Square (which I haven't been to since the early 1990s)...

While walking through this major thoroughfare, I'd checked the texting feature of my cellphone, because I was planning to reunite with an old friend of mine: namely, Joe Strike - who I haven't seen since his last visit to Margate, Florida several years ago.

Several blocks later, Joe and I met in front of the New York Public Library (and even had someone take a picture of us - with my camera - in front of one of the library's legendary lion statues). We eventually walked two blocks south to a Panera Bread restaurant, where we had lunch, while mulling over old times (such as the monthly get-togethers at the Polish Democratic Club in lower Manhattan, where he and I - as well as Speet!, JayShell, et al - used to see Japanese anime, and "talk shop" about 'funny animal' business, including impending material for the APAzine "Rowrbrazzle").

After lunch, Joe and I walked back towards Times Square, where we checked out The Disney Store (which didn't have anything of interest for me to buy - although I would've jumped at an impulse buy, had they any new "Zootopia" wares in stock). We then headed east towards Rockefeller Plaza, where we took a short cut through the main floor of the NBC studios. I'd even pointed out the exact location where I had the rare (and only) opportunity (back in the early 1980s) to meet legendary voice actor Mel ('Bugs Bunny') Blanc and got his autograph in a magazine called "The World of Yesteryear" - in which Mr. Blanc was the cover story.

Behind 30 Rock was the area of the ice rink (which, because it was Summer, was now full of chairs and dining tables), and in the spot where the great Christmas tree would be lit sat (in its place) a three-story-tall inflatable ballerina figure (which I took a picture of, natch). From there, Joe and I parted company; but we promised to continue to keep in touch - either via "FA" inbox, "Facebook" messenger, or (if absolutely necessary) text via our respective cell phones.

Heading back in a zigzagging southwesterly direction, I'd returned to the corner of 42nd Street and 8th Avenue (and the aforementioned bus terminal), where I would wait for Glenn to return from the Intrepid, and we would continue the rest of our New York adventure together...

(To be continued...)