Holiday Outtakes December 28, 2025
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, art, Audrey and Roberta, Benny the dog, Holiday, Jack the dog, Madison the cat, Mr. Pepe, NYC rescue pets, photography, Santa, senior dog
3 comments
For my penultimate Sunday blog post of 2025 I present our holiday photo outtakes through the years. The trials, tribulations and laughs we experience in creating our holiday posts are really lots of fun for all involved – especially me. My adorable companions get many treats throughout our photo sessions.
Aloft December 15, 2024
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: champagne, NYC, Observatory, Panoramic views, photography, Rockefeller Center, Rockefeller Christmas Tree, Santa, Skylift, The Beam, Top of the Rock
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My friend Robyn is my ‘go to’ pal who will climb any mountain, soar into the sky and pay stupid amounts of money to do some crazy New York things. We visited Rockefeller Center’s Top the Rock once again this holiday season to try their newest VIP tour and attraction called Skylift. This year’s tour has been remodeled to basically cover all of their major attractions that include the Beam, close up photos with ‘the Tree,’ the 70 story Observation Deck, photos with Santa, champagne, and of course the new Skylift which is an open air circular platform that rises 30 feet above the rooftop and spins 360 degrees for a spectacular panoramic view. It was an exhilarating four minutes. We had a fun (albeit cold) experience and other than me getting spectated and lost from our small tour, it was a flawless day. Cheers!
From My House to Your House December 24, 2023
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, Audrey and Roberta, Christmas, Holiday, Mr. Pepe, NYC, Pete the Cat, photography, Santa, season's greetings, Tis the season
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Holiday time is always fun at our house. We celebrate most holidays (especially the ones that demand we wear a hat). My little gang of critters (Mr. Pepe, Roberta, Audrey and Pete) are all good sports and since today is the day before Christmas we would like to share some of these fun moments with you. Wishing you all a very merry and a happy. Cheers!
Beam Me Up! December 17, 2023
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: architecture, art, NYC, NYC skyline, photography, Rockefeller Christmas Tree, Santa, The Beam, Top of the Rock, VIP
12 comments
My good friend Robyn and I went on a 2.5 hour guided tour of Rockefeller Center (which actually lasted 3.5 hours) that included a fascinating history of their art and architecture. This VIP (which means a bit pricey) tour also includes exclusive access to one of Rockefeller Center’s hidden rooftop gardens with a view of the Saks Fifth Avenue beautiful holiday display and a unique perspective of St Patrick’s Cathedral. Plus an expedited entry and private elevator access to the Top of the Rock observation deck, The new Beam Experience that allows visitors to recreate the famed 1932 photo “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper,” showing 11 workers eating lunch on a steel beam high above Manhattan streets while 30 Rock was under construction and a Photo Pass. Plus, this holiday season, the VIP Rock Pass also includes exclusive, unobscured viewing of the Tree, plus the Santa Photo Experience and the Christmas Tree Photo. I admit I was giddy about the Santa experience since I had never had a photo taken with Santa. It was a full, memorable visit. If you have the time, I highly suggest it be added to your holiday plans. And yes..it is crowded.
Up, Up and Away! November 26, 2023
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: Balloons, Macy's Thanksgiving Da Parade, Macys, marching bands, NYC, photography, Santa
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Thursday was the 97th Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and I was able to get a ticket for a seat in the bleachers. The parade started early this year so the line entered at 6:30AM and then the hardest part began. The waiting in the cold. The City (in all of its wisdom) decided not to have porta potties for the attendees to use. Oy! Lots of complaining was heard throughout the crowd. The kids near me started whining by 7:30AM. Oh my! As the 90 minute wait goes by the crowd will cheer at anything that we see – drones, pigeons, bomb sniffing dogs, etc. Finally the parade begins and suddenly the cold and wind do not seem to be a bother. It was fun, festive and loud. When Santa finally arrives the crowd goes wild. Not sure if it is because Santa arrived or if that means the parade is over and we can all go home to thaw out. Hope you all had a great holiday with friends and family. Here is a link to some history about the beginning of this fun holiday tradition. 
Cheers to All! December 25, 2022
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: Audrey and Roberta, baby animals, Cheers, Merry Christmas, Mr. Pepe, NYC, Pete the Cat, photography, Santa
4 comments
Holiday time is always fun at my house. We celebrate most holidays (especially the ones that demand we wear a hat). My little gang of critters (past and present) are all good sports and since today is Christmas we would like to share some of these fun moments with you. Wishing you all a very merry and a happy. Cheers!
Cheers! December 25, 2021
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, cats, Christmas, dogs, Hanukkah, NYC, photography, Santa
9 comments
Holiday time is always fun at my house. We celebrate most holidays (especially the ones that demand we wear a hat). My little gang of critters are all good sports and since today is Christmas we would like to share some of these fun moments with you from the past and present. Wishing you al a very merry and a happy. Cheers!
A MIghty Windy Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade December 1, 2019
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, marching bands, NYC, photography, Santa, travel
11 comments
I was lucky to be able to score six bleacher tickets for the parade. Prior to the parade the local weather forecasters were predicting dire circumstances for the balloons. Would they fly or wouldn’t they fly? Turns out they did fly (sort of). Most of the balloons were horizontal and it was very tricky to try to contain them. Kudos to the balloon handlers for generally keeping them afloat. My family loved the parade despite the cold, the wind and the two hour wait before it began. Hope you had a warm, cozy, yummy Thanksgiving with family and friends – I know we did.
While at the Zoo 