Saturday, February 13, 2010

30 Rock, Hearts and Flowers, and Dr. Oz -- all for Pink Saturday!


On Tuesday of this week, I went into Manhattan to 30 Rockefeller Center, also known by it's nickname "30 Rock."  Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings, covering 22 acres, between 48th and 51st streets in New York City. Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, spanning the area between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987

(all photos will enlarge when clicked on)
 30 Rock is a 70-floor, 872-foot building, now known as the GE building.  It is home to the NBC TV studios and the Top of The Rock observation deck, and the Rainbow Room restaurant, which, sadly, is closed right now as the search for a new operator is ongoing.

It is also the location for the NBC Today Show, and this is a view of the side street where hosts  Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, newswoman Ann Curry, and weatherman Al Rocker greet the waiting crowd in the morning.

Some views of the Rockefeller Center Plaza and inside the beautiful art deco designed 30 Rock building.  I was here to attend the Dr. Oz TV show, but  it was a little early, so I decided to window shop around around the area to take these photographs for Beverly's Pink Saturday Valentine's Day celebration!


Beautiful red hearts and pink and pastel flowers were in the windows of Swiss Teuscher Chocolatier, located  at 5th Ave and Rockefeller Center.  Teuscher's is especially noted for their fabulous champagne truffles!


The Anthropologie store at 50 Rockefeller Plaza always has wonderful window displays. Currently the windows are full of fanciful spring flowers made from colorful recycled drink bottles in shades of pastel pinks, yellows, blues and oranges.


The windows of the Godiva Boutique, located at 52 W. 50th Street in Rockefeller Center, was full of Valentine hearts and rose petals and their signature gold boxes.  If I had a little more time I would have stopped for one of their luscious chocolate covered strawberries.


The Swarovski boutique, located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, not only had samples of its exquisite glass crystal jewelry in their windows, but also reminders that February is American Heart Month, and the symbol of the red dress is the national symbol for women and heart disease.  Heart disease is the number one killer of women, and this event reminds women of the need to protect their heart health and inspires them to take action to improve their health.

This was also a reminder to me to go back upstairs and wait on the line to be admitted into the audience of the afternoon taping of The Dr. Oz Show!


Dr. Mehmet Oz, host of “The Dr. Oz Show”, is Vice-Chair and Professor of Surgery at Columbia University, and he also directs the Cardiovascular Institute and Complementary Medicine Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital. He gained much popularity as the resident health expert for five seasons on The Oprah Winfrey Show.  His show is very informational and highly entertaining. Even though I am a registered nurse, I usually learn something new and interesting each time I watch his show. To see if his syndicated show is available in your area, and what time and channel it would be on, you can enter your zip code on this website link.

The Dr Oz Show is pre-taped and the episode I saw should be aired in two to three weeks. The segments of this show were about agoraphobia -- fear of the outdoors or public places -- and an interview with a woman who gained 100 pounds in a year after she lost her job, with suggested interventions that will help her lose weight.  Dr Oz also has a audience member come down on stage to be his assistant, as he does every show. This segment was very interesting, as he has two actual human hearts on display.  One was a normal heart and one was large and thickened through untreated hypertension-high blood pressure. To see the changes that high blood pressure could make to a heart was an eye opener to me.  Dr. Oz took the blood pressure of the audience assistant and found she was hypertensive, a fact she was unaware of.  Dr. Oz then said that many people are unaware they have high blood pressure and that we should all make it a practice to check our blood pressure on a regular basis. Preventing or treating high blood pressure will help prevent the ill effects of strokes and heart disease.  He suggested everyone buy a blood pressure machine at our local pharmacy so we could keep regular track of our pressure, and he also suggested that we all get to know our pharmacists, who are an excellent source to go to with our questions about health concerns, medications and supplements both over the counter and prescription, and possible drug interactions and side effects.

Luckily, for all of us in the audience that day, we were each given a $50 Walgreens gift card and a premium blood pressure monitor to take home, courtesy of Walgreens

So it was a day of Valentine hearts and real hearts.  A day to remember that heart disease is the number one killer of women, and that all women should be aware of the symptoms of heart disease and high blood pressure and how to prevent and treat it. 

I hope that this Valentine's Day you make a promise to schedule a time to treat yourself to a good medical check up, so that you will be around for a long time to love and be loved for many Valentine's days to come!

Please visit Beverly today at How Sweet The Sound  blog for her popular "Pink Saturday" event and visit all the links to blogs participating with special Valentine pinks and reds! Beverly had her gallbladder removed yesterday, so be sure to send her your prayers and best wishes for a speedy recovery!  All the best to you Beverly!  Get well soon dear friend!



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59 comments:

The Quintessential Magpie said...

How neat, Pat, and I think that was a master stroke to convince people to buy a blood pressure machine! That would be fun, too, to get to see a show being taped.

I loved all of those NYC windows. Stunning! You all have the best window dressings.

Happy Pink Saturday and Valentine's Day as well to you and yours...

XO,

Sheila :-)

Joanne Kennedy said...

What a fun post. Loved seeing 30 Rock! I wish I went in there the last time I was there. Just went by the outside. One day I'll make it to the top!

How fun you got to go to the Dr. Oz show. I love that show.

I'll watch it and see if I can see you there. Where were you sitting?

Hugs,
Joanne

diane b said...

I would love to visit New York again. It was so long ago and we didn't have time to see much. It is a beautiful city and you have taken great shots. I would get lost in the Swiss chocolate shop and have to eat my way out.
Good advice for women. I have a blod pressure monitor and use it regularly.

RNSANE said...

Great post, as usual. I, for one, had hypertension, undiagnosed, until I went in to employee health for carpal tunnel. My blood pressure was 200/100! Two weeks later, it was the same so I went to an internist and was started on medication. I had an dobutamine echo cardiogram which showed left ventricular hypertrophy so I'd probably been hypertensive for several yerars! I've lost 25 lbs but I'm still overweight and, even being on two different antihypertensives, my BP is still up!!

My name is Riet said...

I have only seen dr Oz on the Oprah show several times and I find him great. He explains everything so well.I remember him showing a good and a bad liver. What a difference. I have a bloodpressure machine since a few years as mine used to be very high, sometimes 225 over 110. Medicines didn't work but now I have very new ones and they are perfect.
Happy Valentine.

Jenny said...

What a great post. I particularly loved the store windows...absolutely gorgeous. Going to the show sounds like fun. Have you gone to the Martha STewart show?

aliceinparis said...

As always an entertaining and informative post. Loved the candy shop window!
Dr. Oz is amazing. I wonder how he manages to do so much!

Unknown said...

Love your post Pat...I've always enjoyed Dr. Oz, but forget about watching him. Wish I could have seen the show with you in the audience!

:) Diane

Jeanne said...

Good morning Pat. your post today is wonderful. I am sure I told you we (the five sisters) were on the Today Show (in the crowd) a few years ago. I love the Today Show. Your post is so informative and good information to know. I do have a blood pressure machine and I think everyone should have one after a certain age. I want to watch that show.

I love your photos of the shop windows. The Godiva chocolate is one of my faves. I worked in banking and one of my customers gave me a box of Godiva chocolates. I brought them home and hid them from my kids. HA! I already had several boxes of Whitman's from my customers and gave them to the kids. One of my children found the Godiva box and ate every piece. NOONE would fess up. Years later our youngest son confessed he was the thief. Ha! He owes me still.

Happy Valentines Day dear Pat.
XOXO, Jeanne

Tales From My Empty Nest said...

Enjoyed my tour of NYC. Thanks so much! I love the Dr. Oz show. He is so cute, plus, he always gives such great information. Hope you have an extra-special Valentine's Day. Love & blessings from NC!

Foodie with Little Thyme! said...

I love all the valentine windows!
Happy valentine's day!

Anonymous said...

Had my checkup last month. The shop windows are sooo pretty! I'll have to go back and look at those again--just remembered I can make them bigger!

Interesting about the woman in the audience turning out to have hypertension. Just be looking at her (medical person that you are) would you have guessed? I'll have to find the show. Will you be the one with the camera around your neck? :)

Old Kitty said...

Hi Pat

OMG but I was screaming when I read about the two human hearts! I'm much too squeamish for my own good! :-) But sometimes you really have to show just how your heart suffers if you don't look after it properly - so good for Dr Oz!

I do like that the idea of wearing red and having all things red to highlight the fight against heart disease.

Oh but look at those window displays! I really really like the recycled pink bottles display - what a clever idea! Best though has to be - and not surprisingly for me - the Teuscher Chocolatier. Wow. I mean this is THE weekend to treat yourself really to some chocolate and you really can't get more spoiled that in this shop. Amazing displays! If I ever saw something like that here - I'd be queueing up well before they opened to get my bit of chocolate! I think it's the care and attention in these displays. It's showing that the shop and their owners take great pride in their produce.

30 Rockefeller Centre is amazing - I love your stunning pic - I felt my neck straining to stare right to the top of this magnificent building! Are visitors able to go right to the top?

Thanks once more for another beautiful look at New York. And oh!! I love the Pink Saturday theme!!! I've just been to How Sweet the Sound blog and am spoilt for pink choices. Pink and red are my absolute favourite colours.

Take care
x

Linda Lou said...

Pat, what a wonderful day you had, great shots of the City all decked out for Valentines Day-I would have loved to been at that taping! My blood pressure is a little high, but so is my weight, that's another story, glad you won the blood pressure machine! Happy Valentines Day to you and yours! Linda

Anonymous said...

My post today addresses heart disease, too....on a very personal level. We have one of those blood pressure devices at home. All of us should have one and follow your advice of staying on top of our blood pressures. I will say, however, that the poor audience member's elevated BP could have been related to the fact that she/he was being taped for a national TV show! I know mine (which is usually fine) would probably be soaring if I was in front of an audience. :)

LOVED the tour of 30 Rock! I recall seeing the area where the skating rink is when I was in NYC. It's all so beautiful. I LOVED your window displays, too!

Well, this was another awesome post, Pat! I hope you have a great Valentine's Day and a wonderful Pink Sat! L, Dana

Laura in Paris said...

What a nice tour! THank you! (I should do the same for a Paris visit)

Anonymous said...

Love the hearts and Spring flower window displays. We have one of those monitors -after hubby was diagnosed with high blood pressure.

Happy Valentine's Day

Anonymous said...

I like Dr Oz and what great gifts.Love the window shopping pictures.

Kat said...

Great post Pat. I love Rockefeller Center, what a fabulous building (and I love that show 30 rock too!). How sad that the Rainbow Room is closing! Hopefully they will find someone to take it over soon. Love Dr. Oz, but don't get to see his show much. I love the way he explains things in laymen's terms, but doesn't talk down to his audience. And great advice on blood pressure monitoring. Most times there are no real symptoms, and it can definitely be a killer. Loved this post! Kathy

Ciao Chow Linda said...

What fun for you to see the Dr. Oz show. I've always wanted to try to get tickets for one of the shows filmed in NYC. You could spend at least two dozen posts writing about the sights and sounds at 30 Rock. Happy V-Day to you.

Claudia said...

Anthropologie does have the prettiest windows. Loved the visit to 30 Rock - always stop there when in NYC. Now you have me thinking of Godiva....

Donna said...

It's great to see the Rockefeller Center. The window displays are beautiful.

I can't believe you got to see Dr. Oz. I'll have to look for you on the show!

Hugs,
Donna

Regina said...

Happy Pink Saturday and a Valentine's Day Pat.
Wow! Great photos once again.
I enjoy so much. Love the swarovski shop:). I love NYC though I just been there once.
Thank you for sharing.

Vee said...

Yes, I'd have been instantly hypertensive, too, if I had been selected for a blood pressure check out of an audience. Ha!

Lots of interesting information here. I had no idea all the businesses located in that one historic building. I love the Anthropologie store windows.

Jacalyn @ rmebathproducts.com said...

Love the window displays! Thanks for sharing!

Hugs,
Jacalyn
www.rmeboutique.com

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Pat, I enjoy Dr. Oz.. He is so practical. That would be a neat show to attend. Glad you came home with a free monitor and gift card. NEAT!!!!!

Beautiful pictures of that area of NYC.. I have seen the Today Show many times --from that location.

Watched and loved the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics last night.

Happy Valentines Day!
Hugs,
Betsy

Anonymous said...

Hi Pat, what a great building and a great photograph.

Thank you for taking the photographs of the shops windows dressed for Valentines Day. I have never heard of Dr Oz, I do have my own BP machine but don't use it very often. My BP gets high when I go to the doctors or hospital, (white coat syndrome).

Thanks again for a great post, have a good weekend and Happy Valentines Day!! Jackie in UK.

Helen said...

Well first ~~ I love the NYC photos and wish I could fly cross country for a quick 'fix.'

I have a BP machine, take prescription med to control my BP and love how the good doctor interacts with his audience - in the studio and at home.

Happy Weekend!

The Muse said...

Pat, may your day...make your heart pitter patter...and cause your face to glow~with a smile as big as the one your lovely posts, do for me!

Judy said...

The perfect Valentine's post...from NYC! Have a great weekend!

Did you know that the Today show is temporarily being broadcast from Grouse Mountain in Vancouver during the Olympics?

CatHerder said...

Great pics..omg i LOVE DR. OZ!!!! Love the pics of the store windows too..so cool!

Arlene Delloro said...

Lucky you, Pat! I love Dr. Oz; he was the only reason I used to watch Oprah. I was so glad he got his own show. I've learned so much from watching it. Oh, those chocolates! I've had the champagne truffles (and other stuff) from Teuscher's. Thanks for another great tour.

nanny said...

Great post Pat.....what a wonderful day you had...windows were all beautiful....I watch Dr. Oz everyday, love the show. Yes you must tell us where you were sitting and wearing/ha I'm sure we will see you!

Patricia said...

I would love to walk through New York and stop by all those windows. They are so pretty.
Happy Valentine's To You !
Happy Pink Saturday !!! and have a lovely
new week.

Proud Italian Cook said...

Another great post Pat, and a wake up call to checking our blood pressure regularly. Whats not to like about Dr.Oz, he's so down to earth and real. Thanks for all the photo visuals too. Happy V-Day Pat!

Tracy said...

Outstanding variety post today, Pat! Anthropologie... *SWOON*...I so want to go there. I drool over their website at least once a week...LOL! Wishing you & yours a very sweet Valentine weekend, my friend--((LOVE & HUGS))

Gina said...

such a fun day for your Pat..love your audience loot and the window displays are amazing..sooo pretty!..think I would get lost in that chocolate shop! :) Gx

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Hi Pat!

I love Dr Oz and record his daily show so I don't ever miss it. I've learned so much from him. How awesome to be on his show.

Love seeing your photos of NYC and recognizing things. Great memories.

Happy Valentines Day! hugs, Sherry

nycstylelittlecannoli said...

Great blog!! Glad to see what the windows were up to this month. I am trying to get my monthly trip into the city but the weather is really driving me crazy! Hopefully this Saturday will be the date. Looking forward to more of your blog.

http://nycstylecannoli.blogspot.com

La Petite Gallery said...

Here I am in Maine, looking at squirrels. LOOK AT YOU!
going to shows shopping the most wonderful town in America.You lucky
gal...Beautiful post.
I'll get there soon..
yvonne

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Great posting! As a nurse and someone who has high blood pressure, it is so important to monitor your blood pressure to prevent strokes and heart attacks and a host of other problems!!! Loved the NYC pics!
Debbie@debbie-dabble

Char said...

Wow Pat, it sounds like you had a wonderful day in and around the city of New York, and you learned something very valuable in the process. Sounds perfect to me. What fun too. Happy Pink Saturday and Happy Valentine's Day. I love the windows of NYC. Char

dianasfaria.com said...

wow! you had quite the busy day in Manhattan.
I love Dr. Oz too. I always learn something new from him that helps me take better care of myself.

Joyce said...

Love Dr. Oz and now I have my husband watching him when I tape any shows he appears on. What a fun day and time to go window shopping too. Really miss NY and will be up in March to see relatives and to eat black and whites and NY Pizza in moderation as Dr. Oz would say:)
Joyce

Sara said...

How lovely to see all the neat windows - decorated for the holiday - and reminding us about the need to take care of our hearts.

I didn't know the Rainbow Room was closed. When I was in NYC for an RWA conference - one of the publishers rented the entire Rainbow Room for a party. It was wonderful!

How fun to see the Dr. Oz show. His shows are so educational. And, you won something, too! That's cool!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful post ... love the perspective a 30 rock in that first photo (and the lovely blue skies too). Looking at your photos brings back memories of MY visit there several years back.
Hugs and blessings,

Cindy said...

Hog heaven! Oh yes, I am happy to have found you. I love NYC after 1 visit a couple of years ago. I love all the beauty you shared.
Happy Pink Valentines Day.

Such a Wondrous Place this Faery Space said...

Thanks for the lovely visit! Blessings dear.

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

You are a registered nurse! Yowza, I did not know that!!

I was at 30 Rock in 1996 to see the Rosie O'Donnell show. It was awesome!!!

Thanks for touring me around NY sites again. I love coming here!!

annie said...

Looks like you had a great time.
Glad you shared it with us too.

Marg said...

Sounds like a perfect day. Lots of activities packed in and then to see Dr. OZ, He is so funny..but hits you where it hurts.

Catherine said...

Nice to see New York again, it must be cold up there! love the swiss chocolate! Catherine

Just a little something from Judy said...

This has got to be one of my favorite posts mainly because I would like to visit every single one of these places. The Anthropologie store and the Today Show set would be my top choices. Thank you for sharing this with us. A beautiful way to spend the Valentine's Day weekend.

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Beautiful pictures, Pat! I have actually learned a few things from Dr. Oz...he has an honest, to the point attitude that I think is very helpful. The chocolate shop window is just gorgeous.
♥, Susan

Carol said...

My husband used to work over at 30 Rock a few years back. Exciting place to be every day! How neat you got to see Dr. Oz! Anthroplogie is one my favorite stores, can never resist their dishes. Fun, fun place.

I always enjoy your trips to the city!

Terri Smith said...

Outstanding post! Again Pat, your photographs are phenomenal! Felt as if I were right there! And what a wonderful gift-card idea. That's it..I'm definitely relocating to NY!

Carole Burant said...

I'm very familiar with 30 Rockefeller Plaza, not because I've ever been there in person but because it's the address where I've written many a celebrity for their autographed photo! lol I have thousands in my collection:-) How awesome that you were able to go be part of the audience for the Dr. Oz show. I watch it almost every day and as you say, you get to learn so much. I check my blood pressure every time I go to the pharmacy which is usually once or twice a week. Lucky you to have gotten a blood pressure monitor as well as a gift card:-)

I hope I don't miss that episode because I suffered from agoraphobia for 11 years and it's only in the last 8 years that I've overcome it with the help of medication and professional help. It's wonderful to be able to go out again and just enjoy life. I think that's why I embrace every day when I wake up in the morning:-) I don't wish agoraphobia on anyone, it's absolutely awful not being able to get out of the house without panicking.

Love all the pictures you took of the window displays...now I'm hungry for chocolate:-) xoxo

christina said...

What an amazing post. The angels, took my breath away.
xo

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