A two year old boy got to try on real fire fighting clothing, go inside a real fire engine, and speak with real firemen while his single mom got to flirt with New York’s Bravest. Could there be a better way to spend an afternoon?!
There's a lot to do in the shops around Rockefeller Plaza.
There's the gaming paradise Nintendo World Store on the corner...
There's the skating rink and tree...
There's money to give and bells to ring...
Tourists and fans who ask Chille to be in photos...
There is the Swarovsky Crystal Star that will be placed on top of the tree...
There's the "Must See" NBC Experience Store...
And certainly, for the first time ever, the brand new Lionel Electric Train Store is open for the season...
Right across from the Radio City Music Hall in Rockefeller Center
But even this piece of action couldn't compete with where we were headed...
With a huff and a puff and no encouragement necessary, Chille ran down 51st street in search of the zone...
Live from da Hood Chille's NYC adventures take us to the FDNY Fire Zone!!
It's hard to imagine that this tiny storefront holds THIS MUCH fun...
Everything is real. All the buttons work and Chille has the time of his life flipping this and pushing that...
The radio is going and an emergency call comes in from Dispatch...
Firefighter Chille assures his men that he will safely and quickly get them to the scene!
Firefighter Chille shows no fear as he bravely climbs down to join his men...
The men's gear awaits them...
So Firefighter Chille dons a REAL FDNY fire fighting coat...
And wears the shockingly heavy hat of a brave FDNY Firefighter!!
There's so much to turn and prepare on the Fire Engine...
There are real FDNY Firefighters to show how the tanks and gas masks are to be worn.
If you've ever wondered how much the equipment weighs and feels, this is the place to not just SEE it, but to EXPERIENCE it all.
There is a wall with hundreds of badges representing every different possible fire house throughout the world. The sign in the center of these badges read "It's the greatest job in the world".
Of course, the FDNY Gift Shop is not to be missed!
All proceeds from the toys and DVDs and clothing and action figures go to support the non-profit FDNY Foundation.
They even sold life-saving infant CPR kits complete with Dummy and DVD for only $40.
And, hey, it was the too-steamy 2008 FDNY Calendar of Heroes that made that year's calendar the last, by order of the commissioner in NYC. So, you know, I think of it as a hot collectors item! Actually, I'd say it was SMOKIN'!!
All the FDNY Firemen at the FDNY Fire Zone were extremely polite and kind and able to educate you at every turn...
And with Future FDNY Firefighter Chille ready to go home with his well-deserved souveniers...
And Mama, um, feeling charitable (or something like that...)
Chille heads out of the FDNY Fire Zone, promising to return again... probably a lot, really... Hey, it's FREE!!
Just another ordinary day in an extraordinary city....
