Rubin Family at "Day One" Inaugural Ceremonies
for NYS Governor Elliot Spitzer - New Years Day 2007
Following the Children's Program (part of the Celebrate New York festivities of the Inaugural Celebration) the Rubins met up with newly sworn-in Governor Elliot Spitzer just outside the Kosher concession stand.
State Colors flown, National Anthem sung. Partial view of podium.
Mushkie and Chani bundled up at the inaugural ceremony. The State Education Building is visible on left, the NYS Capitol behind. It wasn't that cold and the drizzle stopped in time. They said it was the first outdoor inaugural in history. Prior to the ceremony the kids had a ride on the New York State Carousel in the State Museum, and enjoyed the Chocolate Exhibit on loan from Chicago's Field Museum. Usually closed on New Years, the museum was open special for the festivities.
Mendel and Raizy at the ceremony. This picture we were standing closer up, but it was muddy there and the kids preferred to be further back on the steps. Governor Spitzer's Inaugural Address. Didn't seem like he used notes. The Seal of the State of New York is in front.
There was a great (free) kids program following the ceremony on the Concourse Level of the Empire State Plaza. Museums from across the State presented craft and educational opportunities and our kids had a great time. Pictured above with their friends the Labers from Troy NY, they're dressed up in period costume courtesy of the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse NY.

They also had a chance to decorate trains and buses at the New York Transit Museum booth, get a compass keychain from the Adirondack Museum, decorate a paper fish and check out real sea-bass and codfish courtesy of the Long Island Children's Museum. The Manhattan Children's Museum sent hundreds (maybe thousands) of blocks which kids built up into towers before they were knocked over. The Amherst Museum (Buffalo area) demonstrated basic homemade kids toys and games popular 100 years ago. There were ship models from Kingston NY, bead-making and corn-doll-making from the Iroquis Museum near Howe's Cave and much more. We were busy all afternoon!!

This photo was taken by Times-Union photographer Philip Kamrass, and featured on the Times-Union.com Photo Gallery of the Inauguration, as the new Governor Elliot Spitzer made his way through the Kids Room where the museums from across the state had exhibits, booths and activities. See Raizy holding Sara (it does seem to be Bassy but it isn't) and Chani is right beneath her, partially blocked.

 

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