Results tagged “visit”

President Obama is in town today to meet with the FBI agents credited with stopping a terrorist plot to bomb NYC subways. But that pat on the back at FBI headquarters near City Hall is just the morning's agenda; in the evening it's all about the Benjamins. (Or, rather, the Grover Clevelands.) Tonight the President will speak at a $30,400-per-couple dinner at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel at Columbus Circle; the event is expected to raise $2 million to $3 million for the DNC. Want to see Barry but dating a deadbeat who can't float the 30 grand for the Mandarin? All is not lost.

NJ lawmakers are probably happy now: Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi will not be staying at the Libyan government-owned mansion in Englewood, NJ when he comes to the U.S. next month to address the United Nations. Rep. Steve Rothman announced yesterday, "I am very pleased that Moammar Khadafy will apparently not be coming to Englewood," apparently because Gadhafi's visit—which would include a large Bedouin tent—"would have presented unnecessary safety and security issues for the residents of Englewood and the Libyan diplomats." And the public uproar probably helped pressure the Libyan government, too. Instead, the Daily News reports, "Khadafy is expected to seek rooms for himself and his large entourage at one of New York's luxury hotels." Hmm—will he seek a hotel with rooftop space for him to set up the tent?

The narcotics officer who lost his leg below the knee after getting pinned by a crashed car got a much-needed boost from a fellow NYPD amputee. Officer Eric Grimes was leading drug suspects into a police van in Brooklyn on Tuesday when two cars collided and jumped the curb, crushing his lower left leg and foot. When he awoke from surgery at Kings County Hospital later that night, a surprise visitor was waiting for him: Officer Rachid Elkadi, whose right leg was amputated below the knee in May 2006 after an off-duty motorcycle accident. Elkadi spent an hour with Grimes to show him that his amputation didn't have to be a career ender; Elkadi himself returned to work a year after his accident. Now a "field intelligence officer" in Queens, Elkadi spoke with the Daily News about his bedside visit: "[Grimes] let out a sigh of relief and said, 'You are a breath of fresh air. I needed to see you.' He asked me how my life has changed. I said, 'You are not limited to anything.'"

      

It's official, Prince Harry's first official trip to the U.S. has officially begun! As you can see he's already visited Ground Zero, talked with firefighters, and has christened the British Memorial Garden at Hanover Square (which actually isn't all that amazing). The AP noted that when he emerged "into the sunlight where the towers once stood. He glanced upwards, seemingly taking in the enormity of the structures felled in the attack, and said simply, 'Wow'." However, while looking at the rebuilding plans for the WTC site, he asked, "Big question—when is this supposed to be finished?" Patience, dear prince.

If you see a royal mess of traffic on the streets today, remember that Prince Harry is in town for the weekend. Before he hits the polo field tomorrow, he'll be making the rounds in Manhattan later today. But after his visits to Ground Zero, the British Garden, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Harlem, there allegedly won't be any parties. Even TIME magazine made note of it, saying, "With those engagements in mind, the royal heartthrob, who has a well-known penchant for long, alcohol-fueled nights, won't be hitting New York City's dance floors." The prince's private secretary told them, "Quite frankly I think he will be cream-crackered and will want a good night's kip." Translation please? If the 24-year-old ginger prince wants a drink, however, one transplant from Great Britain told the Daily News, "We'd love to have him for some drinks. Tell him drinks on me." He may just take up the offer, being a recessionista and taking commercial flights here (though the Queen paid for the $40,000 trip out of pocket because "it's not a full-fat royal trip").

Interested observers who want to see Pope Benedict during his April visit to New York, but couldn't score tickets to his appearance at Yankee Stadium, will be able to glimpse the head of the Roman Catholic church's hierarchy as he cruises the city in the Popemobile. Pope Benedict will be taking the bullet proof bubble car from St. Patrick's Cathedral to a residence where he's staying on the Upper East Side April 19th. He'll also be taking the specially outfitted vehicle to the Bronx, where he'll lap the field at Yankee Stadium before he performs mass for ticket holders.