Apple Store 5th Ave: Your reports
Hooray, it's opening day! You cannot deny the lure of the cube, New Yorkers. Resistance is futile. While Apple Store Fifth Avenue in New York City doesn't officially open its doors until 6:00 PM, we'll be taking your reports all day. Use the comments of this post to share your experiences:
- When did you get in line?
- What's the atmosphere like?
- Have you seen any celebrities (from the Mac community or otherwise)?
- Will you be moblogging photos with your phone?
- Is your credit card literally burning a hole in your pocket?
- Does your boss think you're home sick?
Updates:
Steve writes: "I'm standing out in front of the Apple location right now. The extreme cold and rain has scared off most of the mac faithful. Right now there are only about 20 soaking wet fans waiting outside. We haven't seen any celebs yet, although ABC news dropped by and interviewed some of us..."
More updates from Steve:
"...Steve Jobs has just showed up. He and some of the other Apple bigwigs are currently looking over the outside of the premises. It's getting better by the minute."
TUAW reader Ben took some great photos of Steve Jobs at the 5th Avenue store! He writes:
"So I'm outside the new Apple store but [I'm] not near the crowd and Steve Jobs comes from behind me, I think a lot of people were surprised...here are some photos." Very cool! Thanks, Ben!
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Justin said 7:11AM on 5-19-2006
I going today after school. Cant wait to see it. will post pics on the web. I hope Seve J. is there.
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Mike said 7:25AM on 5-19-2006
Seve J will most likely not be there. Actually, i can guarantee it.
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ronn said 8:00AM on 5-19-2006
I'll be there (taking a mental health day), but with all this early rain and more expected around opening time, I'll be level-headed and wait till later in the day. It's always open, and I don't care for the free tee.
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Conrad Quilty-Harper said 8:04AM on 5-19-2006
However, Sieve J has confirmed that he will be in attendance.
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Steve W said 8:38AM on 5-19-2006
I'm standing out in front of the Apple location right now. The extreme cold and rain has scared off most of the mac faithful. Right now there are only about 20 soaking wet fans waiting outside. We haven't seen any celebs yet, although ABC news dropped by and interviewed some of us...
I'll pop back later and let you know how things progress.
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Hraddy said 8:40AM on 5-19-2006
Lucky New Yorkers...
Did he write some document about it ?
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Steve W said 10:25AM on 5-19-2006
Actually, out of the 30 people who are now here only 3-4 of them are New Yorkers. We have 2 people who traveled from Germany, one from Scotland, and others from Texas, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The famous Stormy is here from Texas. He has a habit of sniping spot number one in opening day lines, but failed to impress the other mac heads here, as he set up his folding chair yesterday afternoon and retired to a hotel room prior to midnight (and the storm) He did, however, come back at around 8 this morning to reclaim his place.... Not very sporting, but he did buy us donuts :-)
Rumor has it that Steve Jobs will be here this afternoon. People are putting the spit polish on absolutely everything. They even had someone polishing rain drops off of the chrome poles that are currently keeping the crowd from the plaza.
Fun Stuff guys...
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Steve W said 10:40AM on 5-19-2006
Steve Jobs has just showed up. He and some of the other Apple bigwigs are currently looking over the outside of the premises. It's getting better by the minute
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eric f said 11:25AM on 5-19-2006
Are you guys against the building or lined up in front of the cube near the street? I was wondering if I come down if I can sit under my umbrella and watch a movie on my Macbook while I wait...? If I have to stand that won't work. But if you are against the building do you get to see the "ribbon cutting" ?
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Frank Lloyd Wright said 12:19PM on 5-19-2006
The line is below the plaza, in front of the curb. There is no reason why you should not be able to set up an umbrella and watch a movie, a long as you don't mind some rain being driven onto your laptop. (It's not actually raining now but you shouldn't count on it's remaining dry).
Nice of Stevie J to show up in person. Maybe I'll swing by after work.
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Harsh Kalra said 12:43PM on 5-19-2006
Steve W..."Extreme cold and rain" ?!!?? Doode, get over yourself..it stopped raining and it's nowhere near extremely cold. I walked to the office today in a t-shirt. Stop being melodramatic for the sake of making yourself seem so faithful that you'll wait on line through a blizzard for the grand opening of the Apple store. Maybe I'll see you there after work and smack you upside the head.
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Steve W said 1:25PM on 5-19-2006
To the doubter, it was thundering, lightning and pouring rain up until noon. Our pants, shoes, socks, shirts and everything are completely soaked through. I had backup clothes in a backpack and they are completely soaked through. Sitting outside soaking wet for 12 hours is not warm. There was absolutely no melodrama involved. Ask the webmaster of ifoapplestore... he was here.
To answer the other question, they have the crowd snaked on the sidewalk in front of the Apple store, so the only sitting is on the ground. The crowd is still small, so anyone who is thinking of coming should definitely come by
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Radu Dutzan said 3:57PM on 5-19-2006
How can you have -1 stars?
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Sam F said 4:13PM on 5-19-2006
Any updates as to crowd size? I'm thinking of going at like 5:00, but I'll wait until later if its too crazy.
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Steve W said 4:44PM on 5-19-2006
If I had to guess I would say 600 or 700 people right now.... but that's just a guess
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Sam F said 4:47PM on 5-19-2006
In that case I'll be there just after 5:00 (hope the weather doesn't get bad again).
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CoreGUY101 said 7:25PM on 5-19-2006
Watching the updates from the Simi Valley, CA store live
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Jeff D said 9:04PM on 5-19-2006
I went but did not expect it to be quite as big as it was...I couldn't really see standing in line for as long as I would have had to. The line snaked around the entrance several times, then over to Madison and up to 60th.
People were applauding as other people went in. Odd.
I did take a few outside pictures, but I don't think they really capture the size of the crowd: http://flickr.com/photos/durlando/sets/72057594139715919/
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Sam F said 10:48PM on 5-19-2006
I just got back. It was insane. I got there at 5:40 and got into the store at about 8:20. The people who got there after 6:00 had about a three hour long wait. I did think it was odd that there were about ten employees stationed outside of the store clapping as people went in and out.
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Pol Riid said 11:47PM on 5-19-2006
A very poignant political comment by Apple using the common saying, "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". In a city where ego is housed in many large glass monoliths this is a powerful architectural and consumerist statement on the fragile 'peace' we live in. Subtle genius IMHO.
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