i made it there at about 5:20 and met my friend, who thought he was in line... but apparently, the line went across a few blocks.. maybe several. we were simply in something like the press pit, getting a glimpse of the cube. at about 5:30 or so, the apple store sales people came out and started clapping, smiling, and hooting.. generally getting the crowd worked up and excited, as if anyone wasn't already.

15 mintes later, i saw him. i caught a glimpse of jobs. i shouted, "there he is!" and everyone looked at the front entrance. steve had several camera men surrounding him. good thing im a tall dude, i got to see mr. jobs pretty well. obviously he was in a good mood, although he wasn't jumping up and down happy. a girl screamed out, "steve, you're hot!" everyone laughed.

at 5:59, they counted down.. 59, 58, 57.. then at the end, everyone cheered and they started letting people in one by one. the first few people reveled in it, almost taking bows and doing brief and very geeky versions of a touchdown dance.

took a few snapshots of steve on my friend's camera, including a couple right at 6:00 when steve and everyone were cheering.

overall, a pretty good opening.

however, when we found out we weren't officially in line and tried to get in line.. we went in circles and finally found out we had to go quite a few blocks to the end.. not sure where it ended but it was getting to be quite discouraging so we ended up going home.

the end!

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Look at apple.com now, it's really cool!

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I passed by it today on my way to work, and I must say that is one ugly peice of architecture/ To loud, yet to dull at the same time. And it in know wat fits the surrounding envirment which I personally beleive it beutiful.

Different Strokes for Different folks I guess.

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I was there too. Heard the "You're hot Steve" comment. Got a couple of shots of Steve when he came out the "secret" back entrance (Flickr is taking an eternity to upload - up close and personal photos to come... eventually...). I thought it would be best to experience the whole event (and get some good shots) rather than stand in line somewhere on Madison Ave. missing the whole thing...

When we lived in Arlington, Virginia we popped down to the Clarendon store on the morning of its opening. No line and t-shirts were thrust upon us. That's the way to do it!

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I showed up at 2, when I thought the full-sun would last. Then we got hit with a solid hour or more of pouring rain (2:45-3:??). That did little to dampen our spirits, however, and Apple people came out to hand out free coffee coupons for a place down the street. I met some great people in that line (I was #90) and we laughed at the crazy people crowded around just to LOOK at the "crazy people in line." Once inside, it was a celeb-fest and the excitement was tangible. Hopefully, I'll go back in the early AM (like 3?) and try for one of the laptops.

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Ok. Got some shots of Steve up on Flickr. (I have some telephoto ones too, but better up close and personal, don't you think...?)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33103901@N00/

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i dont get it, is the store INSIDE of the cube? i dont see anything except a huge empty clear cube

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hey i know this doesnt belong here but does anybody have a red light coming from thier headphone jack on the macbook?

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Got there about 4pm. Was going to hand out cards for the NY Mac Meetup Group, but said to hell with that once I saw the line snake down 5th, then turn down East 58th Street, almost to Madison Avenue already. A co-worker/friend came along 15 minutes later, so I let her in ahead of me. The wait was long, but worth it. I got a tee and she got two. She got Spike Lee to autograph one of the boxes and switched it with me (she also handed out cards like crazy for me: thanks Linda!!). Just earlier I told her about a family member's experience talking up a script with Spike. Got a few shots of him by himself, a couple with him and James Woods on the staircase, two of the Queer Eye guys (don't ask me which ones, some girl was jumping up and down like crazy over them!), and that unfunny insult comic dog puppet piece o' crap. Couldn't get Liev Schreiber, he was moving too fast.

Going back tomorrow morning to enter for a few more chances to win a MacBook and to take more shots when it's not so crazy.

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#7, ga: The cube is just an entryway, like the pyramid entrance for the Louvre in Paris. The store in one floor underground.

#9, ronn: One Queer Eye guy was Carson, the other was.. uh... that Latin guy? and we must've been close, I was snapping pics of Spike/James on the steps too!

I think it was funny that so many people were getting autographs on the shirt boxes. (I got Kevin Bacon and Julianne Moore). After that hellish rain there weren't many dry surfaces we brought with us.

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HA triumph was there?!?!

That just ranked the Mac people waithing in line there the same as the star war nerds who dressed up as Darth Vader. Cant wait until that sketch airs.

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this is what i like about us apple folks. i dont think we would EVER see window users doing this, prolly because we are the only ones with tight stores like this

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yoyoyo what other Celebs were there

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kenan thompson from snl and that nickelodeon show was there. this guy i talked to met him and got him to autograph his apple t-shirt box.

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