Friday, October 29, 2010

SMB in MANHATTAN!

……aka EllieMae Clampett goes to the Big City

DSC04987
from the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building
I received a call from my boss last month while out of town to provide moral support for Daddy while he had knee surgery.  She asked if I would like to tag along on her trip to New York City.  She was going for a conference but my coworker and I would have 3 1/2 days to play in the city.  Ummmm, let me think a minute………not just YES but Heck YES!

                 Radio City Music Hall
DSC04825
This was my second trip to NYC and even though I haven’t spent a lot of time there, it is my most favorite city.  If someone ever offers to take you on an all expenses paid trip to New York City, pack your bags and get yourself to the airport, PRONTO!  Better yet, just say, “No, take SMB instead.”

My travel companions were both native New Yorkers so I was treated to do whatever I wanted to do as they had both seen it all before.  What I know about New York, I learned from the movies.  For instance, Jack (Nicholas Cage) in The Family Man taught me that there is nothing like a warm bialy and a cup of coffee from Dean and Deluca.  Unfortunately, I will never know as they were fresh out of bagels and bialies when I was there.  I was told that has never happened before.  No worries.  They still had coffee and muffins.


I really wanted to have the frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity (and hopefully run into John Cusack) but by the time Saturday evening rolled around, that little treat got bumped off the agenda in favor of lounging in our hotel room and watching FSU football and the Yankees baseball game.  Yeah, we’re quite the party animals.

DSC04829
I had big plans to win the Ambush Makeover but apparently you have to get there long before 9am.  Who knew?  The Today Show waits for no one!  Not even SMB.  

Pseudo of Winds of Change sent me a message while I was there.  She asked her readers to make recommendations and give travel tips to me.  I was able to read her blog on my phone so I received tips on the go.  Pseudo suggested that I try the Stage Deli.  I had no idea where the restaurant was but Friday afternoon found me wandering the streets of New York by myself as my coworker was a bit “fluish”.   After my solo adventure, I planned to stop by a pizza place near the hotel and grab a slice and take it back to the room to check on my sick friend.  Lo and behold, right across the street from the pizza place (and indirectly  across from our hotel) was the Stage Deli!  I couldn’t resist.  I sat at the bar by myself (like a big girl) and enjoyed a Kevin Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato sandwich with a Brooklyn Lager and it only set me back $22.  Did I mention that everything is more expensive in New York?  No one cares……….BECAUSE IT’S MANHATTAN, BABY!

 DSC04832
My photograph of St. Patrick’s Cathedral doesn’t even come close to doing it justice.  To say it was beautiful is such an understatement.  There are no words.  And yet…..I go on.

My boss knew that St. Patrick’s was on my to-do list and as we walked past it on our way from getting breakfast Sunday morning, she asked if I had seen it yet.  I said that I had.  I told her that I had taken some pictures.  She asked if we had gone inside.  When I told her that we had not, she said, “Come on, let’s go.”  I began to follow her all the while protesting.  “It’s Sunday!  They’re having mass.  We can’t just walk in there now.”

She rolled her eyes at me and said, “It’s a church.  You’re always welcome there.”  And in we went.  (with our coffee and bagels)  She was right, of course.  It wasn’t to be missed.  It was truly magnificent!  The fact that mass was being held only added to its beauty.  I wish I had a picture.  You just have to go.  That’s all there is to it.  I had to thank her afterward for forcing me to go inside.  I’m so glad I didn’t miss it.  And isn’t it just a little bit funny that it took a Jew to remind me, a Christian, that you’re always welcome at church?

……….and from church, we’ll jump to that Times Square icon:  The Naked Cowboy!
DSC04845

If I lived in Manhattan, I would be even more broke than I am now.  I would spend all my money on theatre tickets…….and coffee….and wine.  After all, woman can not live on entertainment alone.  I LOVE live theatre.  Any live performance really.  I love anything from a high school production to a Broadway play.  And no trip to New York is complete without theatre tickets!  This trip was no exception and tickets were purchased for:
DSC04838

We had a lovely pre-show dinner at Carmine’s (another don’t miss it or you’ll be sorry) followed by what’s this?

DSC04850
A Tweet-up with AuntChrisBronx!  

I met Chris on Twitter, if you can believe that.  It never ceases to amaze me how such wonderful friendships are formed in the interwebs.We’ve been friends for almost two years now.  I only got to see her for  few minutes before we had to go into the theatre but I’m so glad we got to meet and hug.  And isn’t she BEAUTIFUL!  

Promises, Promises is fabulous!  We all LOVED IT!  You couldn’t wipe the smile from our faces for at least 24 hours after seeing this amazing display of talent!  I got a great tip from some friends who had been to the play earlier this year.  They told us just where to wait to get photos and autographs after the show.  And that’s just what we did.

DSC04852
Sean Hayes of Wil and Grace fame.  He was GREAT!
  DSC04855      Tony Goldwyn from Ghost and Kiss the Girls.  In Promises, Promises, he plays the guy you love to hate too.
DSC04859
And Kristin Chenoweth!  She is no bigger than a minute but that voice is HUGE!        LOVE her!
DSC04877
I’m pretty sure there’s a marriage proposal in the works here.  (If not, I’ll always think there should have been.)
DSC04875
Famous fountain from 27 Dresses, et al.

DSC04892DSC04895
  We were in NY for John Lennon’s  70th birthday.  There were crowds of people singing Imagine in the Park at his memorial.  The above photos are of his apartment building where Yoko Ono still lives.  She has three apartments up there when the balcony is.  (or so we were told by our bicycle cabbie, Ozzy)  He was shot in front of the building between the two planters.
DSC04937
It was encouraging to see the progress at Ground Zero.
DSC04944
They’re ice skating in Rockefeller Center already.  It’s against security rules to take pictures of the Zamboni guy.  ……like that’s going to stop me.
DSC04945
We walked quite a long way to get to the Empire State Building from our hotel but it was worth it!
DSC04953             I guess this is what you might call:  A Bird’s Eye View?

Now don’t you want to go to New York too?  Go on!  Just do it! 
And take me with you. 

19 comments:

Brian Miller said...

nice...its been far too long since i was in the NYC...i really need to go back...sounds like you got to have some fun....

Unknown said...

So glad you had the opportunity to go (all expenses paid, who the heck wouldn't!) and so glad you had a great time... as anyone would who visits NYC! If you ever get the chance, go for Christmas, because nobody does Christmas like New York.

Arkansas Patti said...

Somehow NY was never high on my list but now it is. Thanks.
Didn't know you could get up close and personal with the Broadway stars. Cool.

Lori said...

How awesome is this! I am so happy you got this opportunity and that you took the time to share it with us. I've never been and would love to visit some day. My husband lived there for a couple of years so I keep telling him that we need to go there so he can show me around. :)

Happy Weekend! XX

Deb said...

What a great trip! I have been once and was amazed by St. Patrick Cathedral too. Unfortunately, I missed naked guy. Dang it!

tulpen said...

Hubs and I talk about a weekend in NYC. Kids need to be a bit older.

LOVE Kristin Chenoweth!!! She's a little fairy creature with a kick ass voice!!!

cheatymoon said...

I grew up in the New York area, and have fond memories of going into the city for special occasions like fancy meals and the theatre. My child has already been there and done that 1000 times w/ his dad.
I'd like to get in the habit of going again... even though I live in a small city now, I feel like a country mouse.
This great post is making me think I could handle going again. :-)

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Crone and Bear It said...

Sounds like you had a fabulous trip missy! The pics are great - you and Chris are both gorgeous! Glad you had such a good time - I'm hoping to get there sometime next spring. ;)

Pseudo said...

I've only been once but your post sure made me want to go back. So happy for you and the good time you had. Glad you liked your sandwich ; -)

Things were so crazy here this week that it was the first time in over a year that I did not put up the travel link on Thursday. Hope this coming Thursday you link this up - excellent travel post.

JeanMac said...

What an experience! Really enjoyed your post.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for such a great post and the review, I am totally impressed!

TONY LETTS said...

My son's in love with NYC - had his honeymoon there (at my expense of course). I couldn't do the Empire State though - scared of heights!

Tessa said...

I love Manhattan! TFH and I spent the Easter weekend there a couple of years ago and had a blast, doing much the same kind of sightseeing as you did. If I'd my druthers, we'd go every second weekend. But no such luck. Sigh. I'm glad you met up with Chris; is she as crazy as she sounds on Twitter? Good crazy, of course ...

Heather said...

That was an amazing tour through New York, loved it! Glad you got to go and meet your tweet friend, that is really neat. Love that last photo from the Empire State Building.

Nick said...

Looks like fun. Don't choke on any big apples.

Anonymous said...

Don't you just love NYC. There is always something interesting going on.

Reader Wil said...

NY is an enormous city. My daughter Thyme has been there several times and likes it very much. She works for an American company, the boss of which is Dutch and married to a niece of mine, and consequently cousin of Thyme.Ha.ha... Well thank you for the tour!

Anonymous said...

Oh my! Chenowith looks no bigger than a minute! What a dinky sized girl.. hee hee

You look fabulous by the way and NOT in need of a makeover! Glad you enjoyed the trip... hope the weather was warm for you.

Di