Big Apple

We want to be a part of it, New York! New York!

 Ever since we went to a medical meeting in New York during the Christmas season 2012, Scott and I have been wanting to go back.  This time we added the much enjoyed company of my sister, Heather, and her husband, Gavin. Scott didn't have any meetings to attend during this trip though - or at least we thought.  After booking all our airfare and hotel accommodations, Scott learned that they were doing some training on a new procedure on the robot in both Baltimore and New York that same week.  So we all flew in to New York on Thursday night and spent all day Friday and Saturday together.  Then Sunday after church, Scott flew out to Balitmore and then back to New York on Monday.  While the Seals and I flew home Monday, Scott was supposed to fly home Tuesday.

Our main objective of this New York trip was to see as much on Broadway as we possibly could!

And that is exactly what we did!  we raced from the airport Thursday night to get in town in time to see a play called "Outside Mullingar".  It was rom-com set in rural Ireland and besides being really tired from our all day flight that left at the crack of dawn, we really enjoyed it.  It starred Debra Messing who is a well-known TV and movie actress. It was at the MTC theater right across the street from our hotel - but we didn't see any missionaries anywhere (there were several look-a-likes on stage though for the Book of Mormon musical).

We stayed at the Paramount Hotel.  To quote Aladdin...the hotel had "Phenomenal cosmic powers...itty-bitty living space."  But the location was prime!

Friday did not have any matinee shows so we had to entertain ourselves for the day.  Heather had the great idea to take the subway in to Brooklyn where we had real Italian (maybe even mafia) pizza at Grimaldi's Pizzeria.  

Then we had some true italian hot cocoa before walking across the Brooklyn Bridge.  It was like drinking a very rich melted chocolate bar.  No one could finish the entire cup.  

The pedestrian walkway across the Brooklyn bridge is just a little over a mile long - yet it took us about 2 hours to walk it.  We had a little too much fun taking pictures and vandalizing the bridge in the name of love!

After our very scenic walk of the Brooklyn bridge, we were off on the quest to find the Bull of Wall Street for Scott.  And that's no bull.

We also stopped in at St. Paul's Trinity church which was used a rescue station for firefighters during 9/11.  

For eight months, hundreds of volunteers worked 12 hour shifts around the clock, serving meals, making beds, counseling and praying with fire fighters, construction workers, police and others. Massage therapists, chiropractors, podiatrists and musicians also tended to their needs.

The church survived without even a broken window. Church history declares it was spared by a miracle sycamore on the northwest corner of the property that was hit by debris. The tree's root has been preserved in a bronze memorial by sculptor Steve Tobin 

It's hard to resist a kiss in the Kisses at the Hershey store!

After our fun-filled day in the city, we met up with a family that Heather nannied for as a teenager. We had dinner with the couple she worked for in New York and one of their two daughters.  The food was so good, that we met there for dinner again two nights later with a girl she nannied for in Boston as well!

Then it was time to hit Broadway again with the Musical "Matilda".  Kennedy made us promise we would see this because it was her favorite show from her England study abroad trip.  And as she promised...it didn't disappoint!

Saturday was spent on Broadway again seeing two shows.  We saw the musical "Bridges of Madison County" which just opened for preview while we were there.  The music was beautiful but then again, so was our re-creation of the Playbill cover!  Then we saw a classic Tennessee Williams play called "The Glass Menagerie".  This was amazing!  Totally worthy of all the praise they are getting in the reviews. 

Sunday we headed off to church.  It was the same ward we attended when we were there last year.  I love that it is in the same building as the temple and in a high-rise in the middle of New York on a busy street!

Then it was time for Scott to head to the aiport while Heather, Gavin and I started looking for another show to see.  "Cinderella" was the lucky winner of the afternoon!

By the time we got to the discount ticket booth Sunday evening, there wasn't much left on Broadway to see that was affordable.  So we took a risk and saw an off-Broadway play called "The Perfect Crime"

 It is the longest running play in the country and the biggest mystery of the night was trying to figure out how.  The main character is in the Guiness Book of World Records for being in the same play longer than anyone else.  You might say she knew her lines a little too well.  I still enjoyed the night out but came to the quick realization that it was called the Perfect Crime cause no one could figure it out - no one in the audience anyway!

So the little girl, that is all grown-up now, that Heather nannied for in Boston works as a segment producer for Good Morning America.  She hooked us up with passes to go watch them tape Monday morning before heading to the airport.

Carley Rae Jeppson (singer) was one of their guests since she will begin playing the lead in Cinderella in a few weeks.  

But the true highlight for me (and a surprise) was seeing Buddy from Cake Boss on there doing a cooking segment!  I had no idea he was going to be there.  After knocking over a few tweener girls to get to him I got to get my picture and a hug with him!  I couldn't decide if I was more excited to see him or felt more guilty for it being me that got to meet him instead of Karsyn!

Then we were off to the airport and I started my 14 hour journey home.  I guess that is what you get when you fly for free!  But it turns out, Scott's journey home took even longer than mine. 

 Monday after we left town, New York got hit with a huge snow storm.  They canceled every flight out of the city on Tuesday - the day he was supposed to fly out.  But he didn't even miss a beat.  He saw two more musicals, "Phantom of the Opera" and "Once" while he was stuck in the city....and he went back to Dunkin Doughnuts for doughnuts and hot chocolate -just like we did every night when we were there together!

So long Big Apple!  

Until we meet again 

(2 1/2 months to be exact - we will be there with the kids for Spring Break!)