Well I made it back safe and sound. But here’s my trip that I thought was pretty awesome. I’m so glad I went, I was worried about the knees going but I did pretty well other then a kicked suit case and gout acting up in my wrist.
Day 1
Subway Stop at 72nd StreetWe wake up at the crack of dawn, opps its before dawn, at 4 AM, get ready and head to the airport. Our flight leaves at 6:40 or something like that. We go through security, and I put everything in and before I walk through he said I had to take of my shoes, and I’m like “you gotta be sh*tting me?” I didn’t say It I thought it, this really annoyed me, even though this was a time when I went through without the metal detector going off. So we head off down the escalator to the transportation mall at Hartsfield. And head ot the gate A 4, which is a walk and a half, but I didn’t know what a walk was till later. But on the way to the gate they have have an iPod vending machine. I kid you not. I forgot to get a pic of it, but they had Nanos, Shuffles and I think video iPod. I’m like NO WAY! And I learned something really cool, Ginger helps motion sickness, so I took two ginger root capsules from GNC and I did pretty well on the flight. The flight up was pretty good, it wasn’t turbulent or anything. And the plane was almost empty, Go Delta. We fly into Newark Liberty Airport. We get our luggage and decided to take the shuttle bus into the city. Which was pretty cheap, only $13 bucks, which ain’t bad. The good thing is that the bus dropped us off at the Port Authority Bus Station at 42nd and 8th Ave.
We had a short walk up the street to the Westin at Time Square. Which was an awesome hotel. Which I found out today the guests of Martha Stewarts show stay there. We check in and the day is going to be a long one. We get on the subway, and I love the day passes, and head up to the upper west side to visit a good friend of Thomas’ who had a baby and they have been friends for a long time. I had a good time meeting her and saw the baby and we hung out for a bit, then we were off to have lunch with one of Thomas’ old co workers at the State Door Deli across from the New York hotel and Madison Square Garden. The burger was really good. They talked shop and I have to say they have the best pickles. HMMM. Then we headed back down so 20 something street ot the homeless shelter for senior citizens where a friend of Thomas’ plays the piano and sings. It was really fun to me. We walked in and the person who cooks, I forgot her name, said these must be the Atlanta friends. So we came in and sat down. They sang songs and anything you could imagine. The one person who really just made me smile was Veronica, and elderly lady who just love the signing and sang Unchained Melody. The great thing was that they gave out instruments to the people sitting and everyone who wanted to sing could. It was great. Just makes you think, I think, as I get political again, that younger homeless, barring any mental or physical defect, can be trained and change things if they want too, but elderly homeless I think is something we should do about. Because things happen, a partner may die and you may not be able to afford to live, or have an illness and medical bills that are overwhelming and such. You can’t just train them to do something and make a living. It’s harder and sometimes you have physical limitations. But they fed and gave entertainment, and I had a good time, I just wished I knew the songs better and also if I could sing. I hope the next time we go back up we can go back by it. So we had dinner with his friend who played the piano and talked then headed back to the hotel to get ready. One thing I noticed was that the Gay.com billboard, the blue undies around the ankles, I couldn’t believe it, This was the many of undie sightings I would have.
Empire State Building taken near Madison Squre Gardin
We saw Grey Gardens. Which is an off Broadway show, I won’t go into the details about off and on Broadway, hell I don’t know it. But it’s based on the documentary of the same name about Jackie O’s Aunt and Cousin. The first act is about what happened that made them go crazy. Which was very good, I was kinda skeptical about it but we sat the first row. And if you’ve never been to theater in NYC, the theaters are smaller and more intimate. Which I think is great. While watching Grey Gardens there were two very emotional scenes right in front of us. I’m talking if I reached out I could have touched them. I was like WOW. And I said before we went if I didn’t see a raccoon I was going to be upset. Well I got my raccoon, they showed a picture of one on the side of the set when it was raccoons making noise if the attic. The second act was the movie. It was dead on, the two actresses playing the parts of Big and little Eddie (Insert names) were dead on. It was great, I hope they come out with a soundtrack of the show. If you have a chance to go see it, GO, they keep extending it, it’s playing at the Horizons Playhouse Theater.
Then we went back to the room, we were going to go to Thomas’ favorite bar “Marie’s Crisis” but when we got back to the room I was beat, it was around 11, and I needed at least a nap, but I ended up passing out. I was spent.
Day 2
View out of the hotel room
One day down in NYC and we start another one. We get up and head to Century 21. Which I have heard about from Thomas and some of his friends. Which if you’re familiar with it its like a Marshall’s or TJ Max with much much more. And great prices. It’s right across the street to ground zero, and the bargains were plenty. The underwear section alone had me all excited. I got over 50 bucks of undies, a Puma, 2xist, Intimo and the new Speedo undies. If I had not been more careful I would have spent well over 100 bucks on undies alone. But I had to tone it back and not get it. I figured I didn’t need 100 bucks in undies when I may have trouble paying bills next month. But Thomas did some heavy duty shopping. If I had had more money I would have bought some shoes, I could have gotten them but I had just gotten 2 pairs of sneakers and didn’t need another, on the next trip I’ll probably go back and get a pair. But my new Nikes did an awesome job in NYC. So we leave Century 21 and head back to the hotel. We drop off our stuff and I got to see a preview of Times Square on the way back. We get back and get ready to go to the next show, Ring of Fire, based on the music of Johnny Cash. Well before I get into that, I got a pair of pants at Century 21 and dressed up a little nicer, the night before I wore jeans and a button up shirt and felt under dressed and I also had paint on every pair of Jeans I took I think. So that annoyed me. But we go in and it’s playing at the (Theater name). We sit on the lower level off to the side. Well I was expecting a story based on the lives of three couples, well there was on dialogue, just the songs. I already wasn’t excited because I’m not a big Johnny Cash fan but this proved why, They didn’t do a good job telling the stories. To me it was just like a concert nothing more. It did however feature Lari White, the country singer, but the second act got a little peachy, so it was my very first Broadway show. The only thing I liked was the scenery was on the screen that moved and split apart and did some cool things, but I wasn’t a fan of what they put on it but I think if they had the right art it would have been a lot better. So we leave there and head to Times Square.
Century 21 - Great Store!I have to say I was blown away by Times Square. It was incredible, I really like it. The day before I kept saying NYC was an interesting town. And by Saturday, I was really liking the town. There were so many people and so much going on. I think that that’s the way many cities maybe in 10-15 years with the interactive billboards and such. It made me realize just how Atlanta is wasting it’s potential. Atlanta is like a second-class city to New York. We go to Virgin and it’s 3 floors of music and movies and such and I loved it. But one thing that really cracked me up and I didn’t’ get a pic of, was the Toys R Us Ferris wheel. It was so funny with the cars they had. I wish I had ridden it, next trip! I got some great pics. Which this trip the camera worked and I took over 67 pics. But on the way back to the hotel, we passed Hank Azaria on the street, I was like wasn’t that???
So we got something to eat and then headed back to my second Broadway show. Sweeny Todd, which was awesome. It stared Patti LaPone and Michael Cerveris. Which is a new take on the musical. Everyone in the cast plays instruments. In fact there is no orchestration at all other then the people on stage. The choice of cast was awesome. I sat 5th row center and it was awesome. But I had an issue with the two girls behind me. I had to listen to them talk about how tall I was and that they couldn’t see and just were being pains in the ass about it. I wanted to turn around and say I CAN HEAR YOU, I’m right here! But instead in the best passive aggressive way I sat up TALL and made their night that much more fun. I know I know
But it was incredible, the only thing was the theater was small. They need more leg room.
So the theater got out, I saw it by myself and Thomas saw Bernada Alba, I think is the name, and he was waiting when I got out. I wanted to go back to the room and take a nap, but we went back and sat for a few minutes and then headed to Thomas’ favorite bar, Marie’s Crisis. Which is a piano bar, that people sing show tunes. I’m not exactly sure where it was, but it was very interesting. The room had to have been 30x15 or so and packed with people who know every show tune in existence. Which is cool but some of them I classified as the Trekies of the show tunes world. I mean I wanted to say that there is life outside of show tunes. But I didn’t. Listen to the podcast to hear a few things that happened, nothing major but it was fun. Then we headed back to the hotel. We took the subway back and for an Atlanta boy it’s cool to be able to ride the subway at 2 am and it’s cool. I really enjoyed that.
Day Three
I hope you know what this is!
I great nite sleep and we got up and I wanted to go to Central Park and Rockefeller Center. But it was raining like crazy, and we just took a cab up to Rockefeller Center and I saw the Today Show studio, they had stopped filming, the ice rink, and then we walked down the street and I saw Radio City Music Hall. Just the outside, but it was still pretty cool. We hopped on the subway and got bagels and went to see Thomas friend with the baby and hung out for a bit. And then headed to the Color Purple at the Broadway Theater. Which I must say the show was awesome. But before I get into the show, I got to see the Ed Sullivan Theater where they hold The David Letterman Show, which was cool and they have a CBS store right beside it and next time I’ll have to go in. Thomas got out tix changed to sixth row on the isle. I couldn’t belive it, it was so incredible show. I mean the whole writing and songs were pretty powerful. I really loved it, and the casting was incredible too. I think if you go to NYC don’t go see Phantom, Wicked or anything else, see Color Purple. It was incredible. As for Phantom, on Saturday, we were walking by the matinee of Phantom and it was around the block and running over, I’m like if you come to see a Broadway show, go see something new, a revival or something not something that has been there for 18 years or so. I just don’t get it.
Times Square Subway StationSo then we headed back to Times Square and went to Virgin again. I really love Times Square. I wanted to get a pic of Times Square and the city skyline. I try to get some good pics of the places I go. I have them of Seattle, Boston and DC. But I know I’ll go back and I’ll be able to get them, but it was raining and most the vendors in Times Square weren’t there. But I still love hanging out, oh one thing I noticed was the Hershey store. I couldn’t believe it. It’s just wild. But then we got something to eat from Ollies, I think is the name, some great Chinese food. I gored myself on sweet and sour chicken.
We headed around the corner to the American Airlines Theater to see the Pajama Game. Which started Harry Connick Jr. The set was so cool, it was really bright colors and had these big orange and pink buttons. The set was blue. The story of the Pajama Game is the workers in the Factory want 7.5 cents more and hour raise, set in 1959. I really liked this one too. The show also started Michael McKeon, I think that’s how you spell his name, from Laverne and Shirley and Spinal Tap. It was funny and really great. One of the best parts is you get to see Harry Connick shirtless, WOOF.
We were going to go out, but we stayed in and got packed for the trip home.
Day Four.
We got up and headed for the Airport, and if you catch the bus from the Port Authority, and they say across from Duane Reade or how ever you spell it, the bus picks you up from the corner in front of it. Look for the sign that says Newark Airport. That was the worst part. We got to the airport and got on a full plane to head back and all those damn commuter jets got in the way, were like 20th for take off and over half the planes in front of us were little jets that carry like 20 people. I’m like take the train and stay out of my way
nice aren’t I? Then I got home and rested at Thomas’ house and then headed to class. Hell I was in Times Square in the morning and then in class in downtown Atlanta that night. What a way to spend the day!
I hope you enjoyed my telling of the NYC trip and listen to the podcast too. I can’t wait to go back to NYC, I think Thomas is going to get me hooked on doing NYC theater trips.
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