New York, New York -- Day One

We arrived into Newark 30 minutes early, so I was on the AirTrain by the time I was supposed to actually be arriving. I love the AirTrain -- it's so easy. The ticket costs $15, which is substantially less than a cab from JFK or LGA, depending on the time of day. It puts me in Penn Station, which is one subway stop dowtown from my hotel. It works perfectly.
I arrived at the Marriott during a peak time, and there were many people in line around me. My king corner room wasn't ready, and I wouldn't be able to check in until after 4, so I went ahead and accepted a regular room. Last time I did this, the guy at the desk gave me a fantastic room with THE view. This time, the [snide] girl at the desk gave me a terrible room. I am very disappointed, but I don't want to complain. For as little as I'm here, it will do. They are out of their mind if they think I would pay $600+ for this room on the 31st though. I still haven't talked to reservations about extending my reservation. Ah well.

Anyway, the first thing I've seen this trip is The Fantasticks, which is playing off-Broadway at the Jerry Orbach Snapple Theater right down the street from Wicked. My best friend Kristin LOVES The Fantasticks, and she sent me the original cast recording some years ago that featured Jerry Orbach. (I would have DIED to see him in it.) Anyway, Kristin had told me the theater was small, but I didn't realize what she meant by small, so when I was able to secure 2nd row center orchestra seats, I was stoked!

I walked into the theater tonight and was I shocked. I was practically sitting on the stage! There is not a seat in that theater with a bad view.

And now I must say this, if you haven't seen The Fantasticks, you need to RUN (not walk!) to see this show. The cast was SUPERB. Seriously. When they started singing "Try to Remember", I got chills. I absolutely love that song, and it always makes me think of New York when I hear it... It's an absolutely beautiful song. At any rate, although El Gallo wasn't Jerry Orbach, he still gave me chills when he sang it.

Try to remember the kind of September
When life was slow and oh, so mellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain was yellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When you were a tender and callow fellow.
Try to remember, and if you remember,
Then follow.

Try to remember when life was so tender
That no one wept except the willow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That dreams were kept beside your pillow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That love was an ember about to billow.
Try to remember, and if you remember,
Then follow.

Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
Although you know the snow will follow.
Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
Without a hurt the heart is hollow.
Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
The fire of September that made us mellow.
Deep in December, our hearts should remember
And follow.

Every time Louisa came on stage, I couldn't help but smile like the child I am on the inside. She reminded me a lot of myself... and even, a little bit of Glinda from Wicked. Just blonde with those beautiful rose colored glasses that only children can have. How beautiful it all is. The fathers made me grin, and I think that Soctt Robins would be AWESOME as Louisa's father. In fact, everytime I looked at him, all I could see was Scott. Weird! They were both so talented -- who couldn't help but smile when Louisa's father was watering his plants and Matt's father was clipping them. Matt's father reminded me of my great grandfather, which also made me smile.

Finally, the two "actors"... The only discrepancy I noticed was that the "Rape Ballet" has been renamed to the "Abduction". I'm sure that this has to do with the PC-ness of the term. At any rate, both the Indian and the "man in the light" (I'll call him that for lack of a better term) were FANTASTIC(K)! I loved when the Indian did his death scenes. He was so good. If they ever do a revival of Annie Get Your Gun again, I'm nominating THAT GUY for the chief!

Finally, "the Mute". How he stood as the wall for as long as he did without noticeably flinching, I will NEVER know. He pulled it off though! His role is fairly large, as he's constantly throwing confetti around to change the seasons, but he does so without being obtrusive and stealing the limelight from the cast. Well done, Mute.

The story line is one that is so simplistic and beautiful, it's unable for me to fathom how anyone couldn't love this musical, if not just for the songs, "Try to Remember", "They Were You", and "Plant a Radish". It's a beautiful show, performed with a minimalistic set and orchestra, a stellar cast, and beautiful music. I wouldn't miss this one if I were you.

Ironically, the worst part of the entire night were the Negative Nellies I was seated around, who saw it fit to go through the Playbill and complain about every, single show they have seen. Seriously?! If it's that bad, why go? I can only think of one show that I didn't truly love every moment of, but this isn't it.

Go see The Fantasticks. Take your kids to introduce them to theater. It's wholesome, family-friendly fun for everyone. I can only imagine how incredible it would be for a child to sit in that tiny theater and feel as if the entire cast was performing only for them.

It's what I felt like, and I'm 26. ;)

After The Fantasticks, I came back to the hotel for a nice long soak. My legs were pretty stiff after all that walking -- it usually takes me a day or two to get my "NYC legs".

Oklahoma...

Road trip to Woodward, Oklahoma
Hotel: Northwest Inn, Fairfield Inn-Norman
Purpose: Funeral

Not too much to say about this trip. I had no idea how far in the middle of nowhere Woodward, Oklahoma was. We attended a funeral and got caught in the winter snowstorm. The Holiday Inn Express was booked days before we made the trip, so we ended up at the Northwest Inn, which was recommended by Holiday Inn staff. Review is below. I was disappointed at how rude some of the locals were in Woodward, particularly at a diner we had breakfast at. We decided to drive to Norman after the funeral, which was halfway home. Stayed at the Fairfield and had dinner at Charleston's. Tasty food, HUGE portions. Definitely split if you end up there.

Northwest Inn

We came to Woodward for a family funeral. The Holiday Inn Express across the street was sold out, which seems to be a regular event. They recommended this hotel over the other chains (Super 8, Days Inn). The rooms are outside entry, and many of the doors are scuffed and look like they have seen better days. The check-in desk was friendly, but they never asked to see my ID nor the credit card I made the reservation with. The rooms have been updated with new beds, furniture. The beds are relatively comfortable, though the entire room does look dated. The bathrooms are TINY, about the size of the door, so I'm not sure how one is supposed to close the door without standing in the tub. The water was hot though, and the water pressure was good. Paint was chipped, faded, and there are cracks in the walls. The cleaning job seemed to be cursory and a surface job, as we found corks and little bits of stuff throughout the room. There is a computer in the lobby area, though I just used the free wireless. We tried to get a late check out, and they allowed us to stay until 1:00. The door never closed properly, you had to really work to get it to close tightly. The road noise didn't bother us at night.

Overall, not a horrendous experience... there were many seedier looking motels on down the road, but you would think Marriott or Hilton could come in and put one of their budget hotels (Courtyard, Fairfield, Hampton?) in Woodward.

Fairfield Inn -- Norman

Weather turned bad on the drive home, so we decided we would drive halfway and stop in Norman. Chose the Fairfield for the Marriott name and the price was right. We arrived around 7:00pm, and both rooms reserved were ready. Rooms were very clean and standard Fairfield issue. Beds aren't as comfortable as some Marriott properties, but they were warm and comfortable enough. Staff was friendly. Pool area looked clean, but we didn't try it out. There is a restaurant or two within walking distance, which was nice after being in the car all afternoon. Breakfast was served from 6-10. It wasn't anything to write home about, but it was free muffins, pastries, juices, coffee, fruit, cereal, etc. Wireless internet was free, and there was a computer for guest use in the lobby. The only downside was that they are replacing the carpet, which means there is a lot of noise starting early in the morning and working until around 6:00pm. We had trouble navigating the hallway with our suitcases as they had all the furniture out of the rooms. Over all, not a bad place to spend the night though.

Beantown...

Elena and I woke up early, and we headed back to Cambridge for brunch. We ended up at Grafton Street across from Cambridge. It was a very cool place with a very chill vibe. They had a diverse menu and the portions were HUGE.

From there, we headed back toward Kendall Square and we wandered around the MIT campus. The stark difference between the traditional buildings and the more modern ones was fascinating. I cannot imagine getting much work done though, the view of the river was incredible. I could just sit there and watch the world go by all day long. Focusing on school would be impossible.

I got to the airport at 2:30, and I tried to go standby on the 2:50 flight. The standby list was 38 people deep. My flight was oversold, and I volunteered to give up my seat for a $300 voucher and an aisle seat on a flight an hour later. BIG mistake. We loaded, pushed back from the gate on time, and then they announced we would be sitting on the tarmac. We sat for 3.5 hours, and I am currently on route. There are over two hours left on this flight, so instead of getting home at 8:45, I am now getting home at 11:30. Sucks.

Beantown...

Saturday morning, we sleep in, but I am still awake before everyone. Of course. I'm showered dressed and ready to go.

We end up at lunch at a bagel place (Finagle a Bagle) across from the park which is awkward again. (I do the fruit things again, add a muffin, and drink some OJ. Awesome.)

We end up heading out to Cambridge from there. We ended up losing the boys at Harvard. Period. No idea. They just walked off while we were photographing campus. Elena and I wandered Harvard for a long time, looking for the law school, so I could take my Legally Blonde picture. We didn't find it.

We went down to Kendall Square and sat on the shore and watched the world go by... we headed back to the hotel and got ready for our gondola ride.

The gondola ride is the BEST kept secret in Boston. I looked FOREVER to find something really special... and that was it. The company uses true Venetian gondolas... and the package I booked included an accordion player who played some of my favourites like Moon River, strawberries, chocolates, cheese, and crackers... and of course, it was at sunset. We were told to take our shoes off, put our feet up, and enjoy the trip. It was SO relaxing. Absolutely incredible. Anyone going to Boston MUST do this.

Afterward, we photographed the night lights of Boston, walked along the Esplanade, and ended up having dinner in the North End at a fabulous little Italian restaurant called Piccolo Venezia. The North End made me really homesick for Italy. Elena also studied in Italy, so we love all things Italian.

We ended up pub hopping until 2:00, when we headed back to the hotel.

Beantown...

I woke up at 8:00 this morning. Everyone was passed out, and I was ready to GO! I showered, did my hair, put on the sweet little Tahari dress I bought specifically for the trip, did make up, etc... and NOBODY was moving! I left a note saying I was out exploring Boston and for them to call me when they got up. I sent Elena and Matt text messages... and headed to the JFK Presidential Library, which was only one stop up from our hotel. I am fascinated by Jackie. She is my idol. I am also fascinated by JFK's presidency and all he dealt with during a short term. I like his call to service.


I spent awhile photographing it and perusing the exhibits, when I get a text message from Elena around noon saying they are ready. I head back to the hotel, and we decided to do seafood for lunch. I find a place that was recommended by Horace, The Union Oyster House, and off we go.

Food seemed alright to me, though I feel as if most everyone was pretty lackadaisical about it. I had planned that we would do Freedom Trail and lunch in the North End, but they had visited a lot of the Freedom Trail before I arrived the previous day... so I was totally thrown. We ended up wandering downtown... photographing buildings, monuments, etc... and then we decided to explore the Boston Common. I even went wading in the Frog Pond. Don't judge me. Elena has photographic evidence of me wading in the Frog Pond, carrying my shoes, in a simply darling white dress.

We decide to head down to the Sam Adams Brewery tour, which would have a free shuttle to Fenwey for the game. Tour is sold out. Another one of my great ideas goes up in smoke. I'm bummed, but they let us go to the beer garden and try a few of their unreleased ales. Not at all the same... but... what can you do?


We take the subway back to Fenway, arrive shortly after the gates open, and the guys drag us into a sports bar for a pre-game beer. We head over towards the park, but Elena gets distracted by needing to buy a Sox sweater. I FOUND A YANKEES HAT... and YES, I totally rocked that hat with my sweet, little, white dress to the game.

I start photographing the game and I get over it. Big Papi has come back from the Sox, so it promises to be an exciting game. I finally find some common baseball ground with Elena by mentioning how HOT Derek Jeter is... so we talk Jeter and A-Rod. The Yankees win... and the boys are dragging us off to a sports bar.

We end up getting separated in the crowds leaving Fenway. Elena and I are following Matt and Chase, and suddenly, we get down to a corner and they are NOWHERE to be found. We stand there for 15-20 minutes, trying to call them. No answer. I send Matt a text, and he finally texts me back that they are at Game On, the same bar we were at earlier. We get over there and there's a huge line. We wait 20 minutes, then we spend another 15 trying to find the guys. Game On is a HUGE sports bar, with lots of music, a small dance floor, and huge Red Sox crowds. It's as close to the game as you can get without tickets. Luckily, we had both. :)

Bar closes at 2. We consider after hours clubs, but end up just grabbing a cab back to the hotel. Elena finds a 24 hour place to order some snacks from and the boys are sound asleep by the time it gets there (15 minutes).

Beantown...

Airline: American Airlines
Hotel: Courtyard by Marriott -- South Boston

I should preface this entry by saying that Boston is a perfectly lovely city.... for someone else. To me, Boston felt like another big city. There are things about it that are absolutely beautiful and amazing, but it's definitely not one of my favourite places I've ever been. Great city, but not my favourite. That's all. The more I travel, the more I try to figure out what my cities are.

So. To the meat of it all.

This morning, I went to the doctor, and they were able to get me in really early, so I was out of there by 10:00 and headed straight for the airport. I went standby on the 11:35 flight, since the 12:50 flight was already delayed an hour. I made the flight, but no upgrade. I was in the window seat though. It was a LONG flight. I had to store my bag in the front of the plane, so I couldn't even get up to get my trusty laptop. Luckily, I had my iPod. I landed and headed straight for the hotel shuttle.

I was a little hesitant, because it was "out of the action", but there was nothing disappointing about this Courtyard. The location was great -- the Andrew T-stop was a 5 minute walk away, making it easy to get into the city and transfer to the various lines. The hotel grounds were very well maintained and the rooms were decently sized.

We had one problem with the air conditioner the first night (it wasn't working), but I asked the front desk to send an engineer up to look into it the next morning, and by the time we returned Friday night, the room was completely cool and we didn't have any problems for the rest of the stay.

ALL the staff was very friendly. The front desk staff even remembered my name when I would come down to the lobby. That's near impossible to find these days. They were helpful with maps, finding late night delivery dining, small inconveniences, etc. You name it, they can handle it, and with a smile!

The hotel offers a free shuttle to the airport every half hour on the hour. This was a great ammenity and had a lot to do with my decision to stay at this property.

When I called Elena, they were already at Cheers, so I dropped my bags off, slipped into a hot little black dress and my stilettos, grabbed my raincoat and umbrella and headed to the T. (No cabs necessary for this city girl!) Yeah. Well. I'm walking to the T, and a car drives by and totally splashes me, head to toe. Poor Italian shoes.

I make it to the T, grab a pass, and connect with no problem. When I emerge from the Arlington station, it is POURING. Like torrential rains. I had to cross Boston Common in stilettos IN THE RAIN. My plans of arriving at the bar and looking effortlessly stunning and beautiful (even if I smelled like airplane) were dashed. I looked like a drowned rat.

We had a couple drinks at Cheers, which is a lot smaller than it looks on the old television show. It wasn't as busy as I thought it would be. The drinks were reasonably prices for a tourist joint, too.

Around 7:00, we decided it was time to grab some dinner. It was STILL pouring, so we decide to grab a cab. I step out and hail one immediately. We decided to go to Quincy Market and let everyone fend for themselves.

After dinner, it was *still* raining... so we found a pub close by, Sissy K's. It was pretty slow when we first arrived, but things picked up rapidly. There was a lot of awkward standing around until Shakira's Hips Don't Lie came on and Elena and I headed to the dance floor. From there, we were able to drag the guys out onto the dance floor... which was fabulous. After dancing for awhile, we finally decided to settle down into a booth downstairs for a little while and watch fratastic boys do karaoke, which was at least entertaining....

We decided to head home around 1:00, and the rain had finally stopped.

New York City 2008

Saturday, I slept away most of the morning, which was fine because it was pouring down rain! I woke up, showered, and got ready for the day, and it was still pouring and you could have cut the humidity with a knife. I had thought I would head over to Brooklyn for Grimaldi's and views of the new waterfalls at the Brooklyn Bridge... but the weather wasn't having any of that.

I ducked into my old haunt in Times Square, John's Pizzeria, for an easy lunch. I was a little disappointed, but it was still good. It is my favourite old standby. While I was in there, it finally stopped raining, albeit briefly.

I headed downtown to Century 21 for some bargain shopping. Being a holiday weekend, that place was a MADHOUSE. I was hoping to find a deal on ABS evening gowns and cocktail dresses. I've been needing a few to supplement my collection, but it was just too crowded. While I was perusing a rack of DVF dresses, my cell phone rang and it was my brother. He and Chastity were headed to the hospital, because she was going into labor! I cannot believe I missed it. I knew that's how it would happen.

From Century 21, I headed back uptown to Chelsea Market. I know I've mentioned this before, but this is my FAVOURITE place in New York! I spent quite a bit at Ciao Italia on cheap olive oils and tasty treats. I LOVE that place so much! I was still feeling really tired from my night out, so I decided to take a short nap before getting ready to see Legally Blonde that evening.

Legally Blonde the second time was GREAT, although I was sitting under the mezzanine in orchestra, so at times, it felt as if the sound was muffled. Nikki Snelson had already left, but much of the original cast was still intact, including Laura Bell Bundy. I also was able to see the lovely Kate Shindle as Vivienne! Legally Blonde is SUCH a fun show. Laura Bell Bundy almost brought me to tears at the end of the first act, she was so powerful. I had a great conversation with the man next to me, who seriously could not believe that I attended the theater alone.

After Legally Blonde, I wandered down to the Chrysler Building to take pictures of it at night. The Chrysler Building is one of my favourite architectural work in NYC. I love the gargoyles that keep watch over it. I love the way the light reflects off of it. It's absolutely beautiful. It has become the new symbol of NYC to me, since the Twin Towers are gone. It is just a marvel, and I get a little excited every single time I see it lighting up the sky.


I also decided to nip into Grand Central Station while I was down there. I spent some time trying to catch action shots of the quintessential New York yellow cab. I had a little success. Around midnight, I decided to duck into Cafe Metro for a light, late dinner. I meandered my way back to the Marriott Marquis, stopping to buy some art to take back to Texas from a street vendor. I thought I was getting a good deal until I stumbled upon another vendor, selling the same thing for $3 in Times Square. Who knew?

Times Square was still bustling, and I managed to grab a few more pictures of the taxis and the street vendors with their incredible smells wafting through the air. Once I got back to my room, I got on the phone with Continental, and I was able to change my flight for $50. I had planned to leave NYC later in the day on Sunday, but with the arrival of new baby Summer, I wanted to get home and see her!

What is there not to love about my favourite US city?????

New York City 2008

Airline: Continental Airlines
Hotel: Marriott Marquis

I transferred via train from Newark to Penn Station without incident. I headed straight to Times Square to check into the Marriott Marquis. The lobby was bustling, as always, but I was able to figure out the elevator system easily and get to reception on the 8th floor. I had reserved a corner room, but it wasn't ready. The clerk offered me another room that was ready, and I readily accepted. I headed to my room on the 43rd floor, and it was huge! I actually looked down on the theater posters in Times Square! It was incredible! I unpacked my luggage and realized that I had forgotten my make up. Since I had theater tickets and dinner reservations, it was not going to work. I immediately headed to Bloomingdale's to get a few essentials. I ended up finding a few things in the make up department, as well as a new shirt to wear to the game, so I headed off to the Yankee game.


I got to Yankee stadium right before the opening pitch, and the excitement was INTOXICATING. It was quite possibly the most exciting event I've ever attended! I climbed/skipped my way up to the Upper Tier, and I had a great view of the third baseline! I was up there with the rowdy Yankee fans! I loved being able to see my team take on the Red Sox. It was SO MUCH FUN. I am so disappointed they are tearing down Yankee Stadium in favor of a new one. There is a feeling in the air of greatness. It's completely hallowed. You know all the greats have played here. It is the coolest feeling ever! I love the old ball parks. They have so much more character than the new ones.

Around 4, there was a rain delay on the game, so I decided to head back to Midtown to get ready for my dinner reservation at Ruth's Chris. I'm always dubious of chain restaurants, but I've heard a lot about their filet, so I decided to give it a try. I made reservations on Opentable.com, and I was seated as soon as I arrived. I do appreciate that the hostess did not even attempt to seat me at the bar, which is common for a single diner. I don't enjoy sitting at bars to enjoy my meal, and I am always a little put off when restaurants try and do that. Score one for Ruth's Chris. The restaurant is very dark and could be formal, but there were several people sporting ball caps and shorts. It ruins the 'business casual' ambiance, in my opinion... but tourists will be tourists. The waiter was very friendly and quick to make suggestions on everything from the potatoes to the different options for the steak. I ordered a petite filet au poivre and shoestring potatoes. The steak was EXCELLENT. The filet practically melted in my mouth and the au poivre sauce was flawless. The potatoes were good, too -- but they were very difficult to eat and the portion was MASSIVE. It is definitely meant to share -- 4 people could have easily shared this. The service was friendly, but not overbearing. I never once felt rushed throughout my meal. I really enjoyed it, and I would probably return, even though it is a chain restaurant. Midtown near Times Square isn't known for fabulous restaurants, but I don't have any qualms about recommending Ruth's Chris to someone looking for a good steak!


After my fabulous dinner, it was off to A Chorus Line. I wasn't sure about this show, but it is closing in August, and Mario Lopez had just taken a role in it. I was only able to get mezzanine tickets, but they were at least center. The theater was very small, so every seat in the house was a good seat. The show was GREAT. It really came alive. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It wasn't at all what I expected, and it's quite a bit better than the show that was produced as a movie in the early 80s. Mario Lopez did a fantastic job. The final scene was beautifully choreographed and executed. Well done for a revival cast.


I walked out of the theater and headed to Top of the Rock. I wanted to try and get better pictures of the New York skyline at night. Unfortunately, it was raining and some fog had rolled in at the high altitudes. I was able to get a few pictures, but I was disappointed. Top of the Rock was SO much more pleasant than the Empire State Building, and it had fantastic views of it. The staff was so friendly, and I literally walked up to the elevator and went straight up with my timed tickets. I was even a little early, and they let me go ahead and go up. There were also two observatory decks, and they used glass, rather than the fencing, so your views aren't as obstructed. I practically had the viewing platforms to myself. It was absolutely incredible. Avoid ESB and head to TOTR. You'll thank me. :)

From there, I headed over to the Waldorf Astoria to meet up with some friends from high school who were in NYC for the weekend. We tried to go down to the Cutting Room, but it was closed. We ended up bar-hopping in the Village, and it was so much fun. We went to Metro, Joshua Tree, a C&W bar that was playing some Willie, and an after hours club that was quite sketchy. I've never stayed out that late in my life, but I really enjoyed hanging out with my friends from high school.

I grabbed a cab back to the hotel and marveled at the number of the people still wandering the streets. I severely regretted my decision to stay out so late, since I had such a short time in NYC, but it was worth it seeing my friends.