Jenna and I got back yesterday from an adventure to New York City! We had a great time and saw a lot of fun stuff. I had a work event to attend, so we built a trip into it since we weren't able to go as planned last Spring when Jenna's Grandfather passed away. I want to especially thank my Mom for taking time off work and moving things around so that she could come down for 4 days to watch the kids. Thank you so much Mom!!!!
The big event for the entire trip was going to see Wicked the musical on Broadway. We had bought tickets in the Spring but went to Michigan for the funeral instead of using them.
Getting into the show was half the adventure! In order to get seats using our unused tickets from April, we were told we had to call the box office the day of the show at 10 AM to see if we could get seats. We were about an hour into the drive from DC when we called with lots of anticipation. They quickly told us to call back in 30 minutes. We called then and they still didn't have an answer of whether we could get seats. They told us to call at 1 PM. So we arrive in New York called again and they said they didn't have any seats. Here is where Jenna worked her magic. She told the person our story about not coming due to a funeral, that we were coming all the way from Virginia and that it was so hard for us to find a babysitter to watch our 3 kids. She was referred to the manager who got us seats. They literally added 2 chairs for us in the back of the orchestra section. We had great seats and I think everyone around us thought we were VIPs or something.
It was quite an experience to see a Broadway show. The show was funny and the signing was fantastic. The props and stage was incredible. I've never seen a show like it. We had great seats and just loved the entire show. This was Jenna and my first time to see a show on Broadway. It was an amazing experience. While we were there we walked around Times Square. Amazing to see so many people, lights, advertisements and buildings.
We also checked out Central Park. Ok, we got a bit turned around. At least I got turned around in there. It was like a forest with so many trails and paths winding through the area. We found our way to Belvedere Castle(picture included). It was open so you could go up to the top and look around. On the way back from Central Park we swung by the Lincoln Center and saw the Manhattan temple. Amazing to see it in the middle of the city.
Friday morning Jenna was really sick. Something did not agree with her. I'm not sure it was the Korean food or just a stomach virus. By Noon she was up and going. She toughed it out to go to the Statue of Liberty. We took the ferry across and walked around the statue, went inside the pedestal. Security was really tight and it took what seemed like forever to get inside. It is an inspiring statue. The museum inside was very interesting. It is quite the icon and there is so much history there. The weather got really bad while we were there. The wind was so strong it literally almost blew us away.
That night we figured we'd get some inexpensive tickets to another Broadway show or at least try to get some. We got tickets to The Fantastics, a show that had been on Broadway for 30 years. At the ticket booth in Times Square we asked the guy if the show was clean and he said its a musical and that he knew "you could take a Rabi to it." We figured that was a safe bet, and it was. The theater was small and the show was clean and lots of fun to watch. Not the high profile professional level of Wicked, but a fun show in a small theater.
There were a few firsts on the trip too! First time to a Broadway show in NYC for both of us. Jenna's first taxi ride. We had at least one crazy driver, but we mostly laughed and enjoyed the excitement.
The last two nights we stayed on the 20th floor of the Bentley Hotel (compliments of work). We had a great view of the Eastside, Roosevelt Bridge, Tram to Roosevelt Island and Long Island.
