Wednesday, October 14
New York, NY
It was different for us in New York this time. Maybe it was because it was fall. Maybe it was because it was just the two of us. Maybe it was both of those things.
For so many years we have called our stomping grounds the area in and directly around Times Square. We know those streets inside and out.
This time we booked a Hilton family hotel up the avenue, 8th Avenue on the west side of 51st, just a mere 5 or 6 blocks from the hotels we usually occupy on our visits. And yet, this short distance made such a difference in our frame of reference for this sojourn. We felt edgy and modern.
After a light and sufficient breakfast buffet that was laid on by the hotel each morning, we hit the sidewalk for our first task at hand; procurement of some Broadway show tickets for that evening. The plan; walk up to 59th and then zigzag our way through the theatre district on the hunt for great seats for a great show without blowing our entire road trip budget!!
It was chilly that morning. The kind of morning where the wind tears through Manhattan's cross streets. The kind of morning that makes you thankful to be walking on an Avenue for one block before heading east or west again.
And then there it was. The marquee for the show we would see this evening. Not a big flashy musical, not even a musical, but a one act play with a limited engagement at the Schoenfeld on 45th. A Steady Rain presenting two actors of screen and television fame, Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman, was the perfect choice for this already different New York experience. The icing on the cake, Premiere seats for the price of regular seats. Score!
With these choice tickets in hand, we stopped back at the hotel for Denis to pick up his art gear Then we descended steps to the subway for a ride on the proverbial "A" Train headed for downtown. Was it going to be the usual commute to West 4th for us? No way, we stayed on and made our exodus at Canal Street that day!
Block after block we walked besieged by friendly vendors of purses and watches, but mostly the sought after Pashmina.
We walked through Chinatown and then back around to Little Italy.
We set up household at a sidewalk table at Novella Italian Restaurant at the corner of Grand and Mulberry Streets.
Fortified, I set off to do some serious bargaining. Denis prepared to sketch.
I came back with two cashmere "like" scarves, one in a turquoisey blue and one in a carnationy pink.
As for Denis, just look!
The after theatre buzz was all positive. We rehashed the story all the way back to the hotel, again, accompanied by a consistent drizzle.
Sleep tight, Broadway Babies.....
This time we booked a Hilton family hotel up the avenue, 8th Avenue on the west side of 51st, just a mere 5 or 6 blocks from the hotels we usually occupy on our visits. And yet, this short distance made such a difference in our frame of reference for this sojourn. We felt edgy and modern.
After a light and sufficient breakfast buffet that was laid on by the hotel each morning, we hit the sidewalk for our first task at hand; procurement of some Broadway show tickets for that evening. The plan; walk up to 59th and then zigzag our way through the theatre district on the hunt for great seats for a great show without blowing our entire road trip budget!!
It was chilly that morning. The kind of morning where the wind tears through Manhattan's cross streets. The kind of morning that makes you thankful to be walking on an Avenue for one block before heading east or west again.
And then there it was. The marquee for the show we would see this evening. Not a big flashy musical, not even a musical, but a one act play with a limited engagement at the Schoenfeld on 45th. A Steady Rain presenting two actors of screen and television fame, Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman, was the perfect choice for this already different New York experience. The icing on the cake, Premiere seats for the price of regular seats. Score!
With these choice tickets in hand, we stopped back at the hotel for Denis to pick up his art gear Then we descended steps to the subway for a ride on the proverbial "A" Train headed for downtown. Was it going to be the usual commute to West 4th for us? No way, we stayed on and made our exodus at Canal Street that day!
Block after block we walked besieged by friendly vendors of purses and watches, but mostly the sought after Pashmina.
We walked through Chinatown and then back around to Little Italy.
We set up household at a sidewalk table at Novella Italian Restaurant at the corner of Grand and Mulberry Streets.
A hearty bowl of Pasta Fagioli was just what we needed. Brimming with cannellini beans and pasta the base for this delicious soup was a light red, all vegetarian broth.
Fortified, I set off to do some serious bargaining. Denis prepared to sketch.
I came back with two cashmere "like" scarves, one in a turquoisey blue and one in a carnationy pink.
As for Denis, just look!
An Afternoon At
Grand & Mulberry
In the news over the last few days was the controversy between Filippa Hamilton and Ralph Lauren and the topic of skinny models in general. Rounding a corner in the village we came upon this lineup consisting of very beautiful, but the skinniest ladies we had ever seen.
Someone walking behind us exclaimed, "Give them a cookie!"
After returning to the hotel and taking a lovely little nap, we were back on the street this time with all of the other excited theatre goers. A consistent drizzle accompanied us all the way to the theatre. Once inside, we delighted again at having such great seats and contained our enthusiasm when a famous person sat right in front of us. It was Kyle MacLachlan of Desperate Housewives fame, but more fondly to us, Agent Cooper from Twin Peaks.
The play, a modern day drama about two cops living life on a "slippery slope" was set in Chicago and was compelling, seductive and riveting. I spent the 90 minutes on the edge of my seat. The acting was stellar and the simple, almost nonexistent set allowed for the playwrights words to become the focal point that night. A Standing O was in order.
Sleep tight, Broadway Babies.....
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