New York City: November 2021

 

Hi Friends!  Diana and I had a magical weekend in NYC with our friends!  We experienced a little bit of everything and when my husband asked me what I loved the most, it was honestly, learning even more about the city...exploring new areas to us and enjoying my very first NYC bagel!  Ha!  You will think this is funny too once you see the wonderful things we did but honestly, I love exploring and learning so had to say just that!  Here is what our little trip looked like....

 

Friday

 

Our driver, Bob, a family friend, came to our house at 11:45am. Jeanine and Manning then got to our house, dropped off some things and we were off by 12noon.

 

It was a smooth drive into Boston and then once we got to Logan, we had to wait...and wait...the Jet Blue computers were down so we had to wait in a long line to check our bags- we tried to get away with just bringing carry ons but we are so alike and need our supplies and just had to check a bag each ;)

 

Once we got through there and security, things became easy again...we stopped and had some snacks and prosecco for the Mamas :)  Then we took off and landed in 48 minutes in NYC!  Such a quick and easy flight!

 

Once there, we got our bags quickly and hailed our first taxi.  This ride to our hotel ended up being longer than the flight!  It took us an hour and 10 minutes to get to our hotel- The Westin at Times Square.  It was Friday Night Rush Hour....though annoying, it was great to see traffic back and things looking more normal.

 

I will have to share that being in NYC this weekend made us all feel normal and filled with hope...there were people EVERYWHERE...restaurants full...all the Broadway shows have returned....truly the city that never sleeps and it felt GREAT!

 

Our hotel was AWESOME...highly recommend...beautiful...so spacious...an awesome location!

 

The Westin- Times Square

 Once we checked in, we freshened up and headed right out to walk around, shop and explore.  The streets were packed!  A few pics before leaving our room- loved the city view!

We hit the streets and Diana finally made it to Broadway! ;)

We found our restaurant and then walked a little further to the fountains near Rockefeller Center to snap some pics since we were a little early!

 

 

 Got a peek at The Tonight Show!

 

Then it was time for dinner at Oceana

Check them out HERE

 

  I should mention that we had to show proof of our vaccinations to enter any restaurant and theater.  This restaurant is so incredible- so spacious- beautiful and the food was incredible- Diana and I shared a tuna tartar to start with and then Diana had the Lobster Scampi while I enjoyed the Hanger Steak (total splurge and so worth it)

 

Jeanine and I enjoyed this Zin from Sonoma with our dinner

 After dinner, we walked around a little more and our lovelies wanted to pose for some more shots in Times Square...

 

 Around 11pm, it was time to crash!

 

Saturday

 

We got up early and headed across the street and I had my very first NY bagel...it was INCREDIBLE!  Loved The Times Cafe- so quick and convenient and they had the best of NY bakery items! 

 

 My bagel...in all of its glory ;)

 

View of our hotel from the cafe

 After breakfast, we grabbed our next taxi and headed downtown.  It was time to get ready for our 10am tour of the 9/11 Museum and Memorial.

 

I couldn't believe how far away downtown was...it is such a HUGE city!

 

Had to snap a picture of a pigeon for my "Pidge"

 

and this beautiful sculpture

We got there early and had some time so we checked out the Oculus.  Check it out HERE

 

  

Then it was time to get in line at the museum and get ready for our tour...

 

A few more pics outside first...

 We then moved through the line to get inside.  Friends?  Every American should be required to go to this incredible museum and memorial.  It is an excellent history lesson but more importantly, a beautiful tribute to all of those we lost on 9/11 and subsequent years from those awful terrorist attacks.  Diana agreed that every school should be spending time educating our kids on this event and how our country moved forward stronger than ever.  I was able to get some pictures but certain areas, pictures were not allowed to respect these heroes and beautiful souls.

 

What the NYC skyline looked like at 8:30 on 9/11/01

 

Map with the sites of the four crashes

a Picture of The Twin Towers, that morning, at sunrise- so beautiful- before they were taken down

 

After the attack...

 The Memorial Portion of the Museum was where I lost it- You could hear recordings of individuals sharing the names of their loved ones who were killed and then a room full of their pictures...I stopped taking pictures at the entry point

 

 

These are "The Survivors' Stairs"- there were pictures of hundreds of people running down these stairs and those people made it out alive- there was still dried blood on the stairs

 

Beautiful Tribute Wall

When we entered the portion of the museum that had all of the news coverage playing, artifacts salvaged displayed and recounts of this day, we had to turn the phones off again.  This was the most amazing portion of the museum.  I saw business shoes displayed and I had the same exact pair- backpacks and brief cases that were carried that day- wallets with pictures of loved ones displayed- all so surreal

The only room we rushed through was the room dedicated to the terrorists themselves- we didn't believe they needed the recognition or any glory although they are part of history

 

A few things were not accessible due to COVID restrictions- in normal times, you could pick up phone receivers and hear recordings of 911 calls made during the attacks.  They also usually start by playing a 20 minute film and then you start your tour.

 

We did a self-directed tour which we highly recommend because you can go at your own pace.

 

When we came out of the museum, we spent time at the memorials- the beautiful fountains built around the two footprints of the towers- each displaying the names of all of the victims.

 

 

Beautiful and Powerful Experience

After that, we took a taxi uptown and grabbed a fun lunch at The Black Tap.

Check them out HERE

 

They are known for their burgers and shakes- the girls loved their shakes- Fruity Pebbles and Cotton Candy

 Then we walked around, did a little shopping and then hit Central Park

 

 I loved walking around Central Park and finding the skating rink that was in Serendipty and the footbridge that was in You've Got Mail...I was happy :)

 

 

Such spectacular views!

 Then it was time to head back to our hotel and get ready for the main event!

 

One more selfie!

We hailed a taxi and headed over to Feinstein's- yeah!  Diana was so excited to see her idol, Megan Hilty!

Once inside, we were in awe at how beautiful it was AND intimate...we were SO CLOSE to the stage...honestly there is not a bad seat in the house!

Our ticket prices include dinner and the show- it was a beautiful four course meal with canapes, an appetizer, an entree and dessert.  This also included a glass of Prosecco and then J and I enjoyed some great Sauvignon Blanc with our halibut dinner and Mexican coffees because we needed to warm up!  (The only down side of this evening was the temperature at the theater- it was FREEZING!  We asked them to turn up the heat three times and heard others around us doing the same but we think it was broken because the temp never changed and most people kept their jackets on!  Eeek!)

and then she took the stage and she was brilliant- she did songs from Wicked, 9-5, a Marilyn song and of course.....songs from SMASH...ahhh!!  We were in our glory!

 

 

She was brilliant!  Then we were all treated to a surprise, Smash Co-Writer, Mark Shaiman showed up and played a couple of the songs- I cried for both- just incredible

 

2nd Hand White Baby Grand

 

and my favorite of all time....imagine this song being sung by Marilyn Monroe and let the words sink in...will break your heart

 

What a night!

 

 

Sunday

We were up at 4:30am and checked out.  We took our taxi to La Guardia and flew out at 9am. We actually took off by 8:45 and landed early...Diana got to her Nutcracker rehearsals on time so all was good!

 

Such a great time with our lovely friends and as I call Jeanine "our tour guide"!

WE LOVE YOU NYC!