Just Back from NYC!!

[DVCLiz]

Oh, my gosh, Wicked was incredible!! At one point, I had to consciously remind myself to breathe - I was so caught up in the show!!!

We had a great, great trip - such a fun place!!!!! Great entertainment, great food, great shopping - who could ask for more???

 

[poochie]

Don't you just love it!!!!! We are leaving for NYC Thursday morning via the train at 4:55 am

 

[DVCLiz]

Don't you just love it!!!!! We are leaving for NYC Thursday morning via the train at 4:55 am

YIKES!!!!!! That is too early for us!!!! I could barely get my daughters out of bed before 11 each morning!!! It worked out well to let them sleep in, though. We had lunch, shopped and played all afternoon, had dinner either before or after a show (or stayed late at a special dinner one night at Tavern on the Green!!!), then stopped for dessert before going "home" for the night about midnight or so. Times Square late at night (not scary late, though) is such an adreneline rush!!!

Our celebrity sightings - One day I had to stop in at the bank and we happened to be at the MTV Studios corner. So DDs, who are 12 and 17, btw, got to stand outside and wave up to Christina Aguilera, who was on TRL that day. The next night, we were walking along and ran into two of DD 17's friends from school - one was having her orientation at NYU. We chatted with them for a few minutes, and then walked down 44th to our hotel. DD punched me and said, "Mom!" I looked ahead and thought, "Oh, that girl looks familiar!!! Another girl from school is here!!" Umm, no - Maggie Gyllenhaal (sp?) who was in Mona Lisa Smile with Julia Roberts!! DD was THRILLED! A little further down the block, Lauren Ambrose (Claire from Six Feet Under) was signing autographs outside the Stage Door of her theater. I don't remember what play she was doing, but it was cool to see her in person.

We saw Georgia Engel (Georgette from the Mary Tyler Moore Show) in "The Drowsy Chaperone" (SUCH a great show!!!) and Darlene Love (great famous "girl" group singer) in Hairspray, so we felt like we had seen our quota of famous people!!!

 

[disney4us2002]

Who played Elphaba and Galinda in the Wicked you saw? Also, where did you stay in NYC, did you drive or subway or taxi? Thanks.

 

[drgnfly30]

I love NYC!! We went last year over July 4th & had a blast! I'd love to sneak away for a night or two this summer!

 

[DVCLiz]

Who played Elphaba and Galinda in the Wicked you saw? Also, where did you stay in NYC, did you drive or subway or taxi? Thanks.

Elphaba was actually played by the standby, Saycon Sengbloh, and Galinda was played by Kate Reinders. We were a little disappointed that Eden Espinosa, the featured actress, wasn't on (although we had no expectation about her, either, so I don't know why we felt that way!!) but both actresses were sensational. Of course, as I realized later, you don't get to be an understudy or standby (what's the difference, anyway?) on Broadway unless you have the real stuff. And these girls did, in a major way.

I will say that we felt momentarily - not exactly uncomfortable, but a little concerned - to see that a black actress was going to play Elphaba. I guess we are so ingrained with the Margaret Hamilton Witch that to imagine her another color was foreign. If you've seen Wicked, you'll know how funny this was, after about one minute into the show. Needless to say, she did a fabulous job - hearing her belting out that number where she's up in the middle of the stage with all that fabric billowing out - well, as I said, I could hardly breathe. It was literally breathtaking!!!

We stayed at the Mansfield Hotel, on W. 44th between 5th and 6th. It was very convenient to Times Square, and we walked to a lot of our shows and dinners. We took taxis wherever we wanted to go if it was too far to walk (and once DD12 and I took a pedicab from 52nd St. to 45th, to meet older DD after her show, which got out a little later than ours.) I know the subway and buses are safe and easy - we just haven't figured them out yet, and we never seem to need to move around that much. We've only been twice now (well, DD and I went last year, so for us that's three times) so we haven't really explored other than the major Midtown tourist things and the Theatre District. Next time, we have promised ourselves to learn and use the bus and subway system. So much to do - I can't believe I waited until my mid-40s to discover this wonderful place!!! I did go as a 9th grader with a church group once, but that was a totally different experience...

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

We have a little more than 3 weeks until our big trip to NYC and Wicked! Got our tickets MONTHS ago! How were your seats? How far in advance of the show did you arrive?? Any tidbits or pointers?? I can't wait!

ETA we posted at the same time! Are taxi's reasonable?? We want to take one from Broadway to our hotel in the financial district.

 

[DVCLiz]

We have a little more than 3 weeks until our big trip to NYC and Wicked! Got our tickets MONTHS ago! How were your seats? How far in advance of the show did you arrive?? Any tidbits or pointers?? I can't wait!

ETA we posted at the same time! Are taxi's reasonable?? We want to take one from Broadway to our hotel in the financial district.

We had great seats - Row Q, seats 102, 104, and 106. I'd have liked to be a little closer, but we had great seats nevertheless. I bought them last November - this trip and those tickets were Christmas gifts for our family last year.

We got there about 30 minutes before the show - there wasn't any real reason to get there sooner, and we could have been 15 or 20 minutes later. We just wanted to make sure we didn't miss anything - and we had time to buy a T-shirt before the show, when it was less crowded.

Just enjoy the show - that's the only tip I have!!! It was so wonderful - I must sound like a lunatic raving about it, but it was something we had looked forward to all year, and both DDs can sing "Popular" and "What is This Feeling?" in harmony, so I have been listening to their "live" performances for months now!!!

I thought taxis were reasonable - I don't think I paid more than ten bucks for any trip we took, except from SoHo to Bloomingdale's on 59th once - I think that was a little more. Totally worth it, though - especially since we are new to that kind of big city. I will say that the taxi from the airport (about $29.00 plus tip) was the closest we've come to riding Test Track without actually being in Epcot!!!!

 

[anewvance]

Glad you had a great time. DH and I went to NYC on our honeymoon 8 years ago and can't wait to get back......

 

[DVCLiz]

Glad you had a great time. DH and I went to NYC on our honeymoon 8 years ago and can't wait to get back......

Hope you get a chance to take those sweet little girlies to American Girl Place!!! DD12 is just on the edge of growing out of her doll phase, but we added Kirsten to our collection on this trip, as well as a few new outfits and some essentials like new undies, shoes, and hair care items. I was extravagant because I knew it was my last chance to buy my daughter a doll...and she has been playing with them today!!!! I know the days are numbered, though...We had tea there, and it was very nice. We were seated in a little alcove, which was away from the main dining area, and that was very nice, because the chaos of that many little girls that excited would have sent me over the edge!!! As it was, we had a very quiet back corner, and we had pink lemonade, tea sandwiches, scones, and lemon curd in chocolate teacups - delicious!!! We had a fun time there.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Hope you get a chance to take those sweet little girlies to American Girl Place!!! DD12 is just on the edge of growing out of her doll phase, but we added Kirsten to our collection on this trip, as well as a few new outfits and some essentials like new undies, shoes, and hair care items. I was extravagant because I knew it was my last chance to buy my daughter a doll...and she has been playing with them today!!!! I know the days are numbered, though...We had tea there, and it was very nice. We were seated in a little alcove, which was away from the main dining area, and that was very nice, because the chaos of that many little girls that excited would have sent me over the edge!!! As it was, we had a very quiet back corner, and we had pink lemonade, tea sandwiches, scones, and lemon curd in chocolate teacups - delicious!!! We had a fun time there.

We have lunch reservations there. DD is 11 and is really looking forward to this. Thanks for all the help! Glad you had a good time.

Oh, how did you get a cheaper rate from airport to hotel? I read from JFK is flat rate of $45 plus tip. Oh, we went on one of those test track taxi's in Paris! What a ride! Glad you survived it!

 

[DVCLiz]

We have lunch reservations there. DD is 11 and is really looking forward to this. Thanks for all the help! Glad you had a good time.

Oh, how did you get a cheaper rate from airport to hotel? I read from JFK is flat rate of $45 plus tip. Oh, we went on one of those test track taxi's in Paris! What a ride! Glad you survived it!

We came in from LaGuardia, not JFK, so it was a metered fare, not a flat one.

 

[Caradana]

Next time you come, it would be my pleasure to guide you through the full horizontal swoop from the Far West Village through Greenwich Village, through the East Village, and into the Lower East Side. LOTS to see and it's such a vintage NYC experience!

 

[DISUNC]

Just read in Readers Digest....The most polite people in the WORLD are in NYC! #1!
My hometown!

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

We came in from LaGuardia, not JFK, so it was a metered fare, not a flat one.

Interesting! I thought all airport to hotel were flat rate. I wonder what ours will cost to go back to airport since that is not a flat rate!

Oh, one more question. Was it cold in the theatre? I'm still debating what to wear! Thanks so much!

 

[Scratch42]

I'm heading to NYC this Thursday also!

Going to See TARZAN! Figured might as well see something that I can't see in my own home town!

Any recommendations for a good Sushi Restaurant?

We are staying at the Hyatt Regency.

TIA

j

 

[frndshpcptn]

I saw both Saycon and Eden in Wicked on Broadway ( I live in NYC). They were both fabulous!

 

[hellokitty86]

I'm glad you had a good trip!! I've always wanted to go to NYC. I grew up in South Florida, and now live right outside DC, so I'm pretty close. I really want to take a weekend trip.

I'm actually in the middle of reading Wicked right now!! I am really enjoying it.