agotta
<font color=red>WISH Biggest Loser/Red Team</font>
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2004
- Messages
- 3,153
Hey all!! I just wanted to share with everyone my fabulous trip to NYC this past week.
Cast-
Mom- Just "had" to go to New York for a HR conference. Had to be at Cornell University's Manhattan campus for Thursday and Friday. Mom has only been to NYC twice before and both times have been with me. She loves the city, but is a bit intimidated and doesn't like to be by herself.
Me- Apparently overplanning doesn't just happen with Disney. NYC is my 2nd most favorite place to visit. If I could afford to, I would move. I guess Dh would have to come to but seeing as he doesn't particularly care for the city...Oh well, I can dream!! I have been to NYC a dozen times and don't really consider myself a tourist (afterall, I am from New York State). I know my way around and know how the city works. I get extremely aggravated with tourists who are clueless and dumbfounded and stop walking at the most unexpected times.
I had been in Rochester visiting my parents for Thanksgiving. On Monday, November 28th, Dh drove himself home to VA. Mom and were schedule to leave on Wednesday mroning.
November 30th, Wednesday- We left for the Rochester Internation Airport at 4:30 a.m. My parents don't live far so we were there by 4:45. My suitcase was to big to carryon so I had to wait in line and check it. Luckily that line wasn't too bad. Unfortunately, the security line was quite long. Once through security we grabbed a quick breakfast of pastries and headed to the gate.
The flight left on time and with little turbulence. We arrived at JFK at 7 a.m. We took that Airtrain out to Jamiaca and then headed via Subway to Manhattan. We purchased a 7-day unlimited ride ticket for only $24 even though we would only be there for 4 days. Single day unlimted ride tickets are $7. You do the math.
We were at the hotel by about 9:30 a.m. We stayed at a great Red Roof Inn in Korea Town. We were at 32nd St and 5th Ave. The hotel was very clean and at a beautiful lobby complete with bar. Our room was great. 1 King bed, a desk and FREE WIRELESS INTERNET. We had some problems with the Internet and dealt with a rude manager but by the second day everything worked perfectly. Now the best part. I opened our drapes and what do I see? THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING. Probably my favorite building in New York. I just love the Art Deco style and it's so romantic!! We had the perfect room.
After we checked in we were hungry. I had planned on going uptown and take my Mom to H&H, but we were exhausted from dragging our 40lb suitcases around. We settled for the Burger King around the corner. It was good and hot and let us figure out what we wanted to do next.
We decided to head to the TKTS booth and see if we could snag some cheap tickets. We didn't know that you couldn't buy evening tickets until after 3. So we left (after pricing Mamma Mia tix for $56 each!). We decided to hit up the Radio City tour. Mom loved this and we even caught a glimpse of the Christmas show. Afterwards I had planned on eating at Rockefeller center but Mom stuck her nose up at everything. We wandered outside where they were setting up for the Christmas Tree lighting. We ended up at Fridays. That is irritating. There are only 4 million restaurants in the city and we are eating at Fridays? Mom was tired and just wanted to eat. Well serves here right. $32 later (1 french dip and a beer we split!!!!) we start to head back to the hotel stopping at a couple stores along the way. We rest for a bit and freshen up and then off to our favorite NYC pizza place, Two Boots.
There a couple of these spread out over the city, but our favorite is at the Dining Concourse at Grand Central. We split and individual size white pizza and each had a glass of wine. We decided to attempt the Christmas Tree lighting afterwards but it was mobbed!! Mom was exhausted so we headed back to the hotel and grabbed dessert along the way (Gigi's 34th and Madison).
December 1st, Thursday-
This morning I had tickets for LIVE with Regis and Kelly. This was mom's first day of her conference, but I had to be gone much earlier. Mom is ok in NYC by herself, if it's just a few blocks. I was out the door by 7 a.m. and headed uptown. My letter said to be at the studio by 7:45 but by the time I got there at 7:30 a.m. the line reached around the building. We were let in the building about 30 minutes later and usherd through security. I then hopped in another line to pick up my ticket. Then we were put in a third line to wait....and wait....and wait!! At about 5 minutes to 9 we were ushered to our seats.
I ended up with what I thought was a great seat. 3rd row center. No seats in front of me. That is where the assistants hung out, furiously scribbling cue cards. Gellman was there. What a cutie!!!
Then Regis and Kelly came out. They were so cute!! Then the camera came down and wouldn't you know that the crane blocked out their heads!! I could hear them and see their bodies, but no heads! AGHHHH!! So much for good seats. I didn't win the trivia prize. On to a break. And guess who is walking straight toward me. Regis!! What a cutie!! It feels like I know him I have watched him for so long. I didn't talk with him. Everyone around me was soooo star struck. Oh Regis sign my card. Oh Regis I love you!! 
Next up was Alan Alda and Click Five. Alan Alda was awesome! Very funny and smart. Click Five was fun. After that they announced that Kelly had tomorrow off and they were going to do some taping for tomorrow's show. Regis taped the open by himeself (very rare) and one interview (Eliza Dushku). Then he did the close. And guess who was on T.V.??? That is right, yours truly. So if you watched Friday's show, I was the second one to the right. Pink shirt, White coat. Yes I am famous now. I might have to join the screen actors guild....
Once it was over I started walking uptown, not really sure what I wanted to do. I decided that I would head uptown and just wander. I was hungry but didn't feel like eating alone. I wandered up to 86th and Columbus before taking the subway all the way down to 14th. I then wandered up 7th, grabbing a sandwich at Starbucks before crashing at the hotel.
At 2 I headed to Times Square to get tickets again. WOW!! Much busier in the p.m. I was in line a little over an hour and walked away with 2 tickets to the Radio City Christmas Specatcular for only $76!!! I had to meet Mom back at the hotel and figure out where we wanted to eat.
I did a Google search for restaurants that offered pre-theatre menus and came up with Cascina Ristorante located on 9th between 45th and 46th. Can I just say yummy?? That was the best meal I have had in a long time. We started out with field green salads made with homede vinigrette and freshly baked bread. The olive oil was to die for!! Mom had lasagna while I had Canelloni stuffed with wild mushrooms and asparagus and topped with Marscapone cheese! YUUMMMYYY!!! We each had a glass of wine (white zinfandel for mom, pinot grigio for me). We then split a piece of Ricotta Cheesecake for dessert. We left very happy!!
The Christmas show was great and Mom finally got to see the tree afterwards. We checked out some of the store windows and had this picture taken.
It was getting late and I had to be up early again, so we headed back to the hotel.
December 2nd, Friday-
Today my cousin decided to join us. Now I thought I had a bad sense of direction, but this my friends is fierce competition. Amy's flight was at 6 a.m. and she had no idea what to do once she landed. She had only been to NYC once, and that was when she was 12. I told her I would meet her out at Jamaica and we would spend the day together. I picked her up around 8 at Jamaica and we headed toward 5th avenue. We had some coffee at Starbucks and walked over to Times Square. Today was pretty uneventfull. Amy is a bit boy crazy so the day was filled with her oogling and shopping. I picked up some cute earrings at a street fair, a cashmere pashmina for only $6 and a cute pic of Times Square. Oh and don't forget about my new antennae topper from the World of Disney!!
We had lunch at Papya King (chili cheese dogs and fries!) After lunch we headed back to Times Square for more shopping. She didn't have to get back on the Subway until 5:30, but I was exhausted and cranky. We went back to the hotel and hung out with my Mom until around 5. We all headed uptown, but Mom and I said our good-byes to Amy and let her face the scarey subway all alone. Don't worry she was fine, but her plane had a bit of trouble landing in Rochester.
I was extremely cold, tired and cranky and we couldn't find anywhere to eat. Mom suggested Hard Rock and I nearly lost it. We wandered down a side street and ended up at this cute restaurant. My food sucked and I ended up sending it back for a bowl of soup. I think I was just cranky. We grabbed dessert at this pizza place in Times Square and headed back to the hotel early. I was just exhausted. Towmorrow is our last day and we changed our plans a bit. Mom loves the sightseeing buses so we are going to spend our day doing that.
December 3rd, Saturday-
We didn't leave the hotel until around 8:30 a.m. Checked out and head to where the bus picks us up. It was quite early so the bus was fairely quite. We love Grey Line and will only take their tours. We decided to ride the entire loop once without getting off, then ride a second time and get off in SoHo and Ground Zero.
We did the downtown loop. We got off at Central Park and wandered up to the World of Disney again. Stopping on the way back for coffee. Now I am from NY but darn it, it was cold!!!!
After that we just rode the bus until we saw all these tables set up with scarves and jewelry. We were in Greenwich so we got off. Not much to see so we hopped back on. That is the greatest thing about these busses!! Next stop was SoHo. We shopped for quite a while and then had lunch at Rockys on Spring St. Very yummy place. Cute, only about a dozen tables.
Next was Ground Zero. Kinda wierd. It wasn't as solom as I thought it would be. Still I am glad we went. Next was Century 21. Not as fun as I though it would be. Sure this sweater was marked from $300 to $80, but that is still $80!!! I did buy a cute pair of shoes for only $23 though!! We were exhausted by now, so we took the subway back to our hotel and had a drink at the bar. It was our last hour in NYC
Around 6 p.m we headed to Penn Station. I walked Mom to the subway and made sure she knew her way back to the airport. I was taking the train back to D.C.
I killed about an hour before the train ride. It was nice. The ride home was great. I just love riding trains. I finally got home around 1 a.m. I hated seeing NYC just get smaller and smaller in the distance.
This was a great trip. I just love the hustle and bustle of New York. We always felt safe and we had a great time. Feel free to PM if you have questions. There was a La Quinta near our hotel that looked very nice too. Good neighboorhood!!
Cast-
Mom- Just "had" to go to New York for a HR conference. Had to be at Cornell University's Manhattan campus for Thursday and Friday. Mom has only been to NYC twice before and both times have been with me. She loves the city, but is a bit intimidated and doesn't like to be by herself.
Me- Apparently overplanning doesn't just happen with Disney. NYC is my 2nd most favorite place to visit. If I could afford to, I would move. I guess Dh would have to come to but seeing as he doesn't particularly care for the city...Oh well, I can dream!! I have been to NYC a dozen times and don't really consider myself a tourist (afterall, I am from New York State). I know my way around and know how the city works. I get extremely aggravated with tourists who are clueless and dumbfounded and stop walking at the most unexpected times.
I had been in Rochester visiting my parents for Thanksgiving. On Monday, November 28th, Dh drove himself home to VA. Mom and were schedule to leave on Wednesday mroning.
November 30th, Wednesday- We left for the Rochester Internation Airport at 4:30 a.m. My parents don't live far so we were there by 4:45. My suitcase was to big to carryon so I had to wait in line and check it. Luckily that line wasn't too bad. Unfortunately, the security line was quite long. Once through security we grabbed a quick breakfast of pastries and headed to the gate.
The flight left on time and with little turbulence. We arrived at JFK at 7 a.m. We took that Airtrain out to Jamiaca and then headed via Subway to Manhattan. We purchased a 7-day unlimited ride ticket for only $24 even though we would only be there for 4 days. Single day unlimted ride tickets are $7. You do the math.
We were at the hotel by about 9:30 a.m. We stayed at a great Red Roof Inn in Korea Town. We were at 32nd St and 5th Ave. The hotel was very clean and at a beautiful lobby complete with bar. Our room was great. 1 King bed, a desk and FREE WIRELESS INTERNET. We had some problems with the Internet and dealt with a rude manager but by the second day everything worked perfectly. Now the best part. I opened our drapes and what do I see? THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING. Probably my favorite building in New York. I just love the Art Deco style and it's so romantic!! We had the perfect room.
After we checked in we were hungry. I had planned on going uptown and take my Mom to H&H, but we were exhausted from dragging our 40lb suitcases around. We settled for the Burger King around the corner. It was good and hot and let us figure out what we wanted to do next.
We decided to head to the TKTS booth and see if we could snag some cheap tickets. We didn't know that you couldn't buy evening tickets until after 3. So we left (after pricing Mamma Mia tix for $56 each!). We decided to hit up the Radio City tour. Mom loved this and we even caught a glimpse of the Christmas show. Afterwards I had planned on eating at Rockefeller center but Mom stuck her nose up at everything. We wandered outside where they were setting up for the Christmas Tree lighting. We ended up at Fridays. That is irritating. There are only 4 million restaurants in the city and we are eating at Fridays? Mom was tired and just wanted to eat. Well serves here right. $32 later (1 french dip and a beer we split!!!!) we start to head back to the hotel stopping at a couple stores along the way. We rest for a bit and freshen up and then off to our favorite NYC pizza place, Two Boots.
There a couple of these spread out over the city, but our favorite is at the Dining Concourse at Grand Central. We split and individual size white pizza and each had a glass of wine. We decided to attempt the Christmas Tree lighting afterwards but it was mobbed!! Mom was exhausted so we headed back to the hotel and grabbed dessert along the way (Gigi's 34th and Madison).
December 1st, Thursday-
This morning I had tickets for LIVE with Regis and Kelly. This was mom's first day of her conference, but I had to be gone much earlier. Mom is ok in NYC by herself, if it's just a few blocks. I was out the door by 7 a.m. and headed uptown. My letter said to be at the studio by 7:45 but by the time I got there at 7:30 a.m. the line reached around the building. We were let in the building about 30 minutes later and usherd through security. I then hopped in another line to pick up my ticket. Then we were put in a third line to wait....and wait....and wait!! At about 5 minutes to 9 we were ushered to our seats.
I ended up with what I thought was a great seat. 3rd row center. No seats in front of me. That is where the assistants hung out, furiously scribbling cue cards. Gellman was there. What a cutie!!!
Then Regis and Kelly came out. They were so cute!! Then the camera came down and wouldn't you know that the crane blocked out their heads!! I could hear them and see their bodies, but no heads! AGHHHH!! So much for good seats. I didn't win the trivia prize. On to a break. And guess who is walking straight toward me. Regis!! What a cutie!! It feels like I know him I have watched him for so long. I didn't talk with him. Everyone around me was soooo star struck. Oh Regis sign my card. Oh Regis I love you!! Next up was Alan Alda and Click Five. Alan Alda was awesome! Very funny and smart. Click Five was fun. After that they announced that Kelly had tomorrow off and they were going to do some taping for tomorrow's show. Regis taped the open by himeself (very rare) and one interview (Eliza Dushku). Then he did the close. And guess who was on T.V.??? That is right, yours truly. So if you watched Friday's show, I was the second one to the right. Pink shirt, White coat. Yes I am famous now. I might have to join the screen actors guild....
Once it was over I started walking uptown, not really sure what I wanted to do. I decided that I would head uptown and just wander. I was hungry but didn't feel like eating alone. I wandered up to 86th and Columbus before taking the subway all the way down to 14th. I then wandered up 7th, grabbing a sandwich at Starbucks before crashing at the hotel.
At 2 I headed to Times Square to get tickets again. WOW!! Much busier in the p.m. I was in line a little over an hour and walked away with 2 tickets to the Radio City Christmas Specatcular for only $76!!! I had to meet Mom back at the hotel and figure out where we wanted to eat.
I did a Google search for restaurants that offered pre-theatre menus and came up with Cascina Ristorante located on 9th between 45th and 46th. Can I just say yummy?? That was the best meal I have had in a long time. We started out with field green salads made with homede vinigrette and freshly baked bread. The olive oil was to die for!! Mom had lasagna while I had Canelloni stuffed with wild mushrooms and asparagus and topped with Marscapone cheese! YUUMMMYYY!!! We each had a glass of wine (white zinfandel for mom, pinot grigio for me). We then split a piece of Ricotta Cheesecake for dessert. We left very happy!!
The Christmas show was great and Mom finally got to see the tree afterwards. We checked out some of the store windows and had this picture taken.
It was getting late and I had to be up early again, so we headed back to the hotel.
December 2nd, Friday-
Today my cousin decided to join us. Now I thought I had a bad sense of direction, but this my friends is fierce competition. Amy's flight was at 6 a.m. and she had no idea what to do once she landed. She had only been to NYC once, and that was when she was 12. I told her I would meet her out at Jamaica and we would spend the day together. I picked her up around 8 at Jamaica and we headed toward 5th avenue. We had some coffee at Starbucks and walked over to Times Square. Today was pretty uneventfull. Amy is a bit boy crazy so the day was filled with her oogling and shopping. I picked up some cute earrings at a street fair, a cashmere pashmina for only $6 and a cute pic of Times Square. Oh and don't forget about my new antennae topper from the World of Disney!!
We had lunch at Papya King (chili cheese dogs and fries!) After lunch we headed back to Times Square for more shopping. She didn't have to get back on the Subway until 5:30, but I was exhausted and cranky. We went back to the hotel and hung out with my Mom until around 5. We all headed uptown, but Mom and I said our good-byes to Amy and let her face the scarey subway all alone. Don't worry she was fine, but her plane had a bit of trouble landing in Rochester.
I was extremely cold, tired and cranky and we couldn't find anywhere to eat. Mom suggested Hard Rock and I nearly lost it. We wandered down a side street and ended up at this cute restaurant. My food sucked and I ended up sending it back for a bowl of soup. I think I was just cranky. We grabbed dessert at this pizza place in Times Square and headed back to the hotel early. I was just exhausted. Towmorrow is our last day and we changed our plans a bit. Mom loves the sightseeing buses so we are going to spend our day doing that.
December 3rd, Saturday-
We didn't leave the hotel until around 8:30 a.m. Checked out and head to where the bus picks us up. It was quite early so the bus was fairely quite. We love Grey Line and will only take their tours. We decided to ride the entire loop once without getting off, then ride a second time and get off in SoHo and Ground Zero.
We did the downtown loop. We got off at Central Park and wandered up to the World of Disney again. Stopping on the way back for coffee. Now I am from NY but darn it, it was cold!!!!
After that we just rode the bus until we saw all these tables set up with scarves and jewelry. We were in Greenwich so we got off. Not much to see so we hopped back on. That is the greatest thing about these busses!! Next stop was SoHo. We shopped for quite a while and then had lunch at Rockys on Spring St. Very yummy place. Cute, only about a dozen tables.
Next was Ground Zero. Kinda wierd. It wasn't as solom as I thought it would be. Still I am glad we went. Next was Century 21. Not as fun as I though it would be. Sure this sweater was marked from $300 to $80, but that is still $80!!! I did buy a cute pair of shoes for only $23 though!! We were exhausted by now, so we took the subway back to our hotel and had a drink at the bar. It was our last hour in NYC
Around 6 p.m we headed to Penn Station. I walked Mom to the subway and made sure she knew her way back to the airport. I was taking the train back to D.C.
I killed about an hour before the train ride. It was nice. The ride home was great. I just love riding trains. I finally got home around 1 a.m. I hated seeing NYC just get smaller and smaller in the distance.
This was a great trip. I just love the hustle and bustle of New York. We always felt safe and we had a great time. Feel free to PM if you have questions. There was a La Quinta near our hotel that looked very nice too. Good neighboorhood!!
NY!!! That was the one bad thing about moving to FL, that I was going far away from the city. We always do the Metrocard too. Gotta love the subway system!!! Glad you had a good trip.
