On to NBC. Had a peak in the Today Show studios and the area out the front where they go outside.
Back up to line up for the tour. It's not a big group - 15 or so - plus two Kenneths (that's two pages, for those who don't watch 30 Rock) You can't take pictures here so I have none. They do, of course, take your picture at the fake news desk of the newsreader everyone but me knew, and you can purchase that on the way out - for almost as much as the tour!
We head first into a little cinema for a 10-minute film with clips from NBC shows of the very early days right up to the present - it was great! Loved it a lot. Everything from Lucy to Friends and everything in between.
Then up to the actual newsroom, very interesting. Into Jimmy Fallon's studio, then Saturday Night Live. Good to see them all - I don't watch these shows often but enough to recognise them and enjoy seeing them. Then to a makeup room where they show the creation of masks, etc.
Next into a fake newsroom where they ask for two volunteers - one to sit and read the news and one to do the weather. One guy volunteered and when no one else did, he volunteered his wife. She was not so impressed but ended up doing a better job than him. They have it set up to show the workings of a newsroom - TelePrompTer, control and they get us to do the countdown - 5, 4, 3, 2 and point, coz you don't say 1. I didn't do this - not a fan of the audience participation - just mouthed the words and did a halfhearted point.
Then out to the gift shop where you can buy your photo. You can also get your photo taken and they'll insert your face into a famous movie scene - fun, if you like that sort of thing. I had contemplated doing the Top of the Rock but it was expensive and I would probably hardly venture out enough to make the view worthwhile. Besides, I had seen a pretty good view from that stupid window seat in the plane and from the Brooklyn Bridge.
Went down to Starbucks to get a coffee and banana cake - breakfast. Thanks to Shaun for telling me which is one of the few acceptable coffees to be found here - Starbucks' latte.
Found my way to Times Square easily enough - maybe I'm getting the gist of the layout of this city - just in time to leave tomorrow! No queue at the half price ticket booth, just had to decide on a matinee. I was leaning towards Peter and the Starcatcher. There had been a show that I would have loved to see called Silence: The Musical, based on Silence of the Lambs, but it's finished.
They have helper people around to give you information and help you pick a shiw. I heard an Australian accent and asked him what he thought Peter was like. He recommended it and showed me where there were some guys doing promotions for it and so I got it even cheaper. Got a voucher from them and had to walk up to the theatre to get the actual ticket.
Now I have a last walk up to Central Park. Next time I come here I will do all the tours of Central Park. Passed a T.Mobile store and thought I should really get a SIM card for the iPad - particularly after yesterday, having to go all the way back to Rockefeller to access their free Wi-Fi to get directions.
Walked in and a girl immediately asked my name. Why? Was my reaction. So I could be put in a queue and the next available assistant would call me up. There was one other person in the store - was this really necessary? These stores freak me a bit. I accidentally ended up in the apple store in Grand Central Station - creepy and surreal!
Anyway, got the SIM card and headed up to the park. Walked in past all the tour guys and cyclists and carriage vendors - you have to get through this...
..to get to this...
So it is worth it.
Strolled through. Heard what sounded like a sting quartet but as I got closer, realised it was a carousel - cute.
Found a lovely spot to sit for a while with a lady playing the violin. Se was playing Ave Maria when I got there and doing a much better job of it than Thursday's loony. I saw today's Loony on the way back - he was shouting illegibly at a bottle shop window. The only thing I could make out was "I do kung fu."
Back to the theatre to grab a quick bite in the little courtyard behind the theatre before the show. Very cute little theatre. And the show was so funny and clever - it's a precursor to Peter Pan and is staged with the small cast playing all the parts and clever and imaginative direction. For example, to indicate a small room, they held a rope in the shape of a doorway and the two cast members knelt in it, or they stood in a line like a wall and one would step aside to indicate a door opening. I did hear some people at interval say they weren't sure what was happening.
First number after interval was hilarious - they were dressed as mermaids and did a fabulous number.
Very good show and I'm glad I saw something Off Broadway.
Still some time before we are meeting up so to a coffee shop for a latte and a waffle covered in white chocolate with pecans! Still more time so I wandered through Times Square to people watch. It's hard to imagine but it is even more crowded as it's Saturday.
Up to the M&M store to meet Shaun and Brett and Lizzie Bradtke - a friend from home who has lived here for just on six years, studying. Was great to see her and catch up on her gossip. We were trying to find somewhere to eat - without a reservation, stupidly! Liz knew of a place that might have room - it's a place that has no signage out the front - you have to know it's there, so not many tourists make their way in. They had room so in we went. Had a lovey meal and catch up, Liz walked with us to our evening theatre and off she went. Lovely! Not that she went but that we got to see her...
Our last show in New York was Newsies. Very excited by this one for it is one that Shaun and I have been singing/playing respectively at my piano for years and years. The theatre is lovely but so badly designed. All the circle steps lead down to a tiny foyer area that has both the bar and the restrooms leading from it so there is an unmoving traffic jam at interval and at the end.
There was the usual queue in the restrooms. There was an attendant in there who would call out when stalls were vacated, "Next two ladies in up the line!" Once through there it was the first time I've seen a queue for the hand basins.
And a selection of us at the theatre...
As happens often, people ask you to take their picture. So here's Shaun taking the flirty ladies...
Show was great - many of the songs from the movie. Amazing dancing and chore. Great set - massive scaffolding in three towers moving around the stage. Did I mention fabulous dancing? Loved it.
It was raining when we came out of the theatre - we have had perfect weather so there's no complaints that it was raining tonight. Got pretty wet walking back home and up those stairs for the last time! New York has been great!
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