Shaun, Brett and I got sorted and headed off to town, into the Metro. We went into the wrong entrance and couldn't work out how to get across internally so came out, crossed the road and down the other side. Our Metro cards wouldn't let us in, giving the message that the card had just been used. The guy at the counter said normally, if that happens, you have to wait 18 minutes to go through - to stop people sharing cards, but 18? Seems a very random number.
Anyway, down we went... (You can sort of see that it's Canal Street - this is what I get for taking photos without glasses on!)
Today's Loony Tunes got on our carriage at one of the stops. He started at the other end of the carriage serenading people, singing in a high contralto. We were hoping our ride would end before he made his was up to us, but alas, no. We first got some Duke Wellington and then Ave Maria. Watched people get on at stops, see him, walk to the other end. Some even got off and went into the next carriage.
Our first stop was the cheap tickets in Times Square to get tickets to a matinee. You have to have your first three preferences ready to go so if you get there and first choice is not available, you're ready with your second and third. Our choices were Cinderella, Spider-Man and A Trip to Bountiful - in ever-changing order. It was a loooong queue but once the doors opened, it moved pretty quickly. Here's Brett, and Shaun's back.
We got tickets to A Trip to Bountiful - a play starring Cicely Tyson (she won the Tony for it) and Vanessa Williams. Cuba Gooding Jr was in it but isn't now, would have liked to see him but what can you do.
Walked up to get some breakfast, past the fairly aggressive tour vendors trying to get you on their bus or to buy their watch. We went to Applebee's, which was fairly ordinary - the waiter didn't know they didn't have poached eggs, only scrambled or fried, and when asked what coffee they had said, "black". And it took forever to arrive. Adam and Caz joined us and we headed off.
We went past Carnegie Hall and the Russian Tearoom and what was the building I chose to photograph? Chandler's office building from Friends.
As we passed Bergdorf Goodman and Louis Vuitton, I realised that Tiffany's had to be around somewhere. Asked Brett, he said it was in the area. Stopped at a traffic light and asked Caz if she knew where it was. She looked over the road and said, "there". Funny!
We did go in for a look - coz you have to - lots of greeter guys. Every few steps, another greeter man, "good morning. Welcome." And lots of sparklys. Not sure if you're supposed to take photos but I did - the sparkle doesn't come up quite as sparkly as it was.
On to FAO Schwartz! So very fun and cool.
First up to the Muppet creations where Shaun and Brett are going to get an individually crafted Muppet each. Great fun watching them choose they puppets - every aspect - hair, clothes, nose, etc. Here's the initial groundwork...
And the finished product...
They took about 45 minutes to do so we spent all that time wandering through - fabulous. I had to do this...
It looked like you had to pay to do it - they had a photographer there to the side so you could pose on a green screen and they'd superimpose it onto the keyboard - why not just stand on the thing? You had to pose for the photo before you could go onto it. And the hopefully you'd buy it. I don't think the photographer liked me coz she was trying to get me to pose - "hands on hips. Hands in the air and dip." I think I stood there looking surly until she waved me on. After getting past that, it was so much fun and I am glad I did it.
There are so many toys here - LEGO, stuffed animals, dollhouses where you could buy tiny Playbills and Dr Seuss books, among everything else, including the kitchen sink, dolls - the Barbie section was not at all as big as I would have expected - I have heard that she is on the way out. Did like this one...
And this was for the child who has everything...
Great store - brings out the kid in everyone, I reckon.
On to the theatre for the 2:00 matinee. The Stephen Sondheim theater - cant believe he's 80!
The play was fabulous and Cecily Tyson was amazing, loved the banter between her and Vanessa Williams' characters. The story was great, cast and staging was excellent.
It was a different type of theatre crowd - lots of African Americans in. They react quite audibly to the action onstage. First up, they applaud when they see Cecily, they applaud and you can hear "That's Vanessa Williams" When she appeared. Lots of oohs and ahs and audible reactions, a lot of gasps when her character discovered her old friend had died or she left her purse on the bus. Lady next to me had huge hair and kept falling asleep - those two facts aren't related.
It was quite cold in this theatre - and I noticed it was cold so I'm thinking it must have been cold. After the show we went into a few souvenir shops to see what there is - I want to get a mini school bus (obsession with them continues) and maybe a bobble-head Obama.
Dinner at Trattaria Treco.or - an Italian restaurant with great food (veggie pasta) and great service. Up the road to a cute cafe for a coffee and a sit down, we have walked a long way, even thigh we were sitting through the matinee and dinner.
And to the theatre for The Book of Mormon...
Absolutely hilarious!! So very funny and irreverent and fabulous. From the opening number right through, just fabulous.
After the show we went to a piano bar called Don't Tell Mama, very small and atmospheric with a guy on the piano playing and singing, and the three wait staff would get up and sing also. The guy was good, the next girl - not really. Too much vibrato and no light and shade. But it was a good place to go to, fun. Brett and I got a cocktail each. Mine was delicious - chocolate and raspberry and vodka and stuff. We did try and get Shaun and Caz to get up and do a duet but they wouldn't!
Incidentally, had a Junior Mint, which was yummy and something to try that we don't have at home (that I know of) and some pretzel from a sidewalk cart - very salty.
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