Tag: Broadway

48 Hours in NYC

On By Travels with MelindaIn New York City, Travel, travel tips, travelling, Uncategorized, vacationLeave a comment

While 2026 has been a challenging year for me with medical issues, in between surgeries Thom and I were able to sneak in 48 hours in NYC! Thom is a born and bred New Yorker and I’ve both worked and lived there so, while we have a familiarity with this amazing city, NYC never fails to deliver new experiences for us.

On this trip, we built our itinerary around a trip to Broadway to see the classic musical Cats reimagined as The Jellicle Ball. This wonderful production showcased a diverse cast with members of the LGBTQ+ community dancing, singing, and acting their asses off in a joyful ballroom culture. Everywhere you looked, something wonderful was going on! An actor would pop up right next to you while the dance-off competition was happening on the main stage, and the DJ was spinning tunes on a side balcony.  No “stars” in this musical, though Old Deuteronomy did a fine job presiding over the festivities. The stars were the ensemble cast and the audience, who were able to engage by snapping their “Come One, Come All” fans that they purchased prior to the show. Those fans went crazy celebrating the talents being showcased. This show was in a small theater so there really were no “bad” seats and you could even purchase seats on the stage facing out to the audience that were very interactive with the cast. So. Much. Fun.

After a night at the theater, nothing hits harder than the thick and creamy NY style cheesecake several inches thick, topped with strawberries and found at Junior’s, conveniently located in the Marriott Marquis walkway on the route back to our hotel. I’m a Marriott loyalist so I have tried most of this brand’s hotels in NYC. I may have found a new favorite on this trip. While nothing fancy and the rooms are typical NYC small, the location, price, cleanliness, and customer service made the Springhill Suites on 46th Street between 7th and 8th stand out. We could walk easily to any Broadway theater, Times Square (where I worked once upon a time on a Microsoft assignment) and my favorite Chinese restaurant, Dim Sum Palace. We take the train up from Baltimore to NYC, and this hotel is only about 10 blocks from Moynihan Train Station, though it was Knicks/World Cup weekend. The traffic was insane even more than usual and the cab to the hotel took about 45 minutes to go one mile and cost $35. Could we have walked? Sure, if I was healthier and it wasn’t 90 degrees, absolutely.

Prior to the theater, we arrived in time to check our bags at the hotel and grab a bus to go uptown to the Frick Museum on E. 70th Street across from Central Park. In all the time we’ve been in NYC, we have never had time to visit this museum so it was a “must see” for me and I was not disappointed! Set in an impressive mansion donated by the estate of Henry Clay Frick, a wealthy steel baron who collected art, his collection consists of 14th to 19th century European paintings. So I got to gaze at art from Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, Rembrandt, etc.  In addition to the art collection, part of the mansion has period appropriate furnished rooms to admire with bedrooms, living rooms and such. Very Gilded Age! Oh, how the wealthy lived now and still! There are audio tours and free live tours you can take part in. I always find these helpful to really understand the art you’re viewing.

After a day at the museum and before the theater, we had time for a quick respite at the famous Sardi’s, which happened to be right across the street from the Jellicle Ball’s Broadhurst Theater. With two floors to choose from, we grabbed a window seat upstairs so we could monitor the theater line and know when to go queue up. We did not have a reservation but easily got a seat at a little after 5 (show starts at 7). However, by 5:30, it was packed. With the celebrity caricatures lining the walls, white tablecloths and elegant wait staff, the atmosphere is very Broadway and the perfect spot to enjoy a drink and nibble. We had an excellent cheese platter with all kinds of cheese, bread, figs and grapes. Paired with a light Chardonnay, it was delicious.

We are really not foodies, so our idea of fine dining is a slice of cheese pizza from a counter or a bagel from a street cart-true NYC food. Luckily, there was a great pizza joint on the same block as the hotel. While I still remember when you could get a big slice for $1, it was $3.50 here because it is the tourist area. You can still get a slice for $1.50 in a more residential area of Manhattan. Nothing better than a hot cheesy slice, eaten folded up if you are a true New Yorker like my husband. Eschew those pricey restaurants and get yourself a slice!

Of course, no trip to NYC would be complete without a stroll through Central Park and a stop at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Met is one of my favorite spots and when we lived in NYC, we were members who went almost every week. Entry is free to NYC residents but costs for others. That is unless you are Thom George, who chatted up the museum employee at the front desk. The very kind employee ended up entering our old NYC zip code as a courtesy to a former New Yorker and let us in for free, though Thom did make a donation. We went straight to a special exhibit of Raphael art, which was crowded with art enthusiasts. The impressionists’ rooms were nearby so I enjoyed Monet among others. Having been to the Monet museum in Paris and Monet’s home in Giverny, his art is special to me. Then it was off to the Temple of Dendur, which we could admire from afar but not climb within the ancient structure like we used to be able to. I’m sure visitors behaved badly and thus the barriers keeping people at a distance from the temple went up in the last few years.

On the way home after negotiating through heavy traffic due to the Knicks and World Cup games going on, we checked out the Amtrak lounge at Moynihan train station and then it was back to Baltimore. I love living on the East Coast and being able to take the train to so many great cities. If you haven’t been to NYC lately, the city is on a high right now with the Knicks winning and Mamdani leading change for the people. There’s no place like it and I can’t wait to go back!

Enjoy the journey!

Theater, Scotch and Sailboats…Oh My!

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, Cocktails, Seattle, Uncategorized, walkingLeave a comment

 

Who on Earth would predict that a musical about 9/11 and how the town of Gander, Newfoundland welcomed 7,000 passengers on 38 planes diverted there that day would be so inspirational and wonderful?  NOT ME!  Boy, was I shocked.  We laughed and cried and didn’t want it to end.  I have to tell you, when Thom told me where we would be going this past Thursday night, I was wanting to do almost anything else!!  His dear childhood friend that has worked for 30+ years at American Airlines guiding flights around the world, Billy, and his wife were scheduled to come visit us for the opening of the play as he was personally involved with the main character in the story, Beverly the pilot of one of the flights diverted.  Billy guided Beverly and her flight to safety that horrific day and they have stayed in touch ever since, bonded for life by tragic circumstances beyond their control.

Unfortunately Billy recently had surgery and couldn’t travel but we went in his place.  Seated next to us were a nice couple who immediately told us that they were retired pilots who had been at the play for opening night and found it so amazing that they bought the extra tickets that Billy had purchased.  Also friends with Beverly, who was at the theater that night, they had a personal connection to this particular story, having flown during that crazy time.  Flying a few days after 9/11 for work, I remember thinking that air travel will never be the same and it certainly isn’t.  No more greeting family at the gate and please take off your shoes, no liquids over a certain size, etc.WP_20151119_21_21_19_Pro

But back to the play that brings it all to life.  With clever use of the actors playing several roles, the story is told of one particular flight flown by Beverly and diverted to Gander.  The citizens take in this mass influx of people with some trepidation but end up feeding and housing them all over town for a week or so.  Authors David Hein and Irene Sankoff nailed the snappy dialogue, plot line and wonderful songs.  I have seen many a Broadway play and this would win a Tony for sure.  Let’s hope they get publicity and make a run for Broadway.  I only hope that they keep the same cast and band because they were top-notch and I can’t imagine anyone else in those roles.  If you live in Seattle, GO SEE IT!  It’s playing at the Seattle Repertory Theatre until December 13th.  Seattle Times Review of “Come From Away”

Friday night, bearing beer and wine as boat-warming gifts, we visited our friend Brad’s newly acquired sailboat just north of Ballard.  Draped in festive holiday lights, the 3 br/2 head money pit (all boats are!) was warm and cozy below and brisk up top as the 20+ people drank and socialized.  Seeing the crowd drink scotch to warm up, I figured, “What the Hell!” and decided to join them and have my first taste of scotch.  Hmmm…it sure does warm up your whole throat for an extended period of time.  These scotch drinkers could be on to something.  My friend Kurt has offered to “school me” on the varieties of scotch as he has drank his way across Europe tasting and sipping.  Bring on Booze 101 classes!  Now, I’m not a boat person, having owned a lake cottage and boat at one point and didn’t really enjoy them, but these sailors seem to be very dedicated and borderline obsessed with this lifestyle.  Expensive, yes, but a social way to embrace the beauty of the water.  As long as it stays at the dock and the wine/scotch is flowing, count me in.  Ahoy mate!