With the Lights - It was Broadway!

"New York Taxi's, man! You have to like - go on the street and wave them down!" - Jeremy Boyd. (the skat man's brother)

My brother has no sense of how New York is. In any way. He wishes he did due to his new phase of "New York is the best place ever" because one of his favorite Wrestler is themed as a tough New Yorker. This is the more sensible of the phases he has been through.... I wont get into the details -- but lets say "TY Beanie Baby's" were a big thing in this house hold.

-Mission 16- Catch my Playbill up in Lights!

New York. I didn't have a clue what to expect either. But over the last week I have gone and experienced what has always been a Hollywood idea - a dream sequence of bohemian ideals based in a business world if I may - (If I may say that is... And seeing how I can say what I choose here..... I'll just go ahead and stop explaini................... haha)

4 of us - Jordan - Katie and Ashley including myself hit the road for the big apple last Thursday morning. The excitement came quickly. Even in the early hours of the morning when all I thought was going back to sleep. This was a new adventure with some really fun people where hours of laughter were inevitable.

The drive is 8 hours. Not including the moments where we would stop to relive ourselves from both hunger and exploding bladders. But this drive went by quite quickly due to the endless comedy and entertainment between us all.

We entered New York with sweet dre...........................................................................................................................................................

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Sorry... I felt a little sick, had to go find some medicine........................................ Now when I say medicine, I mean Turkey Bacon... MMM mmmm Finger licking good... Literally -- Have you ever tried to type with greasy fingers? If the answer to that question is yes....... Then you disgust me.... But then again - I am the one curing what I think to be malnourishment with 3 slices of great Canadian Bacon.... But judge me not!!........ I cry easily ......

Any way - We entered New York with sweet dreams of musical numbers and the smell of street hot dogs dancing through our heads. Little did we know that this would be a FANTASTIC trip where we could just unload and become lost in what I like to call Tourist-Itus (sounds Greek)

We didn't hesitate when it came to hitting the town. With our hotel being just off Time Square - we were in the excitement. We were in the game. And from a small misconception - New Yorkers? C'mooooooooooooon - Whad'yah talkin about?! I didn't run into any one of the rude nature. Excluding the people who worked at The Majestic theater. Always with the pushing and the shoving and the hippety and the hoppety - you just don't know where you're going @ The Majestic.

The Majestic... Oh did I mention I went to The Majestic?

3 Musicals this week. On Broadway....... BROADWAY musical. Amazing.

Now for those who don't know whats playing at The Majestic. THEEEEEEE PHANTOM!!!

-But that's another story.... that I will get to.... In a second or two......

PPPPPPHAAAAAAAAANNNNNNTTOOOOOOMMMM!!!!!!!!!!

So the first night we walked Time Square like true New Yorkers. Taking photo after photo - livin up the lights and the environment and just sinkin it all in. And after a brief sit in one of the most American restaurant's we could think of (McDonald's) - we headed off to our first show.

BILLY ELLIOT.

Now for those who have not seen the movie - This is a story of a young Boy who stinks completely at boxing but after a life changing happenstance he switches from boxing to Ballet. Let's just say he is very good...... So If you are in New York - I suggest seeing it. Music written by Elton John and the most impressive dancing you will find. With the lights - It's Broadway!

We got to our hotel shortly after a quick stop at Ellen Stardust. This food emporium was FANTASTIC. All the waiters and waitresses are aspiring musical theater actors. While they are not serving you food - they are up on the tables singing to you famous show tune numbers and other hits known through many genres of music. Then of course back to the hotel for a little sleep sleep and Conan O'Brien.

We woke up extra early so we could catch the town in its busy early morning wonder.. HA!... Not really. But that sounded nice right?

There's just sooo much to do. So much to see. So in order to hit the town and catch it all Poke'mon style - early was necessary.

First off was Central Park.

It was sooo nice. I can see how people can just walk through there and just get lost in thought. There's soo much beauty in there. And I only saw about 25% of it. It's HUGE -

And amongst all the tree's the rivers and the Ducks who oddly run in packs of 3 males to a female - there was the John Lennon memorial.

Over the years I have had many music phases - One big one was a Beatles one. I love the Beatles still. In fact if someone were to ask me to sing a song - any song, a song that means more to me than just a song. A Song that shows a feeling. A song that would show my past - present and future of emotions.... It'd be a Beatles song............................. Hey Jude.

Now seeing the John Lennon "Imagine" circle was huge. The feelings and thoughts of seeing that and of course the building to which he was murdered in front of a mere blocks away was quite emotional for me. Heck. I ask you to Wikipedia his death and his killer. I know the name of the guy - but I'd like to think of this place as a happier place on the blog - and when you read up on the death - I think you will understand the disgust I feel in my stomach when I hear of the movie Chapter 23. Or how I have a lot of trouble picking up what used to be one of my favorite books without tearing up just by the cover and imagining (hah - excuse the pun) John Lennon. (The Catcher and the Rye)

It was a beautiful mark he left on the world and a beautiful mark New York has left in his honor in the middle of Strawberry Fields within Central Park.

After the ol' Johnny mark - we took to the streets to find Americas Tim Hortons (Starbucks) and relieve our caffeine needs before hitting up the American Museum of Natural History.

This Museum is most recently known through Ben Stillers "Night in the Museum" movie - which is releasing it's sequel with Amy Adams in it as Amelia Airheart. (OHH BABY) - But this Museum in it's own was fantastic! All the Dinosaurs - the ridiculous amounts of History about many cultures and the beginning of our own - it was great. Not to mention a quick stop by a picture to relive a past "Whose Line is it Anyway" joke.

Leaving the Museum after hours of learning and endless amounts of picture taking left us in a disarray of this fine city. But we were not dwelling to long in the past - (HAH! get it? Dewlling in the past....... because we were in a history museum? Ge-Get it?........sigh)

BACK TO CENTRAL PARK!

We found THE fountain. That's right. THEEE fountain. The one that Amy Adams sang at near the ever so amazing not so usual to be loved by any one movie "Enchanted"!!!! haha. Obsessed? Me ? Get outta here!

I think this is where I took the most pictures of the trip. Honestly. It was great just walking and loving the atmosphere and just taking in one another and the calmness of it all. I honestly suggest going and just spending days and days inside Central Park. Katie - said as we sat and just looked out over the rising sun shining over one of the ponds - "I would waste all my money in trying to live here - and I would not even have to be worried about going to a gym. I'd just come here!"


Honestly folks. I may not have got that quote spot on - but she had a point. You can run around and not feel stupid in what ever it is you may be sweating through. Hell - you may catch a group of joggers in the park and become instant friends. It could be a magical beginning of a new friendship for all you know. Just because you put on that Gym Building Exercise sweat shirt from '99. GO TO THE PARK!
But leaving the park - as the world picked up that Friday morning and the musician begun playing for a buskers pay cheque and the skaters came out to the rink at the front of the park - the PLAZA hotel gleaming with the afternoon shine. OH man.. The Swank in that hotel! Well - with the main enterance and Lobby. I took a ton of pictures as well...... I like to think the receptionists thought I was cute taking all these photos/ getting Kate to do some of the pictures because I was nervouse about making people mad. But I know the workers there didn't mind......... maybe...... Ahh well. I wouldn't have noticed if they did. I was too busy looking for Tim Curry........ Home Alone 2?? Anyone?? FINE!

From that fine array of rich folk - well not rich folk - If you really wanna see something rich I suggest shooting down to a pet store and finding a Funny Beast eating all of the Bunny Feasts! HAH! Now that's RICH!

So we walked along 5th avenue. Spotted a huge church and just went inside and sat. Looked up at the gigantic Organ and just thought. Or at least I thought. Thought about life. Thought about the city. Just bliss - y'know? I bought my mom a I heart New York shirt with Mickey Mouse ears instead of a heart there.... Well... not THERE there. As in the Church... That'd just be silly... There is a huge Disney Store right across the street.


From there - we headed down towards -



30 ROCKefellar!




It was cool. Looking at the tall building to which soo many jobs bring us endless entertainment. I walked through the NBC store and was QUITE tempted to buy me a "Dwight Schrute" Bobble head. Yes they have them.. Yet they oddly enough didn't price them. Jordan brought up the point that this was their way to make you take it up to the cash and get awkward when you learn the price to you just go ahead and buy it.



Heading straight back to our hotel room for a quick sit - we quickly jetted to the Square of Time to have some complimentary Birthday Dinner before we went to see our next show. Complimentary on Katie - She is also great at complimenting me in the many things I am good at....... :) ..... The many....... I like it when she says those things! haha


But unfortunately due to it being a Friday night - Time Square was packed tighter than one of my Pitas in Peterborough -- (haha you'll understand if you see me get one of those bad boys. It's like a fat man trying to fit in a Childs sleeping bag... Danger zone!)

We also managed to get into the Museum of Modern Art to see a few Origional paintings by such artists like Picasso and Warhol! It was PREEEEETTTTTY sweeet. Although some of the titles for the art were not very fun so Jordan and I took the liberty of renaming everything we saw. Worked out quite nicely for a few dozen laughs.

Not to mention of course the statue that I personally felt resembled Jordan.

(I have a nack with this Art Interpretation.... Spot on with the Jord-Man!)





And now ladies and gentlemen........... PPPPPPPPPHHHHAAAAAAAANNNNNTTTTOOOOMMM!!!!!
Mercey me. The Phantom of the Opera is the most amazing thing I have seen. I just sat. I just sat and stared. It was amazing - I teared up a ton during "Music Of The Night". And during the title song "Phantom of the Opera" I was in a form of shock that is only found in moments where worlds change. Oh man. I am over blowing this huge - but it was by far the best show I have seen in my life. It is incomparable to any other production of Phantom.... Sure you can see it somewhere else and compare it any which way you like. But the Broadway version will always come out on top. I couldn't have asked for a better night. Met up with Jordan and Kate after Ashley and I watched magic happen. We ate at Ellen's Stardust again - and with the lights - It was Broadway.
.............................................And of course we rushed back to our room to catch the very last New York production of Late Night with Conan O'Brien.














We got up for our finale day in excitement yet fear for the end. Dangerous as those feelings are in a combo - We headed off to the Subway and went off to see one of the wonders of the world. The rare things on my list of things to see before I die......... The Statue of Liberty.



(Now I didn't take this photo. The photos I took look like they are farther then they really are.)


We didn't want to fork out the money to take the expensive fairy to the Island - so we stood spooning on the cold free one as it drove past headed towards Statton Island.... We didn't spoon. But it completed my fork spoon joke by saying it.. But it was terribly cold there. In comparison to the warmth of the city these last few days. It was incredible. Yet cold haha.


After the Statue - we hit the town to "Soho". A nice little shopping district if you may. With tons of similar shops selling the same I heart NY shirts and fake Prada bags along with the many find gangsta-gentlemen yelling out "I got Rolex - You need Rolex? I got Rolex!" - It was nice.


But we skipped down a side street of real swanky shops. Walking up towards Prince st - we took tons more pictures - it was nice. Although I never did find that Fedora I had dreamed of so ruthlessly.


Lunch time. Kate bought us all food. And Jordan and I - being huge obsessive Kristin Chenoweth fans - ate in her favorite restaurant with her favorite dish - "Tour of Italy" in "The Olive Garden". It was quite elegant - although enough food to feed South Indonesia.


And on a side note - To those of you who have been in New York - HAVE YOU NOTICED all the Revolving doors!? Every store - revolving door. It was insane! All the times I ran in behind Jordan to share the same, I guess you could call door space - man! People would either think we were married or tell us to get a room! - we are and did both........... No I'm just kidding............ Or am I???

So the final show we saw was GUYS AND DOLLS. Starring Oliver Platt and of course Lauren Graham from the famous television series to which I have never seen befor "Gilmour Girls."

There were soo many things about this show that made me just laugh and laugh and laugh. But a few things where I was able to nudge Jordan and know how much better we did it in our Production hahaha. Not a cocky thing - But when "Fugue for Tinhorns" was lame on Broadway - we need to evaluate ourselves and think "Hmmmm dang this show is ready!" - Honestly folks - The Guys and Dolls show I am in may not be a Broadway performance - and we may not all be trained - but the heart you will find in this cast is outstanding. The presence you get from them on stage surely is a present ;) - and sorry - I wont call you Shirley.

This Grand trip to New York City was of course now at its end. We were now to take that steady 8 hour trip home..... WAIT....... Lets go check out - Grand Central Station!!!!!!!!!

And so we did.... and with the lights...... It was Broad........ well .... It was a gigantic beautiful station... But the world I was in ... Was...... Broadway......