An American in Paris

I am definitely a Gene Kelly fan, and An American in Paris was one of my favorite movies growing up.  I loved all the dancing.  So when my mom came out to visit for a few days and wanted to see a show, this was my suggestion.  (Plus one of our friends who is a Broadway reviewer said the dancing was great, so I knew I had to see it.)

There were a few changes from the movie with Gene Kelly, but it was really good.  The narrator was the pianist, not the artist.  So the opening focused on the piano.

The leads were all incredible!  Most of the dancers came from big ballet companies, and the lead singers were all award winners.  It was an amazing cast!  We had a fun evening.

Right outside the theater

Looking across the street

Times Square

Penn & Teller on Broadway

My good friend Matthew Murray invited me to go and see Penn and Teller on Broadway; short notice but so glad I was able to make it! These two have kind of been everywhere over the course of their 40 year career together, and they didn't disappoint. They actually pulled a rabbit out of a hat, made an "elephant" disappear, sawed a woman in half...a whole bag of really entertaining tricks with great narration from Penn.

At the beginning of the show, they invited everyone on stage while their jazz pianist, Mike Jones, played a very lively set (Penn, who plays upright bass, actually joined him for a while). They had us inspect the box Teller popped out of right at the beginning and sign our names on an envelope that was used for a trick later.

I think my favorite trick though, was their demonstration of how to get anything through a metal detector, capstoned by one of the items being a miniaturized Bill of Rights printed on metal (they're both libertarians). The thought of being stopped by the TSA by the Bill of Rights was highly entertaining.

It was a really fun, memorable night!

Wicked

Marcus and I were really excited to get Wicked tickets for Christmas.  I love the music, and Marcus had never seen it before.  We'd been counting down to our fun night out.  

...especially since this was the day I had with Chase...

Marcus had a long week at work too, so we met at the theater.  Since we didn't have time before to grab any dinner or desserts, Marcus brought me an Insomnia cookie.  Seriously, the best ever.  It was a great start to our night out.

We had awesome seats.  Great view of the stage.

Thanks for the fun night out ladies :)

The Nutcracker

I'd been dropping (unsubtle) hints to Marcus for a long time that what I really wanted for Christmas was tickets to The Nutcracker by the New York City Ballet.  The Friday before Christmas, Marcus surprised me by getting home from work early.  He apparently had one last half vacation day and planned a "Day of Surprises," as he called it.  Then after I got back from teaching, he told me we were going to the Nutcracker that night!  We ordered some yummy dinner, got ready, and after the babysitter arrived, headed down to the Lincoln Center.  

This year is a special year for the Nutcracker as it is the 60th Anniversary.
Definitely a great year to go!

The Lincoln Center

I was just a little excited :)

Inside, near the stairs

Online picture of inside the hall -- not where we sat

The show was spectacular.  So many talented dancers.  We were really impressed with all the kids in the show.  A lot of the roles were children, and they were really good!

The flower queen was my favorite -- she was amazing!

After the show, we snapped a few pictures around the Lincoln Center.  Marcus was really impressed by the fountain.

It was a great show and a really fun night.  Thanks, Marcus :)

Gram & Trev Visit

My mom and Trevor came out to visit for a long weekend.  It was a lot of fun to have them out here.  Plus Chase enjoyed meeting his Uncle Trevor for the first time.  It was a packed weekend, with a ton of walking around New York, but definitely a blast.

Chase and I made a sign since we weren't at the airport when Trevor got home from his mission.

Napping after a Red-Eye

Chase would walk up to Trev and say, "Shhhh!  Sleeping."

Trevor later gave Chase a guitar lesson.

And they watched Frozen together.  

Well, Trevor sang, and Chase intently watched.

That night, Trev, Gram, and I went to see Aladdin.  I thought it was super fun.  Great dancing and singing.  So much genie personality.  A fun show for sure!  (I'd say Marcus missed out, but he'd actually already seen it.  He went a few months back with a friend who's a theater critic.)  

Hanging out in Trevor's favorite place in NYC -- Times Square

The next morning, we all went into the city. 

Chase is obviously a train pro.

We went to the 9/11 Memorial and spent a lot of time at the new museum.

Chase was really impressed by the big firetruck.

Looking at the truck.  "Truck, Momma, truck!"

The museum was incredible.  Such a beautiful memory to a horrible event.

This will has watercolors artists painted remembering how bright the sky was on September 11th.

These exact stairs helped many escape after the plane crashed.

This is no replica!  Amazing to see in person.

This tree survived.

You really need to see this all in person.  I've actually recently heard a story from a friend who saw the entire thing first hand.  I remember everything about where I was this morning in 2001, but that made it so much more real.  I am so glad they did a wonderful job with the museum and memorial.  It honors so many heroes and spotlights a united country.

Chase was a trooper, until lunchtime.  Then, not so much...

We walked to a nearby Shake Shack for some delicious burgers and shakes.

Chase was thrilled to have fries.

And of course ketchup.

Then we walked to Soho's temporary pop-up shop: Central Perk!!!

I was so sad the line was INSANELY long.  There was no way we'd get in before I needed to go teach.  But we did get to see it.  Ahh, now I want to go watch Friends.  20th Anniversary, everyone-- go watch an episode in honor.  :)

This was lots and lots of walking.  We went to Macys on the way to Turtle Bay for my teaching, and after, we went to Olive Garden for dinner.

See, tired.

Chase was actually pretty good -- photo evidence.

And then we walked some more.  :)  We stopped in a few shops in Times Square, including The Disney Store.  Chase found a friend.

Chase and his buddy "Mee Mouse"

We took Saturday a little slower and headed into the city later in the evening.  While Marcus was on a plane back from Florida, we went to check out the Manhattan Temple.

I love how it's seriously in the middle of the city.  Right there when you jump out of the train-- Bam!  An Angel Moroni.

From there we walked east over to some pizza for dinner.

(Marcus, check out what we passed.  Yes, please???)

Either Chase was really tired and hungry, or he and Trev become good buds quickly.

Cutting pizza bites.

We then walked some more.  We through the corner of Central Park over to 5th Ave and FAO Schwarz.  

Of course Chase found some more stuffed animals he loved, and he convinced Gram he needed one.

He ended up with a sloth :)  "Itza sloth!"

In honor of Chase's current love of the "octoPUS"

Chase loves paper bags, so he was in charge of carrying home his sloth in the bag.
He held on tightly the entire way.

Chilling on the bus.
Since Marcus wasn't with us, we took the bus home -- much simpler than transferring on the train with a stroller.

Playing iPhone games to pass the time.

A tired boy and his Gram.

We had a super lazy Sunday and then headed out Monday for Brooklyn.  Trevor wanted to see the Statue of Liberty.  We decided to check it out on the Brooklyn side and then walk across the bridge.

Chase was ready for another adventure.

He got comfy for the commute.

And then he enjoyed the view.

The Brooklyn Bridge

Having a snack by the water.

We grabbed some lunch and then crossed the bridge back to Manhattan.  

On the Bridge

And then we walked some more... over to Wall Street and the bull. 

By this point, it was getting cold and Chase was about done, but he did enjoy a fountain for a bit.

And then it was time to head home so Trevor and Gram could get back to the airport.  It went by quickly, but we enjoyed time together all over the city.  Can't wait to see you again in December!