We recently decided we should go out and do something New York-y once a month. Sometimes it's small, and sometimes we go to a show! :) This month I had found discounted tickets for STOMP on Groupon, which we were both super excited to see. We had almost gone in Utah, but then we moved. Plus I had been itching to see a show, and Marcus wanted some percussion. Definitely hits both of those! So on Wednesday night, we headed down to the East Village (Stomp is off Broadway.)
Pretty excited for the show to start
Picture inside with my phone. Never good clarity in a dark theater...
The set from far away
I took some pictures online so you could see a little about the show. I was expecting like 90 minutes of loud crashing, but it was incredible! And they did so much more than drum on trash cans. Seriously, amazing rhythms and choreography. And it was actually pretty funny too.
...those are sinks.
Inner tubes
Shopping carts
Lighters! One of my favorite parts.
It was truly incredible to see how many everyday objects could easily become rhythmic and often be tuned to specific pitches. And their timing was amazing.
Some of the performers
Outside after the show
After the show
It was so much fun. Everyone should see it. Yes, it does get loud, but they balance it out with so many other fun segments. Marcus is already asking to go see it again. Guess we'll have to stalk Groupon again :)
I had an adventure this evening. A friend and I planned to go over to the Williams Sonoma at Time Warner Center in Columbus Circle to get autographed copies of Martha Stewart's newest cookbook. I couldn't decide if I really wanted to go, but after seeing the cover, I was convinced.
Sadly, my friend's daughters were sick, so I once again debated if I wanted to go. I decided that since I had already reserved my copy, I should go. Best. Decision. Ever.
So Chase and I headed out into the cold. (This was his first day out since Thursday because he's been sick.) He was really excited to be out and about. Plus we got to see the lights in the neighborhood that are going up for the holidays.
So Chase and I got to Williams Sonoma about 40 minutes before the book signing. I wanted to get there early but not too early, since I had Chase. Marcus was planning to come over after work to help out in the line, but that obviously wouldn't be until after 5:00. I wondered around for a few minutes and picked up my copy of the cookbook and joined the line.
Luckily Chase was really well behaved, for a 1 year old. :) He threw his toys on the floor, but he wasn't too loud. I'll take it. And in line, they gave us samples they made of some mini rum bundt cakes. Loved the frosting!
After about a half an hour in line, Martha Stewart arrived. Chase was starting to get antsy, but I figured the line would go quickly because they had lots of rules- she will only sign her name, only this one cookbook, no posed pictures, ... They had the process down.
But then, a lady came over and said that they were letting anyone with small children go to the front of the line! I was not expecting that. Sweet! And I'm pretty sure I was the first person to meet her! All of a sudden I was super excited and nervous. There was Martha Freaking Stewart! And do you know what the first thing she said was??? "Aww, how old is he?" It's always about Chase. haha. She thought he was big and cute. Yep, that sums him up. Big and cute.
She was so nice. And she personalized my book! Take that rules. She talked to me, the attendant took a picture of the signing on my phone, she wrote directly to me "For Erica. Enjoy, Martha Stewart," and she likes my baby. :)
I am an even bigger fan now, and I think I'm going to try one of her new recipes this weekend for a baby shower I'm helping host.
I was prepared to be there for another thirty minutes to an hour, but since we were the first ones through the line, I now had some time to kill. And Chase needed to get out of his stroller. So we walked through the mall. Yes, we both WALKED!
And fell. Well, I didn't fall. He did. But he'd get back up.
He was getting pretty quick. It was tricky keeping up with him as he dodged through all the people.
He'd walk to all the different stores, look through the doors, wait for the associates to smile and wave, and then head to the next one. It was pretty hilarious actually. But who knew, he can really do it. He's never walked in public before. (Sorry about my hand in the video, I was trying to get his attention without making noise. Video fail.)
So then Marcus showed up, a little disappointed he didn't make it for the signing-- don't worry, he jumped in the store quickly to see her in person-- and we headed for dinner.
The Original Soup Man!
It was really good! Even Chase enjoyed some of my Chicken Corn Chowder. And Marcus loved his lobster bisque. Luckily the soup man working was nice and gave us our soup. But I bet he'd yell at you, "NO SOUP FOR YOU!" Just kidding.
I apologize to any fans of Studio C. I have one of those husbands.
It was such a fun evening. And the warm, delicious soup topped off the cold night. And now I can't wait to "Enjoy" my new cookbook, which is so much more exciting after having seen her in person!
P.S. She looks just like her pictures in person. Very pretty lady.
Our ward Halloween party was on Saturday night, directly after our day out with the Shields, and I was really looking forward to Chase's costume. I had had the idea for months and couldn't wait to see him in it. Nana made his hat. Isn't she truly amazing?! I had so many compliments on this hat! It was perfect!
Checking out the chairs, a favorite activity of his for the night.
Running away- yep on his feet like a big boy, or a big minion :)
Then of course last minute, Marcus informs me he wants to dress up too and be Gru. So I quickly went to work on knitting a Gru scarf (Thanks, Ariel, for the help!), which I didn't quite finish, but it still looked okay.
Gru and one of his minions... and a spoon.
Here are a bunch of pictures of mostly the minion, but a few have Gru too.
These next few are more like "Where's Waldo?" -- they are "Where's the minion?"
He was a quick little stinker. He wanted to touch the chairs stacked on the walls, see what the kids were doing at the table, play with the kids dancing, just on the go every second we would let him.
The Shields came with us for dinner and then headed back to New Jersey. Check out all the people in the background. I think more people came to this than church Sunday!
Finally caught that crazy minion.
Yep, he was by those chairs again :)
Happy Halloween!
from us: me, Gru, and the minion
(for the record, I wore a purple shirt to represent a crazy minion. It was the best I could -or would- do.)
Our friends from Provo, Jenn and Misha, now live in Arizona, but we were excited to hear Misha had a business trip in NJ... and he was bringing Jenn and Laila too! They scheduled a weekend in NY, so we got to see them while they were out this way! Yay!
We were really looking forward to it and could not figure out what we wanted to plan to do. Eventually we decided to head over by the Hudson and walk the High Line. It's basically an old, elevated, outdoor train track, now park. So we walked across it through some plants, overlooking parts of the Hudson and east into the city. Really neat.
Marcus sitting on a bench that was in a fountain puddle thing.
Misha and Laila
Looking east to the city from the Highline
We had lunch at Shake Shack and then decided to make a pit stop at Marcus' office. Chase decided for the first time in months to wet everything down to his stroller, that little punk. So the fact that it was really cold and he had little clean to wear demanded we stop and warm up (and clean up).
Once they weren't so cold anymore, Chase and Laila played together. Well, they didn't play. They fought over occupying the same space. It was pretty funny to watch. :) Not the best pictures, but there are some hilarious expressions.
And finally Chase's "What? I didn't do anything!" look. :)
Misha wanted to check out The Garage Antique Flea Market, so Jenn introduced me to the art of repurposing. It's something I definitely have to work on...
On the way back to our apartment, Chase was getting pretty cranky. That is until he noticed a guy through the window in the next car smiling and waving at him. They waved, smiling, and hit the windows for several stops. If you look closely, you can see the guy in the next car.
This picture is one of my favorites. A good summary of the day.
Chase= Oblivious.
Laila= Not impressed. :)
We were so excited that Jenn, Misha, and Laila were all able to come out east and spend some time with us during their trip. We obviously need to visit each other more because Chase and Laila need some more time to figure out that they really are good friends :) Until next time...
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