NYC: Part Three

 Since high school, Kat and I have taken pictures in front of Starbucks.  You know, back when they were original and cool, but it's a tradition we haven't given up.

 Kat took me to a place called Sarabeth's where we enjoyed what is popularly known throughout NYC as brunch.  Apparently brunch is the "in" thing up there, and I suppose it will be everywhere soon as well.  You heard it from me!

 Kat with her fruit and granola!

 Me and my healthy choice of french toast.  It was the best french toast I have EVER had!

 This is a place called Sheep's Meadow (I think?) in Central Park.  I found it amusing that people come out here to lay out.  Like, bikinis, swim trunks, even speedos.  I don't think Kat understood what was so funny about that to me, but coming from a Florida girl's perspective-- you don't just see people go out in a big, grassy field in their swimsuits when there's no water around.  It was just odd to me.

 We laid on a blanket talking for a little while.  Mimosas + exposure to the sun probably weren't the best combination so we didn't last very long.

 I really wanted to get a paddle boat out there.  How fun!

This is Bethesda fountain, apparently featured in many popular movies (though I couldn't remember any).  I was simply looking around for Joe Fox the whole time in Central Park, with his dog Brinkley.  He never showed up.  Just to our right out of the picture, there was a man (or a woman?  not sure) dressed in a huge robe, wearing a wizard's hat, and a long fake beard.  One thing about NYC is that you see a lot of strange and unusual things there.

Most of these pictures, except for the Starbucks one, are from Saturday while I was there.  The weather was so amazingly perfect the entire weekend.  It never got above 75.  I wish it could be like that here in June.  Apparently that is a little nicer than normal up there, but I was glad because we did A LOT OF WALKING!  Even though we ate so much, I didn't gain even a pound because of all the walking that we did.  People walk everywhere and that's just the way it is.  It's either that or spend a lot of money on a cab, or take the subway which people don't really enjoy.

Today is my first day back at work since coming home.  *sigh*  Trips are fun, but it's no fun coming back to reality when they are over.

NYC: Part Two

Because my cousin had to work Friday, I had most of the day to myself to do what I wanted.  I had originally intended that because I had been up for 36 hours prior to Thursday night, I would most likely sleep the day away while she worked.  However, when she had the idea to wake up on Friday morning and walk down by the Today Show where Justin Bieber was singing, I realized after walking there with her that Manhattan really isn't a difficult city to navigate by yourself.

For about four hours I walked all over.  I spent a good hour or so on 5th Avenue where a lot of stores are.  But I can't even really tell you much about the places I walked except they were awesome!  There really is nothing better than "getting lost" in a city like New York.

NYC- Part One

 New York City!  I have wanted to visit this city since I can remember.  Possibly prompted by my exposure to the movie Newsies, but my cousins and I used to watch the movie Annie and when that song NYC came on, I always imagined myself being there.  This past weekend that dream came true!!!  When I got off the plane I took a cab over to my cousin's, which was wonderful because I got to see the skyline with the sunset as we drove over.  Also getting a cab is an experience in itself.

I was so, so excited on my way into the city!!

My cousin Kat welcomed me with a little "New York survival package."  We drank some wine and chatted into the night.

Friday night, we made another dream come true and saw Newsies on broadway!  I can't even BEGIN to tell you how amazing it was.  The whole time, I could only think of all my old Newsies friends: Lindsey, Callie, Sarah, my sisters, Lauren.  I wished they could all be there with me.  During Carryin' the Banner I was suddenly overwhelmed with the memories and got teary-eyed.  How many memories of my childhood revolve around singing and dancing to the soundtrack, going to friend's Newsies-themed birthday party, taking on a character as our own, writing fan fic (yes, yes, we did), printing Newsies pictures off the internet for our Newsies scrapbooks, and so much more.  I realize how incredibly cheesy that sounds, but it's true. Though I've seen the movie hundreds of times, it's never had that effect on me like seeing it live.  To all of you Newsies friends who are reading this, know dat ya pal Mush was missin' ya!  Kid Blink, Racetrack, Spot, Crutchie, Jack, Boots, Bumlets... all of yous!

Of course, we dressed up a little to see our first musical!

Waiting for the show to begin!  The anticipation!

We did a lot more over the weekend but I'll have to post about it in hitches if I ever do get around to it or else I will bore you to death.  It was such a good, wonderful weekend.  New York City was everything I thought it would be.  I was afraid that because I have wanted to go for so long and always had this idea in my mind of what it was like that it would be a huge disappointment.  It wasn't.  I hope that someday I can go back.

Also, I turned 25 yesterday.  I went to New York just a young'un and came back wiser.