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Posts Tagged ‘NYC’

A Magical Moment- The Disney Store Times Square

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , on November 12, 2010| 4 Comments »

On Monday I was very fortunate to be invited to a Pre- Grand Opening Tour of the brand new Disney Store in Times Square.  On that note, a big THANK YOU to Shawn Turner, Disney Stores North America, Laura Spencer, Disney Parks and Maria Bailey, BSM Media for the invite!! I took A & R out of school a bit early and the three of us jumped on the subway and headed on down to Times Square.  The girls LOVE Times Square and are always excited to walk down Broadway where there is an endless array of things to see.

R & A Getting Ready To Rock Times Square And Disney!

The girls were practically bouncing with anticipation as they raced down Broadway heading to the Disney Store.  They could barely contain their energy. I was trying to keep up with them as we dodged in and out of the crowds of tourists. I wasn’t sure what side of the road it was on, but A and her eagle eyes quickly found the bright lights that we were looking for!

The Disney Billboard Above the Storefront

Before we even entered the store, the girls and I stood out front and watched the giant Disney screen as it played through advertisements for various Disney shows, products and movies such as the upcoming movie Tangled. (A movie that our whole family can’t wait to see!)  We crossed the road and entered the store where we were warmly welcomed by an enthusiastic Disney employee who pointed us in the right direction to find our tour group leader.  We were given head sets for the tour and the girls and I looked around at the first floor while we waited for the tour to start. The girls were totally overwhelmed with the possibilities.  They did not know what to look at first.  As I tried to keep one eye on them and one eye out for the start of the tour I was struck by how busy the store already was, as happy children (and adults) moved from section to section checking out the merchandise.

Our tour started and we made our way up the escalator to the second floor.  We followed the pixie dust trail and explored the many different areas of the store.  Our first stop was the Disney Store Theatre.  I think A could have stayed in this area forever.  She loves her Disney shows and in the theatre you have the opportunity to choose your own movie and t.v. clips as well as songs.  There was an extra special guest waiting in the theatre on Monday.  Both girls were totally starstruck that they got to meet and receive an autograph from Gregg Sulkin star of Wizards of Waverly Place and the new movie, Avalon High. I have to admit, he IS a cutie =)

Gregg Sulkin

We continued on our tour passing the CARS section where you can custom build your own car.  I had to bribe the girls that we would come back and do it at a later date so that we could continue on with the tour.  The tour continued and we soon entered the Princess Castle, R’s favourite part of the new Disney store.  The Princess Castle has every princess outfit, accessory, toy, movie, book and most importantly doll that you could ever want.  There are even TWO magic mirrors in the castle that are triggered by chips in the merchandise, for example, if you wave a magical wand over the mirror it will come alive with a story from whatever princess wand you are holding.  R was totally in awe and could not get enough of this.

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall...

I have to admit it was a bit hard to follow the tour at times while trying to reign in the girls.  I mean, who can blame them?  I wanted to stop and look at everything too.  I found that I learned more about the new store when the tour was finished and I had the time to look around as the girls happily entertained themselves by discovering all of the wonderful products the store had to offer.  The lucite trees are beautiful as well as the ceiling that includes many of Manhattan’s iconic buildings in the skyline. However, what really impressed me was the Disney staff.  It was just like being at a theme park.  The “cast members” were knowledgeable, helpful, courteous and most importantly were patient with and genuinely seemed to like hanging out with the children.  After all, even though many of us can become jaded by the thought that this is just a mega store selling toys, my girls were definitely caught up in the magic.  Isn’t that really what it is all about?  A place where kids can go and just have fun being kids.  With all of the fun at the Disney Store the kids had definitely worked up an appetite.  We headed over to Carmine’s where we were fed a feast fit for Kings (and princesses).   Thank you for such an amazing dinner!  While tucking in my girls that night I asked them what their favourite part of the store was and both A & R responded “the princess section and the CARS section, oh, and the Tangled section oh, and the theatre oh, and dessert at Carmine’s- does that count?” and on and on… I am guessing it was a magical night indeed 😉

The Beautiful Trees throughout the store

The Princess Castle

R & Bolt

Oh, and by the way, I LOVE the store rules.  Here they are:

1. Watch our for flying fairies.

2. Singing and/or whistling encouraged.

3. Make way for princesses.

4. Giggles are welcome.

5. No scowling allowed.

6. Pirates must stow their swords.

7. Follow your imagination.

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Wordless Wednesday- A Beautiful Fall Walk Along The Hudson River NYC

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , on November 10, 2010| 1 Comment »

The girls and I took advantage of yesterday’s beautiful crisp fall weather and wandered down along the Hudson River to explore…

The Pathway Along the River

Skyline from the Pier

Enjoying a bit of a rest

Pausing to reflect

Canada Geese?!

The Bridge at 72nd

Climbing at the Classic Playground

Classic Manhattan Tunnel Architecture

The traffic noise is only a distant hum...

The Road Less Traveled

Heading Home!

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A Little Bit of Country in Queens!

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on November 5, 2010| Leave a Comment »

So, I have just returned from my second field trip with R’s kindergarten class.  Again, I survived and again, I am incredibly thankful for amazing elementary school teachers everywhere.  I really don’t know how they do it!!  Five year old’s are exhausting but they are also incredibly cute and curious.  Today’s field trip was to the Queens County Farm Museum in Queens, New York.  For those of you who are not familiar with Queens, it is one of the five boroughs of NYC.  The other four boroughs are Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn and The Bronx.

I began the day by stopping at Starbucks and filling up with the requisite level of caffeine and then heading to the school.  Now, this was a BIG trip because we were going on a school bus!! Not only that, we had to bring a bagged lunch and the kids would be missing library and recess- a big deal for these K students.  We all piled on to the bus, did up our seat belts (yes, there are seat belts on yellow buses in the U.S.) and we began the trek to Queens.  The bus ride was filled with excitement as the students quickly realized the suspension on the school bus was like that of a roller coaster and their tiny little bodies bounced and jostled through the streets of Manhattan. Empty bags were handed out to the parent chaperones just in case, but luckily all the children managed to keep their breakfast down.  We crossed over the RFK bridge and into the borough of Queens.

Being a newbie to the City, I have only been to Queens a few times.  Notably, La Guardia International Airport  and JFK Airport are in Queens, so that is where you fly in and out when going to and from New York City by air.  I have also been to the NY Hall of Science which is a fabulous interactive science centre for children.  What I had noticed in Queens was that there was a serious lack of nature, so I was a bit skeptical as to where we were going to find a farm in such an urban space.  But it IS always an adventure, so I sat back and watched the graffiti walls and row of apartments disappear as we went further along the highway.  Soon enough we had entered a beautiful area of fall coloured trees and landscaped houses.  Just like that we seemed to be in the suburbs and out of the concrete jungle.  It was very cool, not that the children really noticed as they were still fascinated by the bus and all of the small cars that we loomed over top of on the highway 😉

We arrived at the Queens County Farm Museum and the children were instantly engaged by their surroundings.  There were lots of wide open spaces and beautiful trees.  Leaves covered the ground and we all delighted in walking through them.  I even felt a little lump in my throat as I felt homesick for falling leaves and then I remembered raking and I instantly got over it.

R is clearly NOT excited at all!

The Beauty of Fall

There were numerous animals on the farm and the representative from the museum took the children to see them and taught them various facts about the animals.  She quizzed the students on their knowledge of animals and nature as well as patiently answering their many questions.  Some of my favourites include: “What type of meat do you eat at Thanksgiving?” All of the students seemed to yell out at once “Chicken!”.  Another question she asked was “What do you think you could make with milk?” More than one student answered “Chocolate Milk”.  And finally, “What do you think feathers could be used for?”, the answer-“Crafts”.  The students has an excellent knowledge of most things but I couldn’t help but think that some of their answers gave them away as true City Kids!

The whole gang checking out the cows

Goats

Pumpkin Patch

I think the highlight of the trip for the students was the hayride where they were able to take in the sights of the farm, riding in style.

The Hayride!

After lunch, and a few encounters with terrifying and frightening bees (again, showing our city slicker side!) the children were able to help make apple cider by participating in compressing the apples into a pumice where the juice is squeezed out to make the cider. They were suitably impressed although one kind soul did ask at the very end- “How do you make apple cider?”.  Ahh… the short attention span of a five year old!! Who, am I kidding?, at this point I had zoned out dreaming of apple pie and ice cream…

The Apple Press (I am sure there is a more technical term for it!)

At the end of our lesson the mandatory pre-boarding pee break was had by all and then we jumped on the bus and headed back to school.  There were a few sleepers on the way home but for the most part the kids were still bursting with energy and song.  We arrived at the school and handed off the lovelies to their more than capable teachers.

Oh, to be Five again...

I was glad to be back on non-bouncy solid ground and enjoyed the fresh air as I walked back to the apartment, reflecting on a great day outside of the hustle and bustle of Manhattan life.  While our kids might be turning into “City Kids”, I am very glad they have the opportunity to explore all areas around them, including a little bit of country life.

Welcome??!!

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Our First Fright Night In The City

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on November 1, 2010| 2 Comments »

Halloween in New York City is a BIG deal.  I feel as though the whole of Manhattan had been gearing up for THE day for well over a month. As soon as the back-to- school supplies left the shelves they were immediately replaced by scary decorations, pumpkins, gory make-up and those dreaded calorie packed “mini” chocolate bars. Vacant stores were turned into costume shops where you could find a wide variety of get ups for both adults and children.  I was starting to a get a bit nervous, like everything here, there seemed to be a standard for Halloween and I was beginning to feel the newbie jitters.  What exactly happened in NYC on Halloween? How the hell could you possibly trick or treat in this crazy town? Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!!!  Uh no, your girlfriends of course.  Thankfully, they steered me in the right direction and this is how our first Halloween in New York City took place… And let me tell you, it was slightly different from the door to door rush in the ‘hood of Findlay Creek.

First, the basics. I felt like I had that, at least, covered. We had already bought the girls costumes and they were ready to go.  Cute as can be, our little Minnie Mouse and the Mad, Mad Hatter were rarin’ to go.

A (Mad Hatter) & R (Minnie Mouse)

They grabbed their bags and headed on out the building to our first stop- a Halloween Party at our friend’s apartment.  Unlike our old neighbourhood in Ottawa, where you went door to door and snuck some adult beverages along the way, there seemed to be many pre-parties going on in Manhattan.  The premise is that the children blow off some pre-trick or treating steam and eat some real food before they head out. I believe the real purpose for the get together is so the adults can gain some patience through the lovely liquid warmth and courage of grapes, hops and barley!

As we headed up Broadway to our party, the girls stopped along the way at various stores to trick or treat.  This may sound odd but it is the norm here on Halloween.  Local stores have an abundance of candy and children are encouraged to stop by in costume any time of the day on the 31st to get a treat. It truly was a wonderful sight to behold as children skipped down the street in excitement and ducked in and out of stores filling their goodie bags.

T & T at a Local Jewellery Store

Children in Costume Exiting a Local Restaurant

We were told that on Halloween not every street is trick or treat worthy.  Certain streets are blocked off to traffic and the brownstones are decorated, haunted houses are made and entertainment is planned.  So, for our second stop we headed down to 69th Street. Just to give you a bit of context, this was the 40th year of the neighbourhood block association Halloween party and it did not disappoint.  Most of the decorating is done day of, as it would ruin the surprise otherwise! The celebration on 69th Street is crowded and crazy busy but it is worth it to just get a glimpse of the decorated homes, the abundance of candy and the shows (yes, I said shows) taking place along the block.  After all, NYC is known for its flair for the dramatic 😉

The Crowd on 69th Street

A Decorated Brownstone Courtyard

BEWARE!!

Those are REAL people putting on a show suspended from the top of the apartment!

Our third and final stop was our apartment building.  We finished up the night by visiting our neighbours in the building.  (A sign-up sheet is posted in each elevator indicating which apartments are participating in Halloween).  It was a nice end to the evening, chatting with residents and meeting many of them for the first time.  The four of us went back to our new home and did the same old routine of sorting through the candy.  Ron and I confiscated the bad things like Reese Peanut Butter Cups (!) and then we tucked two very tired and happy children into bed.

It was our first Halloween in New York City. The newbies had survived. In fact, I think we blended in quite nicely with the rest of the costumed pack =) It was different but not in a bad way, just in a different way.  Learning new traditions, finding out more about our NEW ‘hood and reminiscing a bit about our old.  It was just another crazy, busy, yet somehow intimate and comforting night in the City.

The biggest fright?  Going into the stores today and finding holiday decorations and wrapping on the shelves… Only 7 more weekends until Christmas- BOO!!!!!

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Taking The Time To Pause And Look Up

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 30, 2010| 1 Comment »

Things have been a bit crazy over the past month.  Sometimes life is, well, life.  Right now daily life is hectic. We are settling in, but that means lots of new challenges and changes.  Just to name a few things on the “to do” list are the not so easy task of finding a pediatrician and general doctor, figuring out how health insurance works, the in’s and out’s of being a class parent, play dates, 3rd grade homework, Ron’s increased work schedule and of course, the general every day adventures of family life. It is the same no matter what city you live in. And it is tiring, draining, exciting, wonderful and overwhelming. Sometimes you feel like you just need a break from it all.

Enter Matti.

Matti At the Apple Store on 5th Ave.

Matti, a former student, came to visit this past week and unexpectedly gave me the break and the bit of inspiration that I didn’t even quite realize I needed.  Instead of sending Matti off on his own to explore the City, I decided to neglect my “mommy” duties (grocery shopping, cleaning, school obligations, dog park visits) and play tourist/tour-guide along side him and enjoyed a sort of mini-vacation in my new home. We wandered, meandered, asked questions, learned some interesting facts and we paused to look up. The view did not disappoint.

The Brooklyn Bridge

I found myself looking at New York City with fresh eyes, in a way, through Matti’s eyes.  His enthusiasm and awe for NYC, reminded me of MY first visits and how I simply could not get enough of everything that I saw around me.  It challenged me to really see the City.

Central Park

Over the week, I found myself relaxing.  Relaxing a bit more into this new amazing place that is now my home.  I felt comfortable.  I knew where I was going.  I have my favourite restaurants and shops. I wanted to share all that I knew about New York City.  At the same time, I wanted to learn more.  I was reminded of how much I truly love this City but I also felt a bit homesick for my old life too. Matti reminded me of that other life.  My life in Ottawa as a teacher, mentor and friend.   I miss teaching.  I miss being around young people. Their energy, thirst for knowledge, the goofiness, the endless quest for adventure.  I miss Ottawa.  I feel like after this week it is okay to say that.  I have always felt that I was betraying my new life if I actually voiced that opinion. However, I have come to the realization that it is okay to miss elements of the past even if you are loving where you are in the present.  I guess you never really know when moments of reflection are going to hit you and where being an accidental tourist may take you.   Thanks Matti, for reminding me that even though a new journey has just begun it is the people and the experiences of the past that will help you have success along the road.

Matti and Cara at FAO Schwarz

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Wordless Wednesday: “Strolling Through The City With Matti”

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on October 27, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday I had the opportunity to be a tourist in my new home of New York City. One of my former students Matti P is visiting and we had a lot of fun checking out Downtown, Chelsea and Midtown.  Here are some of the pics from our day. Enjoy!

Starting the day off with a cup of Joe and Lady Liberty-- way off in the distance

Some Tall Majestic Building in the Financial District

Cityscape from Battery Park

The Sphere rescued from Ground Zero

Shadow Fun!

Working on the Freedom Tower (World Trade Centre Site)

St. Paul's Chapel

One of the First Original Oil Paintings of the Great Seal of the United States 1785

Peace Be With You

On Location in Greenwich Village

A Gorgeous Townhouse in the Village

Come on in...

Enter at your own risk...

Halloween at Chelsea Marketplace

Creepy...

Marilyn

Parking Prices in Manhattan

Yep, it's that expensive!!

Start of rush hour getting to the Tunnel (Bridge and Tunnel Traffic)

Finale!! A DRIVE THRU in Manhattan!!!!!

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Sunday Morning- NYC Can Be Yours Alone

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 25, 2010| 1 Comment »

NYC is often categorized as the city that never sleeps. In truth, there really is always something going on and rarely do you find yourself walking down a street by yourself.  However, I found that there is one exception and that is early Sunday morning.  There is something truly magical about walking out of your apartment early on Sunday morning in Manhattan.

The Sun Beginning to Peak Over the Buildings

For one, it is quiet. Now, don’t get me wrong, it is not country living quiet, but there is a softness to the sounds.  As if the whole city is a bit sleepy. In the distance you can hear the gentle rumble of the subway and the occasional honk of a horn but there is no urgency.  It is as if NYC becomes a bit kinder and gentler on Sunday mornings. Almost as if Manhattan is nursing one big hangover… and I am sure many people are.  This really is the only time when you can walk down the street and feel like you have room to breathe.  You can meander and no one will bump into you and swear at you under their breath 😉  Sure, there are a few other people on the street- the groggy eyed dog owner out for the morning “duty”, the over-achieving fitness fanatic, the insomniac, dads with young children, the local homeless person rifling through the garbage and of course, the “walk of shamers” scrambling to get to the subway with last night’s clothes on hoping not too many people will see them =). But a lot of the time the streets are virtually empty.  There is no line in Starbucks and it is the perfect time of day to grab your caffeine beverage of choice and explore.

Waiting outside while his "human" gets a much needed coffee

The reason I like this time of the morning is that this is when you truly get to see the city come alive.  Store fronts start opening up, sidewalks are being washed, fruit stands are replenished, deliveries are being made and the smell of fresh bread and pastries fill the streets. The sun creeps out over the buildings, the architecture gleams and everything seems brand new.  The possibilities seem endless.  The whole day is ahead of you. It is quiet enough to actually hear yourself think.

West End Collegiate Church (@77th and Broadway)

Ahh, Sunday morning… a little peace and quiet before the reality of the day hits and the city regains the hustle and bustle of back to work/school grocery shopping, impossible to get brunch reservations, play dates, birthday parties, sports games, family dinners, shoe shopping, homework, housework, work-work… the list that never ends.  Sometimes it is a lot of work to drag yourself out of a warm Sunday morning bed but the little joy of Manhattan alone time is worth every minute.

The Guirguis Family heading to church on Sunday morning =)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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In Search of the Big Apple!

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 22, 2010| 1 Comment »

Today was a big day in our household.  For the first time ever, I was able to go on a field trip with my daughter’s class.  When I was teaching high school I never had the opportunity to chaperone the girl’s trips as I was always working at the same time.  I have chaperoned many high school trips but I have never had the opportunity to hang out with the little ones. BIG day!!!

So, I headed on over to Starbucks to fuel myself with the much needed caffeine and then met the rest of the mom and dad volunteers in the school lobby.  The excited and energetic five year olds descended upon us and we headed on out to our big adventure.

Organized Chaos in the Lobby

So, what exactly was this incredible adventure that we were embarking on? Alright all you Ottawans- NO laughing.  We headed out into the Big Apple to go to the Farmer’s Market to talk to an apple farmer and purchase apples.  Yep.  That was the trip. Lets put it into perspective.  This is Manhattan, we can’t just hop onto a bus and go to a local apple orchard, so we did the next best thing. We hopped on the subway and went to talk to a real live farmer at the farmer’s market (on 97th street) about apple orchards, farming, apple picking, types of apples and of course, what kind of trucks they have on the farm.  The kids loved it.  My favourite question of the day was “Are the apples kosher?”.

City Kids Going On A Field Trip

Our local farmer (his farm is an hour and half outside of Manhattan on the river) Matt, was extremely patient with the children and answered every single question.  The kids handled themselves beautifully, raising hands and remembering please and thank yous.

Farmer Matt fielding the tough questions...

The highlight of the trip for the students was picking out their very own apple from all of the many apple choices and paying for it with their own money.  R insisted that she wanted a ‘golden delicious’ apple and that it had to be the perfect one.  We searched and searched for the right apple.  She was happy to note that there were no bees.  One time while apple picking in the Ottawa Valley she was stung by a bee and apparently has been traumatized by the experience ever since =).  Finally… success!

R with her apple in the Big Apple!

The whole trip from start to finish took approximately an hour and a half.  The kids were back in school in time for snack and reading buddies.  The carefully picked apples will be used to make apple sauce and cider. Sounds like a great way to spend the day to me. I went home to warm my toes and clean the apartment. Makes me wish I was back in kindergarten.

The highlight of the day for me? Holding the hands of my “buddies” and watching the learning moments through their eyes- the inspection of fallen leaves, the excitement of the subway ride, noticing a stuffed monkey up in a tree, picking out the perfect apple, wanting to know what a farmhouse looks like, recognizing the steps they have sat on in front of the museum, the shapes of the clouds, how tall the buildings are, the painted tiles and the list goes on…

Life moves so fast and it was fun to slow down (or speed up) and enjoy the view from a 5 year old’s perspective.  The big question is can I have a nap now?? 😉

My buddies- S & R

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Wordless Wednesday- A Walk Down 28th Street

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 20, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday I was meeting a friend for lunch.  I was a bit early so I got off the subway at 28th Street at 7th Avenue and walked across town to Lexington Avenue. Here are my photos as I walked along 28th Street on a crisp October Tuesday at noon.  A little slice of NYC life.  Enjoy.

 

Come take a walk with me...

 

 

Large Plants for Sale on the Sidewalk

 

 

Bamboo or other random wood for sale!

 

 

The Empire State Building from Broadway & 28th

 

 

Local Dudes

 

 

Beautiful new building being built at 28th and 5th

 

 

Streetscape with the Flatiron building in the background

 

 

Cars and Drivers 28th btwn 5th Ave and Madison

 

 

The Mighty Vespa- Easy to park!!

 

 

The Uptown 6 Train

 

 

Just another day on the streets...

 

 

Chrysler Building

 

 

Bollywood Corner

 

 

The walk continues to the...

 

 

PERFECT finish!!!!

 

 

Seriously, you can't make this stuff up! I LOVE NYC!! =)

 

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Date Night In The City

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 18, 2010| 2 Comments »

 

Times Square on a Saturday Night

 

NYC is a glamorous city.  It is the city that never sleeps… entertainment is offered on every corner.  There are fabulous bars, restaurants, museums, plays, concerts, sporting events, art openings and the list goes on and on and on.  There is always something to do every day, every hour of the day, so much so that is can become overwhelming.  Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining. It is one of the things I love most about this city. Manhattan is alive with energy, spontaneity, freshness- things happen here.  But it can be a little bit daunting if you just want to go out for an evening on the town with your spouse.

First of all there is that little thing called a babysitter. Babysitters are not cheap in Manhattan.  The going rate is $15.oo an hour (minimum 4 hours) and that doesn’t include the cab fare to get your sitter home safely. Also, good sitters are like gold. Once you have a wonderful caregiver, treat them well because it can be hard to find one that both you and your children love. Once you have found the sitter it is now time to figure out what to do.

On Saturday night, Ron and I had the opportunity to be fortunate enough to acquire a sitter (sometimes getting a sitter feels like winning the lottery) and we were also generously given theatre tickets to see the show “Lombardi” , on Broadway. DATE NIGHT- wooohooo!!! Our big decision of the evening would now have to be where we would go for dinner.  Believe it or not, this question has been causing tension lately.  There are a gazillion restaurants to go to in Manhattan, but that can make it extremely difficult to choose just one.  Especially when there are numerous websites such as Yelp, Open Table and Zagat that offer customer reviews, critic reviews as well as menus and photos. Choosing a restaurant can become almost as stressful as finding an elementary school (I know, bad joke!) Ron and I poured through reviews of restaurants in the Theatre District until they all started sounding the same and the only thing that I was really sure of was that I was starving. Our eventual choice was a Cuban restaurant called Victor’s Cafe. Finally, our date night arranged, we left pajama clad children happily watching a movie and jumped onto the subway and headed to Times Square for a little night out on the town.

Every time I have a grown up night out I am struck by two thoughts.  One, I really enjoy my husband’s company.  And two, we should really find the time to do this more often as I always feel rejuvenated after an evening of good food, culture and excellent company.  Our dinner at Victor’s Cafe was an extremely enjoyable experience.  The restaurant ambience was warm and inviting and the pre-show service was efficient but not rushed.  The real treat was the food.  The numerous Cuban dishes were tasty and creative.  We left the restaurant pleasantly full with plenty of time to spare to get to the Circle In the Square Theatre where “Lombardi” was playing.

 

"Lombardi" on Broadway (Circle in the Square Theatre)

 

To say that Ron and I enjoyed “Lombardi” by Eric Simonson would be a gross understatement.  We were both swept away by this incredible play.  It is staged in the intimate “theatre in the round” style and from the moment the magnificent Dan Lauria walks on stage as Vincent Lombardi you are carried away into the story of the complex and fascinating man and football coach.  There was not a weak moment or actor in the show.  Judith Light as Lombardi’s wife, Marie and Keith Nobbs as the reporter, Michael McCormick gave emotional, heart felt performances.  The rest of the small supporting cast delivered powerful performances and there was not a single time in the show where I felt like I wasn’t totally engrossed in what was going on. Whether you are a football fan or not you will be entranced by the power of this incredibly raw human story of strength and relationships.  It was a magical night for both of us, a great night of theatre.

 

"Lombardi" Theatre Lobby

 

I’d like to say that after the theatre we went to a crazy all night bar and danced the night away but hey, let’s not push it. The meter was running on the babysitter, we were fully aware that the kids would have us up at the crack of dawn the next day and we were yawning.  A night of intense theatre, great food and fascinating conversation will do that to you 😉  Like any good New York married couple with kids on a date night we snuggled on the subway home, stopped at the bank to get cash for the babysitter, passed another couple in the elevator coming home from their date night, walked the sitter to the cab, checked on the kids and hopped into bed with the reassuring sound of the hissing radiator, the glow of the street lights and the firetruck sirens lulling us to sleep.  Ahh, the romance… =)

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