72hrs and an awesome list of things to do, suggestions from you lovely lot. After a 5am start thanks to the cruel mistress that is jet lag….I started with Breakfast at the Evergreen diner, an unassuming but cute little place on W 47th street. Had pancakes with Bacon, it was literally like eating perfectly fluffy clouds smothered in maple syrup!! I forgot about the insane portions here and struggled my way through half the plate before admitting defeat.

Number 2 on the list for today: get Broadway tickets. As a sucker for anything take that related decided Gary Barlow’s musical adaptation of Finding Neverland should be top of the hit list, plus I loved the film and it’s a great story. Vetoed the $170 price tag and decided to try my luck with an age old Broadway tradition, Rush tickets. Queue the morning of the show for a small allocation of cheaper tickets for that days performance. I stood in line for 2 hours….what a great way to spend some of my 72hrs here!!!! Made friends with the mental women in the queue who have seen this show every day for the past month!!!! Crazy Broadway groupies are a serious deal here, hoardes of people who just go from show to show, wait at the stage door and become consumed by the entire run! They were lovely company and had some good stories about Idina Menzel being a bitch and let me know that Alfie Boe is the new lead which I didn’t realise. Passed the time and kept me amused.

Finally got to the box office to be greeteed by a horrifically rude man at the window who literally threw my ticket at me, when I asked if it was front row or restricted view he shouted “lady it’s a great ticket it’s $37 what’s your problem”….so i pretended I had a retinal disease and very poor eyesight so I needed to check…..soely to make him feel awful…he looked awkward and muttered an apology saying he didnt think it would be an issue in my seat… what a wanker!!!!

Wandered Times Square and took tourist pics, trying to avoid plethora of “street artists” in the scabiest looking Mickey Mouse and minions outifts i have ever seen! Headed for a quick nap in a bid to defeat the jet lag, accidently slept for 2hrs!!! whoops! Big breakfast set me up for the day so I headed to number 3 on my list at 4ish….

Pastrami on Rye at Katz Deli was calling and after a seriously big claim from Joey Cunningham that it may just have been the greatest meal he’d ever eaten I was expecting big things…..made.famous by “that” Meg Ryan scene in When Harry Met Sally, I got in line for my sarnie. Angelo was my “cutter” – sandwich making extroadiniere who was painfully charming and once he’d established I was traveling alone asked me for a drink later this evening, alas Broadway is taking precedent so I blushed apologetically and let him crack on with the next woman under 30 in the line. Has made me realise that I should probably add “sandwich making skills” to my list of things to look for in a man….it’s so far just a small.piece of paper that says “6ft +” and “stubble”…. #hardlypicky #joysofsinglelife

So Joe Dogz could not have been more accurate, that sandwich is food of the actual gods. What a way to while an hour.  Food heaven exists and it is within the 4 sacred walls of Katz.

Headed down to Brooklyn to see the Bridge and take in a view of the skyline from across the river. Beautuful day strolling in the balmy sunshine. Spent some time sitting in Brooklyn Bridge park, people watching and falling in love with People’s dogs.

Headed back into Broadway for Finding Neverland. Awesome seat slap bang in the middle of the stalls, row C…I queued but nothing sweeter than knowing the man in the seat next to you paid £140 for his instead of £25!! Show was excellent, Alfie Boe’s performance a triumph, I laughed, i wanted to get up and sing along and I balled my eyes out at the end (just like I do every time I watch the film!) all signs of a great show. Well done Barlow, you did good my son!!!

Seriously tired so headed back to the hotel via Juniors Cheesecake, another New York institution. Ordered the heart attack special “Devils food cheesecake” essentially a giant piece of chocolate cake with a Cheesecake slice sandwiched in the middle. Could feel my arteries narrowing as I ate it – sign of a winning dessert. Bed ahead of another busy day tomorrow!!

Monday morning began with a trip to see the iconic Flat Iron building. Really beautiful example of architecture at its finest, took me back to the the streets of 1920s nyc, just a shame there’s now a Starbucks and Sprint mobile in it!!! Also swung by “Mood Fabrics” made famous by tv show “Project Runway” met the lovely little dog that lives there and marveled and deems and deems of amazing fabric. Rachel Thomas you would have been in absolute heaven.

Second on the list was a stop at everyone’s favourite bridal boutique, Kleinfeld. Made famous by TV series “say yes to the dress” a show the Thurlow ladies have collectively seen every episode of!! I went in search of super camp dream weaver and Kleinfeld’s best salesman Randy, but to no avail. Took some snaps outside and decided to be bold and just go in. I styled it out by pretended Claire was getting married and coming out to New York in a few weeks. They were lovely and gave me their card and I spent some time eyeing up the dresses. Tick!

 

I wandered down, gelato in hand to the High Line, a suspended park in Chelsea and highly recommended by you lovely people as a must see. I have been spoilt by the sunshine again today, glorious blue skies and 24 degrees. Lovely 1.4mile walk above the busy streets. Well done Mayor Bloomberg, it’s a triumph!

 

Chelsea village for lunch pon recommendation from Tibbs. Delicious traditional New York pizza! It was seriously good, but again enormous! Munched my way through what I could and made a b line to Central Park for an afternoon stroll.

 

Had a go on the swings (can never resist!) but quickly realised I was the only over 5 in the playground so made a move to the lake and sat for an hour watching the row boats go by. Lovely breeze and a perch courtesy of Dr Dale Owen.

 

Next stop was the Museum of Modern Art. A great place for a few hours wander and home to some truly beautiful and internationally recogniseable works of art. Checked out their Degas exhibition and marvelled at the Van Goghs and made my merry way to the Rockafella centre for view of the city.

Top of the Rock really is the only way to see New York. you can’t beat a view of the skyline that has the Empire State in it. I timed it so I got to the top for the last dreggs of daylight and watched the sunset. Sat and watched the lights spring on over the whole city and saw the man right in front of me get down on one knee and propose to his girlfriend (i would’ve too, she was SUCH a babe, he was seriously punching!) It was very emotional and there was lots of snogging, i felt like a 3rd wheel but it was jam packed with people so did my best to retain some personal space and looked at the nighttime view!

Grabbed dinner at Shake Shack and Red Velvet dessert from Magnolia Bakery #sexandthecity #callmeCarrieBradshaw. Couldn’t eat it after the giant burger so shoved it in the mini bar for tomorrow – after all cake for breakfast is what holidays are all about!

Tuesday was the day I head to the pre-night hotel as tour starts first thing wednesday. But had the whole day to explore. Checked out of my hotel and made my way to do the Liberty Island and Ellis Island tour. Whilst not free like the Statten Island Ferry, I decided at $18 I’d like to see it up close and learn a bit more about the immigration process at the museum. Ferry sped in to the harbor to stunning views of of the city and lovely Lady Liberty.

Wandered the grounds for 3 hours or so, learnt lots on the audio tour and marvelled at the enormity of her. Next onto Ellis Island where I was taught about the trials and tribulations of immigrants arriving in the US of A and got to do a walk through of what it would have been like for someone arriving off a ship to start a new life in the promise land. Very interesting, though slightly too authentic being kettled in a queue for the ferry back to the city again for well over an hour…I heard a little girl telling her dad on the ferry back she liked the statue of liberty but she preferred the hot dog he had!!! The next generation of America ladies and gentlemen.

Had an impromptu visit to the Museum. of the American Indian as desperate for a wee!  I felt bad for taking advantage and the place was dead (compared to the carnage of the other museums i’ve visited on the trip, it was pretty sad!) so I pottered for 20mins. Surprisingly interesting. Got to get in a  real teepee, was fun and good practice for Glasto!

Wandered up to Wall Street, fought my way past an abundance of wide boy banker wanker types and took snaps with the charging bull including this obligatory bollock shot?! meant to be lucky……..no, I’ve got idea either!?!

Headed over to the 9/11 Memorial afterwards. It is so sensitively done and the scale, whilst harrowing, is very striking. Walked the perimeter, very hard to digest just how many names are inscribed. Not too sure about the abundance of people taking selfies (!?!) but something I’m glad I came to see.

Wandered up to Madison Square Garden, Empire State at street level and a potter round Macy’s before heading back to my hotel to collect my bags. Bumped into the delightfully charming Mr Bryan Cranston aka Walter White off of that Breaking Bad (though he will forever be Hal in my mind). He was really friendly and pleased to hear he would be appearing in the blog…never mind that Emmy award, everyone knows this is where true recognition lies!! Didn’t have time to bond over our mutual mate Chris Cowper, but he was just as nice as you said man!!

Currently on a pitch black bus to Newark Airport and rinsing the free WiFi. Pre tour hotel awaits ahead of meeting the group tomorrow for Trek America! The adventure continues…wish me luck!!! xx