CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK

Yesterday I went with the local Realtors' group on our annual bus trip to New York City to see a play.  We saw "Jersey Boys" which was fantastic.  There was never a dull moment in the show and if you grew up with the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, this show will have you rockin' and reminiscing in your seat.  We had two bus loads of mostly women and traveled up there in the pouring rain from Delaware.  By the time we got to NY the rain was stopping and it turned out to be a mild day -- perfect for walking around the city.  A few of my friends and I almost always have the same routine when we get there (we have about two hours before the show starts):  we go to see the tree in Rockefeller Center, we go to St. Patrick's Cathedral, and we go to Saks to use the ladies room.  Saks is beautifully decorated and it always reminds me of "Sex and The City" with all the sophisticated salesgirls (and salesmen) dressed in black and offering to spray you with something lovely.  My friend pointed out a lovely sheath dress that would look stunning on someone who was a size 2 -- price no object? -- a mere $980.00!

We always eat lunch at Stage Deli, but this time we tried Carnegie Deli -- two of the few Jewish delis left in the city, I have read.  Authographed photographs of famous people covered the walls and the waiter told us Woody Allen's movie "Broadway Danny Rose" shot a scene there and he comes in there once in awhile.  I had my usual corned beef on rye which arrives, four inches high, piled with enough meat for three or four sandwiches.  The deli was small, noisy and smelled delicious.  I wish I had room for the only-in-New York cheesecake.  There is something different about it -- it is drier and higher than other cheesecakes.  I should have brought a cooler with me to bring one home!

Note:  For some reason all of the pictures I took with my cell phone turned out in black and white.  I just checked the settings and somehow they were set that way.  Don't know how that happened!  So these pictures are ones I found online.  Thank you to those people, whoever they are.   Blogger also wouldn't let me move the pictures around.  I have had that problem before -- don't know why it does that.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK!

On Wednesday I took a Realtors' bus trip to New York City to see "Gypsy." I do this almost every year when they offer it. It is a long day (leaving at 6:30 a.m. and arriving home around 10 p.m.).

Unfortunately, the back half of our bus had no heat so that we shivered most of the way up and back. The city was VERY cold - even the theater was cold. But, the show was good. I had seen the movie starring Natalie Wood. I had a chance to run into St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue for a few minutes, stop into Saks and ogle at the prices ($250 for a little winter hat) and then to have lunch at a very good Italian restaurant (mmm, risotta). The tree was up in Rockefeller Center, but not yet decorated.

They showed movies on the bus ride home and I saw "Mama Mia" and "The Devil Wears Prada" which I had never seen. I saw the play "Mama Mia" in New York a few years ago. I love that show.

While I was watching the play I was thinking of how the actors must feel up there with people sitting out there in the dark watching. And to hear the applause and laughter! No wonder movie actors all want to try the stage. I guess if you do a show on Broadway you are REALLY an actor.

Since I now live in a small, laid back town I was interested in watching the people in the city. I guess I am now a country bumpkin!