Friday, March 28, 2008

this just in...


The "über tourists" are back from their whirlwind spring break trip to NYC! We arrived there on Saturday and came back home on Thursday. During that time we saw 5 plays, enjoyed 2 jazz performances, went on a city tour, took the ferry to the Statue of Liberty, did the NBC Studio tour, and visited 3 museums -- Museum of Modern Art, Museum of Natural History, & the Guggenheim. We also tossed in a visit to the New York Public Library on Thursday morning and saw a Guttenberg Bible and the original "Winnie the Pooh and Friends" stuffed animals.

Whew!

We had "Easter dinner" at the Hard Rock in Times Square with a classmate of Offspring #2. (He took a train from Connecticut to meet us.) I had hoped to meet and have coffee with Processing Counselor, but it just didn't work out due to our über schedule. (We talked on the phone and it almost happened! Next time, PC, next time!)

THE PLAYS!
On our last trip (two years ago), Offspring #1 and I only saw plays on Broadway. This time we ventured out further with recommendations from one of her professors. We saw "Hello Failure", an excellent neo-realistic comedy by Kristen Kosmas, at non-mainstream Performance Space 122. We also saw "The Poor Itch" at The Public Theater. This play, focusing on the issues of a soldier back from Iraq, was left unfinished by the late playwright John Belluso. Director Lisa Peterson and a company of actors and designers used the final drafts of Belluso's script to create a compelling, powerful performance. The other off-Broadway play was Signature Theatre Company's "Paradise Park". (I didn't see that one -- Hubby and Offspring #1 attended that play while Offspring #2 and I went to the Iridium Jazz Club.) They weren't overly enamored with this work about a bizarre carnival of life. As for Broadway plays we saw Nathan Lane and Laurie Metcalf in Mamet's new political comedy "November" and the Tony Award-winning "Spring Awakening" (a musical adaptation of a controversial play about teens dealing with sexual awakening). So we had quite a varied assortment of plays and venues!

THE JAZZ!
As mentioned, Offspring #2 and I went to the Iridium to hear the 14-piece Mingus Big Band. (They had an excellent pianist and some great trumpets.) The whole family went to the Blue Note to hear Spyro Gyra, the jazz-fusion group many of you probably know.

So that's the scoop! Jam-packed and fun. We did a lot of walking, so a Hiking Club slide show video could be in the works. :) It is interesting how deserted Seattle seemed to all of us when we got back (in comparision to Manhattan)...

And now I have a lot of blog reading to catch up on!

12 comments:

Rev SS said...

Love the picture ... sounds like a FUN trip. Welcome home. (and thanks for the postcard, which arrived yesterday)

Barbara B. said...

SS
Glad you got it! Sorry if it was a bit wordy. :)

Processing Counselor said...

I'm sorry I missed you, too. Though how you did ALL THAT is a few days, I just have to lie down, it makes me tired. Next time I'll come to your hotel lobby-the best way to meet! (We know who the diva in your house is.)

Barbara B. said...

Counselor in Process,
Yep, it was a great (albeit craaaazy busy) trip. My only disappointment was not meeting up with you. But we will definitely be back!

Jan said...

Great picture! Thanks. So glad you had such a good time together.

Rev SS said...

Wordy indeed! Don't know how you could fit all that in? Had to use my magnifying glasses to read it all -:)

Diane M. Roth said...

what a great trip! it's NOT too wordy. I want to go!

Lori said...

You did NYC up right, you did! What a great trip.

Thanks for the plays reviews. I remember enjoying some of the off-Broadway better than the on.

Great picture. Did you get to L'il It'ly at all for a cannoli?

Rev SS said...

Funny Diane .. protecting her friend? I wasn't saying this report is wordy ... we were teasing about the postcard (see parenthetical comment on my first entry)

Elaine (aka...Purple) said...

What an amazing trip...did you rest at all!!!!

Diane M. Roth said...

just shows what happens when you don't read carefully!...

hey! i'M REALLY impressed about the Gutenberg Bible.

Barbara B. said...

PG, We didn't eat in Little Italy, but did have a great Italian meal at Carmine's at the suggestion of Counselor in Process. It's family style there and quite yummy. :) (carminesnyc.com)

Diane, yes, it was interesting to see a Guttenberg. Liked Eeyore's (original) tail even better though. :)