Songdoc's Untypical NYC--Mostly Broadway--Trip Report
Jan 11th, 2010, 06:45 PM
#1
Original Poster
Songdoc's Untypical NYC--Mostly Broadway--Trip Report
This isn’t a typical tourist’s report because I grew up 90 minutes from NYC and have visited many times. So I’ve already seen all the obligatory sights, as well as the museums that interest me. But I had a couple of business meetings scheduled in New York City, so DP and I decided to extend the trip and give each other a 4-night vacation as our holiday presents to each other.
Hotel:
I chose the Hotel Mela at 120 W. 44th. I’d typically use Priceline, but Travelocity was running a great special: $100 off any booking over $500 -- if booked with an AmEx card. So we wound up paying a little less than $125/nt (including all fees & taxes; and free WiFi)—and knowing we’d be in a well-reviewed property, one block off Times Square—and wouldn't get socked with exorbitant Internet charges.
We were upgraded to a larger room when the clerk realized there were two of us. By NY standards, the room was spacious—and the bathroom was massive—although oddly, there weren’t any shelves or cabinets to store toiletries. Apparently, the “standard” rooms are quite a bit smaller. Our room faced a wall and therefore was exceptionally quiet. The bed was great, the room was dark, and I slept like a rock. I have never stayed anywhere with friendlier staff. We were wished a nice day—and welcomed back each time we returned. Our only complaint was that there was no coffee maker in the room.
Activities:
Our three favorite things to do in NYC are to walk, walk, and walk some more—soaking in the architecture, colors, sights, smells, and sounds of this amazing, vibrant city. So what if the temperature was barely reaching freezing—and the wind chill was clinging to single digits? It’s supposed to be cold in January in NYC—and most of the time, the sun was shining. We layered layer upon layer atop our thermal underwear and had a wonderful time. We calculated that we averaged 7 – 8 miles a day on foot.
One day, we wound our way through Central Park ending above the Metropolitan Museum, then came back down 5th Avenue to do the museum. It was the final day for the Neapolitan Christmas tree and creche that we love. If you haven’t seen it—it’s not to be missed. Exquisite. That would have been worth the price of admission alone. I read in someone else’s report that they were underwhelmed by the Met—when comparing it to the Louvre.
I’ve never been inside the Louvre—although the outside was lovely. It was on strike during BOTH of my visits to Paris! Grrr… But, as always, I found the Met extraordinary and was overwhelmed by the variety and quality of the exhibits. Hard to imagine anyone not thinking this is one of the world’s best museums. My only complaint was that lunch in the cafeteria was a bit pricey—but it was good. We stayed till the museum closed, then enjoyed the shop window displays as we walked back down 5th Avenue. We cut over to watch the skaters at Rockefeller Center.
Another day was spent walking from Times Square down through Chelsea, Greenwich Village, and Little Italy, en route to Katz’s Deli on the Lower East Side. (More about that later.) Lots of stops along the way, in coffee shops, cathedrals, little ethnic markets, and bookstores kept us warm.
One bitterly cold morning was spent at Discovery Exhibition—Leonardo DaVinci’s Workshop. Many of the inventions Leonardo envisioned were created, based on his notes, and displayed for the first time. They also recreated how the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper might have appeared prior to the effects of aging and exposure to centuries of light and the elements. It was an interesting way to spend an hour—but not “Wow.”
Broadway Shows (I'll post this section in the Broadway Banter thread, as well):
I got lots of advice when I posted asking for suggestions. The truth was that there weren’t any “must-sees” as far we were concerned. In past years, I’ve waited hours in line for the “Wicked” lottery, and woke at dawn to snag standing room for “The Lion King,” “Phantom,” and “The Producers” when they were new. There wasn't anything I felt that way about this time.
Our hotel was only a few minutes from the Times Square TKTS booth and we were shocked that first night to find almost no line (at around 5 PM)—and to see discounts for lots of shows that we’d thought would be sold out (such as “Mama Mia” and “Billy Elliott.” “Billy Elliott” was not high on my list, but I was so surprised to see it at 20% off @ TKTS that a few minutes later I’d bought tickets. FYI, the only time there was ever moere than a 5 or 10 minute wait was when the booth first opened. By 6 PM, you could just walk up and buy tickets.
From all the awards and personal reviews I’ve heard I’m guessing no one else has every uttered these words … but neither of us liked it much. It was “okay”—but we were disappointed after all the hype. The “Billy” we saw (they rotate three different young actors; we saw Liam Redhead) was a good dancer and an okay actor—but he simply couldn’t sing on pitch—in fact, not even close. It was painful and every time he started another song, all I could think was, “Oh, no.”
I’m sure this is terribly politically incorrect, but I was distracted by the fact that the actor portraying Billy was either black or bi-racial—and his parents were not. I know that part of theater is about transcending the confines of reality--but I wouldn’t cast a white, Hispanic, or Asian person in “Raisin in the Sun” or “Porgy and Bess” and expect audiences not to notice. Maybe if the kid had been incredible, I wouldn’t have cared. But that wasn’t a big issue for me. I suspect that even with a great “Billy”—who could actually sing— I still wouldn’t have loved the show.
I loved every moment that the character “Michael” (Billy’s friend) was on stage. He was fantastic—a super singer and showman—and I couldn’t help wishing that “Billy” was at the same level. The pas de deux and a few other isolated numbers were terrific, but I thought the first ten or fifteen minutes were awful—and that most everything else was only “good” at best. I found the curtain calls among the most entertaining parts—and that’s not a good sign. IMHO, not even close to being in the same league as “Wicked.”
Next night: “Wishful Drinking,” Carrie Fisher’s one-woman show. I can’t rave enough. Brilliant; hilarious; touching; and exceptionally written, conceived, and performed. It was one of the most memorable and enjoyable Broadway shows I’ve ever seen. Sadly, it’ll be closing January 17th (after 4 months).
“West Side Story”: Very enjoyable, but here’s the problem we both had …
The Jets are dressed and coiffed circa 2010—yet their language and finger snapping is pure 1957. It was distracting—and even ridiculous—to see guys who looked as if they would fit perfectly into today’s world, saying “Daddy-O,” and some of the other pure ‘50s beatnik expressions. Frankly, we were both shocked that no one on the production team noticed this. The actor playing Tony had a voice that was absolutely glorious—although his acting was a little stiff—and he looked like he was probably about five years older than his character. “Anita” was phenomenal and “Maria” was quite good. LOVED the 2nd act—but can’t give it an unabashed thumbs up because nothing the Jets did quite worked for me. I think I expected a grittier, updated “WSS” but because of the lyrics and dialog I think it needs to be approached strictly as a period piece—set in 1957—or drastically rewritten (which I wouldn’t want). FYI, the highly touted Spanish dialog worked fine—but didn’t particularly add anything for me.
“Newsical: the Musical”: Fun sketches and musical numbers poking fun of everything newsworthy. It had some brilliant, hilarious moments, and consistently wonderful performances. The send ups of Joan Rivers, Liza Minelli, Susan Boyle, Sarah Palin, and the Balloon Boy were fantastic. But the material was mostly “good”—but not great. It’s a revue; like a cabaret performance—and it was an entertaining night out—but not a “must-see.”
Food:
Those of you who are foodies will be mortified. With the exception of Katz’s, most meals were on the run—a slice of pizza and an antipasto at Ray’s pizza stand; a grilled panini and a cup of soup from one of the ubiquitous hot & cold salad bars; a sandwich and yogurt up in the room; or some quick Chinese. We were too busy to “dine” – and that’s not a priority for us.
Now I’ll chime in on the deli debate. We always eat at Carnegie Deli, but this time, decided to try Katz’s. It was mobbed and a bit confusing about waiter service vs. ordering at the counter—but we sorted through it, picked up soup and a ½ sandwich at the counter and sat next to the table where Meg Ryan enacted her infamous scene in “When Harry Met Sally.” The food was excellent—and the portions were large—but not gargantuan, like at Carnegie. IMO, they’re both geared to tourists and both have fantastic food.
Go to both of them. But if you can only do one—choose the one that’s most convenient. If you want ridiculously massive amounts of food to share or bring home, go for Carnegie. On the way back we stopped at Yonnah Shimmel’s knish bakery. It was established in 1910—and Martha Stewart’s autographed endorsement in the window caught my eye. We left with a half dozen of the OMG best knishes on the planet—including the amazing sweet potato ones. I wish I brought home three dozen.
To summarize, we had a wonderful time in the greatest city in the world.
Hotel:
I chose the Hotel Mela at 120 W. 44th. I’d typically use Priceline, but Travelocity was running a great special: $100 off any booking over $500 -- if booked with an AmEx card. So we wound up paying a little less than $125/nt (including all fees & taxes; and free WiFi)—and knowing we’d be in a well-reviewed property, one block off Times Square—and wouldn't get socked with exorbitant Internet charges.
We were upgraded to a larger room when the clerk realized there were two of us. By NY standards, the room was spacious—and the bathroom was massive—although oddly, there weren’t any shelves or cabinets to store toiletries. Apparently, the “standard” rooms are quite a bit smaller. Our room faced a wall and therefore was exceptionally quiet. The bed was great, the room was dark, and I slept like a rock. I have never stayed anywhere with friendlier staff. We were wished a nice day—and welcomed back each time we returned. Our only complaint was that there was no coffee maker in the room.
Activities:
Our three favorite things to do in NYC are to walk, walk, and walk some more—soaking in the architecture, colors, sights, smells, and sounds of this amazing, vibrant city. So what if the temperature was barely reaching freezing—and the wind chill was clinging to single digits? It’s supposed to be cold in January in NYC—and most of the time, the sun was shining. We layered layer upon layer atop our thermal underwear and had a wonderful time. We calculated that we averaged 7 – 8 miles a day on foot.
One day, we wound our way through Central Park ending above the Metropolitan Museum, then came back down 5th Avenue to do the museum. It was the final day for the Neapolitan Christmas tree and creche that we love. If you haven’t seen it—it’s not to be missed. Exquisite. That would have been worth the price of admission alone. I read in someone else’s report that they were underwhelmed by the Met—when comparing it to the Louvre.
I’ve never been inside the Louvre—although the outside was lovely. It was on strike during BOTH of my visits to Paris! Grrr… But, as always, I found the Met extraordinary and was overwhelmed by the variety and quality of the exhibits. Hard to imagine anyone not thinking this is one of the world’s best museums. My only complaint was that lunch in the cafeteria was a bit pricey—but it was good. We stayed till the museum closed, then enjoyed the shop window displays as we walked back down 5th Avenue. We cut over to watch the skaters at Rockefeller Center.
Another day was spent walking from Times Square down through Chelsea, Greenwich Village, and Little Italy, en route to Katz’s Deli on the Lower East Side. (More about that later.) Lots of stops along the way, in coffee shops, cathedrals, little ethnic markets, and bookstores kept us warm.
One bitterly cold morning was spent at Discovery Exhibition—Leonardo DaVinci’s Workshop. Many of the inventions Leonardo envisioned were created, based on his notes, and displayed for the first time. They also recreated how the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper might have appeared prior to the effects of aging and exposure to centuries of light and the elements. It was an interesting way to spend an hour—but not “Wow.”
Broadway Shows (I'll post this section in the Broadway Banter thread, as well):
I got lots of advice when I posted asking for suggestions. The truth was that there weren’t any “must-sees” as far we were concerned. In past years, I’ve waited hours in line for the “Wicked” lottery, and woke at dawn to snag standing room for “The Lion King,” “Phantom,” and “The Producers” when they were new. There wasn't anything I felt that way about this time.
Our hotel was only a few minutes from the Times Square TKTS booth and we were shocked that first night to find almost no line (at around 5 PM)—and to see discounts for lots of shows that we’d thought would be sold out (such as “Mama Mia” and “Billy Elliott.” “Billy Elliott” was not high on my list, but I was so surprised to see it at 20% off @ TKTS that a few minutes later I’d bought tickets. FYI, the only time there was ever moere than a 5 or 10 minute wait was when the booth first opened. By 6 PM, you could just walk up and buy tickets.
From all the awards and personal reviews I’ve heard I’m guessing no one else has every uttered these words … but neither of us liked it much. It was “okay”—but we were disappointed after all the hype. The “Billy” we saw (they rotate three different young actors; we saw Liam Redhead) was a good dancer and an okay actor—but he simply couldn’t sing on pitch—in fact, not even close. It was painful and every time he started another song, all I could think was, “Oh, no.”
I’m sure this is terribly politically incorrect, but I was distracted by the fact that the actor portraying Billy was either black or bi-racial—and his parents were not. I know that part of theater is about transcending the confines of reality--but I wouldn’t cast a white, Hispanic, or Asian person in “Raisin in the Sun” or “Porgy and Bess” and expect audiences not to notice. Maybe if the kid had been incredible, I wouldn’t have cared. But that wasn’t a big issue for me. I suspect that even with a great “Billy”—who could actually sing— I still wouldn’t have loved the show.
I loved every moment that the character “Michael” (Billy’s friend) was on stage. He was fantastic—a super singer and showman—and I couldn’t help wishing that “Billy” was at the same level. The pas de deux and a few other isolated numbers were terrific, but I thought the first ten or fifteen minutes were awful—and that most everything else was only “good” at best. I found the curtain calls among the most entertaining parts—and that’s not a good sign. IMHO, not even close to being in the same league as “Wicked.”
Next night: “Wishful Drinking,” Carrie Fisher’s one-woman show. I can’t rave enough. Brilliant; hilarious; touching; and exceptionally written, conceived, and performed. It was one of the most memorable and enjoyable Broadway shows I’ve ever seen. Sadly, it’ll be closing January 17th (after 4 months).
“West Side Story”: Very enjoyable, but here’s the problem we both had …
The Jets are dressed and coiffed circa 2010—yet their language and finger snapping is pure 1957. It was distracting—and even ridiculous—to see guys who looked as if they would fit perfectly into today’s world, saying “Daddy-O,” and some of the other pure ‘50s beatnik expressions. Frankly, we were both shocked that no one on the production team noticed this. The actor playing Tony had a voice that was absolutely glorious—although his acting was a little stiff—and he looked like he was probably about five years older than his character. “Anita” was phenomenal and “Maria” was quite good. LOVED the 2nd act—but can’t give it an unabashed thumbs up because nothing the Jets did quite worked for me. I think I expected a grittier, updated “WSS” but because of the lyrics and dialog I think it needs to be approached strictly as a period piece—set in 1957—or drastically rewritten (which I wouldn’t want). FYI, the highly touted Spanish dialog worked fine—but didn’t particularly add anything for me.
“Newsical: the Musical”: Fun sketches and musical numbers poking fun of everything newsworthy. It had some brilliant, hilarious moments, and consistently wonderful performances. The send ups of Joan Rivers, Liza Minelli, Susan Boyle, Sarah Palin, and the Balloon Boy were fantastic. But the material was mostly “good”—but not great. It’s a revue; like a cabaret performance—and it was an entertaining night out—but not a “must-see.”
Food:
Those of you who are foodies will be mortified. With the exception of Katz’s, most meals were on the run—a slice of pizza and an antipasto at Ray’s pizza stand; a grilled panini and a cup of soup from one of the ubiquitous hot & cold salad bars; a sandwich and yogurt up in the room; or some quick Chinese. We were too busy to “dine” – and that’s not a priority for us.
Now I’ll chime in on the deli debate. We always eat at Carnegie Deli, but this time, decided to try Katz’s. It was mobbed and a bit confusing about waiter service vs. ordering at the counter—but we sorted through it, picked up soup and a ½ sandwich at the counter and sat next to the table where Meg Ryan enacted her infamous scene in “When Harry Met Sally.” The food was excellent—and the portions were large—but not gargantuan, like at Carnegie. IMO, they’re both geared to tourists and both have fantastic food.
Go to both of them. But if you can only do one—choose the one that’s most convenient. If you want ridiculously massive amounts of food to share or bring home, go for Carnegie. On the way back we stopped at Yonnah Shimmel’s knish bakery. It was established in 1910—and Martha Stewart’s autographed endorsement in the window caught my eye. We left with a half dozen of the OMG best knishes on the planet—including the amazing sweet potato ones. I wish I brought home three dozen.
To summarize, we had a wonderful time in the greatest city in the world.
Jan 12th, 2010, 02:51 AM
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Enjoyed your report, thank you. Sorry there isn't time for me to see "Wishful Drinking", I love Carrie Fisher. Will savor the book. I can't imagine twice going to Paris only to find the Louvre closed--grrrrr is right! Glad you enjoyed your time!
Jan 12th, 2010, 01:00 PM
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I'm considering Billy Elliot when it comes on tour to Chicago. The songs I've heard on Sirius radio have really touched my heart, so I'm disappointed to hear you didn't care for it very much. I'm reading Carrie Fisher's book but am not finding it as funny as I have come to expect from her. Maybe it'll get better farther in. She does have that droll voice and dry sense of humor I love. The DaVinci workshop sounds fascinating. Thanks for the heads up!
Jan 12th, 2010, 01:55 PM
#5
Original Poster
Maybe Billy was adopted ;-)
Why didn't I think of that? It's perfect! And it explains why his parents could sing--and he couldn't.
We seem to be the only people who were not enamored with Billy E -- so I wouldn't let my vote dissuade you. Everyone has different taste. It's just that mine is "good." hehehe
I haven't read Carrie Fisher's book--although I definitely will. All I can say is that the show was hilarious. I'm sure it can't be exectly like the book because the show employed music and film clips, and an elaborate chart that traced who married and divorced whom. Her explanation of the chart -- and the audience participation it entailed -- was one of the funniest things I've ever seen on stage.
Why didn't I think of that? It's perfect! And it explains why his parents could sing--and he couldn't.
We seem to be the only people who were not enamored with Billy E -- so I wouldn't let my vote dissuade you. Everyone has different taste. It's just that mine is "good." hehehe
I haven't read Carrie Fisher's book--although I definitely will. All I can say is that the show was hilarious. I'm sure it can't be exectly like the book because the show employed music and film clips, and an elaborate chart that traced who married and divorced whom. Her explanation of the chart -- and the audience participation it entailed -- was one of the funniest things I've ever seen on stage.
Jan 12th, 2010, 07:39 PM
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I didn't love Billy Elliot either and I enjoyed Wishful Drinking very much - you are not alone. I applaud you for all the walking you did - it is freezing tonight and I'm so sick of it. Glad you had a good trip!
Jan 14th, 2010, 09:25 PM
#12
I saw Billy Elliot in Sydney and it wasn't my cup of tea, either.
Enjoyed your report, Songdoc; when are you heading back to Australia?
We're having the first Australian GTG on 22nd May in Melbourne & it would be great to have you there if you'll be around.
Enjoyed your report, Songdoc; when are you heading back to Australia?
We're having the first Australian GTG on 22nd May in Melbourne & it would be great to have you there if you'll be around.
Jan 14th, 2010, 11:09 PM
#13
I saw Billy Elliot in Sydney too Bokhara2 and liked it but I actually liked the movie better!!
Songdoc I wonder if that is typical that there weren't many people at the TKTS booth at 5pm, or do you think it had something to do with the cold weather?
Leonardo's Workshop or something very similar was at the Nelson museum about a year ago, we found it quite fascinating looking at all the machines he created.
Songdoc I wonder if that is typical that there weren't many people at the TKTS booth at 5pm, or do you think it had something to do with the cold weather?
Leonardo's Workshop or something very similar was at the Nelson museum about a year ago, we found it quite fascinating looking at all the machines he created.
Jan 15th, 2010, 04:51 AM
#15
Original Poster
In addition to the cold weather, I'd guess that the first week on January would be one of the least popular times for tourists--and theater goers. I've never seen such short waits at TKTS.
So sorry to miss the GTG
. I'll be in New Zealand in May and won't get to Australia until early June. Still haven't gotten to Melbourne. When we have time off, we tend to seek out scenic areas--as opposed to big cities.
My work in OZ brings me to Sydney and Ettalong on the Central Coast. Last year we vacationed near Port Douglas after the conference--and loved it. But we're so in love with NZ that we tend to spend our extra time there. We had a wonderful time at Abel Tasman last year and might return this year.
At the moment I'm locking in the final details for next month's trip to Ireland, N. Ireland, England, and Wales. When we get back I'll post for more NZ and OZ suggestions. Life is tough ;-)
So sorry to miss the GTG
. I'll be in New Zealand in May and won't get to Australia until early June. Still haven't gotten to Melbourne. When we have time off, we tend to seek out scenic areas--as opposed to big cities.My work in OZ brings me to Sydney and Ettalong on the Central Coast. Last year we vacationed near Port Douglas after the conference--and loved it. But we're so in love with NZ that we tend to spend our extra time there. We had a wonderful time at Abel Tasman last year and might return this year.
At the moment I'm locking in the final details for next month's trip to Ireland, N. Ireland, England, and Wales. When we get back I'll post for more NZ and OZ suggestions. Life is tough ;-)
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