"Girls' Theatre Weekend"/Susan & Jan/NYC/July 10-12
Background: Jan and I met on a flight in England some years ago - she drifts by once a year and stays with us and we meet up various places all over the world when we can. We planned this quick 3-day weekend in NYC around Angela Lansbury's limited engagement in Noel Coward's "Blithe Spirit" at the Shubert.
Friday - my flight was delayed by two hours but Jan found me at the JetBlue terminal at JFK. We grabbed a cab to Hotel Chelsea (W. 23rd, between 7th and 8th Ave) and got settled in to that lovely little hotel with a torrid past. We walked a couple of doors down to a very nice restaurant for a late lunch/early dinner. Lovely vegetarian entres and appetizers, but I can't remember the name of it! Our theatre tickets were for 10:30p so we simply started walking up town, popping in and out of places, stopping to read menus. Just a leisurely stroll up to 50th. Popped in for Thai appetizers near the theatre at 9:30p and then in to New Stage for "Naked Boys Singing". And they were. And they did! What a hoot! (If you take a moment to follow that link, just be advised that the modesty of the pictures on the web site is NOT carried through the performance. Those boys pranced around stark naked with no fruitbowls blocking the view! Sometimes (usually) private parts of their anatomy were used quite creatively as props or ... garnish!)
After this we meandered over to Broadway and found a nice club. A couple of glasses of port and a quick taxi to the Hotel Chelsea. Almost 2a before my eyes closed.
Saturday morning I woke up early so I took a walk all around Chelsea, picked up a Starbucks, then took my computer down to the lobby for awhile.
When Jan was up we started our meander downtown instead of uptown. Wandered all over the Village (Bleecker St, Washington Park, a street fair on MacDougal). Here's Jan in front of the famous Cafe Wha.
Our Russian guide, Ivan, pointed out a number of celebrities homes (yawn) and spewed a few facts, both true and false. I have never taken one of those bicycle rickshaws ever, so I was quite thrilled to do so. He also took us by Bethesda Fountain, the John Lennon memorial.
Friday - my flight was delayed by two hours but Jan found me at the JetBlue terminal at JFK. We grabbed a cab to Hotel Chelsea (W. 23rd, between 7th and 8th Ave) and got settled in to that lovely little hotel with a torrid past. We walked a couple of doors down to a very nice restaurant for a late lunch/early dinner. Lovely vegetarian entres and appetizers, but I can't remember the name of it! Our theatre tickets were for 10:30p so we simply started walking up town, popping in and out of places, stopping to read menus. Just a leisurely stroll up to 50th. Popped in for Thai appetizers near the theatre at 9:30p and then in to New Stage for "Naked Boys Singing". And they were. And they did! What a hoot! (If you take a moment to follow that link, just be advised that the modesty of the pictures on the web site is NOT carried through the performance. Those boys pranced around stark naked with no fruitbowls blocking the view! Sometimes (usually) private parts of their anatomy were used quite creatively as props or ... garnish!)
After this we meandered over to Broadway and found a nice club. A couple of glasses of port and a quick taxi to the Hotel Chelsea. Almost 2a before my eyes closed.
Saturday morning I woke up early so I took a walk all around Chelsea, picked up a Starbucks, then took my computer down to the lobby for awhile.
When Jan was up we started our meander downtown instead of uptown. Wandered all over the Village (Bleecker St, Washington Park, a street fair on MacDougal). Here's Jan in front of the famous Cafe Wha.When we were tired of walking we snagged a cab for Battery Park. We bought tickets for a 50 minute harbor tour (Ground Zero, Statue of Liberty, around to the Brooklyn Bridge) and then wandered around the exhibits, street vendors and street performers until time for the cruise. Afterward we grabbed a cab for 6th street / "Indian row". Unfortunately a number of those little restaurants are closed or have re-opened as other ethnic foods. Sad. I should have read this first. We picked a bad one unfortunately, but I was still glad to have been on that street in the Village! So many fond memories and great meals.
Then it was back to the hotel to change for the theatre and off to see "Blithe Spirit". The show was fabulous. Coward humor true to period and style performed by performers to whom it came naturally: Ruper Everett, Christine Ebersole and, of course, Angela Lansbury. It was kind of cool to see Hugh Jackman come in and sit down a few seats away with his wife. They disappeared immediately after the standing ovation and I imagine they nipped backstage to congratulate the stars. It was raining when we exited the theatre so not wanting to spend alot of time outside in the rain we went to the same restaurant as the night before and had a late snack (Jan) and another glass of port (Susan). Then a taxi through the wet city back to Chelsea.
Sunday morning we got an earlier start, took the subway uptown and meandered into Central Park. Resting at a park bench contemplating which direction to head into the park we succumbed to the seduction of one of those bicycle ricksaws and took an hour ride through the park.
Then it was back to the hotel to change for the theatre and off to see "Blithe Spirit". The show was fabulous. Coward humor true to period and style performed by performers to whom it came naturally: Ruper Everett, Christine Ebersole and, of course, Angela Lansbury. It was kind of cool to see Hugh Jackman come in and sit down a few seats away with his wife. They disappeared immediately after the standing ovation and I imagine they nipped backstage to congratulate the stars. It was raining when we exited the theatre so not wanting to spend alot of time outside in the rain we went to the same restaurant as the night before and had a late snack (Jan) and another glass of port (Susan). Then a taxi through the wet city back to Chelsea.
Sunday morning we got an earlier start, took the subway uptown and meandered into Central Park. Resting at a park bench contemplating which direction to head into the park we succumbed to the seduction of one of those bicycle ricksaws and took an hour ride through the park.
Our Russian guide, Ivan, pointed out a number of celebrities homes (yawn) and spewed a few facts, both true and false. I have never taken one of those bicycle rickshaws ever, so I was quite thrilled to do so. He also took us by Bethesda Fountain, the John Lennon memorial. Our show on Sunday was a matinee at 3:00 of The Fantasticks. I haven't seen or heard of it in 35 years but was surprised and a little dismayed to realize that I remembered every lyric of every song. That's what happens when you've attended enough rehearsals of a show, no matter how long ago! After the show we bolted down to the Richard Rodgers and Jan bought a ticket for the 7p "In the Heights". I've seen it and I had a flight to catch. We took the subway back to the hotel and I grabbed my suitcase while Jan changed for the theatre yet again. Parting ways I head out to run the gauntlet of the now feasable subway to JFK. It was tempting because I already had an unlimited day pass - so it was free instead of a $50 cab fare. Unfortunately it was one of my bigger mistakes and I barely made my flight. I did make it though and tumbled into my own shower and bed in the wee hours. Jan and I are already plotting our next trip to NY.
