Serendipity 3

 An awesome treat while in NYC can be found at Serendipity 3 on the Upper East Side.  They are famous for it - so of course you HAVE to try it right???????  It's their frozen hot chocolate and it is amazing!!!!!    The restaurant is also known for its whimsical decor.  There's alot to see and it even has a little gift shop section with lots of unusual gifts, purses, jewelry...you really never know what you might find here!  It's always very, very busy and you can most certainly expect to wait for a table so you do need to plan accordingly.  We have been there twice - once just for the frozen hot chocolate, and once to have a meal AND frozen hot chocolate! =)  The food was good but the star is definitely this yummy treat!

Not going to make it to Serendipity 3 to it yourself???  No problem!!!!!

If you find yourself in Las Vegas.......... and want a little taste of the Big Apple.........Of course you can visit New York, New York Las Vegas =) but you can also have a treat from Serendipity 3!!!!  Now open on the strip in front of Caesar's Palace.  We were in Vegas this summer and I wanted to take my husband there but we just never made it.

Or...... my mom found a recipe that tastes a lot like it - now of course it's not the original, but its definitely a tasty substitute!  I recommend whipping up a batch at home and trying it for yourself!

Frozen Hot Chocolate

1/2 cup chocolate syrup

1 cup evaporated milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

3 cups ice cubes

 

Garnish with whipped topping, chocolate sprinkles or chocolate shavings

 

(can use fat-free evaporated milk)

 

I made a double batch, so it was a full blender........blender half first, then added second half of ingredients

 

 

Combine choc. syrup, evaporated milk, vanilla and ice in a blender till smooth

Pour into  chilled glasses or mugs, and garnish.....store or return to freezer until you need to refill glasses or mugs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enjoy!!!!!!

There it is!!!  YUMMMMM!!!!

From New York.....The Greatest City in The World

It's The Late Show With David Letterman!!!!!!!!!!

I've always been a fan of his show.  But to be completely honest....I'm usually asleep by the time it airs!  =)  But when in NYC I really wanted to see the famous Ed Sullivan Theater and possibly have a chance to see the show!  The first time I saw the theater was kind of a funny story.....well it's funny now!  Mom and I had been on the subway heading back into Times Square when I made it off and the doors closed right between us.  At this time we were hardly familiar with the subway and it was a very scary moment!!!  We gestured through the window as the subway pulled away for her to get off at the next stop and to call me!!!!!!  I hurried across the platform and then up the stairs and out onto the street and started walking as fast as I could in the direction I thought the train was going.  It wasn't long and my phone rang, the next stop was 59th Street / Columbus Circle, she was on the edge on Central Park! I was a tad bit jealous at that point because we wanted to see Central Park so bad and just hadn't made it there yet....  But she was heading my way and we started naming things we saw to tell when we were getting closer to one another.  It was then I saw the big sign for the Ed Sullivan Theater!  I was pretty excited about that.  Soon after we found each other and went on our way.  That trip I came home with just some photos of the theater.

The next trip in 2011, we got on the standby line.  We headed to the theater and waited in line just hoping someone would not be able to make it.  We met a really nice couple from Canada who wanted to see the show so bad.  It was their 3rd day in a row they were on standby and this was the last chance they would have before heading home.   But wouldn't you know every single ticket holder showed up that day.  So that meant no one in the standby by line would get in.   Bummer!  Then we did hear some noise and a limo pulled up the side street of the theater.  I grabbed a camera and ran!!!!!!!!!!!!  As I got closer I was weaving in through people and saw.........KATY PERRY!!!!!  I got one pretty good pic of her!!!!  That would have been a great show to get in to!!!!  But we did catch some of her performance the following day on GMA.  =)  It was still exciting having the possibility of seeing the show.

So, in 2012 we decided to try our luck again.  Once again we got standby tickets.  We were #2 & #3.  It was not looking good.  They came out and sent everyone #10 and greater away as they knew they would not need them.  It seemed like a long wait but it was just anxiety!  I wanted in so bad! =)  This time we were lucky.........they took the first 3 people!!!!  Whew!  We were in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  That's where it got really fun!!!!  We were moved to the "audience line".  It was official!  They had someone come out to the street and get us all pumped up before the show!  Then they escorted us into the theater and we didn't wait long at all before the warm up comic came in.  The band played for us a bit which was great and then Dave came out and did some jokes for us.  It was crazy to actually be there!

The guest that night was Jim Parsons, who plays Sheldon Cooper on one of my favorite shows, The Big Bang Theory, and they also had Stupid Human Tricks and a band who I honestly have never heard of (they were ok).  It was high energy in the theater and really cool to see how things work in "tv land".    The band played for us during the commercial breaks and they were great!  Then as soon as it was over we were ushered out and on our way!!!!

The Hello Deli just around the corner!

It was really fun and I would recommend attending this taping to anyone!  You can request tickets on the shows webpage, which we did but were not "randomly selected".  Or if you are in NYC there is a standby ticket line you can call and put your name in.  I highly recommend this!!!!!!!!!  It says what time the line opens and trust me you want to be dialing in at that very moment.  They assign you a standby number you use to check in and make sure you are NOT late! (A couple got turned away because they were late and missed out!)  You will lose your place.  You can also show up at the box office to put in a request but the phone is easier and can be done from anywhere in the city so you don't have to base an entire day out of hanging around that location =).  And of course standby is just that.  No guarantee you will get in.

Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark

Spiderman:  Turn Off The Dark...........  Before our trip in 2011 we had been researching what Broadway Shows we might be most interested in seeing.  Honestly most all of them looked great but there was one that stood out for me, Spiderman.  I've seen all the movies and really enjoyed them and I'd been following all the hoopla about the show.  It is the most expensive Broadway show in history, has the longest run in previews, has been described as the most technically complex show ever on Broadway, and the high-flying ariel sequences lead to several cast injuries.  Because it was such a stand out show it was featured on several tv shows, and an in-depth behind the scenes interview and peek at the show was what made me want to see this show.....BAD!  It had been shut down but opened just before we got there!!!!!!!  It wasn't easy to get tickets and after a failed attempt or two on our last night in NYC we tried once more.  We decided to try and get tickets from the TKTS booth in Times Square.  The line was insane!  I saw a guy handing out show fliers for Spiderman and asked what our chances would be of getting tickets at the box office and if it was still open.  He sent us to the box office and told me where to stop along the way for a coupon that was an even better deal then what we could get at the TKTS booth!!!!!

We arrived at the box office with high hopes and the gal said they didnt have any of those special price seats available but could work something out for us.  She handed us tickets and said they were pretty decent seats with quite a grin on her face.  We quickly found out why!  She had us in the second row in  front of the stage!!!!!  These tickets were worth some serious bucks!  We had Spiderman flying above our heads all evening!  It was amazing!!!!!

It was so exciting being in that gorgeous theater before the show!  The set designs were unlike anything I'd ever seen and were works of art themselves.  The cast was awesome, I loved the music, the choreography, the story, I loved it all.  We had talked to people that had seen the show 3 or 4 times by that point, in it's various stages throughout it's previews and they loved the show and will continue to see it.  I can say I would go back again too!!!!!

It was a really great night!!!!!!  We got to see the show, and scored awesome tickets thanks to a really wonderful gal at the box office!!!

Soooo excited!

Look who we bumped into after the show!!!  No it wasn't Reeve =)

I got your back Spidey!

Night Tour

There is nothing quite like seeing NYC at night!!!  From the bright, flashing lights of Times Square, to the glittering lights along the skyline it is quite a magnificent sight!!!  One of our favorite things to do is the Night Tour that is offered by the tour bus lines and it leaves right out of the heart of Times Square.  The tour lasts about 2 hours and goes through Times Square, through Manhattan, into Brooklyn and stops for a brief time to take pictures of the skyline before heading back into Times Square.  It is a guided tour so you get alot of neat information and facts about the city from your guide.  If you take the hop on hop off tours during the day alot of the information is the same....but if you are like us you never tire of hearing about NYC!

Now this tour is a great way to end a day in the city.  After a long day of walking and navigating your way around it is really fabulous to grab a seat and sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

You can purchase tickets from the tour bus agents right on the street corner, inside the Times Square Visitors Center during business hours, online and several other locations.  If you have time in the city and are interested in the hop on hop off bus tours its a better deal to buy a package that comes with the night tour.  Just a little hint =)

I would highly recommend this tour as we have taken it 3 times and would do it again!!!

Empire State Building 

The beautiful Chrysler Building

Skyline

We Will Never Forget

Today we remember those we lost, those who gave everything, and those who continue to give.

Flat Iron Building

I absolutely LOVE the architecture in NYC!  I never tire of looking at all the amazing buildings....... One of my very favorites is the iconic Flat Iron building.  Completed in 1902, it was one of the tallest buildings in the city at the time.  The building sits on a triangular island-block formed by Fifth Avenue, Broadway and East 22nd Street, and the name "Flatiron" derives from its resemblance to a cast-iron clothes iron.  It's rounded front measures only six feet across.  The building has famously been in many movies but I always relate it to being depicted as the Daily Bugle headquarters in the Spiderman movies. =) 

The building is currently a functioning office building but I've read that a real estate investment firm bought a majority stake in the Flatiron Building, with plans to turn it into a world-class luxury hotel, however it may have to wait a number of years before the leases run out.   

Photos do not do this beautiful building justice.  It's really quite special to see it in person.  

And I will note the Flat Iron District is a really neat area to spend a little time.  I'll touch on some specifics later.....but Madison Square Park is a neat place to grab a seat and relax and also a visit to Eataly is a must if you love food!

Go ahead and take a step inside the lobby!!!!!

You can see a close of the beautiful detail in this building.  And also catch a view of the Empire StateBuilding!

Times Square Visitors Center

There it is!  Right next to McDonalds!

A great place to visit early on in your trip is the Times Square Visitors Center.  It is located in the heart of Times Square on 7th Ave between 47th and 48th Street. Inside there are exhibits that tell the story of Times Square and some really neat Broadway exhibits.  You can also get tickets for the Gray Line double decker bus tours that you have surely already seen around the city!  There are also fliers for all the different Broadway shows going on, NYC attractions, tours, maps and just a bunch of great information! 

The New Year’s Eve Centennial Ball, which stood atop One Times Square in 2007, is also on display and and it simulates the New Year’s Eve countdown every hour, on the hour, the 05, 25, and 45.  That is pretty neat to see!  They also have a place where you can write your wish for the coming year on a piece of confetti that will be added to the confetti dropped in Times Square on New Years Eve!  I thought that was pretty cool!  And I love NYC souvenirs........so of course I have to check out their gift shop as well.  They have some really neat souvenirs here - things you will not see all over the rest of NYC!  So if it is your first visit to the city, or your 4th, it is a great place to stop for a few minutes and check it out!

Costume Display

The Millenium Ball

One of my favorites places to visit...The Statue of Liberty

In my book one of the absolute MUST SEE things in New York City is The Statue of Liberty!!!!!  It is the very first thing I saw on my first trip to NYC and I will never forget it!  We have been there each trip to date and have been fortunate to have crown access 2 of those times.  

A few tips for visiting..... we went online each time and bought our tickets in advance from www.statuecruises.com.  This way we had our tickets in advance but the bigger bonus was that you get to go to the front of the security lines.  This could potentially save a whole lot of time depending when you go.  The lines can be crazy long!  Which another tip is GO EARLY!!!!!  It's less crowded, and the nice part is when you are finished you can be on your way and wander off into NYC!  If you have reservations for the afternoon you have that time hanging over your head that you have to get there by and always need to know how to get  from your location to Battery Park or Liberty State Park in NJ.  We left out of Battery Park each time so that is all I am personally familiar with.  There are lockers for your use once you get to the island but again there are a limited number and during busier times you may not gain access to one.

The statue is currently under a year long renovation which includes making the statue more accessible to visitors.  That's great news!!!!  When we were there it was limited to 240 visitors to the crown per day.  Tickets booked up months upon months in advance.  But what an experience it was!  There were 2 very tight spiral staircases - one going up and one coming down - and up top was a platform where you could look out the "windows" in her crown.  It was quite an experience!  Once you descended you could go in to the museum located in the base of the statue.  Definitely recommend spending a little time here, lots of interesting information.  The grounds are so pretty and it's a great walk around the island.  And the trip would of course not be complete without a trip to the gift shop!  =)  If you want a fun picture of yourself in a foam "crown" visit the gift shop prior to walking the grounds or the snack counter on the ferry sells them too if I remember correct.  

If you don't have the time to actually go out to visit the island - you can get a great view and nice photos by taking a free trip on the Staten Island Ferry.  We have done this and it's a neat little ride in itself.  It takes about 25 minutes each way, you can de-board and make a loop and re-board the same ferry and head right back if you wish (that's what we did) and did I mention it's free??

There she is in the distance!

Very narrow spiral staircase

The platform in the crown

You can see her nose and lips =)

Crown windows

Looking out the crown

On the ferry

You can find all kinds of things in the gift shop!