Eating and Sleeping in NYC

I’ll write a brief post about where I stayed and where I ate. Nothing too exciting since I was pretty budget-conscious on this trip. But don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t eat cheaply in New York. You may not eat grandly, but you can get decent food for reasonable prices if that’s what you’re looking for.

Hotel: I stayed at the Hampton Inn Times Square NORTH, which is on 8th Avenue between 51st and 52nd. This not to be confused with the Hampton Inn Times Square SOUTH, which is somewhere else and not as highly regarded.

The hotel was fine, a basic, dependable Hampton with a clean bathroom and lumpy comforter. The room was actually a pretty nice size for NYC and even had a little sitting area. The bathroom was small, but for one person, it was plenty of room. I was out pretty early most mornings because I was attending a conference, so the breakfast room was not really crowded. At least once a morning, though, someone’s bagel caught on fire in the toaster. Kept things interesting.

They Say the Neon Lights Are Bright on Broadway; Not So Much on 11th Avenue

While in NYC in March, I had the opportunity to see a few Broadway shows and to be an audience member for some of my favorite TV shows. Yay!

The Miracle Worker: I was sad when I read that the producers were considering closing this play the weekend  I saw it.  While it suffers from comparisons with the original play and roles originated by Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke, I think it holds its own. Abigail Breslin, and especially Alison Pill as Annie Sullivan, do an excellent job in the lead roles. The supporting cast, notably Matthew Modine, is a little weak, but no one sees this play to experience an outstanding performance in the role of Helen Keller’s father. (Jennifer Morrison does need to learn how to maintain her southern accent throughout the whole play, but she looks really pretty when she makes herself cry).

I enjoyed seeing this play in the round, and the Circle in the Square Theatre is quite intimate. I was in the second row, and sometimes it felt like the actors were talking directly to me. Maybe they were. I liked it. I think some people may have gotten wet during the famous pump scene.

I Know Who’s Buried in Grant’s Tomb

I spent a fabulous week in New York City in early-mid March. I was there partially for work, partially for fun, and partially to learn to despise Delta Airlines (more on that in another posting).

Now that I’m obsessed with presidential homes and graves, New York provided a great two-fer in Theodore Roosevelt’s birthplace and Grant’s tomb. But, I also visited a few non-presidential sites as well.

I’m proud of myself because I overcame my irrational fear of riding the subway and used it almost primarily to get around (I walked quite a bit, too, because the weather was gorgeous for three-fourths of the trip).