Inception's trip report

[inception]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 11:45pm

Back at my hotel  tonight after my 1st day in NYC.

I flew in overnight Thursday on United's summer redeye from Vancouver to Newark. Somehow I ended up with a whole row to myself so got to stretch out & managed a couple hours sleep.

Going through US Customs the agent was so friendly!  Obviously they can see a person's travel history.  She was all like, "It's good to have you back. I hope you have a wonderful trip!" 

It is VERY good to be back in the USA! 

Made my way into Manhattan, & checked into my hotel near to Madison Square Park.  When taking an overnight flight, I have learned to always book my room from the night of the flight, so that I can just crash on arrival.  I did go out & find something to eat nearby after checking in, but then went back to my room & slept for about 4 hours. 

I had no plans made for today as I knew I would probably need sleep.  I actually woke earlier than I had expected.   Ended up walking up to Macy's & browsing.  Saw one of the restaurants there had a special Restaurant Week menu, so decided to have a late lunch/early dinner there with a view of the Empire State Building.  Also checked out the view from the McDonald's on the floor with kids clothes but passed on eating there. Lol

Did more browsing, but decided I'll go back to Macy's another day. I didn't want to be weighed down with shopping bags as it was now getting close to 7.  Walked up to 44th & got in line for my first show: POTUS.

Julianne Hough was out. Happy to have seen Vanessa Williams & Rachel Dratch live, but this is quite a silly bit of fluff.  A LOT cruder than I had expected.  Audience really went for it big time. How is their box office? Orchestra seemed fullsh, but maybe everyone got discounts?

I chose this as an appetizer for my trip, knowing that I have better shows to come.

Sleep beckons now.

Tomorrow: will Beanie be in?  What will I decide to do if she isn't?  It's a cliffhanger!

Updated On: 12/7/23 at 11:45 PM

[Wick3]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 11:49pm

See Julie Benko if Beanie is out!!! Oh and Ramin Karimloo!

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 11:53pm

Welcome back to New York City, Inception!

I wholeheartedly agree with Wick3 — I would much rather see Julie Benko than Beanie... I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. 

What other shows are you seeing on this trip?

Updated On: 7/22/22 at 11:53 PM

[inception]

Posted: 7/23/22 at 6:48pm

Went to see the Polonsky Exhibit at the NYPL in the morning.  Had seen recommendations on TripAdvisor that this was a good, free, thing to do this summer in NYC.  Booked a timed ticket when the became available.  I would not want to be one of the people waiting in line, hoping to get in without a ticket. It is like a "jumble sale" of an exhibit with no over-riding theme; except maybe "look at this stuff we've got." A Shakespeare first folio, some Cuneiform tablets, an original portrait of Benjamin Franklin & a handwritten copy of The Declaration of Independence, a maquette from the original production of Sunday in the Park With George, the original stuffed toys A.A. Milne bought his son... and lots of other things. Cool but, so what? Spent 45 minutes. 

Made my way down towards the Public Theatre, stopping in at the Housing Works Bookstore. 

What can I say? Fat Ham! Fat Ham! Fat Ham!

Almost a perfect play. Almost.  Where it falls apart for me was in

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

the facile philosophy of the pot head's late soliloqy.  "Everyone just do what makes them happy." Or something to the effect. Umm...what about the fratricidal brother?  He did what made him happy.  So no, not everyone can just do what makes them happy.

Nikki Crawford gives a stand out performance.

Had late lunch/ early dinner at a pasta place near Union Square.  They looked at me like I was insane when I asked to eat outside.  Yes, it is hot.  Very hot.  But I want to just soak it in.  Vancouver's summer this year has been cold, wet, & dismal so far. (Though supposed to heat up this week.)

Back at hotel, showered, & getting ready to head out again.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/23/22 at 11:20pm

inception said: "Went to see the Polonsky Exhibit at the NYPL in the morning. Had seen recommendations on TripAdvisor that this was a good, free, thing to do this summer in NYC. Booked a timed ticket when the became available. I would not want to be one of the people waiting in line, hoping to get in without a ticket. It is like a "jumble sale" of an exhibit with no over-riding theme; except maybe "look at this stuff we've got." A Shakespeare first folio, some Cuneiform tablets, an original portrait of Benjamin Franklin & a handwritten copy of The Declaration of Independence, a maquette from the original production of Sunday in the Park With George, the original stuffed toys A.A. Milne bought his son... and lots of other things. Cool but, so what? Spent 45 minutes.

Made my way down towards the Public Theatre, stopping in at the Housing Works Bookstore.

What can I say? Fat Ham! Fat Ham! Fat Ham!

Almost a perfect play. Almost. Where it falls apart for me was in

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

the facile philosophy of the pot head's late soliloqy. "Everyone just do what makes them happy." Or something to the effect. Umm...what about the fratricidal brother? He did what made him happy. So no, not everyone can just do what makes them happy.

Nikki Crawford gives a stand out performance.

Had late lunch/ early dinner at a pasta place near Union Square. They looked at me like I was insane when I asked to eat outside. Yes, it is hot. Very hot. But I want to just soak it in. Vancouver's summer this year has been cold, wet, & dismal so far. (Though supposed to heat up this week.)

Back at hotel, showered, & getting ready to head out again.

 

What kind of soap did you shower with?
"

 

[inception]

Posted: 7/24/22 at 12:37am

Dollypop said: "
What kind of soap did you shower with?
""

 

 

Dove Unscented for Sensitive Skin.

Now  I hate to have to write the following.  This evening I saw Funny Girl with Beanie Feldstein, and it wasn't the atrocity of Armageddon-ish proportions many on here have been making it out to be.

It was as charming as what a few long time posters here reported at the early previews.

I know the show so was prepared for its inherent failings.

This is physically much nicer than the last production I saw live,  in the Seattle area in 2014.  I liked it more than when I saw the filmed version of the London production.  But, I do agree that the brick monolith that opens & closes at center stage is ugly.

Ms Feldstein was very funny & very charming. She didn't completely mess up the songs like so many claim she does.  She really brings the funny.  I don't see her successor being able to match her there.

The young people in the cheap seats at the top of the house were very vocal in their enthusiasm.

I don’t know why,  but my favourite number in this show had always been "Sadie, Sadie," and I thought all the pastel costumes were just lovely.

The chorus boys as soldiers in silver for "Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat" were fantastic. I could just watch that for 3 hours.  

Right now I have tentative plans to be back in NY next March.  If at that time it is still playing with the new leading lady,  I would be willing to put aside my dislike for her & see this again.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/24/22 at 1:20am

...and don't forget to bring that bar of Dove unscented soap!

[willep]

Posted: 7/24/22 at 7:35pm

Why do you hate to have to write that you enjoyed a show? What a ridiculous thing to say. Are you worried you won’t be in the group of cool kids who hate on Beanie? I haven’t seen the show and I have no interest in it, the Beanie hating is just out of control.

[inception]

Posted: 7/24/22 at 11:38pm

willep said: "Why do you hate to have to write that you enjoyed a show? What a ridiculous thing to say. Are you worried you won’t be in the group of cool kids who hate on Beanie? I haven’t seen the show and I have no interest in it, the Beanie hating is just out of control."

Merriam-Webster https://www.merriam-webster.com › ... Sarcasm Definition & Meaning 

"Sarcasm refers to the use of words that mean the opposite of what you really want to say, especially in order to insult someone, or to show irritation, or just to be funny. "

[inception]

Posted: 7/25/22 at 9:17am

For Sunday morning  I had decided to do one of the touristy things that I had never done before on any of my trips to NYC and booked a Circle Line cruise.  It was supposed to circumnavigate Manhattan, but the tides were too high this morning to get under one bridge.  It still had great views of most of the city & I got some good photos.
The Guide gives a 2.5 hour non-stop running commentary with actual historical & architectural information interspersed with cheesey jokes & woeful tales of his life in NY.  He clowns, mimes, does  pirouettes and just might be one of the hardest working men in showbiz in NY.  From their schedule I'm guessing he does this for two trips a day.  It was worth it, but I was able to mostly stay inside in the air conditioning.   If I was stuck outside under the sun for over 2 hours I don't think I would have had as good a trip.

Afterwards I had googled to find maybe a Sunday flea market & ended up going up to W 77th for the Grand Bazaar.  Got some dumplings & some lukewarm iced tea.  Didn't see anything else that grabbed my attention at any other vendors.  Had to make my way back to Times Square area for a show at 3.  Found that Columbus Avenue was closed to traffic for their Open Streets project.  It really was super hot, & only a few brave individuals were right out in the middle of the street where there was no shade.  But then about half ways between 77th & 68th they had a fire hydrant opened as a sprinkler & some kids were using it. What a quintessential NY moment!  Honestly it was so hot, I was tempted to jump through myself, but worried I wouldn't dry off in time. ( No Dolly, I didn't have a bar of soap with me)

A bit further down I passed a Magnolia Bakery.  It was not on my itinerary,  but then when I saw it really didn't have much of a line inside I turned back & went in to try the famous Banana Pudding.  When I saw the size of the small I decided to splurge on a medium.  The clerk looked in the refrigerator,  said "We're out of medium, just take a large."  Everyone is a winner... except my diet!  Does it live up to the hype? No.  Was it good? Yes.  One of my Grandmother's signature desserts was a trifle.  Cake & pudding was only one layer.  You need to add layers of raspberries and whipped cream to that pudding & then you will get something extraordinary.

The Magnolia Bakery banana pudding, in many ways is similar to the Broadway show I visited next.  It was very fine. Indeed it was excellent for what it was; but it was still missing a couple extra layers that could have made it something truly extraordinary.

I went to the matinee of Into the Woods.

Sara Bareillis was out.  I was there for Patina Miller first & foremost, so I could live with it. 
It was Cheyenne Jackson's first performance. He was excellent. He already had so many nuances to his characterizations that nothing suggested it was a first performance. I haven't seen Gavin Creel's version, but especially for the Wolf, I just can't see Creel giving as sexy a performance.  It would be very interesting if sometime Joshua Henry traded roles & took over the Cinderella Prince/Wolf.
Brian D'Arcy James was fine.
Phillipa Soo was excellent. It would be a privilege to see any production of this show if even she were the only star attraction.
Julie Lester: where will this take her?  A real star making turn.
Cole Thompson:  I want a recording so that I can hear his "Giants in the Sky" again.
Finally, Patina Miller.  Again like Soo, a privilege to experience. She gives everything I could want from her singing & acting.
The audience for this was over the top.  The previous night at Funny Girl it was obviously only young women at the very top of the house caterwauling.  Yesterday the 35-ish dad sitting behind me with his wife & maybe 8  year old kept screaming like a teenager. 
Nothing made me want to scream.
Yes it was very fine.  Everyone was excellent.  The stars gave star quality performances.  But it is still just missing that one extra layer to make it truly extraordinary.
Parts of the staging left over from its genesis as an "in concert" production kept me from totally loving this 100%.
I didn't like when they would do a quick succession of scenes & one group would do their scene, then stay on stage but turn their back to the audience.  I also think that for the Witch's transformation they could have come up with something better than just having Miller walk off stage. Minor quibbles maybe.  But I've seen plenty of budget productions where these moments were staged better.

Sunday evening I attended another show, where despite a budget, every moment on stage was perfection.  I'll try to write about that later today.

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 7/25/22 at 10:38am

Updated On: 7/25/22 at 10:38 AM

[inception]

Posted: 7/25/22 at 1:13pm

Despite it being a cloudy day today, I'm on my way to Coney Island, somewhere again I've never been.  The F train had delays for about 35 minutes, which gave me time to write this.

Last night (Sunday evening) I picked up a sandwich, some sparkling water, & some fruit at a deli near my hotel and then rode the 2 train up to 125th. I then walked over to the Richard Rogers Amphitheater in Marcus Garvey Park, arriving about an hour before the 8:30pm start time for The Classicial Theatre of Harlem's production of Twelth Night starring Kara Young, and had my picnic dinner.
By 8:30 a sizable audience had arrived & I was happy I had arrived early to secure a great seating location for the free performance.  Knowing it was going to be a free performance I didn't really know what to expect; imagining maybe something a bit amateur like what is usually put on as "Shakespeare in the Park" most summers in cities like Seattle & Portland.  Well this was far from amateur, starting with the simple yet beautiful set and gorgeous costumes.  The cast was all superb including both Ms Young & Christina Sajous as Olivia.  Allen Gillmore made a fantastic Malvolio; and Israel Erron Ford was beyond words in both acting & singing as Feste. 
This is described as a "futuristic" take on the play meaning lots of LED lights and techno music.  It could all have gone very wrong.  But Director Carl Cofield has given such serious, deep contemplation to every moment of the play in order to so wholly integrate his vision, and everything succeeds 100%.  This was a perfect night at the theatre, and it was free!  A true blessing awaits anyone who makes the effort to go see this production.
It is the sort of "only in New York" experience that keeps me coming back for the arts in this city.

[inception]

Posted: 7/27/22 at 10:30am

Here is an omnibus update from the last couple days:

Coney Island is another place I've never before visited as all my previous NYC visits were during fall or winter.  Google said that the quickest route from where I had breakfast was to catch the F train.  Half-way through the trip the train stopped moving, and didn't go anywhere for at least 30 minutes.  After maybe 10 minutes they did come on the speakers & explain that something was wrong with a switch somewhere, & we couldn't move as other trains were also stopped ahead.  I had a few emails & things that I had been ignoring, so took the opportunity to catch up with those, and by the time I was finished the train started moving again!

Honestly, I was surprised at how small it all was.  I always imagined Coney Island to be much bigger.

On a Monday there weren't any crowds, but I imagine that the beaches must have been packed on the weekend with the extreme heat.

The Cyclone didn't seem to be running, but I took a ride on the Wonder Wheel.

Then I walked up the boardwalk towards Brighton Beach. It was cloudy out so I didn't really feel like hitting the beach, even though I brought a towel & beach mat.

Once I was in Brighton Beach proper I found a couple restaurants open onto the boardwalk, & decided I could do a light lunch.  I should have done more research!  I was expecting them to be primarily seafood places, but they were more Russian places with seafood on the menu.  Prices were crazy as well, but I guess it is prime real estate. Anyways, it turned out to be a wise choice to take a break at one of these restaurants,  as about an hour later the weather took a turn, & just when I was thinking I might ask for the bill, a rain storm rolled in.  Everyone out on the beach started making a mad dash to get to cover anywhere.  (Later on the 11 o'clock news they showed footage of some of the big lightening over the city.)  I figured I'd be staying put so ordered coffee & dessert & watched the weather.  As equally entertaining was the table near me of a group of ladies in their 80's from Brooklyn celebrating one in the groups birthday.  "Margo! Don't fall asleep! Margo! Are you asleep? Or did you drop dead? Oh, you fell asleep!  Do want another martini?" I wish I could make this stuff up.

The storm passed, it was about 4:30. Google said there was a different train line close to where I was that would get me back into the city, so I saw a different set of people's back yards.

I had time for about a 40 minute nap once back at the hotel, then got ready to head out for Phantom!

This was my first time ever seeing Phantom.  I've always avoided it, based on criticism I'd read growing up of Andrew Lloyd Webber 's work, & the fact that those shows of his I had seen didn't do much for me.  I saw the film when it came out, but can't remember much, and have never listened to the cast recording.

I was pleasantly surprised, & enjoyed it.  Don't know if I would go again soon, but it was good.  My only disappointment was that Jordan Donica was out on Monday night.  The replacement looked like Christine's Grandfather, not someone she knew from childhood.

The audience was all very well behaved, despite being a packed house of mainly tourists.   Everyone paid rapt attention, & waited for music pieces to complete before applauding.  The Locals who filled the audience at the Sunday matinee of Into the Woods could learn a lesson. 

 

Running out of time, as on my way to a Hamilton walking tour this morning, so maybe will have to write up Tuesday later? 

 

Actually, the only thing of interest to this site from Tuesday was that I saw Six. Courtney Mack as K.Howard was the only substitution.   For this show I have listened to the original UK album. I liked the bits & pieces between songs that bind it all together that aren't on that album.  The cast is all very good.  But yeah, despite some good songs, I see why this didn't take the Tony: it is both too short & too lightweight.  If I knew folks who were making a trip to NYC, & who were only looking to see one or two shows, I wouldn't recommend this to them. 

 

More later....

 

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/27/22 at 12:19pm

inception, I am very much enjoying reading every detail of your trip over my coffee. Don't know how much longer you are here for, but I will be checking back in! (And I often use Dove for Men body wash!)

Updated On: 7/27/22 at 12:19 PM

[inception]

Posted: 7/29/22 at 5:06pm

I left off my last update with me running out the door Wednesday morning running late to a Hamilton walking tour down in the Wall Street area.  I underestimated just how far that is from Midtown, but got there.
This wasn't something I had originally planned to do.  I had my ticket to Music Man I bought in 2019, which was the whole reason I chose NYC for this vacation. Other than that I left Wednesday open, thinking I might visit a different beach or even the Bronx Zoo. But, after getting stuck on the subway Monday on my way to Coney Island, I didn't want to risk getting stuck outside Manhattan. 

I did a different historical walking tour on Tuesday and had enjoyed it.  Wednesday morning I was browsing online & found this tour with availability so booked it, and then had to run to get to it on time!

Back on Tuesday I also spent time contemplating getting a last minute ticket for a Wednesday matinee, since I had now decided to stay in the city.  Reading on here that Sara Bareillis was back in Into the Woods, & seeing on SeatGeek that they had just dropped prices for remaining Mezz seats helped me with the decision, although it took me all afternoon to make that decision. I had gone over to Roosevelt Island, taking the tram, & meandered about over there for a couple hours.  FInally I went into the drug store there to get more cash from an ATM, & then went to the St James box office.  Then I realized that the performance of Six that night started at 7pm & not 8.
Once again, I had to rush back & forth to my hotel.

So now I had concrete plans for Wednesday: Walking tour, matinee, & later Music Man.  I just now had to browse through my phone's gallery to figure out whether I ate.  Oh yes, on my way out of ITW, I googled for restaurants, & a list of options cane up: Mexican, Hamburgers, Cuban.   I clicked on Cuban & got directed to a Sophie's Cuban Cuisine on 6th Avenue.  Fast food, but very good.
Music Man was at 8, so I had time for a nap.
I enjoyed MM. I thought the tap dancing was sensational & that there wasn't too much.  I would have gladly taken more.
I was also very happy I had seen Funny Girl a few nights before. If I had seen MM first, I would have sat through FG picking it apart like all the Posters on here.  Instead, by seeing FG first I could enjoy it, since it was still 500% more than anything put on back home - while MM is a million times better than anything I could hope to see in Vancouver.
Wednesday was day 6 of my trip.  More than half over, I now feel like I'm going down a mountain on a bicycle that has lost its brakes.  After such a long climb, the ride will be over soon; & if I can just hold on I'll make it through in one piece.

[inception]

Posted: 7/29/22 at 11:40pm

Thursday I had a calmer day. I had a timed entry ticket for the Guggenheim, to see the current Kandinsky exhibit, and didn't have be there until 11.  I slept in & had cold leftover pizza I had picked up the previous night for breakfast.  

Last weekend I passed a poster somewhere advertising an exhibit of early Cindy Sherman works at Hauser & Wirth, so walked down to there from the Guggenheim.  I think her early works are her finest. 

I next had a 2pm timed ticket to go up to the observation deck at Summit One Vanderbilt. I have done most of the other observation decks on previous trips, visiting One World Observatory in December 2019.  I think Summit One is an all round much better experience. It is in a better location, with better views and has 3 huge floors of windows as well as an outside bar deck.  It was totally worth the money.

After that I had a late lunch at the Oyster Bar restaurant in Grand Central Station. I've never been before, & frankly cannot recommend it.  I dined at the bar, & didn't do any raw oysters out of an abundance of caution to avoid any chance at food poisoning, but the bill was still $40 for a pretty mediocre soup & sandwhich. 

 

Later I had a fantastic surprise at that evening's performance of Company.   Here is what I wrote in the thread about the filming of the show that evening: 

 

"Whatever the reason (for the Theatre on Film & Tape Archive of the NY Public Library to wait until now to film the show), I'm grateful it was the night I had a ticket, since I got upgraded. (Because they had one of their cameras set up in the seat location on my ticket.)  Though in the moment it was a bit "What the Heck!?"  I went through the metal detectors, then my ticket was scanned, then suddenly someone is there saying please Sir come with me.  I thought I failed the metal detector or something & was being hauled away, LOL. 

 

Such a fantastic show.  Incredible how these actors can bring such a fresh take on a script we think we know...  especially thinking about Jennifer Simard in the whole scene leading up to "The Little Things You do Together."  And Katrina Lenk...Wow!  I felt she brings so much to a character who is so often played as a cypher.  I suppose the powers that be decided she already got a Tony not too long ago.  As I was watching her, I got to thinking that if anyone ever did a biographical musical about Marlene Dietrich, Ms Lenk could tackle that quite successfully. 

[dearalanaaaa]

Posted: 7/30/22 at 1:06am

I loved reading this thread!  I apologise if I'm interrupting a diary you typically write on these boards however this has so many great touristy ideas. I'm a local to the city so I never really get to see it from a tourist perspective but I'm seeing how enjoyable it is to really pack it all into a week. Any outstanding shows you wish you could've hit before flying back out?

[inception]

Posted: 7/30/22 at 10:09am

dearalanaaaa said: "I loved reading this thread! I apologise if I'm interrupting a diary you typically write on these boards however this has so many great touristy ideas. I'm a local to the city so I never really get to see it from a tourist perspective but I'm seeing how enjoyable it is to really pack it all into a week. Any outstanding shows you wish you could've hit before flying back out?"

You aren't interrupting at all!  In the past, more people did these sorts of trip report threads, & I always found them interesting & also helpful in trip planning myself.  Glad to read you enjoy it.  I'm trying to edit myself & remove some of my more snarky opinions & observations...

Like, I notice that for many young men on this city, it seems to be the style currently to go barefoot in leather dress shoes.  Really? In this heat?  Also, maybe from a distance it looks "hip," but then when you sit beside a few of them on the subway you notice that they all have their feet bandaged up from the blisters they've gotten from wearing stiff leather shoes barefoot. You know what fixes that?

Socks!