Weekend Travels: New York
New York Minute turned into New York Weekend!
Planning a quick trip? Somehow, my quick trips almost always bring me to New York City. There is always something new to see or try and each time I’m there, it feels completely different. These are just a few of the weekend favorites from our most recent visit!
The Met
Located at 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028, anyone who has watched Gossip Girl knows about the Met steps. During this weekend trip, we finally made our way up the steps (stopped to take a picture of course) and inside the museum.
Honestly, this place was very easy to get lost in. Each way you turn there is another exhibit waiting for you to explore. We wandered around for a few hours, taking in as much as we could before eventually circling back to things we had already seen.
Were there more exhibits? Yes.
Could we find them? No.
Did we use the map we were given? Also no. We are easily distracted and were really hungry.
Even so, it was great to see, and some of the pieces were truly moving. I may not need to go back to Metropolitan Museum of Art, but I am so glad I took the opportunity to check it out!
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
One of our stops every time we find ourselves in NYC is St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This time, in the cold January weather, the cathedral felt more like a sanctuary than ever. Gorgeous as always and beautifully built, it’s always a joy to sit in the pews of this NYC staple and pray or listen to the Gospel. We gave offerings to light our prayer candles and just enjoyed part of the service. The only thing I wish for whenever we visit is that guests would be more respectful of the noise during services; all are always welcome, but it is still an active church.
Broadway: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
This was our second time seeing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in NYC, and I know what you’re thinking… what the heck? Second time? Yes, but THIS time the show featured Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy. Yes, the Tom Felton from the Harry Potter films. He was magnificent, and I felt like this performance had an energy the previous one didn’t quite have.
The cast seemed genuinely excited to be playing these roles and to share the story, and it made a big difference in the overall experience. We spent too much on merchandise we HAD to have and enjoyed the glittery mocktails - having a blast pretending we were drinking potions. It’s also worth noting that we splurged on nicer seats this time, so it was just an all-around wonderful afternoon.
Redeye Grill
After a redeye flight, where better to eat than the Redeye Grill? Located on 7th Ave, this restaurant was perfect for a pre-show dinner. The vibe was giving old-school lounge, they had live music playing in the background, dark but timeless decor, and great food. Everything we ordered was wonderful but the stand-out for me was definitely the Banana Cream Pie; I knew I needed it as soon as I saw it on the menu.
Saving the best for last, as we were wrapping up dinner, a waiter walked around with a hot tray full of miniature chocolate chip cookies. He had everyone pick one off the tray and enjoy; this was so small (literally) but truly one of the most memorable things that I have ever experienced at a restaurant.
Masquerade: A Phantom Experience
“Hide your face so the world will never find you.” This Phantom of the Opera Revival, located at 218 W. 57th Street, is an immersive walk-thru experience that pulls its audience into the story. I’ve personally never seen anything like it. I was left breath-taken and teary-eyed by the end, even joking to friends afterwards that it was “like a nightmare and a dream at the time”. The actors ushered you along, handed you secret notes, pulled you into scenes away from the main party, and looked you dead in the eyes as they performed their story. I’m a big Phantom fan and this exceeded all of my expectations. I hear no two shows are alike, so this is definitely an experience I plan to do twice before it closes its limited run.
Drunk Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet
If you’re in NYC and you’re a theatergoer, you’ve probably been bombarded with ads on Facebook and Instagram for Drunk Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Let me tell you: We bought tickets, and we did not regret it.
A good time was had from the moment the show started, to the moment it ended. Our “Nurse” was the actor chosen to be drunk for this performance, and she was absolutely hilarious, as was the rest of the cast. Despite the comedic twists on the Romeo and Juliet everyone knows, you could tell the cast really knew their Shakespeare stuff.
Also, you’re handed a shot the moment you walk in the door. 10/10
