This Is New York.

For those of you that don't know (I can't imagine how you wouldn't know), I get to be an Auntie to these three cuties.

They know that I live in New York.  Audrey uses "New York" as an example of a place really far away.  "We should go home soon or they'll think we went all the way to New York."

I was noticing though, that they didn't really understand what New York was.  Even adults don't really understand.  Heck, sometimes I don't even understand.  So I considered it a sign when I stumbled across this book called This Is New York.

It's a cute little children's book that explains what New York is.  Obviously I bought it and gave it to the kids for Christmas.

We then decided to make a game of it.  The kids would choose one of the places that the book talks about, and I would go there.  The first place they decided to send me:

 That's why I went to Rockefeller Center as soon as I had the time and means.  I took a lot of pictures while I was there (See my post New York Day. On A Tuesday.) and sent them to the kids.

And while I was out and about I grabbed a couple of t-shirts for them.

Don't judge me. That size was the only size on sale.

I'm having fun!  Next stop: Museum of Natural History.

Good Friends Just Make Life Happier

Last fall two of my favorite people, Melanie and Stephanie, joined me on the East Coast when they moved to Washington DC.  I visited them in August.  They came up to New York in October.  We saw each other in Utah for Christmas.  Then, it was my turn.   So I packed a bag and left for DC with no definite plans on how long I'd be staying.

The trip ended up being 6 days of laughing, walking, Olympics, pictures, movies, and a LOT of food. 

We just had the best time.

I worked on a few shows in DC for 2 months in the summer of 2011.  There is something just so wonderful about that city.  It's big, and busy, and a place where important things happen.  Yet, somehow, it still has a small town feel.

Don't get me wrong.  New York is definitely a small town.  I'm reminded of that daily.  I think DC just feels more...quaint.  Maybe I should give up trying to explain how I feel.  I just love it.  So I'm so glad they live there now. 

We went and saw the monuments, and ate food.  Then we went to Mount Vernon, and ate food.  Then we went on a walking tour, and ate a lot of dessert.

George Washington had an amazing view from his house.

There were a lot of festivities happening at Mount Vernon for President's Day.

Old Town Alexandria.

When Stephanie and Melanie had to get back to their lives, I had the opportunity to head over to George Washington University where I'd rehearsed 3 years ago.  Quite coincidentally, 2 of the actors I worked with that summer were also in town.  One lives in NYC now, and the other in Chicago.  All three of us stopped by the school to visit with our old friends.  

Isn't this life wonderful?  There is something just so great about having friends all over the country.

We then went on a tour of Georgetown.  That is a cute part of town.  We walked around on campus and snuck in to this library.  Nobody stopped us or seemed to care.  Actually...nobody was really around.  Still, cool library right?

We bought so many treats while on our walking tour.  The cupcake craze started in DC, so obviously we had to partake.

I'd been here before (lived here actually), but hadn't gotten a picture of the "Welcome To" sign.  With this picture, I officially have 41 out of the 50.  I'm getting there!

I just love these girls.  We had a great time, but we also talked about our lives.  I am so lucky to have friends that understand who I am and what I want, and are able to give me advice based on that information.

I can't wait until they come up to New York again.  Tag, you're it!

New York Day. On a Tuesday.

Yesterday I had a meeting in Union Square, down on 15th street.  When I walked out of the meeting I thought, "it's a crisp clear day so perhaps I'll go for a walk."  As I started walking, I stepped in to a bakery and bought a cookie (obviously).

Side note - Last week I bought and ate the most disappointing chocolate chip cookie ever.  I'm not kidding.  I put it in my bag and when I pulled it out it was broken.  So anyway, the one I got yesterday was way better.

About 20 blocks later I grabbed a slice of pizza.  And kept walking.

The sun was shining. It was really quite lovely.

Check out all these flags. I don't know if they are here all the time or if it's because of the Olympics. I'm never really on 5th Avenue, so what do I know?

A little project I'm doing with Robbie, Audrey, and Casper led me to Rockefeller Center.

And, as you may recall from my 30 Years of Wisdom post, I'm trying to take better advantage of the city.

So I went skating!!

I thought it would be pretty fun.  I was wrong. 

It was SO MUCH FUN.  They had music playing, the ice was pretty smooth, and it wasn't crowded.  

I did have to go back once and trade my skates in for a bigger size.  Once I did that, I felt like I could skate for hours.

It was actually affordable as well.  It is usually $27 to skate and $12 to rent skates.  BUT, for $40 you get the package of skating, skates, and entrance to the Top of the Rock (top of Rockefeller Center, normally $27). So obviously I did that.  Once my session was over I walked through the empty hallways where there are lines throughout the rest of the year and rode to the top.

I got there around 4:30, and the sun was supposed to set at 5:30.  So I stuck around for a while.  It also wasn't very crowded (until the sunset), but boy it was cold up there.

The only down side to this spur of the moment day was that I wasn't really prepared.  I didn't have my camera or my Zagg Sparq.  So I just took pictures with my phone until it died. 

I then walked up to 59th street and went home. 

It was a lovely New York Day.