By BRRRRRRRRrrrrrrr!
It is COLD in NYC this Saturday morning. We are all worn out after our last minute change in travel plans, so it is a bit of a slow start today. The hotel’s buffet is $50 per person, which is a bit excessive. ALAS! We don’t have breakfast waivers at the Marriott, so we’re going to have to sort out the morning meal. Quickly. It is never a good idea for me to go too long without eating. I definitely get cranky.
Luckily the staff recommended The Alderman as a nearby alternative. By the time everyone was showered and ready to go, it was more brunch than breakfast, but that’s okay. Our original itinerary didn’t have us arriving in New York until noon/1pm, so this is just free time. Two friends ordered smash burgers. One ordered Avocado toast. I ordered a french omelette. Everyone enjoyed their meals. Our burger eaters RAVED about the dill pickle. We got the name of the company (Patriot Pickle). I am now am emailing with the company in hopes of finding a place here in town where I can buy a jar.
Rockefeller Center was only a 10-15 minute walk from the restaurant (which is inside the Hilton near Times Square), but it was frigid outside. One of our travelers was not as ambulatory as desired, so we opted for a quick Uber. There was a lovely ice sculpture in honor of the Olympics at the front of the plaza…and there were a few crazy fools ice-skating. We took some pics and then headed to the FAO Schwarz store which was packed! My travelmates have grandchildren to shop for, so we spent a fair amount of time in here. Then they were off to the lego store. I opted instead to head across the street to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. I enjoyed the peacefulness of the church in contrast to the noise/hustle and bustle from outside. I was in for a treat, as the organist played a few hymns, I assume in preparation for an upcoming service.
Tonight we have tickets to Operation Mincemeat. I thoroughly enjoyed the show in London and was looking forward to the NYC version. Unfortunately we did not have dinner planned out at all. On our way out we stopped by TKTS and snagged some tickets to a 2pm show on Sunday. Ruth had suggested a pizza place nearby…but here’s the harsh reality check: it is Saturday night; the restaurant doesn’t take reservations and it’s in the theater district (where everyone is trying to grab a bite before the show). We optimistically walked there only to discover that it was at least an hour wait. There was no plan B. So we wandered (freezing our rears off) a bit until we landed at Little Italy pizza (Almost ended up with Chick-fil-A, which I would have liked too). It had a fast foody vibe which I wasn’t thrilled about, but we were desperate. The place was full which was a good sign. I’m happy to report the pizza was good. Then it was off to the theater for the show. We were up in the balcony but the seats were still pretty decent. I loved the show just as much as I did in London. The German pop song that opens the second act cracks me up SO much. It is politically incorrect, which makes me chortle even more.
No after dinner dessert or drinks, just back to the hotel. Whatever was wrong with the heater last night got fixed, so no rattling. And exciting news! Suitcase was in New Jersey and expected to arrive a day early!
