New York: Part Fin

So, I have been utterly exhausted this week, which is a great opener to talk about our last day in New York since it can be summed up thusly: 1) Exhausted, 2) Pumpkin Pancakes 3) Drowsy, 4) Chocolate Milkshake, 5) Really tired, 6) Rice Pudding.  Aren't you just RIVETED now?

Sunday

Go ahead and open up this picture to it's full size and look at our eyes--even given the extremely unforgiving light of the subway car, are those not some of the most exhausted eyes you've ever seen in our hollow, pale little faces?

We were up and out the door Sunday morning and on our way to stand in the TKTS line so that we could buy our cut price theater tickets and then head to Cafe Orlin for breakfast.  The part that we didn't plan for was that TKTS wouldn't be open until 11 o'clock, and that the line looked to have started forming around 9 o'clock.  It was a LONG line.  And we still had about 30 minutes until the ticket windows even opened for business.  So, we settled in for a long wait and began discussing such fascinating topics as pigeons, architecture, and why some 80 year old women still insist on tanning and wearing skin tight leopard print tops.

And then Pretend Sergeant Bitchface came along and started getting all up in my grill.  "Form a single line!" she hollered, apparently being the officer in charge of sidewalk traffic.  So, the line shuffled over toward the buildings a little bit to allow the absolute HORDES of tourists the space to walk by if they were so inclined (which they did not seem to be, as there was surprisingly little foot traffic on this particular street).  The line was still about two people wide however as we had a long wait ahead of us and were all taking the opportunity to, oh, I don't know, talk to the people with whom we were standing in line.  Well, Pretend Sergeant Bitchface didn't like that, but instead of hollering at everyone in the line in vain once again, she decided that she would target our little group, me in particular.  So, that was fun, especially when she informed me that she had told me to get in line but she "knew it was all about me".  It would have been funnier, or maybe sad since she was so clearly just trying to be important, but I was tired, and it quickly evolved from being somewhat amusing to really infuriating.  Just when I was about to start crying from annoyance, the line finally started moving, and about 30 minutes later we bought our tickets to see The Drowsy Chaperone.

With tickets in hand (well, in Brittany's wallet anyway), we headed over to the East Village for brunch at Cafe Orlin.  If you are ever in New York, looking for a great breakfast place, I implore you, go to Cafe Orlin and order the pumpkin pancakes.  They were fluffy and thick without being heavy, cinnamony and pumpkiny without being too sweet, and just overall the most amazing things I ate all weekend.  Except for maybe the cheese and herb fries--I think it's a tie.

After brunch (and a brief misadventure on the subway in which we lost Katie at the Astor Place station and no one had any cell reception since we were A ZILLION FEET UNDERGROUND) we went back to Times Square where The Drowsy Chaperone is performed at the Marriot Marquis Theater.  It was a little bizarre going to the hotel that we stayed at a few years ago to see a Broadway show, but the theater was a good size, and the show was hilarious.  I haven't become a scary fangirl like I did for Wicked, but I did love the music and spent the majority of the show laughing--except for that one time I fell asleep.  But it didn't seem like anything important was going to happen in the next five minutes, so a catnap was deemed acceptable.

We followed up the show with lunch at Ellen's Stardust Diner, which has never had awesomely great food, but is usually good for entertainment value.  We were fairly disappointed on both counts however, and eventually headed back to our apartment so that Carolyn could pack and head off back home.  Once we had her in a taxi, Brittany, Katie, and I briefly debated doing something fun, but after a quick photo op at the Permanent Mission of India to the United States (which was right around the corner, since not only were we spitting distance from the Chrysler Building, but also apparently the United Nations--how about that!), we opted to go back to the apartment and watch a marathon of Flip That House.  We discovered that we have lots of opinions on bathroom tile and glass blocks.

Eventually we dragged ourselves from our various comfortable seating arrangements and emerged from the apartment for just long enough to go to Rice to Riches, order rice pudding and then go back to the apartment and watch Friends for the rest of the evening.  And you can stick a fork in us because we are DONE with the New York recaps.  Well, except I have to tell you that Rocky Road rice pudding is pretty fan-freakin-tastic.  And also those Tide to Go pens are a gift from God.  Go buy one.  Keep in with you always.  Don't thank me, thank God.

Comments

[Michelle]

mmm Pumpkin Pancakes... *drool

[anne]

I have one of those pens and they ARE a gift from god. However, they only get the drops of stuff I spill on myself, not the streaks of snot that the girl wipes on me. or the chewed up cookies. or.... well, you get the picture.

It sounds like a great trip!

[Caro]

You had me lmao with your ever-so-appropriate 'Pretend Sergeant Bitchface' -- such a perfect way to describe her!

I'm sad I missed tv marathons, rice pudding and the UN though! I can't believe we were right around the corner from that too! Did I ever tell you about the extremely frustrating encounter I had at the bus station? Because I almost missed my bus....but NYC was fun. Absolutely exhausting, but fun. I'm so glad I was able to come!

[Princess extraoridinaire]

I love those pens - they've saved my ass from humiliation..I am glad you all had a good time even if you were a bit tired..I likie the picture of you beautiful girls...what a great way to spend time in NYC..

[Bre]

Sounds like you had a fabulous adventure! I'm jealous, that show sounds awesome! :)

[sophie]

What a great time! I have added one of those pens to my purse as well. Good stuff!