Broadway | Newsies

I only lasted a few days back in NYC before heading to a Broadway show! I don’t plan on going every weekend like I did during my internship. One, I will have a much heavier workload, but I also need to be more frugal this time around. Last time I didn’t know if I would ever be returning to NYC, so I lived more in the moment. Now that I’ll be here for the long haul, I have to be more practical with my spending. But since this was my first weekend back and I’m stuck at home without any Internet or cable, I decided to treat myself. After a quick search on one of my favorite websites BradwayInformer.com using the Internet at gold old McDonalds, I decided that this was the day I would win the Newsies lottery! Boo. I didn’t win. Luckily, Newsies is one of the most popular shows on Broadway right now and has sell-out performances. That means they offer Standing Room Only (SRO) tickets for just $30. Yes, that is what it sounds like. With SRO tickets you must stand for the entire performance. At first I was pretty bummed, but it actually wasn’t all that bad. I got to stand right behind the orchestra seats that people pay a ton of money for. There was even a half wall with numbered areas. That means I got my own little space to lean on. This comes in handy for certain parts of the show. Even though I wasn’t exactly thrilled to be in SRO seats (or stands? Bad, I know), I was super excited to be seeing Newsies. I adore the movie, and I even went through this phase in high school where I listened to the soundtrack on repeat. I had heard from multiple friends that Newsies was amazing, and it definitely is! Of course, there are a few key differences between the show and the film, but I really didn’t mind them. The rewrite worked perfectly, and I enjoyed the new characters. I don’t want to say too much and ruin anything, but the news writer in this version is a young woman! Makes for some interesting twists and turns. All in all I thought Newsies was fabulous! The music is so catchy, the dancing is phenomenal (including a tap number!), and the cast is just awesome. The young men that perform in this show do an amazing job. You can tell they are having a great time as performers. They are full of smiles, and that just made me as an audience member have an even better time. There were a few spots that I found to be a bit slow, but they picked up again soon enough. My one complaint with SRO was that there were points in the show where I couldn’t see all of the action. The Newsies set is comprised of moving staircases, and when actors are on the top level, their heads get chopped off from view some of the time. If you’re lucky, you may be able to lean down on the ledge in front of you to get a better view. Being short like me really came in handy! At the end of the show I did go to the stage door to get autographs from the cast. You will want to exit the theater as soon as possible, as the barricades get filled up quickly. Just follow the exit signs that light up after the show. This stage door was very organized, and the actors came out rather quickly. I do have to say that part of it may be that these actors do not have to take off crazy costumes or makeup. Whatever the case may be, guys started coming out after about ten minutes, including the three lead males: Jack, Davey, & Les. None of the “older” actors or the lead female Katherine came out, but I was happy enough with the guys. They were all very gracious and posed for photos with anyone who asked. No need to bring your own Sharpie this time, as everyone had his own. I definitely suggest seeing Newsies! To enter the lottery, go to the theatre two and a half hours before the performance. Names are drawn a half hour after that, and tickets are $30 cash only and with a valid photo ID. SRO tickets are also $30 cash only. Look for the small sign that reads “Standing Room Line Forms Here.” You can enter the lottery while you are standing in line. The staff is very helpful and will repeat things if you cannot hear them from the line. Currently the show offers 28 lottery seats and 24 SRO tickets if the show is sold out. I can’t verify if this is true, but other Newsies fans that were standing in line with me told me SRO is actually a better view than lottery seats, which were on the outer edges of the orchestra. Truth be told, standing wasn’t bad at all and the view was better than many rush/lottery seats I’ve had. For $30, I am not complaining! Make sure to head over to the Nederlander Theatre to catch Newsies when you can!

Back in the New York Groove

I have officially moved back to NYC to attend law school, and things are a bit different this time around. Instead of living in the Bronx, I am literally over 180 blocks south of there in the East Village. My apartment is a bit smaller than I’d like it to be, but I guess that’s how things are here. I was super lucky last time to be living in such a nice house. Unfortunately, I won’t have internet or cable in my apartment until this Thursday (ugh!). Thankfully many restaurants and coffee places (like Starbucks on the corner) offer free wifi. At least I’m able to check my email every once in a while!

I also haven’t done much exploring of the neighborhood yet. The first day I moved in, I realized I forgot my phone charger. I desperately headed to McDonalds to use the internet so I could find where Kmart was located. Though not usually my favorite shopping place, I knew there was one nearby and that they would have chargers. That trip offered me a little peek of the area.

Yesterday, I needed to go grocery shopping. I’ll admit it -- I’m a little obsessed with Trader Joe’s. Compared to other NYC grocery stores, I have found the prices to be reasonable. Plus, they offer healthier selections and more vegetarian options for me. HopStop informed me that I could walk to the nearest location, which was about seventeen minutes away. Maybe this 0.87 mile trek is a bit much for groceries (especially when there are other stores much closer), but I just had to have Trader Joe’s! Once it stopped raining, I headed out.

Somehow I got a little lost along the way. Turns out I just didn’t walk far enough, but nonetheless I stumbled upon a Buffalo Exchange location in the process. I’m not sure if this is a good or bad thing, but more on that after my first visit there. Once I found Trader Joe’s, I couldn’t believe how packed it was! The lines literally reach the back of the store, but the cashiers move quickly. Almost everyone is buying just what they can carry, anyway. I’ll have to make frequent grocery store stops since I can only carry so much at one time. We’ll see how long it takes before I get sick of the walk to Trader Joe’s!

That’s it for now. Nothing really exciting to mention yet, except that the off-Broadway show Stomp is just a few blocks down from me. Classes don’t officially start for me until August 27^th, but I have a first week of meetings and such beginning Tuesday. I’m not sure how often I will be posting yet, but I’ll be sure to write about anything noteworthy. I’m excited to actually be living in NYC full time!

My Return to the City!

I have exciting news! I will be attending law school beginning this coming August, and thus moving back to New York City! I am absolutely overjoyed to be returning to Manhattan, especially since I will be living downtown and won't have to commute to and from the Bronx. But have no fear, Full Moon, I will definitely be returning to the old neighborhood for some pizza! 

Law school, of course, will not permit me to see Broadway shows every weekend, but I am still looking forward to finding great little restaurants, going shopping (when I have the money), and exploring the best city in the world! I hope you will all continue to read my blog as I depart for this next adventure in NYC.

Stay tuned for more updates regarding my move to NYC! 

Here's to You, Harlem

Today I was finally reunited with my favorite city thanks to a class I am taking this semester called Women, Leadership, and Community Organizing. My professor has done a lot of work in the Harlem Children's Zone, so we took a day trip down to see the site and hear from the women who lead the community projects. And yes, you read that correctly. This was a day trip. Four hours there and just over five hours back, nine fabulous young women and a professor journeyed from Massachusetts to NYC for this adventure. Though we didn't get to spend as much time in the city as I would have liked, any trip to New York makes me happy, and this one was especially inspiring. 

I'll be honest with you. I was really nervous to visit Harlem. That fear was mostly instilled in me due to my mother's worrying (it's just because she loves me), but that stereotypical idea of Harlem definitely existed in my brain, too. Even for a girl that called the Bronx home for four months, this was uncharted territory. The only time I had ever stepped foot on 125th Street before was to take the bus to LaGuardia Airport. I have to say, thanks to the work of the women we met today, Harlem is becoming a neighborhood that many people are proud to call home. 

So while my day wasn't filled with broadway shows, celebrity sightings, or even a shopping excursion, it was still an NYC experience that I will never forget. The women from Community Pride, an organization that helps Harlem residents rebuild their communities, were so kind and enlightening. Not only were they willing to share with us their personal stories of how they came to be home owners, but they fed us an amazing meal and even invited us to return any time. We even received some awesome coffee mugs & pins when we visited the Community Pride office later in the day. 

Though the adventure was a short one, it was definitely worth the sleep deprivation and hours of driving through Connecticut. I really enjoyed getting to spend time with the girls on the trip. We shared many laughs and conversations during the ride. We've even decided that I'm a reincarnate of a Titanic passenger... and a drag queen. We'll see what this news brings for me. But in all seriousness, thank you to everyone that was involved in such a fantastic day! Special shout outs to Lacie, our calm, cool, and collected van driver, and our professor Lee for organizing the trip.  

Broadway | Priscila Queen of the Desert

During my stay in New York City last spring, I attended a CD signing for the soundtrack release of Priscilla Queen of the Desert. (Learn more about that event HERE). Ever since then I've been dying to see the show. While walking through Times Square with my friend Lisa last weekend, I saw the Palace Theatre and had a great idea. It was about 5 minutes of 6:00PM on a Friday night, and if any of you are big broadway fans you know that means we had literally 5 minutes to enter the lottery at Priscilla. Lisa and I entered our names and about 20 minutes later we were holding in our hands front row tickets to see one of the biggest shows currently playing on broadway. We couldn't believe our luck! Not only had Lisa never been to a broadway show before, but this was the first time she had ever entered a lottery. We were definitely meant to have those tickets!

As 8:00PM rolled around, Lisa and I sat anxiously in our seats with our newly purchased pink boas. When the lights went down, the magic of Priscilla began. The story revolves around three drag queens that take a road trip from Sydney, Australia to Alice Springs so that Tick, played by Will Swenson, can meet his son for the first time. Their journey west is sometimes rough-- their bus breaks down, they get lost, and they're even tormented for being gay. Yet the serious moments of the show only compliment the rest of the lively and upbeat music and dancing. If you enjoy disco and eighties music, this show is for you! From Girls Just Want to Have Fun to Like a Prayer, you will definitely be dancing in your seat. I know we were!

Priscilla also features some amazing costumes. They're brightly colored and change throughout the entire show! I would love to have the Barbie jacket that Nick Adams wears. And speaking of Nick Adams, the cast of this production is one of the most talented I've seen. Tony Sheldon, Will, and Nick are such a wonderful team. It also doesn't help that all of the boys in the cast are extremely good looking. If you're not drooling simply by looking at Mr. Adams, there are plenty of other lovelies for you to stare at! By the end of Priscilla, our cheeks hurt from smiling so much, our voices were sore from cheering, and our hands a bit tired from clapping so hard. What was left for us to do besides run to the stage door?!

For those of you that haven't been to this theater before, the stage door is located to your right once you exit from the left side of the theater. Barricades will be set up. This was definitely the best organized stage door I've ever experienced! The security people had a bag of black sharpies for the stars of the show so you don't have to worry about bringing one. Also, the performers were out the door signing and taking pictures within 10-15 minutes! I would say that Iusually have to wait a half-hour before anyone comes out. Considering all of the make-up and fancy costumes this cast is getting out of, I was really surprised when they came out so soon. 

 

All of the stars were so nice and gracious. Tony Sheldon told me he liked my sparkly pink nail polish, one of the chorus boys asked us how the lottery seats were, and one of the divas, Ellyn Marsh, even recognized us from the front row! Apparently our big smiles and wide eyes let the actors know how much fun we were having. Of course, I had to snap a photo with the gorgeous Nick Adams and a few of the other performers. They were all so great both onstage and off!

If you're looking for a fun broadway show to go to, make sure to get tickets to Priscilla! The lottery begins 2.5 hours before each performance, and they stop taking names 2 hours before, as that's when the lottery takes place. You must have $40 cash only for each ticket. Although the seats are partial view, I would not have traded my front row ticket for anything! The amount of action you miss is minimal, and being up close is always exciting. Besides, the closer you sit the more likely it is that you'll catch a ping pong ball! Believe me, you do not want to miss Priscilla Queen of the Desert!

Getting Around in New York City

After living in New York City for four months as a student intern, I learned a lot about how to navigate through the city streets using public transportation and, when necessary, taxis. It isn't always easy, but with a few helpful tools anyone can get where they want to go even if they've never been to NYC before. Whether you're visiting the city for a short time, or moving there to stay, below are some tips to getting around in NYC that I picked up along the way. 

Tips on Traveling in NYC:

• Always know where you are going ahead of time if you can! I liked to get detailed directions to every location so that I would not stick out as a "tourist" on the subway. Here are two very helpful websites that will explain step-by-step how to use public transportation--

1. HopStop.com is the first place to turn to. It will give you detailed directions on where to pick up the subway, which lines toget on, and how many stops there are before you get off. Additionally, it allows you to customize your trip with a number of different options. For example, if you would prefer to only take the bus and not the subway, you can change your preferences.  HopStop will also give you the estimated taxi cost of your trip as well, if you decide you would rather take a cab.

2. If you are more of a visual person, Google Maps will show you the exact route you will be taking. Using its satellite imagery, you can virtually make the trip. Sometimes I liked to see how far away the subway station was from where I was going. This is especially helpful if you are going to an area that doesn't follow the "grid" of NYC.

• When traveling, do not bring a map with you! Try to memorize the directions, or write them in your phone as a note. That way you will blend in with the crowd and no one will notice that you're unsure of where you're going. Of course, if you have a smart phone, you can be looking at HopStop as much as you want! 
• If you get lost and need to ask someone for help, try to ask an MTA employee, or someone working in a store. They are more familiar with the surrounding area, and more likely to give you the correct answer.
• Another helpful website is MTA.info, which will tell you if any of the busses or subway lines are currently experiencing delays or undergoing construction. 
• When in Times Square or another tourist hotspot, do not stop in the middle of the road or sidewalk! It is annoying to everyone around you. If you want to take a picture, or you just want to stop to look around, move over to the side to allow others to keep walking. 
• Taxis can be very expensive (my trip from the city to the Bronx was literally ten times more expensive than public transportation). However, they can be very useful if you are traveling at night, or if you made last minute plans and you don't know where you're going. The yellow cabs you see mainly in Manhattan accept both cash and credit cards, but I recommend having around forty to fifty dollars in cash with you, as some cabs won't take plastic. 
• Overall, when you are in NYC, be safe and have fun! Enjoy being in the greatest city in the world!

Missing NYC Life

I can't believe that I've already been home for a month! There are definitely a lot of things I miss about NYC, but it is great to be with my family again. I also started working, which is such a relief considering NYC drained my bank account an unbelievable amount. As soon as I can, I want to visit the city, though. Here are the top five things I'm missing the most.

1. Broadway shows: I loved waking up on the weekends and traveling into the city to stand in line for rush tickets. I was so fortunate to see a number of amazing performances during my semester in NYC. Now I feel like I am missing out on them! There are so many that I haven't seen, and I don't know when the next time I'll be able to see another. Hopefully very soon!
2. Public transportation: Sure, busses and subways are not glamorous, but you can get anywhere you want to go just by swiping your Metro Card. During the hour commute from the Bronx to the city, I had plenty of time to read. Even though it is the summer and I have a lot of free time, I don't take time out of my day to read as often as I should. The subway was the perfect opportunity to relax with a book.
3. Arthur Avenue: More often than I should have I found myself buying pizza at Full Moon just two blocks from our house. Other times I ended up at the smoothie shop. Only once in a while did I end up in a bakery. No matter what treat I was enjoying, all I had to do was stroll down the street and the best foods were available to me. Believe it or not, I haven't had any pizza since I've moved back home. Ordering take-out requires more effort than walking down the street!
4. Random moments of awesomeness: One never knows what's going to happen in New York City. While walking down the street, riding the subway, or even just surfing the internet for NYC events, the unexpected will happen. During my first week, Mary and I ended up on an MTV show. While shopping in Macy's with friends we spotted Clinton Kelly. I even rode in an elevator with fashion designer Christian Siriano! These little moments are exciting enough to brighten up a day and make for great stories. In the city that never sleeps, there is always something out of the ordinary going on!
5. Forever XXI: I know, I know. I can shop at Forever XXI pretty much anywhere in the country, but in NYC the stores are bigger, better, and EVERYWHERE! Times Square? Check. 34th Street? Check. Fifth Avenue? Check. Union Square? Check. You get the picture! I would go after work and on the weekends to score cute clothes at reasonable prices. I could literally spend over an hour in the Times Square location. Even with all of the unique clothing shops in the city, I somehow always ended up at Forever. 

Stay tuned for more entries!