the pribyl family: New York City Anniversary April 2012

This Anniversary Ben and I actually celebrated with a vactation, for once. Two years ago we went to Hawaii, six month after our anniversary, but this was the first time we have actually gone somewhere in April to celebrate. The first few years of marriage our anniversary was swallowed up with family weddings, andn visitors. Then once Aubrie came there was no competing with her. A few months ago the Hawkins suggested a New York trip in April, and so I cancelled our family photos, and booked the tickets! Being on the heels of Hawaii, the trip came up before I knew it. I wasn't very stressed this time, knowing they were in good hands, and in school most of the time. Terri Moore watched them during the school week, and took them to all their soccer games, while Jenn Cluff shuttled Aubrie around to gymnmastics. Then Nicole watched them over the weekend, and brought them home Sunday night and put them to bed, so they were all sleeping (minus Aubrie) before we got home. Those are the trips that are most enjoyable, when you don't have to worry about your kids.
Ther first day of our trip started very early. Our flight left at 8:44 Thursday, the 12th, and so we were up 6:00, and left by 6:30. The flight was a little shorter than the flight to Oahu. Ben had some How I Met Your Mother episodes to catcth up, so I chatted with the lady next to me, who happened to be a travel writer from New York City. I was able to get some info about the city, and also some info on Maui, that I was wanting to know. She gave me her card and email, and will be a good contact for the future. After Ben had caught up, we watched episodes until the computer died. We had about 45 minutes left until the plane landed. When we got there, it took about and hour to get to the city, once we got bags, and took the shuttle to the train, and subway to our hotel. Our hotel was a block from Radio City and two from Rockefeller Center, and three from Central Park and a quick subway ride to 42 (Time Square). It was a great location. Once we checked in and dropped our luggage, we headed to a an Italian Restarant a block form the hotel, recommended to us by the gentelman working the front desk. We were all starving and hoping it was good. I told him to tell me where he would go to eat after work, and not the touristy spots. The place was called Pazza Notte. Dinner was awesome. It was my favorite place of the whole trip. The boys got a pesto shrimp pasta that incredibly yummy, and I had a bbq chicken pizza that was amazing. Tirza got a pasta dish that she also loved.
After dinner, my stomach started to hurt. I knew I as in trouble. When I wait to late to eat, this happens and I have to lie down for about 15 minutes in order to feel better. We were headed to time square and I kept hoping it would go away. Finally I coudln't take it anymore and so we stepped into the Marriot Marque, and I laid down while everyone else took a restroom break and shopped the gift store. After about 20 minutes, I was feeling much better. We headed back out, and I realized I needed a scarf. We ducked into American Eagle really quick, hoping to find something. I found a cute scarf, and as we were paying we noticed a camera by the register. Ben asked what that was all about, and they explained when someone made a purchase they could get their picture and it would flash up in Time Square for 15 seconds, several times through the night. Tirza and I stepped up to get our mugs taken for our 15 seconds of fame! We ran outside really quick to see our faces plastered on the big screen. We were like a couple of kids, excited to see us up there! LOL
After that, we headed to Carnage Deli for some dessert. We ordered cheesecake. Luckily we shared because the pieces were huge. We were kidding around, taking funny pictures next to the huge pieces of cheesecake, and we caught the attention of the table of guys next to us, who decided we were having so much fun they needed to order dessert too. We were in a silly mood, and in became contagioius. After dessert, we headed back to the hotel to rest up for a full day ahead of us! Of course, it included a few episodes of How I Met Your Mother.....yes, we have an addiction!
Friday we started our morning at Lindy's for breakfast. The first of two mistakes we made on our trip. It was so overpriced, the service was AWFUL, and the food wasn't that great. I ordered a carmel, pecan waffle. I was expecting this huge fluffy waffle, with fresh whipped cream, and carmel sauce. When I saw our waiter grab the carmel that I use on our ice cream sundae's I knew I was in trouble. It was a waffle I could have made, for 15 dollars! Oh well! Our next stop was Canal street, and we knew good deals awaited us there. We were on a mission to find purses, and it was cracking me up how crazy people are down there. They act like selling knock offs is going to land them in the slammer, and that you have to hurry and buy them because the have to put them away before they get caught. But as you walk down the streets, you hear people whisper, "Louis, Rolex, Coach, etc". Do the cops not have ears. Tirza and I found a few purses each, and could have spent more time looking, but had to leave to get to Ground Zero. We reserved tickets the night before, which was a great recommendation from friends, because we didn't have to wait in line for tickets, and we knew exactly what time to plan on to go. It was quite a process to get to the site. Even going through security. Darn my belt that I had to keep taking off! It was very surreal to be at that site, and think of where Ben was when it all happened. The memorial was a beautiful way to honor all those people who lost their lives. The new building was also coming along, and looked very impressive.
After the Memorial, we headed back to Time Square to get show tickets. When we started asking the ticket agent about different shows, he told us to come back to him when the opened the ticket booths, and he would push us to the front of the line. Lucky for us, since the line was very long, and we wouldn't have gotten anything good. Our first pick was Spiderman, but they only had 3 tickets, so we got tickets to Memphis. It won awards a few years back, and so I was hoping it was as good as it was acclaimed to be. We then walked down to the Spiderman ticket booth and bought tickets for the following day. They were very pricey, and Ben was hoping it was good, since he heard about it and wanted to see it. By that time we were STARVING, and tracked down a place that was suggested by the lady on the plane. The pizza was good, but it wasn't the best. The food the first night was better! After lunch, we did a bit of shopping at the Quicksliver store, to get the kids some New York Shirts. They only had them in Aubrie's size. After getting some things there, we headed back to the hotel to rest a bit before the show.
The show was AMAZING! The talent was incrediable. The story line was good, and it also brought a tear or two. I was so happy with that pick as was everyone else! After the show, we got a LATE dinner. A relative of the Hawkins who used to live in New York gave us some suggestions while we were there. One of them was Pongsri Thai, which was close to the theater. We got in right before it closed. I have never had Thai before, so I really didn't know what to expect. I just asked what the most popular was and got that. My dish was super yummy at first, but half way through I realized how rich it was. I couldn't finish it. We finally got home around Midnight. We went straight to bed, to get ready for an early start then following morning.
Saturday we started off with breakfast at Ess-A Bagel. It was quite a walk, down past 5th Ave (the shopping district). It was a pretty walk, though, so I didn't mind. The bagels and orange juice were so yummy, and the prices were very reasonable. We were kicking ourselves for going to Lindy's the day before. Our plan after breakfast was to take the NBC tour, since they were reheasing for Saturay Night Live. What we didn't know is that we could buy the tickets ahead of time. So when we got there they were all sold out. However, the ice skating rink was still up (they were taking it down the following week), so we changed our plans and did that instead. It was a lot of fun, except for Tirza's fall within minutes on the ice. She sat out for awhile, and then skated the rest of the session. There were a few people there that must of thought they were trainging for the olympics, including a very feminine guy who entertained us all with his light purple attire, and his graceful moves. :) It was a fun time, and made me feel better about the tour.
Tirza's ankle really started hurting her, and that slowed us down a bit. But didn't keep us from getting to Lombardi's before the huge lunch crowd showed up. Seriously, as soon as we got our name on the list, about 30 people showed up. The pizza there was VERY good, and so was the salad and cream soda I ordered. We followed lunch up with Rice- to Riches, which is right across the street. Ben wouldn't have anything to do with it, since he HATES rice pudding. I thought it was ok. I got a chocolate flavor, which became too rich after awhile.
Our next stop was Canal street, again. This time, there was no secrecy this time. After buying another purse, and starting to walk down the street back to the subway, there was a whole block where the sidewalk was lined with Loui Vouitan's. So much for discretion. That's where I made my biggest haul! Tirza and I walked out of there satisfied! On our way back to the subway, we got talked into doing some charactaters. That was our final mistake, 25 dollars later!
After our score on Canal, we quickly headed back to our hotel so we could get ready for the show. This time I dressed up a bit, with boots and skinny jeans. From now on, I'm seeing show in my converse and comfy jeans! I was not comfortable! She show was well...interesting. The talent was lacking. I felt like I was watching a high school play during the first Act. At intermission Ben and I were highly dissapointed. The second Act redeemed itself. The Goblin had a funny personality, kind of like the Genie at the Alladin show at Disney. The special effects were also impressive. Memphis still won hands down, and we paid half as much for it...even better. After the show, we got Sushi at a place right across from the Theatre, which was also recommended to us. The sushi was good, but still has nothing on Fresh Wasabi here in Phoenix. Another fantastic day came to a close!
Sunday we packed up, checked out luggage in downstairs, and headed out for our last day in New York. We got breakfast at Ess- A Bagel again; something we were looking forward to after we finished breakfast the day before!:) Then we headed back down towards Time Square. Ben and I got some shopping done down there for the kids. We bought some Yankee' Jersey's for the boys (Ben was dying) and some Disney New York T-shirts for Sophia. The Hawkins went back down to Canal to get stuff for their kids, and Ben and I headed to Grand Central Station. Then we met up at Central Park, and took a guided Carriage ride through the park. That was the perfect way to end the trip. The weather was perfect, and I loved all the information our guide gave us. I was also able to see more of the park than I have ever seen. It was worth every penny! After the park, we finished with lunch at where we started our trip, Pazza Notte. We sat by the open window, and enjoyed the nice weather while eating the yummy food. We then hustled back to get our luggage, and took a taxi to Penn station. The Airport was crazy, and when we checked in our seats were not by eachother. Luckily both of us found people to switch with us, so at least the couples could sit by one another. Ben and I watched episodes of How I Met Your Mother, almost wrapping up a whole season. What an amazing trip! The following week, I missed that place so much, I wanted to go back. Being there after all these years, made me realize how much I miss it out there.