Saki and I met up with my friend Katie Duncan and her daughter Ella. Saki had met Ella very early on in her stay here in the US and was really looking forward to a girls trip to New York. We packed quite a LOT of things into our Memorial Day weekend trip. Unfortunately, Saki was on crutches due to her shin splints from running track. This meant we didn't do as much walking around the city as we had planned but we still saw and did a ton of things.
On the plane, ready to go!
Saki thought it was so funny having to be pushed around the airport in a wheelchair!
Saki and I went to Grand Central station for dinner on our first night
First trip on a NYC subway
Times Square at night...best way to see it!
We met up with Katie and Ella the next day...off for some fun in New York City
We took a carriage ride around Central Park
Even though we couldn't walk around the park there was till so much beauty to see fro the carriage
Ella especially loved the horse:)
Our next stop was the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I had never been here before and it was a real treat to see so many wonderful pieces of art in one place.
I think Saki really enjoyed it because she had studied AP Art History this year at school.
The girls ready for a night out
Our first show was Hades Town. I had seen it before but really loved it and everyone agreed it was a great show.
Curtain call with the cast from Hades Town
It was pretty late after the show but we were hungry so we found a great little pizza shop that was still open...NYC pizza is the best!
Breakfast the next morning...this is cream cheese!! Broad Nosh Bagels was legit amazing!
We took a Circle Line ferry tour of New York harbor. Not only was it pouring rain so we didn't want to walk too much but Saki was really limited with walking since she was on crutches. This way we got to see lots of sites but we didn't have to walk too much
The Brooklyn Bridge with a very cloudy NY skyline
Another shot of the bridge
The Statue of Liberty...it was rainy and cold but still a wonderful site to see
Such an iconic symbol of not only New York but the entire United States
We wandered around Korea Town until we found some yummy lunch!
Saki wasn't sharing her donut!
We paid $20 for 10 minutes in a karaoke booth. I think the girls had a fun time. Ella has a great voice, just give that girl a microphone!
We didn't get tickets to the observation tower at the Empire State bundling because it was so cloudy outside we wouldn't have been able to see much. But we went into the lobby and enjoyed the Art Deco atrium.
We were lucky enough to step inside during a church service. We sat and listened for a while (the service was in Spanish) but it was wonderful when we got to hear the organ play. Church's like this are always such a wonderful way to see art and hear music.
I liked this altar with the little child and the kind priest
We put Saki and Ella into a bike cab so Saki didn't have to walk to our next stop. The girls had fun and enjoyed a break from the rain
We found Radio City music hall!
This night musical was Cats: The Jellicle Ball. I had seen the musical Cat's multiple times and loved it. I love the music and the lyrics and how it's just a fun and joyful play. I didn't know what to expect with this new iteration of Cats that was playing on Broadway but I was absolutely blown away! The music was the same but the costumes and dancing and pure energy was explosive and I cheered every second of this show! Would definitely go back and see again!!
Ready for the show! We realized as we were waiting in line that a lot of people had fans. Katy bought the girls each their own fan and during the show the audience would flip the fans open and closed making a fluttering/clapping commotion every time something amazing happened on stage...which was ALL the time!
After the show on an amazing HIGH! I loved it so much:)
Dinner was a real New York treat...street hot dogs
Back at Times Square...I had to catch Saki with the Class of 2026 sign!
Ella and Katie were ready for bed but Saki and I stood in line for some awesome gelato at Anita Gelato...so delicious
I don't care if it's rainy and 11 PM...I will stand in line for good gelato!
We took the next morning slow and didn't get out of the hotel until lunchtime. We found a yummy hand pulled noodle place that was delicious!
We headed over to MOMA...who wants to see Van Gogh's Starry Night? Apparently EVERYONE!!
Saki with some wonderful waterlilies by Monet
A little Andy Warhol. We borrowed a wheelchair so Saki didn't have to be on crutches in the museums...it was great!
More gelato? Yes please! This was Venchi chocolates and gelato...another great stop!
We took a subway to the World Trade Center memorial
This memorial is so well done. It really is a peaceful contemplative space in the middle of a busy city to stop and remember those that died on 9/11
Inside the museum memorial to 9/11
I wanted a true NYC deli experience so I stopped into this deli and ordered a reuben sandwich. It wasn't great but I'm still glad I did it:)
This was the view from the rooftop of our hotel
Stephen Colbert had just finished his very last Late Show just a few days before we were in NYC but I was glad the sign was still up so I could get a photo. He was one of my favorite late show hosts to watch.
Our 3rd and final show, The Great Gatsby
This show was OK. The music was good but not fantastic and I think I would have liked it better if I wasn't on such a fan high from seeing Cats the night before:) No other musical could have compared!
Even though it was super late after the show I needed one more slice of New York pizza!
What an amazing weekend in New York City!
Back in Portland and heading home.
When Saki first came to America we asked her where she would like to visit while she was here. She said New York City. I'm so glad I could show her around a wonderful and iconic US city with so much history and so many wonderful things to see. It would have been better if it hadn't rained the entire weekend AND if she wasn't on crutches but we really did have a fantastic trip regardless!
