NYC - nature, music + staying hydrated :)

Hello everyone!  It's been a while, since I last posted.  

I've decided today OFFICIALLY, that I need to get back to writing....to take some of the moments that put a smile to my face, and engrave them to my memory, so that I have these to turn to when the going gets tough.  They say that showing gratitude is one way to reduce stress.  I want to believe this very much.  So here goes.  Below are some moments that I am grateful to have seen/experienced. I hope you like them as well.  New simple experiences are often the best way to re-energize you.

Fashionista Dogs wearing shades + boots have gone shopping.....at Neiman Marcus, no less

If you happen to walk the High Line, you may be tempted to blow on these red-seed dandelions found growing on the former rail tracks.

Finally, an authentic, unsweetened Iced Matcha Latte...found at Cha Cha Matcha.  It was definitely matcha healthier than some of the artifical, sugarly stuff found elsewhere.

This is the vessel.  Found at Hudson Yards.  If you like a good view, go visit, and climb those stairs.  If you're afraid of heights, snap your picture here.

A Deconstructed Latte - sparkling water to clear your palate, then an espresso & warm pasteurized milk.  Finally, the end product & a little nibble.  All for $8 at Coffee Project NY

Duck family stopping for some hydration

 And finally, some music:

First video is of two musicians just having a good time.  The sound takes me to another era, where writers would convene and share ideas...sorry, I think I'm thinking of the movie "Midnight in Paris."  Ha, ha. 

 

Second video is of the Navy Band performing some great marching tunes.  FYI - It's Fleet Week this week in NYC!!!!

 

 

Review: Harry Potter And The Cursed Child - Part I & II (Broadway Play)

Step 1: Get tickets to HP & Cursed Child ("HPCC") play.  Easier said than done.  After multiple attempts being on the waiting list and NOT getting off it, I finally managed to snag tickets when the online doors opened to the public.  The cost - a long waiting period (several months) before getting to see the show, and a price that I prefer not to dwell on.  Darn you, scalpers out there who managed to get cheaper tickets and are selling them on stubhub on an inflated basis (~1000% higher).

Step 2: Wait, wait, wait.  Wait for the day to finally arrive to see show.

Step 3: Eat a hearty lunch and bring a bottle of water on the day of the show, because it's a long show and you will feel thirsty.  I was unable to locate the "single" water fountain that the ushers told me existed somewhere near a men's room (on another floor).

Step 4:  Go see the show.  The Lyric Theatre's recommendation is to arrive 1 hour before show
starts.  I don't think that's necessary unless you have little kids who need to linger in every single room, and then use the bathroom.  As always, women's line is muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch longer than the men's.  Recommendation #1 to ALL theaters:  Put more stalls in the women's bathrooms.

Step 5: Before heading to your seat (if you have at least 20min), check out the Patronus room.  It's near the HP gift shop.  If you don't know what a Patronus is, shame on you.  This means that you haven't read the first 7 books.  You won't be punished, as the definition will be provided during the show.

Step 6: If you are short and are sitting in the upper sections, you can get a pillow to sit on.  There are ample pillows available in the closets before heading up the stairs to your seats.

Step 7: Enjoy your surroundings - both the other audience members (many will be wearing HP themed clothes) and the Lyric Theatre, which did a fantastic job in setting the HP theme.  My favorite was the little dragons made out of metal (brass?) hanging above, with each tongue holding a lamp.  Also, check out the carpet below as you walk.  Red, with the "H" emblazoned each step of the way. 
Look above you, as you come up the stairs. You've got a view of the sky.  The Lyric Theatre is spacious and smells fresh (yes, I am sensitive to smell, and nothing is more unpleasant than something that smells stale....well, there is body odor, but that's for another post).  There are also stands by each door selling HP goodies.

Step 8: Settle down in your seat at least 10min before the show starts.  Get to know your seatmate, as knowing if they are true HP fans will make for a joyous/interesting/loud discussion.  And if they haven't read the books, then be there to answer any questions if they get confused with the storyline. 

Step 9: And off we go for an amazing journey for Part I (2pm) and Part II (7:30pm).  You will get a ShowBill booklet for each part.  In there, it actually gives a summary of Books 1 to 7 (for the newbies or just those who need a refresher), as well as some common words used in the wizarding world (e.g., Muggles, Polyjuice Potion, etc.).

My Verdict: Amazing job bringing this play to life, and transporting me through this magical journey.  It was everything I had hoped for and so much more.  I don't have enough words to say what this play did to me.  But to anyone who wants to be placed in a magical world, filled with creativity and brilliant acting, and learn about friendship, father-son relationships, forgiveness, and making tough decisions, then this play is a must see!  The special effects are creative and make you think - How is this possible?  How did they do it?  You can't dwell too much on it, because well, you're off to the next scene, but still, it leaves for much pondering how much technology has improved and changed over the years.  Lastly, bring a cardigan or sweatshirt, because this Lyric Theatre is cold (just ask the tip of my nose....ha, ha).  Recommendation #2 - to the Lyric Theatre specifically: Please lower the AC.  It must have been 65 degrees.  I was shivering.  May have been a strategy on their part to have audience members purchase the $60 HPCC sweatshirts, but I wasn't buying.

Summary of my favorite scenes:

1. The cliffhanger right before intermission of Part I, when Dolores Umbridge makes an announcement.  I won't give it away as I do believe in #KeeptheSecrets (you will get a free pin w/this hashtag as you exit the theatre after Part I).

2. Moaning Myrtle's meeting with Scorpius Malfoy and Albus Potter.  Her voice inflection and playful nature had the audience laughing along.  Well done to the actress, Lauren Nicole Cipoletti.

3. The set design with the use of the time turner, and the way the stage became slightly blurried.

4. Opening of Part II with the music/dance performance.

5. Scene when Draco Malfoy hugs his son when they are reunited in 1981.  I'm not giving away more or the preciseness of the date.

6. After Albus Potter drinks the Polyjuice potion and becomes Ron Weasley, and then has a run-in with his wife, Hermione.  I won't say more, except it happened right in front of Hermione's office.  The scene was hilarious. 

One faux pas: Not sure if my view was blocked or not, but it seems that Hufflepuff's sign was not held up during the sorting hat ceremony during Part I.  I would have added 1min to the scene, where a student was sorted into Hufflepuff.  Just saying.

Final Note: I loved this play so much.  The casting was spot-on.  While I was unable to see the actors' facial expressions because I was sitting way too far away from the stage, their voices held the right amount of emotion and strength, as did their body language.  I am very grateful that this show came to NYC, because otherwise I don't think I would have had a chance to see it.  I hope this show runs for many, many years for others to enjoy.  And maybe, just maybe, I'll one day get super-cheap tickets (like Friday 40), and see it again.  There's no rush.  But if there is ever a show I wouldn't mind seeing again, it would be this one.

A Glimpse in the Morning of the Hogwarts Express Train Conductor

Clutching his piping hot cup of coffee brought from King's Cross Station, as well as a small brown paper bag, containing a poppy seed bagel smeared with cream cheese (an American phenomenon, as per what his nephew told him while attending the Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft), Dupuy, the train conductor for the Hogwarts Express, made his way toward Platform 9 3/4, where he would run through the wall, when the Muggles appeared to be too distracted to notice.

Students would be boarding in the next 30 minutes or, and Dupuy wanted to make himself comfortable in his little compartment and have his breakfast, before starting the engine at around 10:45am, and leave the station promptly at 11am.

Five years had passed since Harry Potter had graduated (thank the heavens for that).  Dupuy wanted to enjoy the scenery of the English countryside while riding out to Hogwarts, and not worry about Death Eaters, and what not.  No drama this year.  Dupuy took a bite of the bagel.  A dollop of the cream chees escaped from the bagel and landed on to the wrapping paper.  A chewy piece of bread, Dupuy thought, not to the French quality standards but not bad. The cheese type, however, could be replaced with something more refined, such brie.  Dupuy peaked out of the window. A few early birds were standing with their family, getting last minute lectures to do well in their lessons.  Dupuy sighed.  Oh, he would have loved to be a Potions master at Hogwarts.  Unfortunately, his grades were not up to par.  He had dropped out of Hogwarts after his third year. And so here he was.  A conductor for Hogwarts Express for the last 20 years.  He enjoyed his work.  As long as nothing and nobody was obstructing him from getting to his destination.  And on time. 

A Poem: Oscars 2018

Tonight,
On March 4th - to be exact and right,
We will find out,
Which movies are deserving of an Oscar,
So that all those who worked on it,
Can go to a bar,
And celebrate,
While us average people will debate,
Why "Wonder Woman" was not up for nomination as well,
For if it had been,
It would have been really swell.

This year's nominated movies for Best Picture I have seen none,
Though "Lady Bird" is one I plan to watch,
Before this year is done.

Jimmy Kimmel will host this year,
I wonder how funny he will be,
I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Ricky Gervais would have pushed the envelope more,
But probably would have been shown the door,
By those organizing this once a year event,
Which takes place in a huge auditorium and not a tent.

I find the Oscars very superficial,
But tune in,
Because it's sometimes mildly entertaining,
Especially when there's a song to sing.

So, I'll tune in for a bit,
And hope we are not subjected to dim-wit,
Where Best Picture will be announced by a wrong envelope,
It would be really dope.
This happened for real in 2017,
And made a ridiculous news headline before unseen.

The End

Duck Sightings



Stretching wings

Earlier today, I took a walk by the river to get the blood properly flowing in my veins.  The pavement was still wet from the rain that had fallen last night, and the air was cold, damp, and fresh.  I love this type of weather.  It makes me very happy and rejuvenated.  I wish it could be like this year-round.  I inhaled deeply to awaken my sleepy self, and capture this amazing air in my lungs.

As I made my way down the path, accompanied for a few seconds on and off by a passing jogger, I came across ducks hanging out near the edge of the water.  They looked like they were enjoying themselves, taking in the view from the land, and occasionally gazing into the river to watch their fellow brothers & sisters swimming.


Taking a little break from swimming

I thought it would be fun to write a mini-poem from their point of view.  So here goes:


Ducks Deserve A Break
It's nice to have our webbed feet on land at last,
Because swimming non-stop and fast,
Makes for feeling fatigue,
And puts us in a league,
Of a burnt-out athlete,
Who's already gone through the Olympic feat,
Of winning Gold medals many,
And is now ready to retire with more than a penny.
So, here's for taking a break, with no dogs in sight to chase us into the river,
And make our feathers quiver.

A Poem: Messed Up Food Orders

The food preparer put meat in my sandwich this week twice,
It didn't look very nice,
Because I'm a bit picky with my food,
I know people make mistakes,
And was therefore very calm and not at all rude,
When I returned the meal,
And asked for another one,
The correct one for real.

I don't know if the food preparer thought I needed more protein,
But right now, I prefer my food veggie and bland.
The wrong sandwiches had to be thrown in the garbage bin,
I feel bad for that, for wasting food is a sin.

However, the error was not mine,
All I wanted was the correct sandwich to dine.
Due to the error, the food preparer threw in my bag a little freebie,
Which I was happy to see,
Was healthy and simple,
And cause me to smile with a dimple.

Here's to hoping for no more messed up food orders to go,
For it's really tiring to delay the meal time flow.
However, I'm taking all this in stride,
And just going along with this tide.

Attempt at Making Soup....

It's a simple task.  Boil water, and pour the packet of Lipton Noodle Soup with real chicken broth into the boiling water.  Wait five minutes, then pour it into a bowl, and eat it.

This is what happened 20 minutes ago.  My soup was ready, and I poured into one of my favorite bowls....a red ceramic one.  I then placed it on a tray, and as I was ready to exit the kitchen, I balanced the tray against my chest, and attempted to shut off the kitchen light.

What happened next?  The tray, along with the piping hot bowl of soup, slipped out of my grip and crashed on to the floor.  The ceramic bowl broke into pieces (15 or so), and the noodles spread out all over the floor and on the wall.  The worst of it....some of the hot soup fell on my abdomen, right side and on my right wrist.  They both turned red and stung from the heat.

The first thing I did was change my clothes.  I put some cream on the abdomen and the wrist.  The skin looks a bit bumpy :(  Next, I picked up the shards from the bowl, threw it into a plastic bag.  Then I took a sponge, and gathered all the noodles in one big pile on the kitchen floor, and using my hands, grabbed as many as I could, and threw those in the garbage as well.  Then I wet the sponge, and mopped the floor.  PS = wet noodles do not feel good to the touch.

With my dinner in the garbage, I have now decided to eat some toast with cheese.