Return to NYC!

Stephen got invited back to speak at the same law conference he spoke at last year in Manhattan, and I came along again for a getaway.  It was a lot of fun!  We heart NYC!

We spent two nights and three days in the city.  Our first stop when we arrived was Norma's, which is known for its brunches.

It was good but not great.

 We had wanted to go to the temple in Manhattan, pictured above, but it was closed for cleaning.  However, the temple complex is unique.  There is actually a meeting house located on the third floor.

So we went up the elevators, toured the chapel and facilities a bit, talked to some friendly missionaries, and recharged our iphones.  It was really neat to see the house of the Lord in the middle of a sprawling metropolis and to go inside for a rest from the hustle and bustle for a while.  One of our favorite stops.  Just wish we could have gone inside the temple floor.

Our next stop was a taping of the Late Show with David Letterman.  I had gotten us tickets in advance.  Surprisingly, this was probably our favorite event this trip.  Oprah and Paul Rudd were the guests.  Being in the historic Ed Sullivan theater and watching how the show is done was really cool.  I am really glad we decided to squeeze it in!

 

And we had to squeeze it in because the filming ended just after 7 p.m. and we had tickets to see the Broadway smash hit Jersey Boys at 7 p.m.  Fortunately the two venues were close together and we were able to sneak in a little bit late to Jersey Boys.

Despite some salty language, this was a fabulous musical.  The story was interesting, the sets were creative, the music was outstanding, and the pace was swift!  It is hard to believe all the hit songs that these guys either sang or wrote.

What is a trip to NYC without Time Square?  Time Square at night has an otherworldly quality about it, in a good way.  You can't capture it in pictures or video.  You just have to experience it.

We hit the original Shake Shack at 11 p.m. in Madison Park, which was close to the hotel we stayed in.  Yuuuuum!  Their Smoke Shack burgers are soooo good!

While Stephen was at his conference, I met up with Anna and her kids.  Anna was raised in Brooklyn and now lives in Connecticut with her husband and girls.  The Changs were our neighbors in Pearland, and we have been friends since.

We ate at the original Grimaldi's Pizza in Brooklyn.  Yum!

It was a little drizzly and overcast, but that didn't stop us from having a great time!

Later that day, Stephen and I went to Magnolia's Bakery.  The Banana Pudding there is divine!

We took our Magnolia's goodies to Rockefeller Center and enjoyed the grounds as we ate.

Then we walked all around Central Park.  It is such a cool place!

And it is huge!  I can't get over how big it is and how it is smack dab in the middle of a metropolis.

That night we went and saw Wicked.  Another very good Broadway musical and experience.

The production was elaborate and the performances were impressive.

The revelation of the trip was probably a little food stand called Waffles and Dinges.  We went there on our last morning in the city.  Holy Cow!  I have never eaten anything like it.  You have to go there if you are ever in NYC. There are a couple of them near Central Park, which is where we experienced the taste explosion.  They also have a food truck that travels around the city and a store front in the financial district. 

Yes, that is whipped cream and ice cream on top of the best tasting waffle I have ever had, which was itself smothered in a special spread called Speculoos cookie butter.  Mmmmmmmm.

Please, sir, can I have another?  Pleeease?