Monday, October 11, 2010

More Proof of Life (for you non-believers out there)

I have 2-and some change-days of free high speed fancy hotel internet.  Depending on how much sleep I decide I need, there will most likely be an alarming number of updates within these two days.  I'm talking like a "well it seems pointless to close the window with how often this crazy lady is updating so I'm just going to keep the page open all the time and occasionally hit the refresh button" level.  Like you do on Facebook every now and  then (I know 99% of you have done this at least once in your life.  If not you are surprisingly immune to the social network and I admire you.)  Anyways, point being, you have been warned.

Moving on to

NYC: Part 2
*insert same intro from the first part here*

MET: Metropolitan Museum of Art 

Four gigantic labyrinths of floors full of wonderful artwork from every era/period under the sun.  Don't know if it is still there or not but added bonus was a GIGANTIC structure built by two rather ambitious gentlemen on the roof of the MET built entirely out of large bamboo poles and brightly colored bungee chords.  Apparently you can sign up for a guided tour of the structure that allows you to actually climb up into it and walk around on the various platforms and staircases.  Unfortunately we were too busy hiking through Central Park to get to the museum at the time of sign ups but the average museum-goer can still walk under what could be affectionately described as a child's ultimate Tinker Toy construction and admire it from the rooftop terrace that also boasts a spectacular view of midtown Manhattan.  In the building itself there's no shortage of cool shit to look at, from Picassos and Van Gohs, to authentic suits of medieval armor and THE largest, most badass looking sword I have ever seen.  However, the part they don't tell you about is that you have to work to look at such fantastic art.  You actually have to FIND it first.  Seriously, the recommended elevator to get to the roof was in the back of the gift shop and it only went to 2 of the 4 floors, roof not included.  That being said, if you actually manage to find the art you are looking for, you are in for a treat.  Get a map at the door and you'll be fine.  Also maybe a few water bottles.  Maybe a tent and some sleeping bags and a lantern and some TP.  Just in case.



Katz Deli: 


Where Harry met Sally.  Where Sally ate an orgasmic sandwich and had an orgasm (there's even a sign telling you the exact spot.)  And let me tell you guys, they make a pretty orgasmic sandwich.  Travis's and my gracious host/tour guide/friend/alien cat owner Allison took us here for the famed Pastrami Rueben (it was son Man v. Food, Adam Richman took a giant bite out of one as only he can, in my book that is enough to be considered famous) and ever since then all other Rueben sandwiches have been ruined for me.  Not that hard of a task seeing as how I don't normally like Ruebens but still, this one was delicious.  So was the Brisket Beef sandwich we all shared.  It's pretty expensive there but entirely worth it.  Once every few years or so, if you are as broke as I am.  If not, eat there as often as you like you lucky fuck and bring me back a sandwich.



The Olive Tree Cafe:

Located right above/attached to the Comedy Cellar in the West Village, home of some of the best bar food ever.  I am a genuine and sincere lover of buffalo/hot wings.  They are, hands down, one of my favorite junk foods and I made it a small side-mission on this trip to scour the country for a damn good buffalo wing.  That being said, the Olive Tree had, hands down, THE best hot wings I have so far had.  Anywhere.  Ever.  If that's not enough of a reason to go (for me it is, which is probably more concerning for my health then I am willing to admit) it also has decently priced beers in giant mugs, chalkboard tables you can drunkenly doodle on, and it is a good place for food before/after a show in the Cellar.  I recommend after because there is a 2 drink minimum in the club and then the tables become REALLY fun.

Broadway:

Now anyone who knows me knows that I am a broadway geek/officianado/enthusiast/obsessor/whatever you want to call it.  You don't even have to know me actually, you just have to look at my Ipod playlist to know.  Don't even have to click into them and search through the song titles, just scroll down the main screen for like 10 seconds and its like BAM musical theater is what this lady is into.  Normally my sparse trips to New York consist of massive theater binges that shove as many shows as physically possible into the week that I am there because I know it'll take me 3+ years to save up the for next one.  Anyways, so the fact that I had been in NYC twice in the past two weeks and had not yet seen a Broadway show was downright alarming to people.  In a nutshell: a decent full view seat is over 110 dollars nowadays.  A shitty partial view seat is still  60+ dollars at best.  Each show has a rush or lottery offering 25 dollar tickets but everyone is just as broke as I am and therefore in a sea of 100 or so people, I don't stand much of a shot at being one of the 10 or so people called for a ticket.  One fairly reasonable way around this is TKTS.  Located in the heart of Times Square (there are a couple other locations in NYC, one in Brooklyn and one by the Seaport I think) in the form of a giant glass structure that looks like a set of bleachers from the back, this stand is open for most of the day and offers a daily selection of day-of-only discount tickets for most of the Broadway and Off-Broadway shows (depending on popularity.)  They don't have any advance notifications of what shows will be offered and you can't buy for a future date, you've just got to go down to one of the three stands the day you want to see a show and see if they have what you're looking for.  If you see something that interests you, you get in a line that looks absurdly long but moves pretty quickly and you can buy premium seats that would normally be 120 for as much as 50% off.  I have had only good luck so far with the booth.  Never had to wait longer then 20 minutes, and always got pretty amazing seats as close to an hour before curtain (Next to Normal, Addams Family, and In the Heights so far.)  If you are as obsessed with theater as I am and don't want to rape your wallet (or at least, rape it as hard as you would with a full priced ticket) go here.  If you see an incredibly flamboyant gay man dressed in a pink and blue sailor suit giving out flyers ask to take a picture of him, thank me later.


Honestly I have a feeling there are more places then this but it is past 3AM here and I typed "flour" instead of "floor" on multiple occasions so anything I have forgotten I will write about in the NYC part 3 section.  G'night all, or good morning.  Or good afternoon, depending on what time zone you're in.  You know what I mean.

NEXT UP: LA-land, round 2.

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