A Birthday Trip.





NYSE #1 must-see on Jon's list / he's a bull / outside LaGuardia / "perfume" / about a ten minute walk from our brownstone in Harlem / the very best fried chicken we've ever eaten @ Red Rooster / inside Red Rooster / Harlem street / the set of Grace - intense, wonderful play! (Paul Rudd, the most likeable guy in Hollywood, was very UN-likeable in this play) / yummy tofu @ Danji / Times Square! / New York's finest / a slice / our view of Nice Work If You Can Get It (Matthew Broderick was amazing! I loved this musical and was humming it the next day) / lobby of Empire State building / 86th floor / what a view! / a stroll through Central Park in the fall / inside The Dutch (where Jon ate the very best burger) / a face of eggs, chorizo, and grits / inside Russ & Daughters (amazing bagel and lox! Thanks for the suggestion, Rachel!) / Hey there, handsome! / Brooklyn Bridge / "Well, when I get it (the reds) the only thing that does any good is to jump in a cab and go to Tiffany's. Calms me down right away." / Ed Sullivan Theater / Where I ate the very best burger / inside Prune / if only I had thousands of dollars... / presents! / Happy Birthday, my love.


A couple months ago, Southwest Airlines had a half-off deal for a few dates this year. One of those days happened to be Jon's birthday. I asked him where he'd like to go. His answer was, "New York." In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, we were uncertain of this trip, but decided (the day before) to make the most of it and flew there on his 30th birthday...which was Saturday.

We could not have been happier with our decision to go to the "Big Apple". It was our first time. Besides the occasional uprooted tree and a few businesses still without power, we didn't see the extent of the damage. However, we only went as far south as the financial district.

We stayed in Harlem, saw a play and a musical on Broadway, ate the most fantastic food, went to the top of the Empire State Building, walked through Central Park (during the unofficial NYC marathon), marveled at Andy Warhol originals, shopped in SoHo, saw a taping of David Letterman (Ricky Gervais was a guest, so funny), walked the Brooklyn Bridge, and I met my first celebrity, Matthew Broderick. (who is just as charming in person) We would love to go back sometime soon. There's so much more to see!