The CE loves to visit NYC in the winter. He grew up in Minnesota, so a little snow and ice in the city is Winter Lite to him. I hail from harsher climes, as well, but that doesn’t mean I want to have to choose between the options of dressing like a terrorist all swathed in hoods and scarves or having my face fall off from frostbite.
We got out before the big blizzard, but it did snow a few times while we were there.
Freezing cold out, and he looks perversely happy, doesn’t he?
But visit, we did, and like the snowflakes that fell during our trip, no two visits to NYC are the same. This one started out in a fog – quite literally, a cloud of white dust that blanketed our entire apartment. Not exactly our idea of a winter wonderland.
Turns out the construction team working on a renovation next door cut through the wall of our place and blew drywall dust everywhere. And, by everywhere, I mean that they had to send all my clothes out for drycleaning, bring a cleaning team up to scour our apartment and send in carpet and upholstery cleaners. It was a mess, but our building staff (shout out to Medina and Joe the Building Engineer!) is the best and they took care of everything.
Once that little episode was out of the way, we were ready to have fun and we were so lucky to be there on January 27 to celebrate Taylor’s 26th birthday! Due to timing and distance, we hadn’t been with Taylor on his birthday since that wild belly-dancing party back in 2007, so this was a special evening for us. And to top it off, our dear friend Teri joined us for dinner, bad knee and all.
Birthday Celebration: Christine, Taylor, Teri, Daniel and Chris
The birthday boy!
Rare photo of them both smiling!
We were so busy with family and friends this trip that we only went to two events, but they were good ones. I snagged third-row seats to The Heiress to be close to the acting Dan Stevens and it was worth the premium price for the premium view. At intermission I happened to turn around to see Bradley Cooper sitting behind us so it was a trifecta for me – “Matthew” from Downton Abbey in front of me, “Will” from Alias behind me and my handsome husband next to me. Oh, and Jessica Chastain was good, too…
I think the CE competes pretty well with Dan Stevens, don’t you?
Oh how we loved Alias! Way back before Coop was SMA (image from alias-tv.com)
We also saw the Vegas-ized “Rigoletto” at Lincoln Center. Originally set in 16th century Mantua, someone decided to fast-forward Verdi’s opera based upon a play by Victor Hugo to the 1960’s Vegas Strip. The set was amazing! They even brought a 1960’s Cadillac on stage – a seriously awkward death scene for Gilda but a great prop!
The set of Lincoln Center’s “Rigoletto” (image from nytimes.com)
We love walking around the city and seeing the sights:
Bulgari is all dressed up on Fifth Avenue!
I love the way the horses share with the pigeons
As is now our tradition, we also spent a day up in Bronxville visiting Angie and her boys. It was so fun to pick them up after school – they have both GROWN! What are you feeding them, Ang?
After school fun: Jamesy and Grandpa
Leader of the pack: Thomas and friends have a pick-up game
They also came into the city one day for a swim with Grandpa at our apartment building. Boundless energy and by that I am referring to the CE, who stayed in the pool with them for more than two hours!
Jamesy
Always an action shot with Thomas
Grandpa and Jamesy
We stopped by a few museums:
The Scream: part of a great but bleak Munch exhibit at MOMA
Awesome Matisse exhibit at The Met right now! (image from artesmagazine.com)
We finally got over to the NHM to check out their new homage to Teddy Roosevelt
It’s so great to have both of our boys in the city. We dropped by Taylor’s apartment to say hi one night and discovered that he is still in the Christmas spirit:
Christmas in February
Taylor and Christine joined us for Sunday brunch
We ventured downtown one evening for dinner at Balthazar with Daniel and his friends:
Jamie, Peter, Christina and Daniel
Have to have a picture with Jeff in it! Congrats on the new job!
Daniel came uptown to spend a night with us before we left
It was another great visit to NYC, even in the brrrrrr weather. Can’t wait to return in March!
February sunrise from our apartment window. CE took this pic. – I’m never up that early!
You buried the lead. Where are the photos and stories of the 2007 belly-dancing birthday?
I don’t know if the horse is sharing so much as the pigeons have gathered to investigate whether or not a long-lost cousin could be found on his head.
As always, I’m impressed with the amount you pack into a trip to NY!
I fully intended to put a pic of the famous 18th birthday party but was racing the clock – we had to get on the road to meet baby Caleigh. Will try to dig one out when we get home. Will also fix all the typos…
I feel like a time traveler. Back and forth, but fun. Hurry home for a mad weekend in Paso Robles!!