The trip started as a business trip. Me and my company hosting 10 customers at the Waldorf Astoria. Our room overlooked the Chrysler Building (cue "Annie" music) |
Since I was the meeting planner and key contact for the hotel, I win fancy water and cupcakes in my room! |
The first night we went to the Knickerbocker Hotel in Times Square and enjoyed the rooftop for a bit. |
After a loooong (but successful) meeting, we took the customers to a great restaurant in Midtown called Trattoria Dell'Arte. What you're looking at is not a pizza, but a GIANT chicken parm that took up the whole plate. This was AFTER I was done eating it. |
Friday morning starts our long weekend. We headed to Grand Central to take the subway to the 9-11 Museum. |
There are zero pictures that could even begin to do this museum justice. What an outstanding job recapturing the events, emotions, and just physical aspects of that day. |
Most impressive was all the remembrances of the victims. Here is one of the memorial pools. The water just keeps falling down, down, down. |
We were emotionally drained after that experience, so came back to the hotel to recharge. Chris went out to get me hot nuts and asked if I could see him from our hotel. I spotted his shoes. |
Pre-dinner cocktails. Chris enjoyed trying all the different Old Fashioneds. I enjoyed a mocktail in a real cocktail glass:) |
Obligatory Times Square picture. |
We were killing time on the way to dinner and I had to snap my pic in Rockefeller Center. I was really hoping Jimmy would just pop out of those doors. |
On our way to dinner - all cleaned up! That night we ate at Butter in Midtown. VERY cool vibe inside. At first glance it seems like a good-ol-boy's steak house, but the music and food presentation is very hip and trendy. Of course, the gnocci mac n cheese was stupid good. |
A gorgeous, spring day! |
Obviously famished (after a hearty bagel and egg sandwich) and some subway maneuvering, we stopped in Eataly for a "snack". It's a good thing we didn't find this place earlier in the trip or I may not have left. It's an Italian market but also has little mini tasting restaurants throughout. Here is our salame and cheese plate. |
And, this squid was simply mouthwatering. Pan seared, not fried, with an arugula/orange salad. Food heaven looks something like this. |
Selfie in the Park! |
That night, we had theater tickets, but decided to grab a light dinner (seriously, were we eating our way through the city??) beforehand. With some extra time to spare, we got a pre-theater drink at a hole in the wall across the street and Chris spotted Christopher McDonald on our way out. |
Here's the Belasco Theater where we saw "Blackbird" starring Michelle Williams and Jeff Daniels. Not the lightest of subject matter, but boy the acting was pretty incredible. |