Tempe, AZ (home base)
USA
New York, New York Day 3
New York City, Day 3 (Continued from New York City, Day 1 and New York City, Day 2)
Earplugs. Buy them, use them, love them, and try not to lose them. In a place like New York, you could be staying at a palace and noise will sneak its way up through vents, door cracks, or slightly open windows. And if you’re not staying at a palace and all you can afford (barely) is the Ramada in Bayside, Queens (a 20-minute train ride to and from Penn Station), then earplugs become the best thing you packed. But the TGTGs remained vigilant and after another NYC-symphony-inflicted night, we woke up in the early a.m. to another beautiful sunny day.
With so much already accomplished, Ali and I set about our last full day in New York with a feeling of great satisfaction. We’d seen the Statue of Liberty, took in the beautiful sight of seeing the Empire State Building lit up in red and yellow from atop the Rock, strolled through a good portion of Central Park, and literally “hopped on and hopped off” many different locations on our tour bus. Yet our New York appetites still lingered and there were a couple things we had left to do . . .
Our tour bus tickets ran out at 6pm (Grayline bus tickets are good for 48 hours) but we had to keep in mind both the full uptown and downtown tours ended at 4pm so we were forced to pick between the Uptown and the Brooklyn tour (there’s also a Night tour that covers much of the same ground as the day downtown tour). We were torn, both wanting to see everything, but in the end, Ali and I agreed on the Uptown tour and were instantly happy we did.
Although our tour guide was a bit, well, eccentric, we both enjoyed the scene unfolding before us as the bus turned on each unfamiliar street. Something should be noted here: our bus was frequently detoured from the usual weekday tour, but for a surprisingly pleasant reason - apparently (according to our odd but interesting tour guide) every weekend in New York there is a street fair that went down 8th Avenue and we walked from 52nd Street to somewhere in the 60-range enjoying everything from shopping for bracelets to indulging on caramel apples. If you like open markets, I’d take a walk down the New York street fair. I was delighted at finding a NYC hooded sweatshirt for $10 because the same one was $25 three vendors down. Ali and I found a sign that promoted “Everything $2″ where we bought bracelets and perused the racks for beach bags. It was super fun and good exercise for both our feet and wallets!
Once we hopped back on the bus, it took us through Harlem, which is an improving city, through Central Park west and north, and of course, the Upper West Side where you get to see where the “celebs and richies” live. I have addresses now if I chose to stalk Jerry Seinfeld, Demi Moore, and somebody named oh, I don’t know Yoko Ono. But alas, my heart and practiced stalking skills still await for Johnny Depp . . .
Okay, let me get back on track. So the TGTG recommendation for something to do that’s FREE to do in New York (purchases aside) are the street fairs and I’m referring also to the one Ali and I stumbled upon in Greenwich Village our second day.
Like most big cities, there’s a bit of everything for everyone and if walking down street fairs or running to catch tour busses isn’t your thing, trust me, you’ll still like Manhattan. Hungry? There’s the famous Masa sushi restaurant although you might be paying upwards of $500 per couple not including drinks!! Thirsty? You have a choice of only about a thousand bajillion gugillion bars. Coffee? Let me put it this way, I got an iced tea at Starbucks, walked outside, bent over to tie my shoe, blinked, stood up, and there was another Starbucks. Not to be too cliché, but both Ali and I relied quite a bit on the ‘Bucks philosophy of ‘more stores than there are people’ for we’ve accepted this bitter fact of society and our cheap asses enjoy the 40 cent tea refills (if you bring in the same cup!) But again, I digress. . . what else could New York City possibly offer aside from cocktails, caffeine, and crazy expensive raw fish. Duh! Broadway baby!
Fun little fact - Off Broadway isn’t literal in interpretation. It has nothing to do with the type of show, only the size of the theater; measured by how many people it seats. So don’t hesitate to buy tickets thinking you’d wind up in a one-act play set in someone’s backyard. Not at all. Nonetheless, for us budgeted travelers who still want to experience the Broadway extravaganza, we suggest waiting until the day/night you want to see a show (maybe not Friday or Saturday though) and shop around. Or if comedy is up your alley, walk through Times Square and you’ll get swarms of people selling discount tickets to the nearest show. 
As for the TGTGs, we didn’t want to miss out either and luckily for us, my aunt was in town the same weekend, called me on my cell, told me the Chicago ticket booth was selling 40% off tickets. Two tickets and $120 bucks later, Ali and I were set on seeing one of the highest rated and longest running Broadway shows in Manhattan. Better than chocolate, better than cheesecake, seeing this show was our New York dessert.
Enough cannot be said about the theater version of Chicago. Yes, the movie was great, fantastic actually, but it’s always going to be displayed on a flat movie or television screen. Try to picture being on the set only better. Because the intensity of knowing there aren’t any “bloopers”, do-overs, directors yelling “cut”, or actors asking for another take. All that is happening before you is one long take. Breathe in the reality of what the actors/singers are doing - the rawness of their performances will take over you and you’ll be left powerless at its magnificence. They work hard to get everything right for YOU, their audience. Chicago was our experience, our turn to witness the incredible talent the world has to offer. Broadway, however, is an Olympic-sized pool of amazing and inspired people and Ali and I know we were lucky enough to dip our feet in.
When the show ended, I didn’t feel sad or unhappy it meant the end of our time in New York. Though my mental and physical self probably couldn’t handle the mass population of Manhattan, let alone the rest of the state, nor would it completely comprehend the cost of living large, I know I’ll be back again to visit - there’s just so damn much to see.
TGTG Photo Op: If you go to a show, get a pic of the bright lights surrounding the sign. It just looks awesomely vintage amongst the rest of the city’s chaotic atmosphere.
TGTG Tip: Honestly, if you’re not Bill Gates and staying in the heart of Manhattan is not in you’re budget, there are a few options; Astoria, Queens, and Bayside are all a short train ride away (we suggest round-trip off-peak tickets if you can finagle the times to your schedule). Or do what my aunt did and look for a hostel type place; usually a shared bathroom and a tiny bedroom, but you’re saving big bucks and you’re a few blocks away from all the action!
TGTG NYC Fave: Street fair food. There’s nothing like paying $3 for something so bad for you that for the next eight hours after you scarf it all down, reminds you why you’ll claim, actually vow, to never eat anything again, but then when tomorrow comes, you’re at another street vendor searching your pockets for enough to buy the same thing that caused you misery. I (insert heart shape) New York.
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