‘Maybe the two different worlds we lived in weren’t so different. We saw the same sunset.’-S.E. Hinton

I had not been back to New York, one of my favorite cities, since I moved from Philadelphia nearly seven years ago. When George Clooney announced he was going to be making his Broadway debut in Good Night and Good Luck, I knew I was going to go. My very best friend, Kim, said she wanted to come too. When the dates were released, previews corresponded with my spring break. The plan was to fly to Pittsburgh to see my dad, drive to Philadelphia to see Kim, her husband and boys, I would take the train to NYC and she would meet me for Saturday night on Broadway.

As I have spent a lot of time in New York and love Broadway, that was my focus. I did very little else other than wander and watch shows. I started down the list. I arrived Wednesday morning, dropped off my bags, and immediately went to see Sunset Boulevard with Nicole Scherzinger. The show made a splash in the West End and had transferred to Broadway. All tickets were fairly reasonable and I still don’t care where I sit. I don’t listen to shows until I have seen them and had no idea what to expect and the show was fine. I did not really love the music (not the best Andrew Lloyd Webber) but the stark set design was cool.

I ran to get a bite to eat and then went to see the new musical Smash starring Robin Herder, an actress I love. While the show has since closed, I really loved it and laughed so much! I also saw Gypsy with Audra McDonald, Broadway icon who I had seen in a play but not a musical. I really loved it and, again, went in not knowing what to expect. What I was not prepared for was to see my new favorite show…The Outsiders! I’m slightly embarrassed to say I’ve never read the book or seen the movie, so truly going in blind. I knew it had won the Tony for best musical and the reviews were good. I was blown away! The show is spectacular in every way, much of the score was immediately added to my Spotify. It is currently touring and I cannot recommend enough. I also made sure to do my traditional post theatre stop to Schmackery for the best cookies around!

For Good Night and Good Luck, about Edward R. Murrow and his role in bringing down Senator Joseph McCarthy during the Second Red Scare, Kim and I had dinner at our favorite place, Serafina! It was delicious. We each love it independently and the last time we had gone was before seeing Frankie and Johnnie, with Audra McDonald and Michael Shannon, when she was pregnant with my first godson. She played photographer for that too (I love Michael Shannon) and did the same for my stage door with George! George is my ultimate crush and he was really great in the show! I was able to get his autograph on my playbill and snapped some photos. It was amazing and able to share with my best friend.

While my trip was Broadway focused, I did do some wandering, including visiting Magnolia Bakery. I ALWAYS got a slice of cake but they done have them any more so settled on a cupcake. I will say, I had pretty great weather considering it was the middle of March. I used the clearest day to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, which I had never done before. I took the subway from the Upper East Side to the Financial District. I walked across the bridge, it was not too crowded while I was there, and then walked back up to the Upper East Side. Stopped at a couple of bakeries and coffee shops, did a little window gazing, and took a nap before my evening at the theatre.

I really love New York City and would live there in a heart beat. I just feel a different kind of alive while I am there or maybe just my love of being in the Northeast. Hopefully one day…