New York Trip

Yesterday I headed to NY with my youngest and my Hubby.  We started off around 5am when my Son, Samuel took us to the VRE.

Here's our bags.  Ida's is the largest.  Then mine and Norm's is the smallest.  We took the train from Fredericksburg, VA to Union Station in DC.  It's almost a 2 hr ride in.

Once at Union Station Norm went and picked up the Amtrack tickets.  Then we went to find some bagels and juice for Breakfast.

Here we are waiting for our 8:05 train into NYC.

The train ride was great.  It didn't take long at all, but there were lots of people since it was spring break.  We all got seats together and entertained ourselves with movies or music from our Ipods or Iphones.  They had Wifi on the train, but it wasn't the best since it kept dropping.  Overall the train ride was perfect.  No traffic and no train problems.

Once we got to Penn Station we decided to walk the 16 blocks to our Hotel.  What were we thinking???  Even though NY has very shot blocks there were so many people.  NY is such a busy place in general.  I have shot legs so Ida and Norm were walking really fast.  While I had to run at times to keep up with them.  It was a bit of a nutty, but we soon were at our hotel.

The Hampton Inn was a perfect place to stay.  It was clean and right in the heart of the action yet far enough away that we were not bothered by the noise.  I came to love that red Hampton Inn sign after being on my feet all day.

We weren't able to check right away in, since we got there so early, but the bellman took our bags and locked them up for us while we decided to see more of NYC. 

Of course the first place on Norm's list to go, was a good Jewish deli.

 Everywhere you looked was scaffolding.  I guess there was a lot to repair.  It is an old city.  This place was amazing.  I can't even begin to tell you how busy it was.  When we walked in there was 5 waiters that you would walk to just to get your set in the back of this restaurant.  There were so many people eatting already that the place was packed.  We even sorta shared a table with an older couple.  I forget where they were from, but they were to nice to be New Yorkers.

Ida looking at Dad and asking how she was suppose to finish all of that herself.

First thing, Norm orders Ida and him Matzo ball soup.  Wow!!  Those were hudge Matzo balls.  Norm said they were very tasty.  I'm not much into Matzo balls so you can't go by me.

My Cornbeef sandwich was to die for.  The portions were hudge and I couldn't eat the whole thing, but it was so yummy. The walls of this place had  headshots of famouse people in black frames hanging everywhere.  It was fun to see who had eatten there.  Ida even got to see a picture of Taylor Swift.   

Suprizingly the menu wasn't even big enough to line a birdcage, but it sure made up for it when the check came. I'm not sure I ever paid $76.00 for just 3 people at lunch time. Ouch!! 

After lunch we were stuffed beyond our capacity.  We walked around the block and who should greet us, but Extra TV.  They asked us if we would be Extras in their clipit.  Of course we said we would.  We stood next to AJ Calloway while he looked into the camera and did his spill.  It took us only about 15 minutes, but what a great experience to be part of.  We were on TV that night for just a few seconds. Our moment of fame!! I personally would of loved to have met Mario Lopez.

Here, we are just heading down to time square.  I think there is some excitement in the air.

We thought this was funny.  Look in the background.  There was a hudge sign a Letterman, but I'm not sure where in this picture it is.

Of course we had to hit the M&M store in Manhattan.  Ida and Norm had a blast.

 Here, Ida has a blast picking out her colors of her M&Ms.  This guy, reaches over and puts bunny ears on her, but I had already taken the picture.

 Very fun store to go into.  It was 3 floors of delisouse smelling chocolate.  Ton's of M&M's everywhere.

 

 We are in the heart of Time Square.  Above, is where the ball drops on New Years Eve.  Below is a place people can sit and look at all the bill boards as they change.  It is a very cool place.

I was amazed to see all the mega trons.  It wasn't like this when I came into NY in 1989.

There were tons of people dressed in costume.  They would let you take a picture with them and then you would have to pay them money.  It was a big thing down there.  We learned our lesson fast.

Above is the Disney Store.  This is a fun place to go into as well.

Just amazing!!

 This was sooooo cool.  This whole building was a mega tron.  It change colors and advertizements every 5 minutes.

New York is just a super fun place to visit.

 The above picture was so funny.  There is a guy in the background with a mohawk.  He was holding a sign that said I need weed.  Everyone wanted to take his picture, but if they did they had to give him money towards buying weed.  Right next to him was a policeman.  He couldn't pick him up cuz he didn't have any weed on him.  Only in NY...

We decided to go back to our hotel and check in.  About this time Ida was tweeting and noticed that Nick Jonas was going to be at Planet Hollywood.  We jumped in a cab and rushed down there to stand in a line for about 1 hour.  We met some very nice people in that line.

 Once we got here.  We relized only100 of his fans got yellow wrist band and would be getting Nicks autograph.  It was ok, cuz all Ida really wanted to do is see him in person. He was a very nice kid and let 25 more fans come into Planet Hollywood to see him donate his costume.

 Donating his costume to Planet Hollywood.  I felt so bad for this poor kid.  He had a hard time with all the flashes going off in his face.  There were tons of fans there.

Michael Urie, Nick Jonas & Stepahnie  Rothenberg

Can't see Nick in the middle very well, but he was there.

 Here I was taking his picture through plexi glass, but it still turned out great.

He is such a shy kid.

 Nick leaving and telling all his fans to go see his broadway Musical.

Jonas brothers handprints on the wall of Panet Hollywood.

 Ida thinking of Kristen as she see's a hudge piano on the wall of Planet Hollywood.

Above, Norm get's his picture taken of the true hero's of NY.  After getting mobbed by thousands of streaming girls.  He was such a good sport.

Now off to the Empire State building.  The day is almost over, but there is still tons we want to do.

This is the first picture you see when you enter the building.  There were so many people here it was a bit of a nutty.

Norm is showing Ida the buildings we will see once we are on top and out side.