December 2, 2010 – Hempstead, Queens, & Manhattan

Guest Entry Written by: Mommy

This morning we rode the train to Jamaica Station in Queens and then the LIRR to Hempstead for Brian’s court. Everything went well and he won’t have to back again. He is even going to get some of the money he paid last time back. We ate breakfast in a corner shop and then headed back to the city. We cruised around the tip of Central Park and then wondered up the street past some shops. I didn’t have my good camera (too big for trip to court) and was somewhat annoyed I was missing photo opportunities using my lousy backup.

We walked around and even found the ice skating rink. We would’ve went but we they were skating clockwise and both of us thought that was strange. We usually skate counterclockwise. Plus we were both in our dressy outfits for the play tonight. Brian didn’t want to accidently fall and end up wet or dirty or something.
We saw the Plaza and did some window shopping along Park and 5th. We even went into FAO Schwartz and watched them dance on the “Big” floor piano. Daddy took his picture with a Lego Chewbacca. Mommy loved all the Harry Potter stuff. If it didn’t cost $30 Mommy would’ve bought these HUGE 5lb Reese’s Peanut Cups. Ummmm! They looked so good! Saw all the VERY EXPENSIVE stores from the sidewalk (Tiffany’s, Bergdorf Goodman, etc). Some of them had pretty cool window displays. We went and ate at Carnegie’s which is a famous sandwich restaurant that lots of stars frequent. We split a pastrami sandwich and it was SOOOO good! We both loved it! We were very lucky too because we walked right in and were sat directly down. Later we saw lines that stretched half the block just to get in.

  
We

still had time to kill before our show so we wondered in and out of all the stores in Time Square. The M & M store was pretty cool and had a giant blue M & M at the entrance dressed in a white suit with one arm outstretched (Travolta). We also liked the Disney Store and Toy’s R Us.
   
We saw the New Year’s ball all set to drop on the 31st.

We were on the only adults, without children, riding the Ferris Wheel inside Toys R Us. They also had a huge dinosaur and superman picking up a car. We rode in the Jimmy Newtron car (you couldn’t pick) but the Toy Story one was the coolest. We were just glad we didn’t get stuck in the Barbie car or the Cabbage Patch car. That would’ve made it embarrassing.
  
Next, we headed to Broadway to see the longest running show in Broadway’s history. Phantom of the Opera was AWESOME! I’ve never seen a show like that before. The effects were amazing! It started off with the huge chandelier being raised to the top of the theatre (during the 1st act). The stage sets were so huge and detailed. When the Phantom went down into his lair they stage bottom filled with smoke and candelabras popped up everywhere just peeking through the fog. The boat they rode glided effortlessly across the stage. At one point when flames shot up we were both blinded and could feel the heat. Brian said it singed his eyebrows. The music and the actors were outstanding. I’m so glad we had the opportunity to see this. We even talked about trying to see another play the next night. The Majestic Theatre was also amazing. Our seats were in the second row of the upper mezzanine (still not bad seats) for the 1st half but it wasn’t sold out and the usher said people could move wherever after intermission. The balconies were even open but we moved to the 1st row of the lower mezzanine and the seats were perfect.