New York/Pet Shop Boys - Day 4

This was Sunday the 13th and our last full day in New York.

We slept in and so it was nearing lunchtime when we left the hotel.  We walked a few blocks to Toasties on 49th and sat at the window as we ate.  I had the Cordon Bleu (on a roll) which was a chicken cutlet with grilled honey baked ham, melted mozzarella, grilled onions, lettuce & tomato.  It was delicious.

When lunch was finished we took the R train downtown to the Oculus and One World Trade Center.  The Oculus is a transportation hub for the area, but it's also a giant shopping mall.

Waiting at the 49th Street station

Having fun with the Prisma App:

Arriving in Lower Manhattan at the Oculus.  Not very crowded when we arrived...

New York/Pet Shop Boys - Day 3

This was Saturday the 12th.  We started out the day with Dough at City Kitchen.  City Kitchen is a collection of different food vendors brought together in one space.  Dough makes donuts.  Large, very delicious donuts.

I had the salad-plate-sized mocha almond crunch

Todd's dulce de leche with toasted almonds

Almost Forgot

I forgot to add in my last post that I picked up this neat "pop up theater" in the Dairy visitor center/gift shop while in Central Park:

The laser cut paper construction comes flat in a envelope-sized package.  Once removed you bend the folds in the opposite direction to form a cube.

While I don't see it online, the Central Park Conservancy does have other great items available in their shop on the web.

New York/Pet Shop Boys - Day 2

Friday, November 11th - a great day for a stroll through Central Park.

We started off with breakfast at Kellog's NYC, a branded cereal bar just down the street from our hotel.  This was a "Malted Nutty Banana" which included Krave chocolate cereal, malted milk powder, toasted hazelnuts, sliced banana, and skim milk.  It was a good combination.

Who doesn't love cereal?  Not this guy.

USS Maine National Monument at the Columbus Circle entrance to Central Park.
Subtitle:  Three youth at rest.

New York/Pet Shop Boys - Day 1

On Monday we returned from a 4-day trip to New York where we saw the Pet Shop Boys again in concert at the theater at Madison Square Garden.  This was our third trip to New York (the last was in November of 2014 - read about it starting here), so we didn't do some of the typical sightseeing this time.

Let's jump right in, shall we?

We flew American this time and were served breakfast on the plane.  I had steel cut oatmeal with shaved coconut and dried fruit, brown sugar, and butter.  It came with vanilla yogurt, a side of fresh fruit, and milk.  Todd had biscuits and gravy.

Birthday Phantom

After our return from Vegas, for her birthday we took my mom to see the national tour of the new production of The Phantom of the Opera at Bass Hall in downtown Fort Worth.

The cast was excellent as was the production.  The new staging was innovative and fresh, but the standout (for me) was Katie Travis as Christine Daaé - what a talent!  Go see this show if you can.

Bass Performance Hall, Fort Worth, TX (taken from the parking garage)

Looking up at the covered infamous chandelier before the show starts

The chandelier after the "crash" at the end of Act 1.  Even though I've seen the Phantom before, it was still quite dramatic especially since we were underneath it.  Mom (and I) got a chuckle that I gave out a little involuntary yell when it came down.  :)

Vegas/Pet Shop Boys - Day 3

It had been swell, but it was time to go home.  I highly recommend that you go see the Pet Shop Boys on tour if you can, even if you're not a longtime fan - the songs, sounds and visuals are great and it's a fun evening.  If not, at least give their newest album Super a listen (and while you're at it check out Electric too).  Great stuff!

Arriving at McCarran International Airport and heading...no Todd, that's not our airline.

Goodbye Las Vegas

Quarry

Hoover Dam

Back home.  Now, where did we park the car?

Thanks for reading - see you again soon!

Vegas/Pet Shop Boys - Day 2

The day of the Pet Shop Boys concert and the morning was bright and clear.  We slept in until 10-ish because, Vegas, then got ready and headed out.  Our only goal for the daytime was to walk over to The Cosmopolitan and find out where exactly we needed to go later that night.

Good morning Las Vegas