New York
The Frey is in New York for the wknd!!! CBS flew 2 friends of mine whom i used to work to teach with and myself to New York for an interview with 48 hours. They booked us for a wknd stay in a 5 star Taj hotel! The Pierre Taj Hotel on 61st and 5th Ave - just across from Central Park. We could easily walk to Rockefeller Center and Times Square. It was an amazing experience.
This is Rhea and Suzie. We used to teach together. Rhea and i were partner teachers for one year, i taught the math and science and she taught the language arts and social studies. When we arrived at the hotel, we were quickly greeted by Richard Schlesinger, Marcy Spencer (the producer), and Daria Karp (Research and development and coordinator). We went to the Rotunda which is in the hotel where we ordered "light tea" which meant we got a choice of tea (i ordered delicious chocolate mint) and a bunch of mini little sandwhiches (served on a fancy, silver, 3-shelf tower, of course). Quite fancy and the architecture and structure of the room was something to marvel. It had high ceilings and the walls were painted w/ murals. Reminded me of something you would see in Europe. The 48 hrs people were awesome to hang out with and talk to. They told of us some of the other stories they are working on- they had so many interesting stories to share. They were completely friendly and generous with their time. Now we are ready to see New York!
The view from my window. The hotel also had people who worked in the elevators who took you up and down the floors and greeted you, just like in the movies!!
Here's the room! So cute.
Breakfast at Tiffany's
We decided to take a long walk. From our hotel, we walked down 5th Ave. And there it is! Tiffany's. Too fancy to actually go in there, but fun to see. ;)
I hate shopping!
So we continued walking down 5th Ave. We went into Henri Bendel b/c we heard people in there created lipsticks for you. Giella cosmetics. Sure enough! It was true. I told Albee what colors i liked to wear and along w/ some of his expertise, he created what i like to call "Indiana Girl." That's what i named my lipstick! They keep your recipe there so you can call and order more during the year- you can even ask them to make it more opaque (like for the fall and winter months) or more sheer. So funny. But like a dream come true for someone who absolutely HATES to shop, especially for a new lipstick!
The Rockefeller Center
We ate dinner here.
This building at the Rockefeller Center had pictures of random smiling people popping up one by one until there was one on every square, then it would start over again. There is something similiar to this in Chicago.
New York Public Library
AFter dinner we took a long walk. We stopped first at the library, then walked to Times Square. I think this is the library the Ghostbusters went into in the movie. Probably in a lot of other movies too. It is a beautiful building.
The library is "guarded" by these two lions...one is called Prudence, and i can't remember the name of the other.
Times Square
The gi-mornous screens really were magnificant to look at.
So, this was the wknd Paris Hilton was being sent back to jail. We saw this very life-like Paris Hilton in a jail suit in this store on Times Square. There were news clips of Paris Hilton playing over and over on video screens just outside the window we were looking in.
M&M world. What a cute little M&M on the big screen. It showed M&M video clips the whole night.
So, I have never heard of the "turn down" service in a hotel before. I stopped dead in my tracks when i came in for the evening because i could tell things were changed around in my room. Then i realized it was intentional. Right away i nocticed my lights had been dimmed, durtains drawn, the radio playing classical music, and the corner of my bed was turned down. On my pillow was a rose pedal along w/ tomorrow's forecast. It couldn't keep from giggling while i thought about room service for breakfast! wow.
Now this is the life! I don't think i've ever had a better night of sleep.
Room Service please
Check out the bathrobe! I am livin' it up, fancy style! The food is just so pretty. I feel like a queen. The best part was when the man who brought my breakfast said, "Next time, when you come back..." and all i could think was "oh...he doesn't know that I'm not rich..." ha,ha. I think this room here is $265/night!
48 Hrs
So the interview took place in the school library at Claermont Prep School in Manhatten. I believe a lot of the scenes from the X-men movie came from this very school building. Parents pay $27,000 a year to put their chid in this school! I can't imagine that kind of a world!
I think i could be a TV person. (not really) Now that's a lot of cameras.
Burger Heaven. About to head out for another afternoon to evening on the town!
So pretty. This was right next to Burger Heaven. It was a couple blocks from our hotel.
Times Square in the daytime
Fun place and lots to see. It was so crowded with people, it was hard to just walk around freely. But quite a site!
All kinds of stuff going on the streets.
Grand Central Terminal
Just like the movies! It was just impossible to get a good picture of the Grand Central Terminal. No picture really does it justice and the lighting was difficult, but this picture is pretty cool.
Meet Sharon!
Sharon and I got to meet up for a couple of VERY short hours in New York. Sharon and i went to Rwanda together in 2005. She lives in Newark, but was in the city that day to see a show. I dragged her around NY with me. She went with me to the Grand Central Terminal (train station), then to see the Statue of Liberty.
Statue of Liberty
This is as close as we had time to get to the Statue of Liberty. Still pretty cool. Wish we could have taken the ferry. We were at South Ferry.
Les Miserables at the Broadhurst on 44th and 8th Ave
So Rhea and I had an amazing opportunity to see Les Miserables on Broadway! i couldn't believe it. We went to Times Square to see if we could get 1/2 price Broadway tickets we heard about. We told a worker there it was our first time in New York and we didn't know what to do. He told us where the end of the line was and we asked him roughly how long the wait in line was...45 min. Ugh. We only had less than a day left in NY and didn't really want to waste it standing in line to ask questions about tickets we may not even buy! We didn't even know if they would have any tickets left for Les Mis by time we got to the front. While we were contemplating the dilemma, to our surprise, the man snuck us in right up to the ticket booth! Problem solved! We bought the tickets! We're going to Broadway! How exciting.
So cool. There was not one bad seat in the small and spectacular theatre! I have never seen a play up so close before. It was amazing.
Sunday morning run in Central Park.
So this is the hotel I stayed - the only shot i got. Unfortunately, i waited until Sunday when the Puerto Rican Parade was taking place w/ Ricky Martin! People were every where and every other road was blocked off. Reminded me of the Seinfield episode - there really IS a Puerto Rican parade!!!
Just one more fancy breakfast in my room before the journey home. Royality for the weekend. All over.
French Toast $20, Cappucino $7, Papaya $11, glass of Orange Juice $9, the experience - priceless :)
