A Spontaneous Day in New York City and a Broadway Show...
I live about an hour and half from NYC. About a week ago, I decided to do something I had been thinking about for a while. I went online, bought matinee tickets to a Broadway show, and figured I would find someone to go with me.
There was only one problem. None of my friends seemed to know much about the show—or had any particular interest in seeing it.
So I convinced my husband to join me, see the show and meet my younger son and daughter-in-law, who both work in New York city, for an early dinner before we would head home.
The weather cooperated and it turned out to be a fun day.
Buena Vista Social Club
The show was Buena Vista Social Club. I love Latin music, so I had been wanting to see it for a long time. What I got was two and a half hours of incredibly energetic Cuban singers and exceptional musicians who played exhilarating instrumental solos. It is a story filled with love, loss, political upheaval and, ultimately, the powerful healing of music.
The musical is inspired by the true story of Cuban musicians whose careers took off in the 1950s. When the Cuban Revolution changed the country, many of these musicians found their careers and their music silenced.
Decades later, in the 1990s, some of these legendary musicians came together again to record what became the Grammy-winning Buena Vista Social Club musical album. Their music reached an entirely new audience, and the group eventually had the extraordinary opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
What I loved most about the musical was the performers. They seemed to pour everything they had into it—their heartbreak, happiness, frustration, love and passion. Even if you don't know much about Cuban history, the robust lively singing and talented Cuban musicians carries you along.
I, and it seemed the audience, enjoyed the show. Unfortunately, my husband who loves music...did not enjoy quite as much as I did. I'm not sure this show is for everyone. But he said he was happy to enjoy the day with me.
Dinner in the Theater District
After the show, we walked a few blocks to meet my son and daughter-in-law for dinner at MITR Thai, a beautiful Thai restaurant on 46th Street in the Broadway district.
We had an early 5:00 reservation, which turned out to be important. When we arrived, we were told that our table was ours for an hour and a half. At first, I thought that sounded a little rude and rushed.
Then I looked around.
By 5:15, the quite large, multi-level restaurant was filling up with hundreds ( yes really about 150-200) of people. The first seating was well underway, and apparently the restaurant does another seating at 7:00 and another at 9:00.
Welcome to NYC Broadway district.
The food was delicious, the service excellent, and everyone enjoyed their dinner well within our hour and half allotted slot. As a vegetarian, though, I found the menu a little more challenging because many of the dishes contained fish sauce that could not be removed. Being gluten-free added another layer of limitations.
Still, I managed to find some good choices, and it was fun sitting around the table with my New York son and daughter-in-law and catching up with them.
I thought the food was reasonably priced for New York City. An average entree was about $22-$28 .The wine, however, was another story.
A small glass of average white wine was $19. Once tax and tip were added into it, that little glass of wine was approaching $26. I chose to skip the wine; My NY kids didn't, but had only one small glass, and my husband doesn't really drink.
Home Again
By 8:45, we were back home, tired but happy after a full day in New York City. A Broadway show, dinner with my son and daughter-in-law, and a little walking through the city in lovely weather made for a pretty perfect day.
I think I may have to do it again in the early fall. The only question is: what Broadway show should I see next? Any suggestions?
Don't miss my previous post- how to make this cute crudités platter. Link to blog post
New York City! That's the one place I would like to visit. What a fun day you had seeing a Broadway show and then having dinner at a Thai restaurant with your son. I used to go to this little Thai restaurant and order the same thing, it was really good. The glass of wine was kind of expensive, but it went well with your meal. I'm so glad you got a chance to catch up with your son. And you and your husband look happy in this picture. : )
ReplyDeleteThanks .. It was a fun day and we are lucky NYC is relatively close by.
DeleteLooks like that you had a great time in NY! I love Thai food, but wow...a small glass of white costs 26 bucks..
ReplyDeleteYeah.. I thought it was ridiculous.
DeleteI would have seen that show with you in a heartbeat!
ReplyDeleteI loved it.
DeleteI love that area of New York but it's been decades since I was there. So glad you did something like this for yourself.
ReplyDeleteYes the Broadway area is fun . However, it now wreaks of smoke from pot smokers and is very dirty.
DeleteOut of all of the places I've visited in the world, NYC was my least favorite. However, I did enjoy taking in a Broadway show. My husband and I opted for Aladdin and our girls decided to take in Waitress which they loved. Live shows are one of my favorite things to attend, so it was really hard to narrow down just one while we were there. Sorry your husband didn't love the play, but I am glad you had a lovely day out with the family.
ReplyDeleteI get it about. NYC. Broadway is a place of its own. We go in about once a year.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun day in NYC, it is an expensive place to visit.
Take care, enjoy your day!
Very true Eileen.. It is expensive
DeleteI have been to Cuba six times and I can attest that the music scene is alive and well there. It is vibrant, creative and interesting. As for wine in restaurants, it is becoming ridiculous. It is now getting to the point where a glass at the table would buy a bottle at the store. We don’t eat out that much, but generally wait until we get home to have a glass of wine. It’s nice to have it with dinner but the price is becoming obscene.
ReplyDeleteWe were in Cuba once and did enjoy the music scene. Of course living half of the year in the Miami area, we get exposed to a lot of Cuban culture.
DeleteThat sounds like such a lovey day trip! I had never heard of that musical before.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny. A lot of my friends never heard of it either.
DeleteThat sounds like a perfect kind of day!! I would definitely love that musical. Living in South Florida I grew to love Cuban culture, music and food that I do sometimes miss. The prices of the meals sound very reasonable but the wine...that is a bit crazy.
ReplyDeleteYes, living in Miami area we have grown to enjoy the Cuban culture.
DeleteWhat a great time! I would LOVE to see that show and I keep hoping the touring company will land in East Lansing this year or next. I've heard the music and it is just fantastic!
ReplyDeleteSo pleased you had a fun day ... great photographs.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan