We finally walked the Brooklyn Bridge. I never had done it because I wasn’t sure how easy it would be with Eva. Turns out it was super easy and really fun. Should have done it a bunch these past couple years!
Our friend Jenny came along with us and then ordered us Grimaldi’s so it was ready when we crossed and could have a picnic! It was perfect. We even took the ferry back to Manhattan so we really felt like tourists!
Of course I remembered to bring my nice camera for once but I didn’t check to see if there was a memory card inside. There was not. So, my iPhone pics will have to do.
Last week, a friend and I with our kids headed to Brooklyn to see the Cherry Blossoms at the Botanical Garden but there weren’t many open yet. It was kind of disappointing but the weather was absolutely perfect (and the tulips were gorgeous) so we still enjoyed the day! Afterwards, we went over to the little zoo next door and almost had it to ourselves.
TJ’s dad had to come to the city for business so Kelly tagged along and they made a little trip out of it. We of course loved it since it’s always fun to have family or friends to explore the city with… and Eva loved being with her Grandma and Grandpa who, in her mind, live at Disneyland.
Three years ago, TJ’s parents, Eva, and I came to visit TJ while he was interning in the city. During that trip, I didn’t know we’d ever be living here so we made sure to see all the sites together. So, since they’d already done most of the touristy things, we hung out downtown a lot, played with Evabug, ate lots of fun treats (like Dough and Wafels), saw Matilda, and shopped till we dropped!
Thank you, Mark & Kelly! We had a wonderful time with you all! We really appreciate the visit!
TJ’s parents were in town this week, but before I post about that I have to post about the show we saw last night because I can’t stop obsessing over it. We saw Matilda and I’ve wanted to see this show since we moved here but no one wanted to see it with me! I think people think of it at the kid’s book/movie (which I don’t know why that’s a problem because it was seriously one of my favorites growing up). But it was so much more than that, although I think Roald Rahl would have been extremely proud of this rendition! The music was phenomenal, choreography fantastic, I laughed, I cried… I didn’t want it to end! Go see it when you ever have the chance! Until then, here are some Youtube clips to hold you over, although they’re not as good as the live version on Broadway.
https://katiederrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/logo.png00Katiehttps://katiederrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/logo.pngKatie2015-04-24 13:51:172015-04-24 13:58:35Matilda the Musical
I was going to rent a car and go pick up my mom who was visiting my sister and her family in DC, but at the last minute, we changed the plans and decided my sister and her kids would take my mom up here since it was their Spring Break and then stay for a couple days! It worked out perfectly and Eva loved having her little cousins play with her at our place.
We took them to see the Statue of Liberty from Liberty State Park, ate at the Brownstone Pancake House, went to the Macy’s Flower Show, Bryant Park, and explored some of the big stores on Times Square. My sister and mom went to see An American In Paris on Broadway while we had a little cousin party back in Jersey. It was a great little Spring Break and helped to pass some of those last cold days in March.
Once my sister and her kids left, my mom and I did a little birthday shopping and took Eva to the park since we finally had a warm day! It was great to have my mom in town and wish she could have stayed longer!
https://katiederrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/logo.png00Katiehttps://katiederrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/logo.pngKatie2015-03-26 18:23:472015-03-26 18:23:47Out on the Town with Eva and the FS7
I mentioned that I went to see the window displays in the city and the Christmas tree at Rockefeller center. Those were two things I didn’t get to do last year. We had planned to do it the Saturday night before we left for Christmas break, but Eva and TJ had food poisoning from the infamous Jersey City Church Christmas Party disaster of 2014.
Ashley and Brooks came along with us. It was a great afternoon, in the low 40s, so it wasn’t awfully cold yet.
I think my favorite display was at Saks. They had different fairy tales in each window but displayed so creatively, like an enchanted fashion week! They turned on Christmas music, so you could hear it all around the block. Macy’s also had a really cool display of Santa on all the different planets.
The Christmas tree was amazing. I have always watched the special on TV each year where they light the tree, and am a huge Kevin McCallister fan. So, seeing the tree in person for the first time was really neat!
Here are my pics: most of them were taken on my phone and are poor quality, but I just had to share the windows from Saks!
https://katiederrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/logo.png00Katiehttps://katiederrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/logo.pngKatie2014-12-14 21:54:052014-12-15 11:02:55Christmas Window Displays + Rock Center
On Tuesday night, a friend of mine from church posted online that she had an extra ticket to see Once on Broadway the next day… and it was free! I found a babysitter and snagged the ticket! Eleanor and I met up at the theater on Wednesday afternoon and were seated on the SECOND row! Some people say sitting that close isn’t good, but I think those people are out of their minds. I could literally reach up and touch the singers if I wanted. At one point I thought one of the singers was singing FOR ME! Haha… I am officially crazy.
Anyway, it was really enjoyable. It was a different show than any I’ve ever seen on Broadway. A small cast, one set, and a simple plot. If you aren’t much of a fan of Irish folk music, I don’t know if this is the show for you. But personally, I loved the music and LOVED all the stringed instruments. It was so neat that all of the characters in the show were also the ones accompanying them while they were singing, instead of having an orchestra in the pit. They were dancing around while playing… it was really impressive!
I think the show is in Cincinnati right now and is coming to Utah in the Spring. So, for my friends back at my other two homes, you might want to check it out! Full disclosure: they do swear quite often. It’s horrible, but I’m kind of used to it now that we live out here and everyone cusses on the street, in the mall, everywhere, even church sometimes 😉 . So it didn’t phase me too much, plus their Irish accents kind of hide it. But just in case you’re interested in the show, I thought you might appreciate a heads-up.
Set in modern day Dublin, ONCE is the story of a Guy who gave up on his music—and his love—and the Girl who inspired him to dream again. This exhilarating musical is performed by an extraordinary cast of actor-musicians who sing, dance and play their hearts out on stage. Directed and choreographed by the brilliant team of Tony Award winner John Tiffany and Steven Hoggett (The Glass Menagerie), this theatrically breathtaking production will dazzle you with its originality, wit and unforgettable music.
Featuring all of the magical songs from the critically-acclaimed film, including the Oscar-winning “Falling Slowly,” this achingly beautiful, joyously uplifting show strikes a chord in audiences and speaks to the power of music to connect us all. A show like that only comes around ONCE.
https://katiederrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/logo.png00Katiehttps://katiederrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/logo.pngKatie2014-11-22 11:01:202014-11-21 21:27:48Once the Musical
After going to Dough, we decided we needed to try out other donut places to really determine which shop was the best. I don’t feel toooo guilty about eating donuts because usually it’s quite the trek to get there and back, so don’t judge me for eating donuts two weeks in a row!
Second donut shop on the list: Doughnut Plant on 23rd. The place was really cute inside, we even got a place to sit down. But overall, the donuts weren’t nearly as good as Dough. Something about the donuts at Dough made them so fluffy and light. I hadn’t had anything like it, as I told you before. The donuts at Doughnut Plant just tasted like normal. They were good, but not great. And since I’m not a HUGE donut fan anyway, I will never feel the need to try them again.
I have to tell you something. I tried a real NYC donut for the first time in my life. I’ve lived here for about a year and a half and I have only eaten one donut and it was just from Dunkin Donuts at the mall. They’re so fatty so I never have felt the need to go out of my way and buy a donut. I also thought, “A donut is a donut. They’re all the same.” Well, I have to tell you one more thing.
I WAS DEAD WRONG.
I went to Dough, which just opened a new location on 19th street (original one is in Brooklyn). I have never eaten anything so good in my life. I really don’t think I have, I’m not exaggerating. The Levain cookie, Magnolia’s Banana Pudding, and the Cocoa Bean’s S’mores cupcake are all some of my favorite treats. But this donut is just on a whole new level, and I’m not even a big donut person. And maybe it’s because I’ve never really eaten a real homemade donut. But I was really blown away. Now I feel like I need to taste test all of the best donut shops in Manhattan.
So, next time you come to NYC… BUY SOME! I got chocolate sea salt caramel, cinnamon sugar, pumpkin, and nutella stuffed donuts. All fabulous choices. I’m sure you can’t go wrong with anything they make.
