NYC...

photo from Wicked

My summer travels are finally over, having spent a long weekend back in New York City! We took the kids to see Wicked on Broadway and I was very sad when it was over because I knew I'd probably never see it again. I love the story and the music... it makes you laugh, cry, and then feel good again. It's a story about friendship and love, and also superficiality and prejudice. I love it and highly recommend it if you get a chance to see it! It's now one of my favorite musicals.

We stayed in midtown Manhattan, which I don't recommend. I don't like the touristy parts of the city and definitely not in the summertime because NYC just smells bad! The kids and I did find Il Campanello which had some of the best handmade pasta I've ever had, so go there for that! Nathaniel described his filet mignon as "eating heaven". While Craig was in meetings for work, we hit the streets (and were pounded with a quick thunderstorm!) on our way up to the Toys R Us in Times Square. Then we headed over to Rockefeller Center to go to Nintendo World (can you tell this was all the kids' plan?). We peeked in at the Today Show studio and I told them "one of these days I'm getting there for a taping!", since I watch it frequently. We found a delicious little French Bistro for lunch- Pigalle, where I had a smoked salmon sandwich that was wonderful.

After lunch we headed to MOMA and saw lots of art. There was a show of Picasso's drawings and prints that were amazing and we had to look at all the design pieces on the Third Floor. The Matisse show was sold out and we were exhausted anyways so we decided to head back to the hotel to get ready to eat dinner at Balthazar! You might remember me going on and on about that in January. That was pretty much the highlights of our trip (minus a stop at Tokidoki in Soho and a couple other places). I decided not to bring around my big camera which I sort of regretted... but it was very hot and I didn't want to carry it.

We came home to 3 big cucumbers and some cherry tomatoes in our garden, so I'm going to make a cucumber-tomato salad with some chicken to put in a pita for dinner. Off to do my own chef thing at my home bistro!!

Here's one of my favorite songs from Wicked...