Can't take my eyes off of you...

Do you know what Wednesday is in NewYork? It's the day that Broadway shows have matinees!!!! We drug ourselves out of bed early to grab some breakfast and head to the TKTS booth on Times Square. We all had different ideas of what we wanted to see most, but it all depends on what is being sold at a discounted rate at the booth. We got there about 9:30, and the booth opens at 10, so we had some time to decide. Our top choices were Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia!, and Nice Work If You Can Get It. We ended up getting tickets to Jersey Boys on the recommendation of the lady in line behind us (small world - she was from Chicago!!!!) This was the best decision we have made so far! Jersey Boys is a musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. It won the Tony for best musical in 2006, and a bunch of others too we think. There were so many great musical numbers, and the show was quite humorous too. The sign on the way in warned that "Authentic, profane Jersey vocabulary" would be used in the show. They weren't kiddin'. By far the best musical number was when Frankie sang Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You. (Of course, Ashley and I were picturing Heath Ledger walking down the bleachers.)

Before the show, we hit up Central Park and FAO Schwartz. Elizabeth, Ashley and I jumped around on the giant piano - AMAZING :). Fun fact - that thing can be purchased for the low, low price of 250,000 dollars. We also looked at the Harry Potter and Hunger Games merchandise (Carol, Ali, Elizabeth) and the elephants (Ashley). I may or may not have purchased a Mockingjay pin. I tried to claim it was too dorky, but was shut down quickly and told I am already too dorky, so I might as well run with it. In Central Park we went to the free portion of the zoo, took pictures in the tunnel that is in all the movies, and climbed the rocks! Ashley and I were very glad we had our sturdy Chacos on. Elizabeth was proud of herself for doing the climb in flimsy Target sandals :). We also went to the bridge that is featured in many big and small screen images, which Ashley climbed atop to take pictures. I declined the opportunity to accidentally fall in a shallow body of water.

After the show, we split up. Elizabeth and Carol went to SoHo to see a show featuring Greg Laswell at the Bowery Ballroom. They ate dinner at a joint in Little Italy, where the owner apparently enjoyed serenading his patrons frequently. They both really enjoyed the show, especially the fact that they got to sit through the concert while most people had to stand, haha! Warning from Carol - do not judge a book by its cover. The Bowery Ballroom looks sketchy, but is a diamond in the rough.

While they were off being cultural, Ashley and I met Tamara and my big from my sorority, Amy, for drinks. Amy brought a gentleman friend from England, who turned out to be very fun! Not that there was any doubt, she generally has good taste in people ;). We were at a bar that chose to have ridiculous rules for their specials, but we are crafty young ladies and took full advantage. When the 95 degree weather started to wear on us in the UN air-conditioned bar, we left and went to a chillier location a few blocks away. Fun fact - to save space in New York, often the sinks are found in a common area outside the bathrooms and the boy/girl bathrooms literally just have toilets behind doors. I thought this was interesting, even though Amy and Tamara thought it was mundane.

After we left the bar because Tamara, Amy and Guv had to get up and work in the morning, Ashley and I went strolling around midtown looking for a bar to hang out in. So much for the "city that never sleeps."!!! Everything near our hotel was closed, even the TGIFridays! The TGIFridays in MURFREESBORO is open later. Gracious. We got back to the hotel quite late, but not too much after the concert ladies. Everyone went to bed so we could get up early for the long day of sightseeing planned for Thursday!

That's all folks!
~Ali