Time for the day 5 update of the Fabulous 40 NYC birthday trip! I always think I don’t do too much, but then end up writing a novel!

Started out with, you guess it, breakfast! And then headed off to church. Thanks to ReconcilingWorks to make it easy to find an RIC congregation. There are many in the area, but most didn’t even mention it on their websites – so I doubted how committed they were, but I found one that mentioned it on their website – although they still didn’t have their full welcoming statement online. It was a lovely old building and a nice pipe organ. Not too many in attendance today, so I guess it just isn’t in Michigan that attendance goes down in the summer. They actually call their worship services mass and they are very “massy” with lots of the old traditions. It was nice to experience it, but I don’t know if I’d like it that way every Sunday. While their organ was lovely, the way it was played during the hymns made it hard to sing along – I’m so glad we have Bruce at Faith! Overall I enjoyed the service and the people were very friendly as well.

I then went into Central Park a little bit – it was right across the street – to just relax a bit and figure out what I was going to do for the first part of the afternoon, since I didn’t have anything planned except to spend a bit of time exploring. I also enjoyed the views as I was sitting there, which was right along one of the paths that many joggers take 😉 I was just looking around and found an interesting looking park – so I decided to go. I hopped (well walked, since I’d probably trip and fall if I really tried to hop on) the MTA to head to Bryant Park. It is a nice little park and they had a restaurant there so I grabbed lunch. While eating I looked at what else there was in that area and discovered Grand Central Terminal and the New York Public Library (main/iconic building).

So after lunch, I went on a walk to explore and first went to Grand Central. While most people seem to be awed by it, I must say, it was smaller than I expected for some reason. It was still a wonderful place (if you don’t have to use the bathroom!) and a beautiful building. Then over to the New York Public library. This is the main building, but the New York Public Library is really a system of libraries all around NYC, so this building is really only part of the New York Public Library. They had a few exhibits that I glanced through (I was running out of time) and explored around a bit. Another gorgeous building. Also, as I do more and more in the city, I’m realizing that while there is a lot above ground, there is a ton below ground as well. In fact, when they needed to expand the library building, they tore up Bryant Park and put a library addition under the park, and then rebuilt the park on top of the expanded library. In the main reading rooms, it just smelled like old books, or as I thought – smells like knowledge! Wonderful smell!

I headed back to my hotel for a quick change before heading to the first play of the day, which was Come From Away. This is the true story of flights that were forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, on 9/11. It is the story of the people in the town and the people on the flights. Very powerful and moving stories – I loved it! Somehow the guy next to me mentioned that he had seen it before and that it would be fine if I cried because he would be. I told him I was prepared and had my Kleenex! Well, I don’t know about the whole theatre, but the guy to the left of me and to the right (and of course me) were all crying through the show. This is one I’d definitely see again – hopefully it will go on tour and come to Wharton.

Again back to my hotel for a quick change and figure out the evening plans. Found another SB Local place to eat at and had a nice dinner at an Irish Pub – had fish and chips and a hard apple cider. A nice relaxing dinner – again got in right away and the prices aren’t too bad. Then headed over to the play of the evening!

This was an off Broadway show – which is determined by how many seats the theatre has – nothing to do about location – since very few of the theatres are actually on Broadway – most are on side streets. And Broadway (the street) runs a very long way on the island, so there is much more on Broadway than just theatre. This theatre is actually a set of 5 stages that are all underground again. These are newer ones as well, so a lot different architecture than the previous shows I’ve seen. This was the other show I was seeing that I had seen before. This was Avenue Q! I loved every minute of it again. They’ve tweaked a few things since I’d last seen it, but always love finding little changes if they make it better or continue to fit with the times. At intermission the person sitting next to me, asked me if I had seen it before, and I said yes, twice, but have also listened to the soundtrack many times. He guessed it because I would start pre-laughing, or making motions with my hands, etc. He is from England here on business and missed seeing it on the West End, so fit it into his trip here. He loved it too. Before the show I noticed he was quite cute and my gaydar went off. Hearing him talk with his British accent made him so much more adorable at intermission, but then he said something that ruined my fantasy. He said the dreaded phrase, “my girlfriend”. Still it is always nice to see someone enjoy a show as much as I do.

Now, since I’ve seen the show before, I know there is a section where they typically will collect money (or attempt) from the audience. I noted in the program that any money collected will go to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, so I made sure to have a donation ready. I think I might have been the only monetary donation they got (they don’t get to all the audience, but glad I could reach and put it in) but they did get some candy and a Metro card! (Hint: I’m still collecting on Facebook for Broadway Cares as well!)

Then it was a walk back to my hotel to wind down the evening and prepare for the next day of adventures.

Some closing random thoughts.

As I mentioned a few times above, and what I’ve noticed in most of the theatres, is the wonderful architecture. While the shows are great, the buildings are a show themselves. We just don’t make building with the detail to art and grandeur that we once used to.

I’m impressed with the public safety (police, fire, etc) here. With the streets so crowded, I really don’t envy them trying to get around, since even if people wanted to move out of the way, there isn’t always a place for them to go. Lots of the emergency vehicles are smaller than normal. So you see these cute little police cars and fire trucks.

And, if anyone needs to get me a belated birthday gift – I think I’ll need a leg and foot massage when I get back!

Now to bed I go for another fun filled day tomorrow with the Intrepid Museum and Afterglow.