Back From Carnegie Hall

[PJmomrunner]

My daughter's choir performed beautifully at Carnegie Hall last Tuesday and all who made the trip survived it! It was a whirlwind three days with several bus tours of Manhattan including: Harlem (with dinner at Sylvia's), Little Italy/China town (dinner at Puglia's), Broadway/Times Square (dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner), lunch at Cipriani's in Grand Central Station. We went shopping on Fifth Avenue and at Macy's as well as in the area around GCS and saw the Lion King and Phantom of the Opera and took a harbor cruise (from 11:30pm to 1:30am, after the CH performance!). We also made an appearance in the audience of CBS's Early Show and spent 45 minutes standing in gale force winds and hail while waiting for a tour boat to take us to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (only to have the tour cancelled and replaced with a "tour" of Ground Zero). The girls also squeezed in 11 hours of rehearsal time prior to the CH performance and we managed to ride the subway system several times. (Don't let anyone tell you New Yorkers are unfriendly--we were aided in navigating the subways on each occasion by very helpful natives!) Needless to say, there was not a whole lot of sleeping on this trip!

 

[Karlynn]

Sounds like a wonderful trip. I'm sure all involved will always remember it.

Glad you are home safe and sound.

 

[geebee]

I am jealous as it sounds like you had a wonderful time. Those whirlwind trips can be the most fun (if not the most exhausting). You have created a lot of memories that will last a lifetime.

I agree with you on New Yorkers. I have never found them to be unfriendly (can't say the same for Parisians, tho) and, although rushed, are usually ready to take a moment for a stranger.

Congrats to your daughter on her achievement.

 

[Christina L]

I'm so jealous too -

I'm so jealous too -

NYC is my favorite city bar none - Denver is a close second of course. I was touring the city mentally in my mind as you were describing it. Sounds like you did about all a person can do, except of course get out to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, which is a must for anyone in their lifetime.

We, also, find New Yorkers to be exceptionally friendly - just "blunt" - they tell it like it is, but they are always willing to help and I find talking to the cabbies is a hoot. We had an Iraqi-US cabdriver on our last visit there who took us to Ground Zero. We had a very special conversation with him - he has lived in the States for 20+ years and was heartbroken at what had happened to "his" adopted city. He said he left Iraq because of religious intolerance - he wanted freedom for his family.

Anyway, we are hoping to get back to NY in the next year or two. I would go there every year IF we were rich! Sigh...

Glad you had a wonderful time and your daughter had a great time also.

Christina L

 

[Phyllis]

Sounds like you did it all and an appearance at Carnegie Hall too- wow!! Congrats to your daughter again and thanks for posting. You must be exhausted!

 

[Marguerite53]

Good for you!!

Good for you!!

Sounds like you had a blast, PJ. You must have just been beaming inside Carnegie Hall!! Wonderful!

Now get some rest!! VR.com orders!!

Marguerite

 

[Wise]

Wow! what a nice trip. Glad you had a good time and things went well for your daughter.

 

[PJmomrunner]

It really was so much fun! A trip to remember, for sure! In the last minute of the last song someone handed me their binoculars and told me to look at my daughter. She was looking around at the theater (instead of looking at the director) with tears in her eyes. She told me she just wanted to remember what it was like to sing where the Beatles and so many other greats had performed before her. I'm so glad she "got it". At 15, you never know....

 

[Glenda]

This is something that she will remember the rest of her life. What a opportunity! I'm so glad that you both had a great time, now get some much need rest.