New York, New York

My first full day in NYC!  No rest- all exploring!

After bundling up, Tania and I took the subway to the lower east side to check out a recommended coffee shop--Cafe Grumpy.  It was a very quaint coffee shop that didn't display its name anywhere!  The outside of the brick building was bare, except for a grumpy face hanging over the door.  There was no name posted anywhere on the inside either!  Just some tables, trendy people, and a simple counter with a paper menu resting on it.  Also, this is the only coffee shop I have ever been into that doesn't allow laptops!

Pictured: (above) Cafe Grumpy sign. (left) Enjoying a latte.

Back on the subway, we got off at 14th street, bought discount tickets for an evening off-broadway show (read below) and then Tania took me to her favorite Thai restaurant - Spice Thai.  On the way, we were stopped by a lady selling discounted tickets to a live taping of a Comedy Central show.  She needed young, attractive people to sit in the front to look good on camera.  On Thursday evening we have to arrive 30 minutes early to be placed in our front seats, and after we get in to the VIP lounge to meet the comedians!  She also encouraged me to send in audition tapes to TV shows to be a live host - she thinks I will be "discovered".  HA!  Anyways, where were we....oh yes... Spice Thai!  Yum!  It was so cozy inside and we were almost immediately served our orders; for me, vegetable dumplings and pad thai and for Tania, "Drunk Man Noodle".  We did some shopping before heading over to Andy's office building- he works on the 27th floor in a law firm.  We said our hello's and our goodbye's, and then headed back to the apartment for a quick minute; a very quick minute, because our evening event was beginning within the hour!

Back on the subway, we arrived at the Kirk Theatre in Times Square.  We had tickets to see Newsical, a show fashioned after The Daily Show that made fun of current events.  We were so close, I could see the spit coming out of the actor's mouth as he sang.  There were 4 actors- 2 men and 2 women- on a small stage in a small theatre with a small audience.  I didn't love the show, but Tania absolutely did.  Some highlights for me was the skit about useless things bought from infomercials (with a pretty funny song), a Lady Gaga vs. Liza Minelli skit, and a song about homophobic marines in the army (a spoof on marines against the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell).

One of my highlights of NYC is seeing all the city dogs!  They are all so cute, dressed in the latest doggie fashion!  These dogs have better winter coats than some humans do!



GOOD WEATHER NEWS!
1. My Doc Martens are great!  With my wool socks I am totally warm and my feet aren't hurting even after walking around all day! (Mom-did you hear that??)
2.  I spoke with some English ladies today who told me that the current NYC weather is way colder than England!  They said London is warmer than this weather.
3.  I checked weather.com and according to them, NYC is significantly colder than any of my European destinations.  Woohoo!!!
Pictured to left: a hilarious advertisement.  

Times Square!