The Big Apple, The City So Nice They Named It Twice, The City That Never Sleeps

That's right - in just four days I will be in New York City! My champagne birthday will certainly be one to remember - I just hope it's for the right reasons. I feel as though New York has the potential to go horribly wrong or wonderfully right. We have a nice 4-star hotel booked in midtown east - near to the Empire State Building [I have a serious love for tall things that I can go up - it's possible that I really do live in the right city for this reason alone]. Normally I don't think we would be able to afford this hotel, but they are undergoing severe renovations to their lobby and restaurants so there is no dining available @ the hotel [who eats @ hotels anyway? business travellers maybe...but in a city that big there must be dozens of places to eat within a stone's throw of the hotel, right?] and the lobby has been relocated. Therefore, it's a hella discount. The flight was stupidly expensive - I refuse to believe that it costs that much to fly for 90 minutes on a tiny airplane. We are buying a touristico-tastic attractions pass that will get us into six different things [four museums, two "things"] at half the price. And I'm optimistic that food can be obtained on a semi-reasonable sliding scale of pricing. We will be moving about the city courtesy of our own two feet [Fred Flinstone style!] and the subway [which is very confusing - and I say this as someone who has managed subways in many different international cities...let's just say I'm studying for the remainder of this week]. I hope to take a real-life NYC taxi once...just to say that I did it.

So, that's the gritty-gritty of it. Needless to say, I'm not a flying by the seat of my pants type of gal - despite much evidence to the contrary. I like to plan, plan, plan and then I can relax...or just enjoy the plan - it gives me a tremendous sense of satisfaction. I think one of our most successful holidays was to Paris - we planned each day out, even meals, and things went really smoothly despite some snags like terrible weather [for the record - Paris in springtime is overrated]. In terms of fun activities I have the following things that I'm trying to slot in: The Met, MOMA, The Natural History Museum, the Guggenheim, the New Contemporary Art Museum, the Empire State Building, a Circle Line cruise [mainly because it's included in our pass and is otherwise $30 - I just can't pass up a deal] and the Central Park Zoo. Also, it's my goal to watch the World Series games [sadly, they will be played in Philadelphia] with real Yankees fans so I need to find a quality sports bar. I'm excited to watch the games with other fans - no one here likes the Yankees at all...also - the Yankees in the World Series on my birthday?!? Yes, please! [also, if I know America...and I like to think that I do...I feel that if I find a sports bar I will also find delicious fried foods]. And if they win the series in four or five games then I can even be a rowdy New Yorker...unless my polite Canadian exterior gets in the way. Also, we are trying to get tickets for a Letterman taping, but I'm not crossing my fingers on that one - his recent scandal seems to have made people even more interested than usual.

I'm actually very excited. I tend to be pretty jaded about most things and beyond that, overwhelmingly cynical. I'm actually a bit scared or something of New York...but like, in a good way [mostly...I think]. I'm trying to think of some things that I can do there that is typically "New York" but not too, too touristico [I want Joseph to eat a hot dog on the street - the type cooked in water - we do have street meat here in Toronto]. One of those "only in New York" type of things...but I can't think of anything. Any suggestions would be appreciated.