This is Amateur Night!

Ever heard of Ella Fitzgerald? Smokey Robinson? Michael Jackson? Then you have the Apollo Theater to thank.

The Apollo Theater in Harlem is one of the most famous music theaters in the United States. And last night? Brooke and I went! We got to Harlem around 7:00 p.m. and got our tickets for the show. The theater was soon jam packed with people.

They started out with their opening show - the house band and a soul train dance off.

Then came the kids division of the competition. My favorite was a number with two kids - "Alter Ego" and their rap routine. "Put your hands up! SQUEEZE! Move your muscles to the beat!"

Last was the adult division. The audience has ultimate power over who gets eliminated in this round. And sadly... one got booed off the stage. Oh well! That's why they call it amateur night.

If you ever have the chance to, go to a show at the Apollo. It changes lives.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Best. Night. Ever.

I could have died then and there. Fifteen feet from Dan Radcliffe? Yes, please.

Saturday morning Brooke and I got up early to go get rush tickets for How to Succeed in Business Without Really trying featuring Dan Radcliffe and John Larroquette. We got to the theatre around 8:30 a.m. and the line was already down the block. I thought for sure we wouldn't get tickets! Brooke counted and there were 98 people in front of us. Each of which would be able to purchase 2 tickets per person. But the line continued to form behind us, so we stuck it out. Finally when the opened the doors at 10:00 a.m. it took about 30 minutes for us to reach the ticket booth. I was shocked when they said there were rush tickets available for that nights performance. Box Tickets! So stoked!

We made it to the theatre moments before the play started that evening. The orchestra played the overture, a harness was lowered into the orchestra pit, and minutes later, Dan Radcliffe was raised in a harness onto the stage. The crowd went WILD! And when I say they went wild, that is THE understatement of the year. We kind of all grew up with this kid watching him on the big screen. And now? In person!

The play was so amazing! I'd recommend a trip out here just for that play alone. Radcliffe and Larroquette made the perfect team to make the play what it was.

Harry Potter, Thank you for an awesome evening. :)

Expelliarmus!

Saturday Eats

While wandering around Saturday, I tried a few new eating places - Beecher's Handmade Cheese and Milk and Cookies.

At Beecher's Handmade Cheese I had the Flagstaff grilled cheese which is cheese and whole grain mustard. Oh my goodness... delicious! And good news? There's one in Seattle! Not that it does me any good that I'll be in Rexburg for the next year, but for all of you back home? Try it!

I've actually been to Milk and Cookies before, but I don't think I wrote about it before. Milk and Cookies is located in the West Village. It's tiny - sits about eight people. I got a salted oats surprise cookie, a dark chocolate mint cookie and a glass of milk. YEUM! Not as good as Levain bakery cookies, but still very good.

Time is ticking

Time is becoming short here, so Saturday I took some time to wander the West Village and Soho area and took photos. Enjoy!

Locksmith in West Village

Sand artist in Washington Square

Bouchon Bakery 2

In addition to the original post featuring Bouchon Bakery, I have some new recommendations.

In ranking order, I recommend:

1. Bouchon Chocolate - the best brownie you will ever have. You will only need one of these little guys to get your fill of sweetness.

2. Pistachio Macaroon

3. Vanilla Macaroon

4. Vanilla Eclair

All. Delish.

El Rincon Del Sabor

I can't believe I forgot to blog about this place.

For lunch about a month ago, Celestyn wanted to get tacos. So Barry, the witty Irish man I work with, went to work finding a local taco place for us to try. He found El Rincon Del Sabor just around the corner. It's an authentic Ecuadorian restaurant above some cheap jewelry stores down the street.

So we headed over.

Went up three flights of stairs and entered what he thought was the restaurant.

I said, "Barry, I don't think this is it." I could see Arabic writing around the restaurant...

"Sure it is!" he said. He picked up the menu. "Nope! It's not."

So we exited and went up further in the tiny building.

Destination met. Mission accomplished. Best, authentic latin american food I've ever had.

Update.

Posts have been sparse lately. My time here in NY is shortening. I better get my list out and get everything checked off! Five more weeks! So here's what's happened this last week that is noteworthy. It's not much.

Number one: I was offered a job by University Communications at BYUI to work in their department full time this fall. I'll be working as a web content and print manager along with other responsibilities they feel inclined to give me.

Number two: Harry Potter marathon. In preparation for Saturday's IMAX showing of the final Harry Potter, my roommate Hayley and I watched bits and pieces of the Harry Potter series.

Number three: I discovered really clever subway station artwork. 14th and 8th off the A,C has these little guys scattered about.

Subway Figurines

Number four: Explored Chelsea Market with Brooke. Ate at the Green Table. Delish! I had grilled cheese with blueberry chutney and tomato soup. All of a sudden, I realized that something as simple as a grilled cheese sandwich could be considered "gourmet". Chelsea Market is kind of a hidden gem of NYC. Next time around I will be trying the crepe stand.

Chelsea Market

Number five: Discovered the Maritime Hotel's rooftop pool. They didn't say anything when we walked in. We are considering bringing swimsuits next time. Yes? Yes.

Maritime Hotel Courtyard

Enter. Harvey.

A new man has rolled into my life recently. And this is how he came to be.

The creative side of my brain has been itching to be put to use lately, so Celestyn and I created a little friend.

Enter.

Harvey.

You can follow his story at www.harveyrolls.blogspot.com.

Bouchon Bakery

Looking for Macaroon cookies? Go no further than Bouchon Bakery located in Rockefeller Plaza! We tried the pistachio and chocolate. Pistachio was my favorite and the teller also recommended the vanilla.

American Ballet Theatre

Saturday I was able to attend the American Ballet Theatre's production of The Sleeping Beauty with my friends Celestyn and Kristina.

My first and only impression of ballet previous to this was The Nutcracker in Provo. Let me tell you, don't judge the ballet until you've seen the REAL DEAL. The performance was breathtaking. The costumes were beautiful and - forgive me - sparkly...

Girls, remember when you were little and dreamed of being a ballerina? Yeah... I'm back to that.

Washington D.C.

Several people have told me to take advantage of trips to other major east coast cities while in NYC this summer. This past holiday weekend Brooke and I spent some time in our nation's capitol. A BIG thank you to our hosts Kristen and Andrew Harding for letting us crash in their guest bedroom. Kristen is Brooke's best friend from BYU.

So here's how it went...

Friday we caught the Bolt Bus at 8:30 p.m. from NYC to Washington D.C. We arrived at approximately 12:45 a.m. and took the Metro out to Shady Grove in Bethesda, MD. Got to bed around 3:00 a.m.

DAY ONE

The next morning we all (our hosts included) took off for Arlington, VA to see Arlington cemetery. Andrew's grandpa is buried at Arlington and his family has a sweet VIP pass that allows you to drive anywhere in the cemetery. SWEET. We were able to see the changing of the guard and the amphitheater.

After visiting the cemetery we headed over to the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon. This memorial is so well planned out. Throughout the memorial there are benches with names of people who died at that site. The benches that "point away" from the Pentagon are those who died at the Pentagon. Those that "point towards" the Pentagon are those who died in the airplane. The benches are then laid out in a grid pattern with dates running along the perimeter of the area. This allows you to see how old the victims at this site were. The youngest was born in 1998.

Kristen and Andrew dropped Brooke and I at the National Mall afterwards. From there we went to the Washington Monument and the American History museum. We then headed back to Bethesda and then out to Gibson Island for dinner with some of Kristen and Andrew's friends. Gibson island is where The Great Gatsby takes place. It was so gorgeous out there! I think I could take up a private island...

DAY TWO

Sunday we saw A LOT.

White House

Declaration of Independence Memorial

Vietnam Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Korean Memorial

World War 2 Memorial

Portrait Gallery

Air and Space Museum

We rounded off the day by visiting the National Archives and a nice little 4th of July BBQ back in Bethesda.

DAY THREE

On our last day in D.C. we finished up pretty much everything we wanted to see.

Capitol

Supreme Court

Library of Congress

Ben's Chili Bowl

Ben's Chili Bowl is frequented by Bill Cosby and the Obama family. The chili-cheese fries were definitely my favorite, the milk shake coming in second and the half-smoke in third. Ben's is a little out of the way, but well worth the trip!

JFK Performing Arts Center

The JFK Performing Arts Center was our last stop and we kind of went on a whim. And boy were we glad we did! While walking through the hallway of the center, we saw a sign that said Free Tours. We went up to see when the next one was, and turns out we had just missed one and the next wouldn't be for about a half hour. One of the guides that volunteers at the center, a sweet older lady named Sandy, spoke up and said she would take us around herself. Who got a private tour? We did!

Overall it was a great weekend! We headed back Monday evening and went to bed in order to be rested for the short work week ahead.