“People always say life is full of choices, no one ever mentions fear. Or how the world can seem so vast, on a journey to the past.”
A few weekends ago, I was lucky enough to travel up to NYC with a dear friend of mine from college to see Anastasia on Broadway. Which I still can’t believe. Because we jammed a lot into one day and saw the evening show, the day was super long but so, so worth it.
We started off leaving DC around 6:30AM so that we could have Amanda’s senior portrait session in PA along the way (see those here!). It was so much fun getting to see her + Jerricho and capture this special time for them! After their session, we headed into Chambersburg and found the cutest little Belgian waffle place. Really good food – even if it did take us a little bit to get it.
Thankfully, Kara had no qualms about driving into NYC, so she took the wheel after breakfast as we rode the last 3.5 hours of our trip! She gracefully navigated us into the city and we located the parking garage – best investment in NYC – I was not about to have my car parked on the sidewalk and gaining tickets all night!! Plus, when we left the show we were only a block away from the car! Didn’t have to wander the streets in the evening.
After we changed into our dresses in one of the sketchiest bathrooms I’ve seen in awhile, we wandered into Times Square in search of a bagel. Or pretzel. Basically New York carbs. We found the sweetest little bakery and hunkered down with lunch and of course, a bagel to split. I’m still craving those bagels! Someone get me one?! Anyway, after that we wandered back into Times Square – but not without a pit stop at the Gershwin, of course!!!! Can’t miss that when I’m in NYC!
We popped into the M&M store and the Disney store and before we knew it, we were scarfing down a little dinner so we could go to stand in line for the show! The most exciting thing that happened in line was seeing Bernadette Peters head in to see Bette Midler in Hello Dolly. I was STAR STRUCK.
GUYS. Anastasia was INCREDIBLE!! The sets, the costumes, the performers… everything was what I hoped and more. The plot line had been changed a little bit – some characters changed (I won’t ruin it all) but I DO think it worked. The show translated so well from movie to stage and I finally got to see the phenomenal Ramin Karimloo (he played the Phantom in London for those of you who don’t know him). I think I was mostly in awe of him. Either way, the show was SO SO good. If you can, get up and see it!!! You won’t regret it.
All in all, the super long wonderful adventure we had was worth it. We both talked and maybe cried a little bit on the car ride, thinking out loud about what we had just seen. I feel truly lucky to have gotten to see a part of my childhood come to life when I needed it most. I don’t know how many of these up and back trips I have left in me, but I’m going to take them when I can!! Tell me about your favorite show or tip for visiting NYC for the day!
xoxo
Kristina
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