The news has been spread...

Wow, has our blog really become a wasteland of old posts?  Well folks (and by folks I mean the 3 people who might read this blog), there's almost a new year at hand and we're determined to keep this baby updated with the events of our lives.  Last month, we were lucky enough to go to the big apple for a few and this is how it went.

We arrived and had a few minutes to go to the Shake Shack to sample some of what basically is, the east coast's version of Inn-N- Out burger.  Good burgers and shakes but getting a seat was analogous to discovering electricity or making a toupee look natural, which is to say, it was almost impossible.

 Phantom rocked.  We both had seen it when we were in junior high.  Quintessential broadway musical.

 We stayed at the Out NYC, a cool modern, gay hotel.  We've stayed at gay hotels in the past and have always had a good experience.  Go gays!

 A lot of cool flags on 5th avenue.

 Dined at Momofuku.  Sorry folks but this place is overrated.  Not that it was bad but the hype isn't deserved from this diner's perspective.

 Spent some time in Times Square.  Not my favorite part of the city but much like Vegas, you've gotta go check it out if you've never been.

 FAO Schwartz, superlative toy store.  And one of our favorite parts of new york.  We played with toys and looked at unusual candy from around the world.  Just what this kid needs to feel like a kid again.

 We were the only adults to venture onto the famous, touch activated piano.  Sadly, we both sucked...

 Max Brenner is the chocolate king, here's me getting my fix.

 Candy likes her candy extra long...

 We saw Newsies and Cinderella on Broadway.  Both were good but Cinderella was much better and included a bigger production.  Can anyone name the guy in the lower right of this pic?  We were surprised to see him there!

The donut plant.  A magical land filled with happiness and gourmet styled donuts.  So freakin' delicious.

Stayed at the W downtown after we got back from Ireland.  Here's Candice enjoying the corner views.

The World Trade Center was visible from our hotel.  

Beautiful ceiling at the Dubbs.

 Requisite Brooklyn Bridge crossing...

 Unbelievably tasty and cheap dumplings from a massively crowded Chinese dumpling restaurant, that I'm not sure could've passed the state health requirements.  

Gotta have a little nature when in the middle of an urban oasis - contemplating life in Central Park.

Things I love about NYC:
1.  Great food.
2.  Amazing shopping.
3.  The best architecture in the US.
4.  Culturally innovative.  Where did the cupcake craze come from?  NYC.  Who started cool food trucks?  NYC.  You get the point.
5.  Great display of the arts.
6.  Central park.
7.  Best museums outside of London.

Things I love less about NYC:
1.  It's dirty.
2.  A lot of people smoke.
3.  Spaces are small.  There are a lot of good things about small spaces but when you're 230lbs and have 57" shoulders, it can leave you feeling like a bull in a china shop.
4.  NYC forces you to be outside.  Being outside is great if the weather is nice and you aren't schlepping around mountains of wares.  When the opposite is true, it is a surefire way to make one miserably unhappy (see carrying 6 Christmas bags in the rain with nay a taxi to be found for miles).  Carrying that much stuff, I wasn't about to try a rush hour subway trip either.
5.  It's more on the expensive side.
6.  There are a lot of people in a relatively small area.  There are a lot of good things about that but it can leave me feeling like a rat in a maze as well.  Also, I usually start off but trying to bend, twist and mold myself around other passer byers as to not run into them.  By the end of this last trip, I pledged that if they weren't going to move, then I wasn't going to move.  This usually resulted in my shoulder checking them into oblivion.  Post collision comments or gasps were priceless.

Overall, NYC is one of the worlds best cities.  I just wouldn't want to live there unless I were a billionaire.