Allison's Wonderland

Thanksgiving in New York City. I’ve always wanted to do it and this year we finally did. We just got back today from our trip and I must say, I’m a little warn out. We left Tuesdy night after work and stayed the night in Clinton, New Jersey. It was actually a really nice hotel and me and Keri got to bond by being bed buddies. Those involved in the trip included, me, Dad, Bubkins, Jeanne, Taylor, Keri, and Sista. We met sista in NYC because she was already there on a youth ministries trip. We stayed in the Westin in Times Square and when we first got there it was a tad bit chaotic. People were everywhere and Dad was driving. Dad hates the city with a passion and throughout the entire trip he was constantly reminding the group of that fact. I have been to quite a few major cities in my lifetime and no matter how many I go too, New York is a place that stands above the rest. It’s a city that has a distinct personality which cannot be duplicated. I have been to cities which include San Francisco, Honolulu, D.C., Rome, New Orleans, Barcelona, Atlanta and Madrid but New York. New York is a place of its own. The day we arrived we headed downtown to the Financial district so Taylor could see where the World Trade Center’s use to stand. We also visited St. Peter’s Catholic Church which was so moving it brought tears to my eyes. We of course had to visit Canal Street and grab some knock off handbags and designer scarves for cheap. After that we headed to SOHO and checked out some of the neat little boutiques with weird looking outfits and outrageous price tags. We came back to Times Square and ate at a little Irish place before our show. It was pretty good. I got their Rueben and it was like 15 bucks and not half as good as Moosie’s at Smith Mountain Lake, but oh well. What can you do? That night we went and saw “A Little Night Music” onBroadway starring Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch. I really enjoyed it but Bubba and Sista were not impressed. It was a tad bit racy but I thought very well done. You just can’t please everybody I guess. Okay forget all the little details. Let me tell you our Thanksgiving story and then we’ll call it quits. This is long enough as is.
The seven of us were lucky enough to land reservations at the exclusive Boat House in Central Park. The Boat House is the venue featured in Katherine Hiegel’s “27 Dresses”. We left the Hotel at around 10:15 for our reservations at 11:00 in order to go uptown to 72nd Avenue. We were staying on 43rd. The subway system in New York can be a little confusing and frustrating if you’re unfamiliar with the layout. We were waiting to jump on the train that we knew would take us to the restaurant but Bubkins insisted that the train coming up would take us there as well, and when confirmed by a NYPD Officer we hopped on. We looked at the train map and sure enough it said it would take us to 72nd Street. After riding the train for about 15 minutes we notice less and less people on the train and the people getting on and off seem to get a lot shadier. After a thorough examination of the subway map we realize we’re headed to Queens and have made it halfway through the Hudson River. Instead of going to 72nd Avenue we were headed to 72nd STREET.Who knew? We all started panicking considering the fact that the reservation is at 11 o’clock and the Boat House is unforgiving when it comes to those who arrive late, slapping you with a $75 charge on your credit card for breaching your contract and loss of your reservation. Next stop we hop off and Dad is in a tizzy at this point fussing and cussing up a storm. By this time it’s 10:35 and we still have to ride the subway back and find the restaurant. We were unsure which stop to get off and asked Dad where to go. After debating whether or not to get off at Lafayette Street we decide that is where we needed to go. By this time we’d been stopped for at least minute and the doors started to close. Dad is prying the doors open with his arms as we all try to slide through. Keri is behind me pushing and screaming, “Go, go GO!” We all finally made it off and figured out where we are. Bubba has an iPhone that has been our saving grace on the trip. He types in the Boat House and it shows that we are 1.3 miles away. Meanwhile the females of the group are dressed up wearing heels and dresses for our nice Thanksgiving meal. By this time it’s 10:50. We have 10 minutes to run a mile so that we make it on time. Now, we’ve all been in P.E. class where the teacher has been torturous and every year, twice a year we poor little peons are made to run the mile. My best time in middle and high school was 12 minutes. So you see, we have a problem here. Ten minutes to run 1.3 miles. Twelve minutes best time in middle/high school. And remember, we’re in heels. So we book it. We’re running down the richest parts of New York City. We run through 5th Avenue, Madison Avenue, Park Avenue, all the really swanky, wealthy districts of New York. Also at this time the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is finishing. We have pedestrian traffic walking the opposite way we’re running. This doesn’t make for an easy run. It was kind of like the game Frogger. Jeanne and Keri are leading the way as Taylor, Kelsey, and I are in the middle, and Dad and Bubba bring up the rear. Also, we know the restaurant is in Central Park, but we don’t know where in Central Park. If you haven’t ever been, Central Park is huge. We’re all running following the iPhone and we see the Boat House in a clearing. We finally make it up to the hostess podium completely out of breath and looking like a bunch of sweating idiots. Keri’s huffing and puffing saying, “Upchurch…[deep breathing]…party of [deep breathing] seven.” Needless to say we made it.  Praise the Lord. And the meal only cost $742 bucks for seven people. YOWZERS! Will not be eating there anytime soon. I still owe Dad money. All in all it was a great trip. I got to see “Chicago” on Braodway with Keri Friday night, eat at Lombardi’s (New York’s first pizza joint), experience StarDust Café, visit the M & M store, go shopping on black Friday in Times Square and visit Hershey Park on the drive home. Totally successful trip. Gotta say, I just love living life. 