03/01/13 - Travel to NYC and Per Se Restaurant

Mimi, Helen, Alice & Fei flew to NYC in the afternoon and checked into New York Marriott Marquis Hotel located close to theTheater District and Time Square.  Thanks to Alice for reserving this Hotel for us.

Helen treated us a fabulous dinner at Per Se Restaurant (Time Warner Center, Columbus Circle).  The food, decor and service are all excellent.  We had a great time eating, chatting and enjoying our 8-course meal.  

After dinner, we noticed ‘Whole Foods’ is located at the basement.  Of course, we have to get bottled water and fruits there.  What a surprise to find the wonderful Sumo Orange (oddly shaped but delicious) in the store.

03/02/13 - Bloomingdales Shopping and 'Nice Work If You Can Get It'

We got up leisurely and have our Starbucks coffee in the hotel room.  We decided to go shopping at Bloomingdale’s and bought pants, tops, cashmere sweaters and dresses. We ate lunch at ‘David Burke’ kitchen, a new place for most of us.  Alice was not feeling well and went back to hotel to rest.

In the evening, we went to see ‘Nice Work if you can get it’ starring Matthew Broderick in the Imperial Theatre. This is a new musical comedy with Gershwin brothers’ music.  The show was fun and lovely.  

Thanks to Mimi for adding another Broadway show to this trip.  After the show, we were tired and did not want to venture out for dinner and ate food in the hotel.  We were all relieved to learn that Alice was feeling much better.

03/03/13 - Broadway show - The Book Of Mormon

We had wonderful Chinese food during our last trip to NYC 10 years ago.  So, going back to Chinatown to eat was a must.  Helen (very high-tech) checked out Internet and found Big Wong Restaurant for us. We had delicious Cantonese dishes.

In the afternoon, we watched the long anticipated Broadway show ‘The Book of Mormon’ in the Eugene O’Neill Theatre.  The Book of Mormon tells the story of two young Mormon missionaries sent to a remote village in northern Uganda, where a brutal warlord is threatening the local population. Naïve and optimistic, the two missionaries try to share the Book of Mormon but have trouble connecting with locals, who are more worried about war, famine, and poverty than about religion. The singing was wonderful and the story is very funny.

We had Dinner at Sardis Restaurant close to the Marriott.  This restaurant is famous for after theater cocktails and dessert.  There are drawings of movie; TV & Theatre star’s faces hanging on the wall.

03/04/13 - NBC Studio and Rockefeller Center

Mimi made reservations ahead of time for us to tour the NBC Studio in the morning.  We saw the taping rooms of Brian William News, Dr. Oz. Show, Late night with Jimmy Fallon, Saturday Night Live make-up display and Weather News. 

We also went to the TOP of the Rock observation deck at Rockefeller Center.  The view is breathtaking.

While drinking Blue Bottle coffee, a young man approached us and invited us to join the taping of Anderson Live the next day.  Mimi got so excited and immediately said yes.  Tomorrow is our last day in NYC and our flights were all in the afternoon, there is really no activities that we can do in the morning.  We all agreed to see Anderson Live show is a fantastic opportunity.

There is one more place we do not want to miss which is the ‘Carnegie Deli’ for chicken soup with Matzoh balls, Pastrami sandwich and Cheesecake.  We ate at this place 10 years ago and looking forward for more visits.  

We did more shopping at Bergdorf Goodman and Macy’s but cannot find things to buy.  We had dinner at Junior’s on Broadway (next to Marriott).  Due to the location, this restaurant is packed with tourists but we are not very hungry (Is it because the Pastrami sandwich?).  

03/05/13 - Anderson Live Show and Return Flight

We have to get up really early for the taping of Anderson Live show.  We were outside of CBS Broadcast Center at 7:00 am in 32 degrees (°F).  It was a live show with host Anderson Cooper and co-host Lisa Rinna.  The taping of a live show was interesting. We were seated on one side of the room and did not get much exposure from the camera. 

After the taping, we went back to Marriott.  It was about time to have brunch and check out of the hotel.  

Before 1:00 pm, we all headed to the Airport for our flights home.

This is a great gathering.  I treasured our wonderful memories and decided to do this blog to recount the journey so we will not forget this amazing trip.