NYC Bday weekend recap!

I promised I would recap my NYC birthday weekend getaway, and after a much needed day to rest after getting back, here it is!

Friday, MG and I took the bus up to NY. The ride, without traffic, should have been about 4 hours and 15 minutes. It ended up being about 5 1/2 (the last hour was spent driving the last 3 miles into the city). Slight torture by the end.

I found out that we were staying at the Hilton, right near Radio City Music Hall, which was really nice. Once we got into the city, we cabbed to the hotel, got our room on the 39th floor, I showered quick, got changed and we headed to MG's friend's place on Park Ave. We ordered pizza, hung out for a bit, and then went to a neighborhood bar. 

After lots of talking, catching up, laughing...all of a sudden it was 3am so we made our way home and put ourselves to bed. (Time flies when you're having fun!)

The next morning we got up around 8:30 (I don't know why neither of us could sleep in), got an insanely expensive breakfast at Lindy's, and then headed over to Central Park. MG asked me if I wanted to do a horse and carriage ride (which I have always wanted to do), but I wasn't really in the mood for it then so we walked around the park for a while, enjoying the weather,  the ice skating rink, and took pics:

We went back to the hotel to relax for a bit, and then made our way out again later to explore Rockefeller Center, and Times Square. After lots of walking, we grabbed a small table outside in Bryant Park and people watched (my favorite thing to do...and NYC provides lots of people to people watch).

We went back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. I still had no idea where we were going but I found out when we arrived at the restaurant that we were going to Koi! The food was yummy and the restaurant was really cool inside! I ordered some edamame dumplings and sushi--mmmm mmm good!

I knew we were seeing a show that night but not which one, and MG was making me wait until we got to the theater. So after dinner we walked (since the weather was really nice) back through Times Square, grabbed a coffee, and then I knew what we were seeing.
Wicked!!!

I'd heard that it was amazing on Broadway and I'd read the book back in college, so I was mega excited to see it. And, it was my first Broadway show ever.

Let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint. The show was absolutely incredible! MG thought it was fantastic as well. If that had been the only thing I did for my birthday, it would have been enough--the show was SO good (if you ever get a chance to see it, I HIGHLY recommend it). I was still having dreams about it on Sunday night it was so good!

After the show, it was almost 11, and my friend Ryan from undergrad/grad school and his fiance were coming into the city from Hoboken to see me, so we went and met up with them at a place called The Ginger Man. MG's best friend came out a little later as well and we had the best time! It was honestly the perfect ending to my weekend.

Unfortunately for me, it was when Daylight Saving Time kicked in, and we lost an hour while we were there, which meant another late night. MG and I made it back to our hotel around 3:30 and promptly went to sleep as soon as our heads hit the pillows. And, after grabbing a hot dog from a street vendor outside of our hotel. :)

The next morning we slept in a bit, grabbed a bite to eat from a nearby deli, and then packed up and headed over to catch our bus back home. The ride back was really smooth, both of us were able to take short naps, and we watched The Perks of Being a Wallflower on our Kindle Fire which was a cute movie.

bye-bye NYC!

The weekend was SO much fun. Despite having a slight cold and losing my voice partway, it was an amazing trip and I couldn't have asked for a better gift from MG. He definitely went above and beyond to make my birthday a special one. And he even got up the next morning and cooked me a real breakfast on my actual birthday. I have a good guy, I tell ya! :)

So now, I will continue to try and catch up on my rest, get healthy and get my voice back. I've got a lot of fun things to look forward to this year! :)