You know how they say opposites attract? Jason and I are the PERFECT example of that. Honestly, sometimes we’re so different I just don’t understand. I’m super sensitive, look for the little glimmers in life, and thrive outdoors. Jason, on the other hand, emotes very little, is very practical and thinks (knows) he can live in a concrete jungle and be fine. So which one of us do you think would enjoy a trip to New York City for their birthday? Not me, right?
Well. Silly me decided we should go to NYC to see the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play on Broadway because Tom Felton was going to be in it (he plays Draco in the movies). Am I usually impressed by celebrities and such? Not at all. So this whole situation just hit me on a weird day. Haha. But anyway, I bought tickets and they were for my birthday weekend, so off we went to New York City!
But of course, we couldn’t go all the way to NYC for just one play, that’s even sillier. So after a suggestion from a friend and some Google mapping on my part, I came up with two more things for us to do to round out the trip. One of them, blessedly, was outside of the city, but only 30 minutes from the airport. Hallelujah.
“The road goes ever on and on” – J.R.R. Tolkien
So off we flew to LaGuardia airport, which is lovely by the way. Highly recommend if you need to be in the area. We stayed in the West Village of Manhattan with Jason’s aunt and uncle, which is a really lovely part of the city. It doesn’t feel like it’s in the massive city that it is. It’s quiet, there’s green space, it’s near New York University, and we were 2 blocks off the Hudson River so we got a good bit of walking along the river in too. There’s a bunch of great small restaurants and shops and we were just a couple of blocks from the subway straight into Times Square. Handy dandy without the hustle and bustle.
We had 4 days in the city and we packed them full. We’ve been lots of times because Jason’s family lives in the area. I mentioned we stayed with some, saw a cousin, and J’s folks came into the city one night for dinner. That said, we’ve had the opportunity to do the main touristy things, so they’ve been checked off the list and one has to get a bit more creative.
“Inside your mind” – Charles Hart
First up was the recommendation from a friend. Did you know Phantom of the Opera is no longer playing on Broadway? After 35 years, it closed in 2023, and holds the record for the longest running show on Broadway. But never fear, there’s been a revival and it is BRILLIANT!
Thanks to my friend’s avid use of TikTok (which I don’t really use), we found ourselves at Masquerade, the immersive revival of Phantom of the Opera and it was spectacular. I truly don’t think I’ve ever loved a show more (and I have a long list of favorites)!
What does an immersive show look like? Well, it’s so much more than I imagined. In my head, the show would be going on in front of us, we’d be really close, the actors may walk through the audience a bit and maybe banter with us and take suggestions from the crowd, or something of the sort.
Oh my friend. We were IN the show! It was happening all around us. Everyone in our group of about 40 attendees was involved. There were drinks, dancing, games, and instances where you actively participate in the story. I was pulled by the hand into a group of scenes by the PHANTOM to participate, and Jason got in on some carnival games. While this is all going on, you’re being transported by a genius group of costumed ushers all over the building. Each scene is in a different room, on a different floor, up and down stairs and escalators, inside and outside (there’s also an accessible ticket with your own ushers that I’ve heard is amazing). AND there are 5 other shows going on at the same time (started in 15 min intervals), but you never see any of the other groups! You are moving almost the entire time, only sitting for some of the longer scenes. When they said wear comfortable shoes, they meant it!
Speaking of shoes. I wore my black tennis shoes, with a long black sparkly dress (yep) and Jason was in a black suit and tie – it was the opera after all! There was a strict dress code of black, white, or silver in black tie, no heels allowed, plus you were required to wear a masquerade mask the entire time. I was very thankful for my shoes when I was running through the corridors with the Phantom and tromping up and down stairs. The dress was gorgeous, but the length a bit cumbersome. Jason was afraid I would get it stuck in the escalators and I got stepped on a lot. I’d recommend one at your ankles and not the floor.
I could go on and on about this forever. Why aren’t more people talking about it? Seriously, how do we know about something that seems like one of NYC’s best kept secrets? It’s phenomenal. I highly recommend checking out the performance dates if you find yourself in NYC anytime soon. I’m not sure how long it’s planned to run. They keep pushing the end date out, so it may be around for a bit yet. If you need more convincing, look them up on Instagram. It’s amazing.
“Potter!” – Tom Felton
After that mind blowing evening I didn’t have high hopes for the rest of the trip. I mean, how do you top that!? The next day, we had matinee tickets for the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. After brunch with the fam, we easily hopped on the subway and were walking into the theatre in 20 minutes without having to deal with traffic.
The Lyric Theatre underwent a HUGE renovation specifically to host this play. It is Harry Pottered to the max. Starry ceiling and historic charm included. However, it’s a relatively new building. It was built in 1998 on the site of two previous theaters and is currently one of the largest theatres on Broadway. We had balcony seats with a great view of the stage. My favorite part of this play was the magic special effects. They made it look so real! I spent half the time trying to figure out how they did things and zoning out on the story line. Also, the dementors will give you nightmares. Haha. They’re great! The story is just ok, but the world they created here is top notch. Oh and Tom Felton, underwhelming, but adequate. Their marketing team definitely knows what they’re doing. Haha!
“The worst thing you can do is nothing” – Theodore Roosevelt
After the play, we grabbed a rental car and our bags, said our goodbyes, and headed out of the city for some calmer air. We spent the next day and a half on Long Island taking in the sea air. Mmmmmm.
On the last day (my birthday), we visited Sagamore Hill National Park in Oyster Bay. This was Teddy Roosevelt’s family home and the place he spent his summers as President – the “Summer White House.” The house, grounds, museum, trails, and beach are all quite impressive. We really enjoyed our time here. You have to book tickets online for a house tour the day of your visit, and there are only about 50 available due to there only being two National Park Rangers on site. Luckily I snagged some tickets right as they became available.
After we got a good dose of history from the house and museum, we bought entirely too many books, as we’re known to do. Then we wandered along the trails and down to the beach at Oyster Bay. So many oysters! I’m glad to see they’re making a comeback. We walked to the end of the park’s beach and had us a little birthday celebration (wine included!) while watching the sailboats bob and the waves roll in. It was so nice. Books, history, and fresh air – perfect birthday.
The next day we were on a plane headed back home, and had an unexpected overnight stay in Chicago. That seems to be the way of things these days when flying through Chicago. Be prepared! Pack your necessities in your carry-on! Or you know, only travel with a carry-on. *wink*
“A goal without a plan is just a wish” – Antonine de Saint Exupéry
Have I inspired you to take a NYC trip, even if the city isn’t really your thing? We had a great time being tourists, but not doing all the super touristy things. It may take a little extra planning and thinking outside the box, but it’s worth it in my book.
We have a super busy summer creeping up on us. Stay tuned for some trips to Iowa, a Baltic Cruise, and who knows what else may come along. That calendar always looks empty one day and fills up the next.
Be sure to check out our guided group trip to Scotland in May & June 2027! We launched sign-up last week after months of planning and organizing our systems to operate a trip again (wooweee). We’d love to have you join us as we teach you how to navigate one of our favorite places in the world – perfect for first time or experienced travelers. We’ll be with you and organizing and pointing you in the right direction the whole way. It’s a ridiculously good time!
See ya out there!
