We're going to NJ

[hsapiens]

Finally, finally, finally have gotten the better half to commit to the dates he's available for traveling to NJ! We're going to a wedding on Sat., Sept. 16 but will be around for a couple more days (Sun., Sept. 17 - Wed., Sept. 20). We're flying out the evening of the 20th.

Since he isn't thrilled at the idea of going to the Brooklyn Museum - which totally boggles my mind but I suppose not everyone grooves on archaeology - I'm trying to think of things to do in the City that will interest him. He's big time into American history, military history, and enjoys hikes. Obviously, some time in Central Park is called for and South Street Maritime Museum looks like a good possibility as does delving into history in and around Wall Street. There's probably a night at Spamalot in our future, as well.

jalabert has already given me some excellent suggestions and I'm researching them. Any others are welcome, as well, since this trip has to please BOTH of us. :)

Comments

[msjudi.livejournal.com]

Have a great time, sweetie!!

I'm with Joe on the NY thing- not my favorite place in the world. If you have the time, though, take a drive through the Deleware Water Gap. It will boggle your mind. Also, I fear that Broadway tickets, particularly for Spamalot, might be out- it's probably too late to get any, as often those tickets are sold 6 months or more in advance :(

We're bringing Megan back to school this Saturday- still think we'll see you?

[la-directora.livejournal.com]

Just an FYI, the Delaware Water Gap is quite a ways away from NYC.

And Broadway tickets aren't out at all. Many shows have same-day options, and there's also the TKTS booth for half price tickets. There will always be a handful of shows for which tickets can't be had - at the moment it's "The Color Purple" and "Spamalot" - but there is always something to see. We got our "Sweeney Todd" tickets at the half price booth a few months ago.

[msjudi.livejournal.com]

Just an FYI, the Delaware Water Gap is quite a ways away from NYC.

She said they were going to NJ. The DWG borders PA and NJ. I grew up in the PA/NJ/NYC area, so I'm pretty familiar with it, too ;)

I mention the difficulty with theatre tickets because everytime my daughter goes to NJ to visit my mother-in-law, they try for tickets and they've had to plan their trips a year in advance if they want to see a particular show. Last time the trip was planned about 6 months in advance and tickets for Spamalot were sold out. They saw Avenue Q, instead.

[la-directora.livejournal.com]

Ah, see, the post was for suggestions of what to do in NYC, which is all I paid attention to. Yes, depending on where in NJ she's going, the DWG could be nearby. You're right. :)

I guess on the Broadway thing it depends on what you want to see and whether or not you're willing to see what's available vs. get your heart set on one show. I have rarely decided what show to see on Broadway more than a day ahead of time. I only plan ahead when my mom is coming, because she can't see very well and needs to sit up front. But I've had good luck with Ticketmaster getting seats when we do that. I also saw Spamalot at the 1/2 price booth recently, so these things fluctuate wildly.

Forget Broadway! Support the off-off-Broadway artists! Our tickets are only $15-20! :)

[msjudi.livejournal.com]

I'm with you there on the off-Broadway shows. Do you know of any good ones she could see? Those tickets you often won't have any trouble getting and there are som real jewels out there. The quality can sometimes be spotty, so getting good info on particular shows, I've found, is critical. Unfortunately, all the way down here in Houston, we don't see all the great commercials for shows in NYC :( I miss that.

[la-directora.livejournal.com]

Heh. The shows I mean don't have the budget for commercials. :) I'm talking pick up the Village Voice or do word of mouth stuff. Unfortunately my show opens the week after they'll be up here. *pout*

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Just to remind, I'm traveling with Joe. The man printed out the menus from various restaurants when we went to Alaska in 2002. He's a planner.

Sorry 'bout missing your show. :( It would be cool to be a friend of the director.

[la-directora.livejournal.com]

Oh, you can plan for the smaller shows. I just don't have the info off the top of my head. But there are lots of websites that do. Village Voice, Playbill.com, etc. I'm sorry I don't have more direct info, but I know that the info exists.

And, heck, Broadway shows are fun, too, and the TKTS booth can sometimes get you really interesting deals. (It's moved, by the way, so be sure to check that out.)

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)

Joe just doesn't know what a great place it is to visit. He gets all sad anytime our destination is Eastward instead of Westward but I really think it's because he hasn't been much westward. He works in D.C. a lot but not really in the NE. I think he's going to be pleasantly surprised.

You're right about the tickets. Spamalot is coming to Houston next year and it'll even be here over Joe's birthday but I know he'd like to see it on Broadway. AmEx offered us tickets which is the only reason I'd even bother. Last year I couldn't get tickets. Also? Joe has connections in the entertainment industry so I'm hoping that if AmEx has already sold its tickets that Joe could call in a few favors... Personally, I'd rather just wait until it got here and spend the time exploring The City.

I looked up the Delaware Water Gap. That looks gorgeous. I'm thinking some quiet time on Wedensday morning is a good time to do some sort of trip through nature. We did that before we had to fly out of Alaska and the calm was good before getting on the plane. Up above, I was pondering the Palisades but I have seen them. This would be new to both of us. I need to sit down with a good map for distances and puzzle out if we could make it up there with time to see anything. It's in the correct direction - sort of - for the Philly Airport - and we both love mountains. The Poconos are very tempting.

We're bringing Megan back to school this Saturday- still think we'll see you?

Yay! Yes. :) Do you want to give me a call when you're available? I know you weren't certain if it would be lunch or dinner. I'm planning to hang out at the house most of the day, anyway, so whenever is probably good. :)

[msjudi.livejournal.com]

Oh, the Poconos. If you can get out that far, it's WELL worth it. I grew up in the Poconos and when I was fresh out of high school, I got a summer job at one of the resorts, there. If you have the time, hike out to Bushkill Falls- I promise you won't regret it. In September the air will be cool and you might still catch some color on the trees (my dad still lives there- I talked to him yesterday and he said he can tell that the leaves are about to change, so you might miss them.) On one of our last trips to PA, I dragged Megan and Greg to the falls and they both protested loudly, thinking it would be some podunk stream falling off the side of a little cliff. When we finally got to them (it's a hell of a hike, wear comfy shoes and clothes, but the trails are well-populated and maintained), they stood with their jaws unhinged. It's so gratifying to know that a state that I disliked growing up in so intensely still contains such wonders.

Anyway, I could go on and on. That immediate area is all mountainous and beautiful. Stay away fromt the resorts, IMO, because having worked for one, I know how clunky and false they really are, but if you focus your time on nature, you won't go wrong.

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

I think I'm going to make up three plans: one for museums in The City, one for pure nature, and one for a little of each. Then I can see if any one of those appeals more to Joe. We'll have a rental car so it might make sense to run around the countryside since my trip later this year will be almost entirely City museums. I expect we'll be too late to really see the color of the leaves but it won't stop it from being gorgeous.

My visits up there are just never long enough, damnit.

[la-directora.livejournal.com]

I expect we'll be too late to really see the color of the leaves but it won't stop it from being gorgeous.

If you mean for your trip in September, you'll actually be way early. If you mean a trip in November, yeah, probably. But peak foliage around here isn't until late October.

[msjudi.livejournal.com]

Oh, and doh, sorry, I didn't answer your whole post LOL. Yes, we'll give you a call when we're done. It's looking like mid-afternoon- she needs to start moving into the dorm at noon. Where would you like to meet?

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Oh, I do that ALL the time. There are so many excellent choices over there. There's The Black Lab (a favorite of Joe's), Baba Yega, Empire Cafe, Chuy's Tex Mex, Kam's Chinese, a million places along Westheimer, a Greek Place on Montrose (can never remember the name of the place)...so many excellent places. What are y'all likely to be hungry for after moving?

[msjudi.livejournal.com]

Ohhhh Greek sounds awsome... do you mean Niko Nikos? We love that place.

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Yes! Niko Niko's! Since y'all love it and I'm fond of it, too, do you want to plan to meet there? I haven't had a good felafel in ages.

[msjudi.livejournal.com]

That sounds great :D How much lead time do you want me to give you when I call? I'm hoping we can have her moved in an hour, but we can't ever be sure.

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

An hour?!? Man, I'm jealous of that. I miss traveling light.

How much lead time? If I'm at home, I need about 45 minutes to make the dogs do a trip out and then drive in to Montrose. If I'm already in the area, even less. Why don't you call my cell when you start to move her in? I could then adjust what I'm doing to show up at the restaurant what, 1.25? 1.5? hours, after that? Would that work without anyone feeling rushed? I can plan to grab a book and if it takes more than an hour, I can always entertain myself. :)

[msjudi.livejournal.com]

Lemme put it this way- last time we did this, we thought we'd be done in an hour. Greg and I didn't get home until well after dark that night LOL

However, we're more familar with what's needed this time, and she says she'll have friends helping her. Even if she doesn't, we're SO over the whole "hovering to see if there's anything we can do to help or run out to buy" stuff, so most likely we'll drop her and run LOL

I'll call you when we arrive at the dorm and if it looks like it's going to take a long time, I'll let you know :D

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Hee! I ALMOST asked, "what are ya going to do? dump her and the stuff out the back of the van and run?" *grin* As I recall, that's what I would have preferred at that age, any way.

That sounds like a good plan to me.

[msjudi.livejournal.com]

LOL one other thing (can you tell it's been too long since I've seen you? So much to jabber about), look here:

www.visitbushkilfalls.com

[msjudi.livejournal.com]

*blush*
I dropped an "l" out of that addy- www.visitbushkillfalls.com

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Oh my -- that looks gorgeous. Damn. This is going to be a hard choice. Every time I plan a visit up there, I'm blown away by how many cool things there are to do and I just can't imagine not being excited about it.