I had the day all planned out. Beautiful, idyllic, one that would go down in the memory book as perfect for forever!
I packed sandwiches in the morning that the kids (and parents!) could eat in the car en route to the city. I made baloney as a treat. The stuff is not allowed but the kids and their father do adore it. I used a fresh-from-the-bakery Italian semolina bread coated with a little bit of mayonnaise (light, Hellman's only!) and a good slathering of Dijon mustard followed by some crispy Romaine piled high and topped off with a couple of slices of baloney. I also packed clementines for dessert. Napkins and some Crystal Light lemonade that I poured into sports bottles for kids. (We had run out of water bottles!) I also packed some cheese and crackers and more fruit for the ride home unless we were to grab dinner someplace in the city. I had books for Alexander, a movie (Elf) to watch in the car, and some magazines for myself. I also had my small digital camera (better for the city and smaller) that had been charging all morning. Kids outfits had been chosen as had mine. I wore white in the city. White! How silly is that? I wore my full length off white down Calvin Klein coat with a black wool Banana Republic turtleneck sweater, off white stretch velveteen pants and In dirty slushy city snow! Because I had not brought my boots to the cobbler, opting instead to temporarily fix them up with Sharpie and Vaseline, I was able to wear them too. Well, in the city where everyone wears black (maybe a little brown or grey) white was a good thing. I was easily spottable! And OMG was it crowded. Even for me. It was a bit unbearable, really.
Our drive in was lovely and uneventful. My wise husband managed to find us a garage over on 33rd street (just 2 blocks away from Madison Square Garden -- to which New Yorkers simply call The Garden) for just $30 for 6 or more hours including the oversize fee, including the luxury vehicle fee. He's good like that!
We got to the theater, got our seats and even managed to find rest rooms with no lines! The show commenced and Alexander was riveted! He quickly climbed upon my lap, where he stayed for nearly two hours, after a very tall woman arrived after the performance had started and sat directly in front of him. He was mesmerized by it all! The music, the dance, the acrobatics... all of it! Wintuk was a fun performance but quite different from other Cirque performances... (In case you have certain expectations -- they may not be met with Wintuk. Go with children and an open mind and it will be a very pleasant experience!)
From 33rd street and 6th Avenue we headed uptown to the flagship Toys R Us store. We passed by the magical windows in Macy's of Herald Square and kept plodding uptown. Alexander was getting tired. We had no stroller. (Daddy didn't want to be bothered.) But there was so much to see and look at that this kept his mind and eyes occupied. Finally we squeeze through the doors like a ton of salmon spawning up river and burst through the doors (Ugh) and there she was, the huge Toys R Us Ferris wheel. We got on line and bought tickets, then got on another line to ride it. At this point my battery died. The battery that had charge all morning had gone kaput. I know I hadn't taken that many pictures. (Later I found out that I had taken just 40!)
I was totally and terribly disappointed that my camera had died. We hadn't gotten on to the ferris wheel, seen the tree, the stars at Saks or their windows! Quelle Horreur! I think this was the point I started to get cranky. The crowd was not helping. But eventually we got on our ride. We got a My Little Pony car and Christopher was horrified! So much so he wouldn't let me take his picture! I was able to squeeze out about 10 more (blurry) pictures sans flash! Despite the fact this little ride was only 4 stories high I didn't like it!
After the ride we hit the Candy Land section of the store and bought a few pieces of candy for like $75. Seriously, ugh... Then we walked through the store but it was way too crowded to actually stop and look at all the wonderful items on display. The Lego section is rivaled only by Lego World in Disney. The Thomas the train section is the best I have ever seen. We'll bring the kids back. But not at Christmastime! We got to shake Spidey's hand as we walked out of the store and had our picture taken with him. But then the line to see the pictures was too long. And I am sure that a wallet sized one would have broken the bank. So off we went to see the tree.
We headeded away from Broadway and over the Fifth Avenue. We were blocks away and Alexander wanted to get a cab. He was rightfully exhausted. But we were just blocks away. I could see the large sign for Radio City Music Hall screaming at us in bright red. But Daddy was sure it was more uptown. For some reason he didn't believe me. Nevermind that I know midtown like the veins in my own hands. Alexander trudged along. Such a trooper, really. And then just two blocks later I could see the top of Rockefeller Center. This is where my husband believes me. Great. There was no getting a cab, anyhow. Finding a cab in New York City in midtown during the holidays is like trying to find a piece of candy on the set of The Biggest Loser, now really!
We got to the tree which was smaller than past trees, but no less magnificent. We did see the wonderful light show across the way but it was shorter than in past years. Much shorter. But it could just be me. I was a bit disappointed by this. But Alexander was tired and thisclose to a massive meltdown. And Christopher was hungry. Daddy suggested grabbing dinner at the restaurant by rinks down below. We could eat, relax and watch the skaters. But I was not that hungry and I knew that the wait at the restaurant would ruin the whole day that a Major Meltdown loomed in our immediate future. I knew we needed to get to the car, and stat!
We headed back downtown. On foot. We completely forgot to check out the wonderful windows at Saks and I was and am deeply disappointed and saddened by this. I really expected Alexander to collapse in front of me. Nary a cab to be seen. Christopher was hungry. Starving. Rebecca was whining. Complaining about this that and the other as she is so apt to do these days. And the bickering between older two siblings really took off. Just get Christopher a hot dog, for crying out loud! Street meat to eat on the feet en route to the car. But Daddy had a different idea. He walked in to a Sbarro's pizza. (Ew!) And after Rebecca, Alexander and I protest we marched immediately back outside. Just down the street he stopped into this place and while it was not dirty, anything but I was leary... the boys got soda? Soda?!! That's not food. It's liquid sugar. Great, I thought to myself, now Alexander is going to have to pee in the middle of the Bronx with no where to stop. Daddy was getting annoyed with me. I was getting annoyed with the whining girl and the fact we had no stroller. I would have loved nothing more than to immediately fill Christopher's skinny and hollow tummy and get the little one off his feet. And while Christopher was famished he did very little complaining and kept plodding along. My boys are troopers!
Finally we spotted a cab! Alexander pered up again. He has wanted nothing more than to hop in a cab! A yellow New York Taxi cab! Daddy hopped in front and the kids and I sat in the back which was roomier and comfier than I expected it to be. Alexander was riveted by the touch screen television set in front of me. Alexander kept pushing the map buttons. Christopher wanted the ESPN buttons. More bickering ensued. Daddy reached behind him and pretended to close the thick plastic partition that separated us from the driver. (How I would love one of those in my car!) The bickering and whining was really getting to me.
Finally we're at the garage and got out to see our SUV at the top waiting for us already. (Tipping gets you far in the city!) I spotted a Subways across the street and suggested we get something for Christopher to eat in the car. And then it happened. A meltdown like no other. A very well behaved and very tired 4 year old simply could take it no more. "I just want to go home", he sobs. "I just want to get out of the city. Now!" More sobs. Poor little guy was inconsolable. He left with his father to get the car as I stayed to pay for the sandwiches.
Alexander did not immediately fall asleep as I expected him to do. He comfortably (with Sunkist orange soda in tow) enjoyed the sights of the city all around him as we inched our way closer to home. Finally sweet snores escape from his seat and we were well on the way home.
As we exit the theater there is the most magnificent crescent shaped moon overhead. I have to take a picture!
The kids thoroughly enjoy Macy's windows!
Ummm, how do I explain this play to my daughter?!
Here is where my camera dies and I try to shoot without using the flash to capture a few more images... Amazing the brilliance of Broadway!
The view from the top of the ferris wheel, sans flash
More blurry ferris wheel shots...
Christopher is hiding from me... won't be caught dead photographed in a My Little Pony car!
enough light on the set of The Today Show....
and a blurry picture of the tree... the very last image my camera manages to capture...As a photographer I am still so saddened by this.
NB -- Thank you for your kind comments. I am editing this post to say that while the day in the city was not all I had expected, and despite the crowds, cold temperatures, dead camera battery, tired children we still did have a lovely time. Maybe not picture perfect, but fun none the less and I'm not disappointed and I'm happy we went!