A Boyhood Dream Fulfilled: Space-Geek Tour of the USA

[VPS]

One more thing:

New York City really is "the city that never sleeps". Unlike my days in the USA so far, where I've basically been able to come back to my room at the end of a day out and do things such as write up this trip report, I'm actually envisaging that I'll -- gasp!! -- go out at night in NYC!

So I might not be able to keep up with writing this TR in "real time" (ie. write about what I've done at the end of each day). I'll try, but please understand if there is a lag from this moment on. Never fear -- this TR will be finished if I'm still breathing!

I am absolutely amazed that you have been able to write a TR like this on the go.

I love NYC so have a ball

 

[Human]

UA4442 DCA-EWR Economy class. 7,800 Velocity points plus A$15.10.

Mitsubishi CRJ-550 (AKA Bombadier CRJ or Canadair Regional Jet), 50 seats.

(I almost booked a Delta flight for 4500 Virgin Atlantic points, before discovering that Delta would have charged me US$35 for luggage. So I used my Velocity Platinum status to book a United flight with free checked luggage).

The Lounge had emptied out considerably by the time I left it. It was not a long walk to the boarding gate and boarding commenced on time.




Once again, I was on a plane which I’d never flown before. I walked past a few rows of First class in 1-2 format, before coming to some luggage racks for large carry-on. I’d never seen that in a plane before! I placed my large carry-on in one of the racks before heading back to my seat — 14D. Economy class was in 2-2 format, with seats that were perfectly OK for taking a 1-hour flight on a regional jet. The overhead lockers were minuscule but it had room for me to place my small backpack (which I’d brought on board in the hope that it would be considered a “personal item”. It was.). No-one was sitting next to me, which was a nice treat.


There was only one Flight Attendant on board, which meant that the Safety Demonstration was performed twice: once for the front half of the plane, and all over again for the back half!

There was no food & beverage service in Economy class, although the FA did come around offering water. Some photos from the tarmac at DCA.



And of our ascent and cruise. When there were not clouds, the view from my window seat was lovely.


The sound in the cabin was noticeably more noisy than I was used to (it reminded me of sitting at the back of a Focker 100), and the noise cancellation on my AirPods Pro struggled to cope, but they helped somewhat.

Pics from our descent into Newark. A little underwhelming, I know, I looked across and there appeared to be lovely views of the New York skyline from the other side of the plane – once again, I was seated on the wrong side.



Newark Airport is massive.


Everything after the flight was routine, apart from the fact that I had to wait longer than I would have liked for my shuttle bus to turn up. And the driver spoke on his handheld mobile phone while driving. But eventually I got to my hotel in the Chelsea area of Manhattan.

 

[Human]

Hilton Hampton Inn Manhattan-Chelsea. 3 night stay. Cost: A$217.58 plus A$400 AmEx Platinum Reserve travel credit.

Some photos of my hotel. The room has seen better days, and it’s small, but apparently that’s par for the course in NYC and I’m getting a very good price in a very good location.




The view:


I entered my room, opened the air-con control panel and saw this.


It took me a service call to realise that the control panel had been deliberately removed, and that it was all controllable from a wall panel.


While I was waiting for my transfer at the airport I booked a ticket to the first of hopefully two Broadway shows I’ll be seeing while I’m here. So I’m about to leave my hotel room and experience New York City for the first time!

 

[Human]

I saw a Broadway show last night, but I need to confess that I went about it in exactly the way I said I would not go about it in Post #111 above. The best-laid plans, and all that. While I was at Newark Airport waiting for my shuttle bus to arrive I logged on to the TodayTix web site and I noticed that their prices were much the same as if I’d lined up at one of the TKTS booths – and tickets from TodayTix could be purchased online. So I looked at what was available for last night, and the only show that vaguely interested me and which was available was Six. Yes, it had been in Australia but I hadn’t caught it then, and some of the tickets were quite heavily discounted, so I went with that.

So about 90 minutes before the show I ventured out of my hotel room on foot, to walk up to Broadway. Two words: sensory overload.










I could not believe the willingness of New Yorkers to risk life and limb by crossing busy roads even when the pedestrian crossing sign was saying not to. By the end of the night, though, I was one of them.


A small snack before the show.


The theatre:




The show itself was wonderful and I have absolutely no regrets about my choice. The music was great, the concept was clever, the choreography, staging, lighting – it was all top notch. But what really struck me was the incredible talent of the performers. When I’ve seen Broadway shows that have come to Australia, they’re obviously extremely well done … but invariably there’s a weak link somewhere: a performer who’s not quite up to the standard of the other performers, for example. Sometimes the weak link is embarrassingly weak (eg. when the original Australian cast of Wicked featured a big-name Australian celebrity who couldn’t sing).

With Six on Broadway, there was no weak link. Each and every one of the performers was absolutely stellar. It was an exceptionally good performance of a very good show, and I really did love every minute of it.

 

[Human]

After the show I did not feel like returning to my hotel, so I remembered that a friend had recommended Ellen’s Stardust Diner; I looked it up and was happy to see that it was nearby.


Ellen’s Stardust Diner is a normal NYC diner like you see on every corner. With one exception. All of the staff are aspiring Broadway stars, and every couple of minutes one of them breaks into song. These people are aspiring NYC Broadway professionals, so they’re very, very good. It is surreal being served by a waiter one minute, and the next minute that same person has a microphone and is belting out a Broadway hit.






Needless to say, I once again wish I could post videos on AFF so you can share in the full auditory experience! When I get home I’ll look into setting up a YouTube channel which I can link to some of these videos.

In between songs, I ate this.


And then when I didn’t want to leave, I had a coughtail. It was a Pineapple Margarita thingy; whoever put it together most certainly didn’t skimp on the alcohol.


Then I forced myself to take the 33-minute walk back to my hotel rather than catch the Subway; I’m sure that it was good for me.

 

[Pushka]

After the show I did not feel like returning to my hotel, so I remembered that a friend had recommended Ellen’s Stardust Diner; I looked it up and was happy to see that it was nearby.
View attachment 426310

Ellen’s Stardust Diner is a normal NYC diner like you see on every corner. With one exception. All of the staff are aspiring Broadway stars, and every couple of minutes one of them breaks into song. These people are aspiring NYC Broadway professionals, so they’re very, very good. It is surreal being served by a waiter one minute, and the next minute that same person has a microphone and is belting out a Broadway hit.
View attachment 426311
View attachment 426312
View attachment 426313
View attachment 426314
View attachment 426315

Needless to say, I once again wish I could post videos on AFF so you can share in the full auditory experience! When I get home I’ll look into setting up a YouTube channel which I can link to some of these videos.

In between songs, I ate this.
View attachment 426316

And then when I didn’t want to leave, I had a coughtail. It was a Pineapple Margarita thingy; whoever put it together most certainly didn’t skimp on the alcohol.
View attachment 426317

Then I forced myself to take the 33-minute walk back to my hotel rather than catch the Subway; I’m sure that it was good for me.

That diner looks amazing. I was going to suggest you must try a hot dog from a vendor. I wanted to from the start of our small trip but waited until the last day. Wished iI had started earlier.