NEW YORK MIX

Blue sky most of the time during my two weeks there in August!

Lots of Italian GELATO (otherwise known as ice-cream ;)
Lots of musicals & "movie-star gazing" 

SEPHORA free make-overs (perfect before going to a musical ;) & cup-cakes  

 New York bus drivers and theatre ushers who act like they`re managers or your best friends depending on the case ;)
Some nice shopping :) (respect to 21st Century & TJ Max for their supper - discounted designers!)

TIMES SQUARE

All right...it is somewhat (really) crazy, but it`s THE place to be!
(at least for Broadway fans as myself ;)

Evidence of Olympics

Goat also wants to have fun :)

Sit back & relax

Cartoon characters trying hard for extra cash ;)

Small coke

One of the few naked cowboys 

Female version of the above!

  

Even beggars know a few things about MARKETING!

..and then there is plenty of Jesus and the likes on every corner

I must agree that sometimes it just can get too much..

9/11 MEMORIAL SITE

1 WTC - the central building of the new World Trade centre

2 huge memorial pools (featuring the names of all victims) with waterfalls built where the towers used to stand

Breathtaking creation!

HIGH LINE PARK

Beautiful promenade above the street level...

..with multiple spots to take-in the urban scenery and some art projects!

Built on a 2,33 km section of historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan`s West Side!

  

CENTRAL PARK

Rediscovering by bike!
I had been to Central Park so any times before, but I had never walked all of it...well, technically I didn`t walk this time either, but finally Central Park is conquered - all of it!

How`s this for PRINCE CHARMING ;)

Fascinating NY architecture

Down-town NY from South Seaport

Perfect lunch spot!

South Seaport & Brooklyn bridge

Little Italy 

plenty of restaurants & gelato :)

 Numerous Organic markets around the city!

This one in Union Square park 

MEDUS!!! (marketing for Latvians ;)

This has been copy pasted to Riga ;) (those who attend Organic markets in Riga will u)

Arronia!!! I used to think it was an exclusive to my family garden....or at most to Baltic region ;))) 

Washington Square  

Seemed like MUST-HAVE shoes of the summer... 

I say BETTER-NOT!

After one of the SEPHORA make-overs. 

I was told I looked like actress Leighton Meester

Nice ;) (even if exaggerated ;))

Can you find me in the crowd of this Off-Broadway show? ;)
Hint: look for light orange T-shirt

New York: paparazzi mode ;)

Writing about New York from Rizhao is somewhat... strange :) 

(anyway, I`m back from a great holiday in Latvia+NY.....I will write about Latvia some other time ;)

New York has a surprise behind (almost) every corner!

In 2 weeks time with no special intention I managed to bump into 3 film sets: 

WHITE COLLAR (never seen it!)

GOSSIP GIRL (love it!)

GLEE (love it!)

WHITE COLLAR 
(57 street/ave 8)

This one I am not familiar with...but I`ve been told the main lead is hot!

GOSSIP GIRL

 (65 street West of Central park)

I suddenly saw Blake Lively and Michelle Trachtenberg inside Atlantic Grill as I was passing by... cool!

Then I was hanging out with fans for some 30 minutes before continuing to a musical :) 

Looking forward to season 6 episode 4 ;)

Michelle Trachtenberg (Georgina Sparks)

 GLEE

(Washington square)

Lea Michele = Rachel Berry

Chris Colfer = Kurt 

More about my 2 weeks in NY in the next posts ;)

NEW YORK: ADDICTED TO BROADWAY!

 

After 5 year break...New York again..and as much Broadway and off-Broadway as I could manage!

Here are some tips for those who prefer not to pay over 100$/per ticket ;)

Start with musical websites (or show`s box office), cause this is where you learn:

• what is the regular CHEAPEST TICKET: visibility in Broadway theatres is usually great wherever you sit & if show isn`t sold out you can always seat-hop ;) (seat-hopping is official after the intermission, but why wait ;)   
• if & when is the TICKET LOTTERY: some (even sold out) shows organize lottery for 2 front rows of the orchestra for ~ 30 USD! (if the show isn`t sold out usually even the ones who don`t win will be able to get good offer for tickets)
• if there are RUSH TICKETS: limited number of cheaper tickets sold for same day`s performance when the box office opens (tend to sell out fast)
• if there are STUDENT RUSH TICKETS: same as Rush only for students (need an ID)
• if there are STANDING ROOM TICKETS: usually on offer when show is sold out  

Other good options are:
TKTS: 40%- 50% discounted tickets for same day`s shows
Special offers: here`s one for September 

And here`s what I saw on and off Broadway this time:

EVITA (with Ricky Martin)

 

This year my childhood & teenage dreams keep coming true: first Bali, now Ricky.. :) 

He was brilliant!!! 

MEMPHIS 

Quite fun, but I wouldn`t see it again.


NAKED BOYS SINGING 

It was exactly as promised - naked boys singing! Most of the time very very naked!
 They also had nice voices & dance moves :)

ONCE  

This year`s TONY award winner for BEST MUSICAL! Hypnotisingly beautiful!

GHOST 

 

...heartbreaking & passionate!




INTO THE WOODS
@ the open-air Delacorte Theatre in Central Park (with Amy Adams)
Tickets to this show are FREE and here`s how you can get them.
 Amazing setting!!!
 

The one on the right is blurry Amy Adams :) 

NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT (with Matthew Broderick)

Great fun!!!!

FUERZA BRUTA  
 

Something that can`t be explained..has to be experienced...it`s a disco...it`s a show...it`s a theatre...it`s interactive...you get rain & mist all over..
FANTASTIC!!!

  

2 free Broadway concerts in Bryant park on Thursdays 12:30 - 13:30

 

I tried to see, but wasn`t able for different reasons (wish list for next time ;)

1) Sleep no more

2) Newsies

3) The book of Mormon

4) Rock of Ages

 Some of my favourites from this year`s Broadway experience:

ONCE: Falling slowly 

GHOST : promo

EVITA: Tony Awards 2012 , promo

FUERZA BRUTA: promo
NAKED BOYS SINGING: preview

I also played 4 musical lotteries (once for Ghost & Newsies; twice for The Book of Mormon)...but lost every time ;( (there were more than 150 ppl trying to get one/two of the ~26 lottery tickets)

Useful websites for your New York musical adventure!

http://www.newyorkcitytheatre.com/index.php

http://www.broadway.com/shows/tickets/

http://www.ilovenytheater.com/

 

P.S. Many people wonder about dress code when going to theatre...here`s a short conversation I heard in one of the box offices of Broadway: 

- What is the dress code for theatre?

- Be dressed! :)

My TOP of the musicals I have seen (and can remember of) so far:

1. Rent (Broadway)
2. Once (Broadway)
3. Wicked (London)
4. Chicago (Broadway)
5. Phantom of the Opera (Broadway)
6. Evita (Broadway)  
7. Ghost (Broadway)
8. Mamma Mia (Broadway)
   
9. Spring Awakening (Broadway)
10. Jersey Boys (Broadway)
11. We will rock you (London)
12. Billy Elliot (London)
13. Les Miserables (Broadway & Latvia)
14. Nice work if you can get it (Broadway)
15. Hairspray (Broadway)
16. Guys and Dolls (London)
17. Cabaret (London)
18. Lion King (Broadway)
19. Memphis (Broadway)
20. A Chorus Line (Broadway)
21. Naked boys singing (Off-Broadway)
22. Altar boys (Off-Broadway)
23. Xanadu (Broadway)
24. Into the woods (Shakespare in the park free shows)
25. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Latvia)
26. The Sound of music (Latvia)
27. Westside Story (Latvia)
28. Fame (Shanghai)

I am sailing...I am sailing....NOT!

On Sunday the lucky few had rented a nice sailing boat "ISKRA" and spent many many hours sailing, swimming, sunbathing, waving to Chinese tourists & BBQing!

 

These photos were taken by me....which means I was not one of those lucky few this time (gotta love weekend job..) 

But after work I made it to the beach & mall just in time for the photo welcome ;)

And then I was "TOP GEAR challenged: who is faster - sailing boat or me?

Crazy race run, a quick & wild motorboat taxi ride later... 

...here I was waiting for the sailing boat to dock ;)

Great fun :)