NYC June 2025

Two train rides, three nights, four hotel rooms, six Broadway shows, eight friends; sounds like a pretty great reality TV show.

With all the graduations and Gem-Fest, the two families did not have a lot of time and energy to plan specifics ahead of time. We knew we wanted to see as many shows as we could, have meals together, maybe a museum or tour; mostly just a chance to enjoy NYC and give our kids a chance to decide if it was a big city that felt right for them or not.

Thursday:

The train from Rochester leaves at 5:30 a.m., and since we are able to park for free right at the train station, we left home around 5'ish, and had plenty of time to get settled on the train. By the time the train arrives at Penn Station in NYC, it is full up, so I got to enjoy making friends with Gary, which helped the trip go quickly.

Fun fact; Gary spent $11,000 on his hair transplants and is very happy with the outcome.

When running perfectly on time, the trip is 6 1/2 hours. This one had a couple issues, so we had a little over 7 hours to rest, read, and look cute.

Bets couldn't join us on this adventure, but Paula, Kel, and Kate were flying up the road on a bus. They had a little trip slowdown, too, so we all ended up arriving at the hotel within minutes of each other.

We chose a Pod Hotel right at Times Square, and the location proved to be ideal for this trip with its many Broadway shows.

We appreciated that the toilet was not in the shower at this Pod Hotel, unlike last time.

The first night, each group had pre-planned their chosen show. The VA fam. headed to Sunset Boulevard while Buds, Yessa, and I were excited to see Hadestown again.

Once we were settled at the hotel, there was time for a meal together, finishing quickly before they closed at 3:50 for the staff to get their one-hour lunch break before dinner service began.

Then Buds introduced some of the kids to his favorite store; Muji.

Then it was time to walk down to be seated for the 7 p.m. shows.

Buster captured this gorgeous nighttime scene from his room while we were at the show.

We met up for a meal after the shows, which was the perfect timing to talk over what we each enjoyed.

Friday:

On Friday, Kel and Paula discovered Big Apple Market, right around the corner from our hotel, which was a full-service, large grocery store that provided many snacks and even meals over the rest of our stay. There was even a "meat room," that was freezing cold. Not of use for this trip, but the 4-fingered butcher who worked in the cold was intriguing.

On Friday, Buds and Buster went to MOMA, while Yessa, Kate, Kel, and Paula went to see Stonewall, The Strand bookstore, and Paula's apartment building from when she lived in the city.

I ran over to New World Stages to buy tickets for Monkey and me to see "The Play That Goes Wrong." I was thrilled to find a play that Monkey was excited to see, since this would be a first for her.

K,P,K, and Yessa were thrilled to get tickets to see "Gypsy" that night, giving them a chance to see Audra McDonald in her final weeks of the role.

We made reservations at Bar Dough for a shared meal before everyone heading for their shows. It turned out to be the loudest restaurant possible, but we got through it. The other patrons were having a fantastic time.

Gypsy was amazing, and Monkey and I laughed ourselves silly.

Monkey and I were seated on the aisle, and the actors didn't use microphones, which kept the noise volume manageable for us.

While 6 of us were enjoying shows, and Buster was relaxing from his day, Buds jumped on the subway to take some shots on Roosevelt Island. We walked all over this tiny blip of residency when we were here earlier in the year, and he wanted to go back for some more photo opportunities.

Another fabulous day in NYC complete.

Saturday:

Saturday dawned, our last full day in the city, and we had 2 goals; tickets to Death Becomes Her, and tickets to Chicago. Paula had seen Chicago before, and Kate had been in a production of it, and had mixed feelings about it, but out of love for the group, they were willing to give it another go. Between Buds, Kel, Paula, and me, we managed to be in the right lines at the right time to get rush tickets for Death Becomes Her, which was surprising because of how popular it is, and rush tickets to Chicago, which was not surprising because it has dropped in popularity with the major leads leaving the production.

After scoring our tickets, Buds and I scooped up the elder kids and made our way to the Japanese Bookstore Kinokuniya. It's a large bookstore with something for all of us to enjoy looking at.

After the bookstore, we had time for lunch with Buster and Monkey before Buds and I needed to head to Broadway for our matinee showing.

A quick picture before the youngsters meandered their way off on their next adventure while Buds and I went to meet the rest of the team.

Death Becomes Her was a smash hit for all of us. We had great center seats, and it was as raucous and funny as we had heard. So grateful the rush tickets worked out so well.

After the show, Buds quickly headed back to thrift shop with Monkey and Buster.

Yessa and Kate scouted American Eagle, and I think I wandered back to the hotel and wrote and relaxed.

Six of the 8 of us re-gathered at Chicago. We had seats all together, and enjoyed it, although Death Becomes Her was the winner for the day.

After the night showing of Chicago, we had a jaunt through Times Square, then I tagged along with Katoots and Yessa while we hunted up gelato.

Sunday

We didn't have to be out until noon'ish, and our train didn't leave until afternoon, so the morning was relaxed. Buds and I wandered the city early, grabbed breakfast, and then he and the elder two went back to the Japanese bookstore.

I had time to walk down to the wharf with Kel and Paula, then we all gathered in the lounge at the Pod. They watched our stuff while our crew made one last trip to Big Apple Market.

After final hugs and a few tears, we walked to the train station to wait for our train.

We were gratified to see a bit of the Pride Parade finishing up over by the train station.

Easy train ride home, the van waiting for us, and we were back home.

Another in the long line of trips we've taken all together. I hope there are still many more. (With Bets next time.)