Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Upcoming Fun

It's been awhile- but this post is to make you all super jealous that you are not going on our NYC trip this June.  If you are going on the trip, it should make you excited.  If your name is Jackie Eaton, do not read this post because you will get ulcers and you shouldn't be reading blogs.  You should be doing your 15th rewrite so you can sail through your PhD defense in 3 weeks so we don't have to pay tuition in Summer and so you can rest and relax in NYC.  (Not that rest and relaxation ever happens...)

Day #0
Meet at the airport in SLC at 9:00pm for our Jetblue red-eye flight.  Oh-- did I mention the fact that we have 91 people going on this trip? 13 are from West Jordan, 2 are from The Netherlands but once we all get together in NYC, we are in charge of 91 people.  Good thing we have awesome chaperones (shout outs to Kelly Riding, Kelly DeHaan, Miriam Rasmussen, Brent and Amanda Cox and Erin McGuire).

Day #1
Arrive at the magical hour of 5:24am in NYC.  Nothing beats wandering around the JFK terminal like zombies.  We just put a muffin in Jackie's mouth, put her on a dolly and roll her to the shuttle.
Here's where my military/stealth operation training comes in handy.  What to do with 91 people when the hotel will take your bags and then shove you out the door because your rooms aren't ready until 2pm?
Well,  you send the 13 West Jordanites on a boat trip.  Easy.  You then split the 78 remaining people into 3 rotating groups that will each do: A Broadway/Theatre History audio Tour (sponsored by Times Square), Walk the Brooklyn Bridge, Visit St. Paul's Chapel (now a tribute to 9/11 chapel with George Washington's pew in there somewhere), Lunch at Grand Central Station and a Walk Down 42nd Street by the NYC Public Library and Bryant Park.  If anyone feels adventurous, they can come with me down to the TKTS Seaport location and get tickets for the following day's Broadway matinees.  You could also visit the 9/11 Museum which gives free admission on Tuesday's after 5pm.
That night at 7pm we see this:
Then we collapse.

Day #2
Send the 13 West Jordanites on the Broadway/Theatre History Audio Tour while everyone else runs around and gets whatever matinee performance they want to see.  Students can also go to the Empire State Building or Statue of Liberty (provided they are back in time for their show).  Most people will be up getting in Rush Ticket lines for different shows.
That night we see this:


A hilarious musical comedy where 1 guy plays 7 people.
Day #3
This day is our version of storming the beaches at Normandy.  The group splits into variations of 3 and 4 groups.  By 2pm, everyone will have done:  The Lower East Side Eating Tour through the Lower East Side Tenement Museum as well as The History of Organized Crime walking tour through Chinatown and Little Italy.  Hopefully no one gets lost.  Or if they get lost, they are not sold into white slavery.
That night we see this (SO EXCITED!!):


Daniel Radcliffe!! (with hopefully a cast talk back afterwards).
Day #4
At 10am we all go up to Central Park for a guided walking tour with Big Onion tours.  They are awesome and this will be a fun way to see the Park.  Hopefully weather is good.  It ends at Met Museum and then everyone has the afternoon free to visit a museum (or, follow Jackie and I for our own food tour of the Upper West Side).
That night we see this:


Since Jackie and I have already seen Pippin, we'll go see Idina Menzel in If/Then.
Day #5
Since Saturday is a special day, we will sleep in.  Then everyone goes and finds their own show for that afternoon (students can also do Empire State Building or Statue of Liberty).
That night we see this:



Day #6
That morning we will go down to the 9/11 Memorial.
Then at 3:00pm we see this:


After that, we can all go see something Off-Broadway for the evening.

Day #7
Our final day begins with a trip to the Top of the Roc (where hoepfully, we are photo-bombed by Jimmy Fallon)- grab last minute souvenirs- and then it's back to the airport to fly back to SLC that night.
It's gonna be great!  Go back to writing Jackie.  Stop hyperventilating.