It was a year in the making...and there were times we thought that we couldn't make it happen...but then...we did! And on Wednesday, November 29th, Cali came home from school and I let her have it! I told her to get her butt upstairs and pack because we were leaving the next morning for New York Baby!
Sweet 16 New York City Christmas Celebration!!!!
Thursday, November 30th-
Jet Blue from San Diego to JFK!
Made it to the Park Central Hotel just before Midnight-
After a quick run to the corner deli for some snacks, we threw on our new matching pj's and tried to get some sleep!
Friday, December 1st-
The morning view from our room...
OK...so...I found out that if you wait outside in the cancellation line at the Richards Rogers Theater, there's a chance you can get your hands on discounted Hamilton Tix. Cali is obsessed with this musical and it is literally her dream to see this show. The Box Office opened at 10AM, so we headed down and got there around 9. There were 5 people in line already. We just hopped in line behind them, hoping and praying that we were able to get tickets.
After the Box Office opened at 10 AM, the first 3 people got tickets. That left 2 people in front of us and no guarantee that we would be able to get some. We started talking to our new line buddies and found out they there were professional line sitters. They were being paid to wait in line for other people. They tried to offer us their services, but Cali was determined to wait as long as it took for tickets. So, that's what we did. And we had a lovely (cold) day waiting with our new friends...
Around 5:00 PM, they moved our line to the opposite side of the Box Office. By this time, the line now had about 15-20 more people behind us. Around 7:00 PM, our line buddies were replaced by their clients. 7:30, those clients were picked to by tickets. 7:45 PM, Cali and I got picked to get tickets. We were so excited!!!!! After purchasing the tickets, (for an unreal discounted price!), they ushered us to our seats. I couldn't see where we were sitting, because the ushers kept taking the tickets and telling us where to go. We finally got seated, in the 7th row, Orchestra, Center!!!
Are you kidding me???
Cali was shaking!!!
We waited 11 hours, in the cold, and it was so worth it!!!
The show was incredible. The whole experience was so amazing! Cali was floating! I was so happy!
We were the last ones out of the theater because we were running around taking pictures of everything!
Cali really wanted to go to the stage door and try to see the cast or even get an autograph. We were the last ones in the line. And who comes out of the door first? Jevon McFerrin, Hamilton himself! He made it to Cali and gave her an autograph and a picture.
As I'm taking the picture, he complimented my R2D2 phone case! We started talking and I told him that we had waited 11 hours in the cancellation line because we were in town for Cali's 16th birthday and this was what she wanted more than anything. Next thing I know, he grabs Cali and tells the security guy that we are with him and he took us backstage!!!
Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! He was so cool and so nice and talked to us for about 20 minutes. Cali was in total shock! It was crazy! Our trip was already made!
We walked back out to the streets of New York on a total cloud! And this guy...
he was our protector while we waited on the street and he told us the whole time that we would make it in, no problem! And we did! He believed in us! And he made me feel alot better about what we were doing because I was scared to death that we would waste a whole day and not get tickets.
We walked through Times Square and up the 7 blocks to our hotel. We were so high on adrenaline, we didn't go to sleep until 2 AM!
Saturday, December 2nd-
We slept way in! Until 11 Am! Then we got all bundled up and took a nice stroll through Central Park. It was an absolutely beautiful day!
We rode the carousel...
Got Cali a lovely (very hard) caramel apple at the pond...
The trees were still different colors and we loved all of the park scenery...
And I finally got to see the Alice in Wonderland sculpture. Life dream of mine!
We walked down 5th Avenue (with about a million other people), to see all the Christmas windows...
And we peaked into St. Patricks Cathedral...
And, of course, we hit up Rockefeller Center!
We walked through Times Square to catch the church's new billboard-
We stopped in the Hamilton store for a souvenir for Cali and then her feet hurt. We went back to the hotel and had ourselves a little rest before our next adventure!
Friday night, Cali had her first cab right to the meat packing district...
luckily our driver was really nice and didn't drive too scary.
I surprised Cali with a "sweet" 16 dinner at the Sugar Factory!
It was so fun and so delicious!
Cali loves NY!!!
Sunday, December 3rd-
We slept in and then put our Sunday best on, and walked to church...
We just stayed for Sacrament Meeting, but enjoyed the wonderful testimonies shared. I am so glad we made this happen as part of our trip. It was awesome!
We walked by Columbus Circle on the way back to the hotel...
And strolled through a Christmas Market...
While sipping apple cider!
A Dream!!!
Look at my sweet "Queen" of New York...
After stopping real quick at the hotel to freshen up, we headed to The Plaza for Afternoon Tea!
It was so fancy and pretty and so uncomfortable!! But so fun!
These macaroons were disgusting! But Cali got them free for her birthday so we had to at least take a bite. And she really almost vomitted!
But she loved the chocolate lettering on her plate...so that was yummy!
And we got parting gifts!
The Plaza did not disappoint! Another amazing experience!
Cali at the Plaza.... No Way!
Afternoon Tea took forever! We barely had time to stop back at the hotel real quick to put things away and grab our tickets to see...
The Nutcracker at the Lincoln Center!!!
We liked some things about it more than our own, but are pretty sure we like ours better. Still, it was beautiful and so amazing to see it in this theater with the live NY symphony orchestra.
One bummer...no Nutcrackers to buy at the ballet. What??
But luckily, the oldest Christmas shop in Manhattan was right across from our hotel! Meet, "King George III of New York"!-
We slowly packed up our stuff that night and went to bed at a decent hour. We had to be up at 6:00 AM to grab a cab to the airport.
Goodbye Park Central Hotel!
You were good to us!
The whole weekend felt like a dream! Did it really happen?
I am so happy and grateful that we could make this trip a reality! So thankful we could give Cali such an amazing 16th birthday present and Christmas experience in NYC!
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