:: I’m back at Mockingbird Hill Cottage after 8 days in Manhattan. Still sick with a cold – and no, I didn’t get it from walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. The cast has been passing around a cold and I guess it was my turn. Opening Night was wonderful; a happy night for one and all with a fun party afterward at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in Midtown. You know I didn’t have any steak. Just veggies. I spent much of the time during the performance trying not to cough, and when I knew I couldn’t hold back, trying to cough at just the right moment in a scene. Exhausting.
We got a great review, make that a rave review, in the New York Times. Truly, I’ve never read such a glowing review! I’m so happy for everyone, especially my friend and colleague who is the Director. It is his vision that has made this production come to life.
I will be traveling to Chicago for 3 days next week – a very quick trip – to check on the cast and their voices in the much, much bigger space in which they will be performing.
:: On Saturday, I pretty much hung around the hotel as I was feeling rotten and wanted to save up my energy for the evening. On Friday, however, I ran around looking for boots (and found them.) Here are some photos from that day:
It was a bit gloomy that day – this is the original entrance to Macy’s. If you look closely above the arch, you can see R.H. Macy and Co. Macy’s was having a sale and it was a madhouse. I quickly realized that I had to leave the premises before I started screaming. I later found my boots at a shoe store near Grand Central Station.
:: When we lived in our rental cottage, we traveled in and out of Grand Central all the time. Now that we take the bus which arrives at the Port Authority Bus Station, I miss seeing this gorgeous place. Since I wanted to catch the #6 subway train and use the ladies room, Grand Central was just the ticket.
Such a beautiful building! The blue ceiling has the constellations painted on it.
Always busy, always fascinating. A great place to do some people watching. Downstairs there are lots of places to grab a bite to eat. Uh oh….look what I found:
Since I was battling a cold, searching for boots, tired and cranky….well you know what comes next. A little box with the above logo accompanied me back to the hotel.
:: I took the number 6 to the Upper East Side to check out this little shop:
Tender Buttons – a small, narrow charming shop FULL of buttons. Every type you could imagine, including antique buttons worth several hundred dollars. I didn’t even attempt to take photos inside. There was not enough room. Besides, I was intrigued by a couple who arrived in a cab and entered the store right before me. They were obviously wealthy, dressed in expensive clothes. The man had a booming voice and was on a search for buttons – perhaps for a suit? I would imagine it to be a custom-made suit. He spoke loudly – like a man used to giving orders and being listened to. After his wife showed him how to use her iPhone, he made a call to his tailor – asking the tailor the precise measurements needed for said buttons. I was fascinated by them. When I left, the search for just the right buttons was still going on.
:: I went into Borders (one that is not closing) to do a quick check in the magazine aisle.
Well done, Borders.
By the way, the story about Borders and bankruptcy makes me sad for two reasons. Any bookstore struggling and perhaps going under is alarming. Yes, I have a Nook – but to tell the truth – I still much prefer an actual book in my hands.. I always will. The more bookstores that thrive, the better for all of us. Nothing can top browsing in a bookstore; picking up a book, looking at the typeface, seeing it in 3 dimensional form.
The second reason is that I used to go to the very first Borders bookstore ever – in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I went to college in the neighboring town of Ypsilanti and spent hours and hours in Borders. In those days, it was a single independent bookstore. I still remember it vividly. Chains are fine, but I feel that Borders lost a lot when it morphed into a chain of stores. I suppose this is a cautionary tale about the risk of losing the heart and soul of a business in the eagerness to expand.
I’m off to cough and blow my nose.
It’s fun to see what you’re up to, Claudia, and I’m glad to hear of the rave reviews! Hope you are feeling better soon!
Looks and sounds like you had an awesome time…I hope to get to NYC one day. Hope you get well soon:)
Blessings,
Linda
Hi Claudia,
Yay! for the great reviews…Hopefully you’ll feel much better before leaving for Chicago. I hope so anyway. ♥
And it’s good to hear that in the face of all of us that have lost so much in this recession that the wealthy are still spreading their money around. New York City is a good place to see it in action I’m sure. I would have loved to see the antique buttons.
The bookstores…I would be so upset if my local Books A Million went under. I have kept my fingers crossed the BAM will make it through this bad economy…when I read about Borders it made me ill…please don’t let it be the beginning of others going under. I’ve really grown weary of watching so many businesses that we know and loved that are now gone.
I enjoyed seeing the photos and reading your update..take care of yourself.
Hugs,
Stephanie ♥
Claudia, I hope first, that you are feeling better! I am fascinated too by your button story. People watching is my hobby and that couple sounds right up my alley.
So glad the play had glowing reviews and I trust that good fortune will follow them to Chicago.
Bookstores are my port in the storm. I have resisted the nook up to this point, although I know several people who have one and love them. Makes sense in a lot of respects. I can’t resist a book in hand and always have one with me in case there is down time on my journeys each day.
I have so enjoyed your pictures of your part of NYC and hope the rest of your adventure is healthy and fun. Ann
Congratulations on a successful opening night! So glad you found some boots too.
I didn’t know that Grand Central Station has a blue ceiling with the constellations on it! I’ve never seen a photo with that angle before. So fun to learn that from you!
I hope that you get some time to rest and recuperate before you head for Chicago. Please take care~
Hugs,
Jill
PS: I panic when I hear of bookstores closing. I can’t imagine not being to walk the isles of a bookshop and discover books that I otherwise would not have. Luckily my Borders around the corner is safe for now.
Hi Claudia… Sorry that you are still feeling poorly, I’m sure you will improve now that you are back home (there is no place like home).
Thank you, I really enjoyed your tour of NYC, it certainly has some beautiful old buildings. Can’t believe that you didn’t make it back to Tinsel Trading, you certainly have more willpower (or is it won’t power) than I. Forgot to mention in my last comment how much I like your book-bag, so French. Get well soon.
Bless your heart, I so hope you feel better soon before you have to hop the plane to Chicago.
Bravo! on rave reviews opening night. I hope the play has a huge run.
Grand Central was one place I miss seeing, had no idea the ceiling was painted like that. Lovely!
I hope you feel up to par soon and get some rest before your next trip.
Feel better! and what a glorious time this is for you.
To get a raving review in the NYT is HUGE!!!…
Love these photo tours, thank you for taking the time..
PS – envelope going out in the mail today. Ask me how much I love this scarf, what a beautiful combination of colors. Thank you –
Oh dear, I hope you are feeling better soon, what a trooper you were, that is so hard to do, to try not to cough! I am so glad you are sharing these beautiful photos, I have never seen these images of NYC before, so I pore over all your pictures just to soak it all in!!!
A button store just for buttons, oh my, Heaven!!! What a cute story, wonder who those people were…..I love to people watch when I am out shopping….very interesting.
Wish we had nice book stores here, we have a few but they do not carry the magazines I would like and certainly not great books, they just skim the surface with the trendy things, so sad….
I usually have to order everything on line, still I guess I have to grateful I can do that.
Take care and feel well soon!
Hugs,
Margaret B
I hope we have time for a trip into the city when we go up to see our girls soon, but I doubt it.
hi claudia,
sorry i have been away for a while. your trip sounds positively magical to me right now. exploring new york like you are doing really inspires me to run away from home. hmmm. and cupcakes fix everything.
xo
janet
Cough, cough . .
Sneeze, sneeze . . .
Let’s hope you’re rid of these two shortly.
Thanks for the shots of these magnificent landmarks
especially that visit to Magnolia Bakery. Sweet.
Hugs,
Gerry
I add my congrats on rave reviews! I am a paper book girl all the way- and I am addicted to gadgets. Ever since I was a little girl I have been comforted by books. The feel, the smell- to this day when I am sick you will find me in bed surrounded by books. They are my friends- if the day comes when they are completely replaced by electronic gadgets I will be in mourning. I hope you feel better quickly Claudia- sending you hugs!
I also love bookstores AND the feel, the crisp snap of the page being turned and yes, even sometimes the smell of the book itself, sweetpea! Magnolia Bakery? Just couldn’t be held back if we had one here! Yuuuummmm….
xoxo,
Connie
Congrats to you and all involved for the rave review – so nice that your hard work was rewarded in that way!
Love your ‘roving reporter’ stories of NYC. It’s been a long time since I was there and now I want to visit again more than ever. Hope you’re feeling better. :-)
Feel better soon! Thank you so much for all the pictures! Blessings, Joanne
Hi Claudia,
I have enjoyed seeing your photo’s of Manhattan so much!!!
I have never been there, so this is such a treat for me.
Gary and I were just talking about Borders and what a shame it is that so many book stores are going out.
I love my books too and there is nothing like holding it and looking through all the pictures first before I read it..LOL.
Have a sweet day and I hope you are feeling much better now.
Big hugs,Elizabeth
great photos!!!!!!!!!
:)
Happy week,
Rosa
Congratulations Claudia! Hope you are feeling better soon. Thanks for sharing the pictures of NY.
Hugs.
Oh I so agree! I am VERY sad we are loosing our Borders. It was right down the street from our B&N and I LOVED hitting both! Just spend the day wondering in and through the books! Our County Library sale was 2 weeks ago and I stocked up!! :) Like you I have an ereader but LOVE a book in my hands! Feel better sweetie!! OH I saw your sweet spot in the Studios mag! Congrats! I love finding my buddies in the mags ;)
Hugs, Lisa
I FEEL SO BAD ABOUT BORDERS CLOSING…..
VERY SAD, I’M NOT THE BIGGEST READER, BUT I ENJOY GOING TO BOOK STORES, SO DO MY GRANDCHILDREN. LOVE YOUR PICTURES, BRINGS BACK MANY YEARS. FEEL BETTER. RIZZI
I never tire of seeing your pictures of the city. That button store just couldn’t be more charming.
I’m sad about the closing of bookstores, too. Which is why I’m single-handedly attempting to save the book industry through my (too) many purchases.
How wonderful to have rave reviews Claudia! Love the photos~ I’d love to visit that button shop too:)
Hope you’re feeling better!
paula:)
Congrats on the play, Claudia! I have enjoyed all the photos of NYC. Feel better! ~Hugs, Patti
Congratulations, dear Claudia, on such a successful opening! Isn’t that marvelous news! I read the AP review but haven’t found the NYT one yet. Anyway, just wonderful, well done. Hope you are feeling better. xo – g
Claudia, you went to Tender Buttons! Lucky you. I’m going to make my way there, one day.
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve caught that dreadful bug. I had it too. Feel better soon!
I didn’t realize it was the NOOK you had acquired, Claudia.
This Christmas we became a -3- Nook family. I too love the feel of a book, however space is at a premium and our young lady can read a book within a day or two! Sophie’s Christmas list this year consisted of 5 Books with a verbal “socks and underwear” are a given! Since this lovely daughter of ours asks for nothing we surprised her with a Nook and accessories {film kit/hard cover}! Dad too! Since my husband is afflicted with macular degeneration we thought this would be good as he can control the font/page size for future needs. We took photos of them sitting side by side opening their Nooks! Certainly came in handy when they were both stricken with pneumonia Jan/Feb. After Christmas we took a trip to Barnes and Nobles for some Nook tweaking and they surprised me with a Nookcolor. I wanted it for magazine “clutter control!” Still like HOLDING something other than an electronic though!
Happy to catch-up with those I love here in Bloggyland!
Hugs,
{-AS-}