Hello. Here I sit, in my little pod in Midtown Manhattan. This is the most bizarre hotel room I’ve ever seen. It’s called a ‘cabin’ and the prototype was designed by the same people who design aircraft cabins. That means it’s tight, functional and small. A bit claustrophobic for me and five nights of it will undoubtedly drive me a bit crazy. But, it’s interesting and something I wouldn’t normally be exposed to, so I’m looking at it as an adventure.
Very hipster-type crowd here, though there are families as well. Am I the oldest? I hope not!
I have a great view out my window:
On the way back from the theater last night, I ran into an old friend who lives in the apartment building across the street. He was walking his dog. Big city, yes, but a small world.
The show is in great shape. We had a run-through last night, we’ll have another one this afternoon. Then an invited dress rehearsal tonight. Tomorrow: first preview. The theater is gorgeous and chockfull of theatrical history.
Our next-door neighbor is this show:
I would love, love, love to see it. But there will be no time this trip!
Our other neighbor is the long running Phantom of the Opera. And across the street is Sardis.
And here we are:
And here we are.
My schedule here is very, very full – it’s all about Anastasia, as it should be. I might not have time to respond to comments in a timely manner. I’ll do my best, but if I don’t reply to your comment it’s simply because I’m incredibly busy.
For those of you who are interested in yesterday’s giveaway, you have to leave your comment on the post itself. Sending me a return comment via the email version of the blog post doesn’t count. So make sure you go back and leave a comment on the post.
Don’s doing well. When I last spoke to him he was about to reach St. Louis and his goal was Tulsa. He’s really having fun, that guy, and I’m happy for him. But I miss him a whole lot.
Happy Wednesday.
Your photos of NYC are lovely. But they make me sooooo homesick for my kids and my Booboos! I hope you enjoy your busy time there, although I think that any time spent in the city becomes a busy time.
We’ve stayed in a couple of those pod-like hotel rooms. They are an adventure for sure. It’s good that Don is enjoying his cross-country trip. We’ve done that many times and it can be an ordeal. The most memorable of those trips was the time we drove SF to NY in the cab of a moving van with a dog and a bird! Boy did we get a few strange looks from other drivers on the road!
Our pod-like rooms were at Yotel, near Madison Square Garden and at The Hudson, on the upper west side. They are becoming a thing in NYC as the property values skyrocket. They really need to pack ’em in!
I’m at Yotel.
We drove a van and a car with two dogs across the country when we moved. I understand.
glad you can stay busy – hopefully not too busy – while you are missing don. the show sounds lovely. (what’s not to love about the theater, plays and musicals?!?) the pod hotel sounds interesting and i like your attitude of looking at it as an adventure!
also glad don is having a nice drive across the country. i feel a bit of envy because I enjoy driving, but am happy for him to have that adventure, too. and to work on a jimmy buffett musical and maybe meet him?!!? i am so jealous! not that i can sing or act, but i love jimmy! :)
hope you have a good, fun week!
kathy in iowa
He’s already met Jimmy, Kathy. At his final audition – where his audition made Jimmy laugh!
What an exciting time for you Claudia! NYC and a new musical on Broadway. To be a part of it sounds so magical to me! Your pod is very hipster and I hope you are gone from the ‘room’ enough that you don’t got crazy. I’m so glad to hear Don is enjoy his adventure crossing this lovely country of ours! So just ENJOY!! Hugs!
Very hipster. I’m getting claustrophobic, though!
Love your view and the NYC pictures. Can see this is an especially exciting time for you and how wonderful Don is enjoying his cross country adventure. Hope both of you enjoy every moment of these busy days! Dianne
Thank you, Dianne!
Hope you get time to put a photo or two of the room on the blog. I’ve never heard of the pod hotels only those claustrophobic sleeping tubes in Japan, which I’ll never slip into. Glad Don is enjoying his road trip though I bet he’d want you along. Have fun with Anastasia.
Oh, I feel the same, Claudia; could you stand in the doorway and try to get a photo, looking into the interior?
Too hard. I’ve tried. I’ll try again if I have a moment.
Too small to take a good photo. I tried. I’ll try again if I have time, but spare time is at a minimum.
You have some pretty wonderful neighbors!!!! Glad yours isn’t a 3 or 4 week stay in a pod. I don’t think I could handle that. But, a few days can certainly be an adventure. And, with all that is going on, I’m sure you don’t have much down-time just sitting in your room.
Sounds like Don is making good headway moving westward bound. Glad your days are full. Have a wonderful Wednesday.
I’d go insane if I had to be here beyond a week – and even that is pushing it.
Your view is fabulous. Hopefully that will ease the claustrophobic feeling. Don is definitely making headway on his trip. I know you miss him, so glad you are being kept very busy. xo LauraL
He’s in Oklahoma now and heading to the desert (he loves the desert.)
Claudia, you KNOW how much I absolutely LOVE it when you post photos from your journeys here and there. So fun and very exciting to see your shots of the city; the weather looks clear!
Can’t help but think again on what an interesting life you and Don live and I’m very glad to know he’s doing well on the road.
Have a great afternoon.
Are these the pods where you use the bathroom down the hall or do you have one in the room itself? Just curious. Have thought in the past that if I was out sightseeing all day/night anyway, this would be an affordable way to actually stay in the city. When my “senior-aged” (semi-retired) parents drove cross-country (on a budget) to the East Coast in the 1980s, they actually wound up staying in New Jersey and taking a bus into Manhattan each day due to parking, navigating the streets in a car and, of course, the high price of hotels. I really don’t want to do that; I’d like to experience the buzz of being right there, in the thick of it! NYC seems so ALIVE.
Sorry to butt in here, but these “pod-like” hotel rooms aren’t any less expensive and—in my experience—you have no advance warning that your room will be so small! Bathroom in one room was necessary space for suitcases, since the area of the room consisted of about 1-1/2 feet around the bed! Hoteliers are just building them small to squeeze more rooms into the footprint of their building. Just my experience.
Oh, thanks for the input; this is a real education for me!
No, I saw the price of this room. Pricey, indeed!
Bathroom is in the room. I wouldn’t stay in one where you had to go down the hall.
Thanks, Vicki! It was freezing here yesterday with wind chills in the low thirties. What the heck?
Pods are new to me, too, so I hope you can take some pictures. We took our kids to NYC in the 90’s and we were fortunate to be able to stay at my brother’s apartment. He was at Columbia U working on his doctorate. We loved it so much we went back the next year. NYC is such an exciting city! So much to see and do! Love, love, love it! I know you miss Don, but I know you will enjoy your time in the city.
I call it a pod, but they call it a ‘cabin.’
Your pod, sounds quite small. If you get a chance…snap a pic or two. Looks like you are in good company there…I can feel the excitement. I’m glad that your schedule is full, and to hear that Don is enjoying his trek across America! ;)
Schedule is very full. We have our first preview tonight.
Gosh, do I miss New York! (I guess what I miss is being able to hop on the train and get into the city. Such good times.) And yet, here in Cleveland we have a lovely theater district called Playhouse Square. Largest performing arts center in the country outside of NYC. The theaters are absolutely lovely. Bloom where you’re planted I tell myself.
Yes, indeed!
It all looks so exciting! I hope you have a great week, Claudia, but I imagine you will be happy to go back home to your lovely cottage and gardens at the end of it. Hope Don continues to enjoy his road trip and arrives at his destination safely. Your blog readers will keep you company in his absence. Although, I know that is not the same obviously as having Don with you, but hope we all provide some comfort to you. It is hard to be alone when you are used to having your loved one with you.
Take care,
Lily
Thank you Lily!
Makes me long for a trip to NYC! Every November, I would meet my Mom and Uncle to celebrate Mom’s birthday. Saw lots of shows, had lots of laughs, and would even stop in at Sardi’s for drinks and dessert. Thankful for those memories. Have fun.
I, of course, can’t afford any of the shows on Broadway. The only reason I can see Anastasia is because I’m working on it!
Really? I had no idea. What’s the price of a typical ticket?
I know they can be pricey! Would take advantage of deals at the TKTS booth and might spring for tickets of shows we really wanted to see.
I’ve done that in the past. Can’t even try to do it this trip!
wow! beautiful photos. You are always good with your camera. Claudia.
Thank you for sharing the big city.
You must be very busy; what an exciting time you must have in the thick of everything
going on and you are an important part of it!
Katheryn
Thank you, Katheryn!
Great photos of NYC! Ooh, Phantom of the Opera…one of my faves. :-)
It is still going strong, apparently.
I’ll bet your husband came right through Springfield. Your life is so different from mine. Think that’s why I love your blog so much. I love the thought of sitting in a hotel room looking out on the NYC skyline. Thanks for giving me a break and have a really good week.
I think he did, Jan. You’re welcome!
I have a friend who’s actually going to see that Bette Midler show in a few weeks. I’ll have to share your post with him as a teaser.
I want to see it, but I can’t this time around!
Seeing Bette Midler on Broadway is one of the things on his bucket list. After his wife passed away in late 2015, he decided to make headway on that list, just as she would have wanted. Tomorrow he and my husband are trekking to the big and tall shop in the next town over so he can find something to wear to the show.
I hope he has a wonderful time!
First, glad you got there safe and sound. That view! Wow! Sardis, The Phantom of the Opera-another wow! However, Hello Dolly wins! Please, if you are lucky and see Miss Midler, take a snap! The life you lead is so adventurous! Glad to hear Don is having a fun time traveling!
I doubt I’ll see her – I imagine she, like Jim Parsons, has an escort of sorts into the theater.
wow~!
I loved loved your photos and your story you tell about your time there, Claudia.
I am glad Don is having a good time and you sound sooo busy!
I am sure you will rest when you have to!
This is so cool.
Katheryn
I will. I got some sleep last night so I feel better today, which is a good thing because I have to take notes on two performances.