A Work Trip to New York City

Just returned from a 4-day trip to New York City. I was there for the American Sociological Association conference, but I wont bore you with the work-related details (though, it was a fun and productive meeting for me).

HOTEL-- I stayed at the Dream Hotel. Highly recommended. Stylish and swanky. Decent location between central park and times square (55th and Broadway). I particularly liked the apples and weather forecast they provided each night when they turned down the bed. The personalized i-pod was a nice addition, as well. My favorite part of the hotel had to be the blue neon lights that were under the bed and built into the all-glass desk in my room. Such a cool effect.

BROADWAY-- As you may know, I am a sucker for musicals, so I saw two of them. I did not have much "work" to do on Sunday, so I saw a double-header: Hairspray first and Spamalot second. Spamalot made me laugh out loud several times, but the singing and dancing in Hairspray was better. Hairspray featured Jerry Mathers and Lance Bass. Both were cheesy (what musical isn't?), but fantastic. I was in bliss the rest of the day.

EATING-- a group of friends from Michigan met for a lunch meeting at the Nougatine Room at Jean George in the Trump International Hotel. Excellent food, but beware of the prices (e.g., mimosas were $22 each). Another day for lunch, I took some students who have never been to NYC to the Tavern on the Green. Food is overrated and overpriced, and to tell you the truth, the atmosphere is pretty over-the-top, too. One evening, Sal and I and a few other people from Wisconsin ate one of the best meatloafs I have ever had, but I do not remember the name of the place (The Eating Establishment, perhaps). The lamb pozoles at a mexican restaurant somewhere on Restaurant Row were also pretty spectacular -- I ate there with Sapna and Mike. Serafina (at the Dream Hotel) made excellent pizzas and calamari. Other food was OK, but not spectacular, forgettable.

SIGHTSEEING-- on the final night of my trip, I opted to skip a dinner with friends to go to South Street Seaport to see the Bodies Exhibit. Everyone I talked to had all already seen it in other cities, so I went by myself. And I am so glad that I did. Awesome. This is an exhibit of human anatomy. It is of real human corpses, preserved and cut apart so you can see absolutely everything. Wow. To see the human body like that is absolutely awe-inspiring. The most striking part of the exhibit, for me, was how much smokers' lungs look like they are coated in tar, compared to the healthy lungs. Oh yeah, the displays of female anatomy followed by the fetuses at every stage of development make you realize how truly amazing and complex and resilient the human body is. The display of the blood vessels and arteries and veins was beautiful.

New York is expensive! But what a fun city to spend a few days in. I am not sure I would do well living there. Too much hustle and bustle. And I do not think Leo would ever learn how to pee and poop on the sidewalk. I am happy to be home in the mountains and to see my husband again.