The Big Apple

Last week we went to New York City. Jason's cousin got married to this New York society girl. The wedding was at a very fancy place and the food was AMAZING. The food served during the cocktail hour consisted of things like caviar, salmon and creme fraiche on toast points, fried oysters with salmon eggs, duck and shumai. I was shamelessly diving for the trays whenever a waiter walked by, belying the classiness of my fancy cocktail dress and pearls. Jason had bison for dinner, I had scallops. Then there was this HUGE dessert buffet with chocolate covered strawberries, key lime tarts, mini brownies, piles of cookies and a flourless chocolate cake, accompanied by giant white cotton candy puffs on every table. Oh yeah, and the wedding was lovely too.

This was my very first trip to New York. Yeah, I know. I've lived on the East Coast for 5 years so that's pretty ridiculous. Kind of like how I lived in Arizona for 17 years, but never made it to the Grand Canyon.* I have tried a few times before to go and it just never worked out. We bunked with Jason's parents in their hotel in Times Square and the wedding was on Park Avenue so we were right it the heart of it all.

Wednesday night we went to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. It was spectacularly cheesey, which was exactly what I was hoping for. The Rockettes kicked and danced their hearts out and it was so fun. Then we went to go see the tree in Rockefeller Center.

Thursday, Jason, Marissa and I went to a lessons and carols service at St. Thomas's church, which was lovely. Then we lunched at a pub and met up with Jason's parents at Macy's. You know, the big one on 34th Street. As in Miracle on 34th Street!** The guys left and we three girls shoe shopped, because you know, we were in the biggest Macy's in the world at Christmas time. The shoe department is huge and the sale racks actually had nice shoes in my size, which never happens. I've been looking for new black and brown heels and I found them. Comfy ones, even.

So how did I like New York? I loved it! Honestly, it reminded me a lot of downtown Chicago on a busy night, with it's big city energy. Even at midnight on a Wednesday it was still humming. That energy sort of flows into me as I dodge through the people who don't know how to city walk and make my way down the street, soaking it all in. I can't explain it, but I felt it the first time I went to Chicago and loved the energy.

There is so much to do and to see and to buy. If I lived in New York, I could see myself succumbing to the siren call of materialism. The beautiful dresses and bags and shoes, all with fancy names. I would max out my credit cards and have to go into hiding from the collection agencies and escape to Mexico under cover of night. But at least I would have pretty things.

It was a short trip, and I'm already planning what to do the next time we go.

* However, I would just like to point out that Tucson to the Grand Canyon is no day trip.

** I tried so hard the whole time to look all city savvy and not like a total rube because I have lived most of the last 10 years in big cities, but I admit to being a little starstruck by it all. Like, LOOK it's Times Square! With the big TV's! Just like in the movies! And look! The Tree! And the ice skaters!