Generally, if I'm in Virginia, I want to hang around for a while, because it's one of my favorite states (anyone interested in American history will find lots to love in Virginia!). However, it was not too hard to force myself away in order to spend a few days in one of my favorite cities, New York, with the intention of taking in a couple of Broadway shows and enjoying a New York Fourth of July.
In the past, I have always stayed in the Upper West Side of Manhattan while in NYC, but this time I wanted to try having Brooklyn as home-base, especially since I needed a place to park Die Frau and I'd rather not drive in Manhattan, anyway. I was in luck! I found a hostel in Brooklyn that had street parking and sounded good from the online reviews, so I booked myself into the Moore Hostel in the East Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.
Moore Hostel in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn
On my way into Brooklyn, I had to go through the Holland Tunnel, which had a $15 toll(!!). Then I had to take a not-too-awful drive through Lower Manhattan and across the Williamsburg Bridge.
The dorm room in which I stayed at Moore Hostel was much more spacious than one usually finds at a hostel. It was nice not to be in a bunk bed, too. The staff at the hostel was terrific, and there was plenty of kitchen space and a nice lounge area. I'd definitely stay there again! It was easy to park Die Frau on the same block, but I misread one of the parking signs and ended up with a ticket. Oh, well.
My dorm in the Moore Hostel.
Moore Hostel is in an industrial area and across the street from a place that looks like a salvage business, but the street was very quiet at night. The hostel is near the subway and a library (yay!).
Besides my usual walk through Central Park and people-watching at Bryant Park, I looked for some shows to see. Four times, I entered the ticket lottery for Hamilton but struck out each time. As a consolation, I caught a haunting production of The Crucible directed by Ivo Van Hove and starring Saoirse Ronan and Ciaran Hinds. After such a serious, but wonderful, production I had to see something lighter, so I opted for the musical Waitress with the astoundingly terrific Jessie Mueller--another excellent show!
The magnificent Jessie Mueller in Waitress, on Broadway.
Still bummed about not seeing Hamilton, though. The U.S. tour of Hamilton is currently in San Francisco, so I've been entering the ticket lottery for that production, but I'd eventually like to see their London production!
The night before leaving New York, I had the tremendous joy of watching the Macy's Independence Day fireworks from Brooklyn. It was raining that evening, and as we all waited and hoped for a break in the storm to see the show, people were huddling under pizza boxes as well as umbrellas. A few people left, but those of us who stayed were glad we did. I did not mind getting wet. It was such a special night. Marty was at dance camp in California and also having a good time, but having him there too would have been extra fun.
The night before leaving New York, I had the tremendous joy of watching the Macy's Independence Day fireworks from Brooklyn. It was raining that evening, and as we all waited and hoped for a break in the storm to see the show, people were huddling under pizza boxes as well as umbrellas. A few people left, but those of us who stayed were glad we did. I did not mind getting wet. It was such a special night. Marty was at dance camp in California and also having a good time, but having him there too would have been extra fun.
The next time I take you on the American road with me via this web log, we will be in beautiful, historic Concord, Massachusetts!
Annie
"I speak my own sins; I cannot judge another. I have no tongue for it."
-- Arthur Miller, from The Crucible.
-- Arthur Miller, from The Crucible.
