Happy New Year!!
*2012*
This New Year's Eve was hands down thee best EVER!! What a way to end a great year! An amazing way to kick off 2012 (that I know will be a great year!) and our new lives together as united soulmates ('cause it was our honeymoon too). I have a really good feeling about things. But I am an optimist no matter what. (did you read my post about being delusional ?) As you know, we love music and its what brought us together, so what better way to celebrate then with our favorite band?! Thanks again to everyone that helped make this happen. It was EPIC!
Bob and I on the super long train ride to NYC. Taken with my front facing camera on my 4G android phone (gifts we bought for ourselves after "one love")
The train was not too bad. Bigger seats then an airplane. Pretty smooth, no painful pressure changes, no seat belts restraining movement, and I could get up anytime I needed to, as often as I wanted. It was pretty quiet and I was able to nap. Much easier on my body then flying or even driving. Best part was sipping on some Pork Slap Pale Ale during the ride- can't do that in the car!!
We left at 9am and arrived in Penn Station at 4:40. By 4:50 we had already found our friends across the street at the Penn Hotel. We bumped into Stacy in the lobby, and she helped us find the room. It was nice to be greeted by familiar faces and warm hugs.
This is the view of Madison Square Garden from their window.
(FYI- MSG is directly on top of Penn Station)
Just as we were saying hi to everyone and cracking open a beer, I got a text message from our friend Bob with this picture:
It was so nice to know our cat was cool and our apartment was ok. We could just relax and enjoy ourselves knowing everything was just fine back home.
It was getting close to show time, so we grabbed our stuff and headed to our own hotel. (We did not get tickets to the 12/30 show) The line was 45 minutes to an hour wait to get a cab. There were a few rickshaws out front, and no line for that. So we hopped in. It was an exciting ride, weaving through cut-throat traffic in mid-town Manhattan. But we did get there in one piece!
Arriving in "style" at the swanky hipster haven, the Ace at 29th St. and Broadway.
(Other guests were arriving in limos, lol)
Upon arriving at our new "home" for the weekend, we cracked open another beer, unpacked a little and made ourselves comfortable.
The bed was comfortable! YES!!
They had all sorts of weird snacks.
I guess this is what hipsters eat?
Thank goodness we brought our own!
This was our view. The Empire State Building, just a few blocks away.
Below us was some sort of Islamic prayer center. It was so nice to hear the calls to pray when we were in our room. Every time, Bob and I would say a prayer, and we watched the men remove their shoes and go inside. Our prayers were of gratitude for 2011, and prayers filled with hope for 2012.
The radio in the room was set up so I could play my own music through my cell phone. While we hung out we streamed a SuperBall IX set through google music.
Jamming out in the hotel.
Ahhhhhh! Its all 3D!!
They had this "not now" magnet for the door, it stayed out there all weekend.
C'mon, we don't want to be disturbed on our honeymoon.
Everything was black, the walls, the carpet.
The hotel had a very dark edge-y vibe.
The hotel had a very dark edge-y vibe.
I put a glow stick in the bathroon for a nightlight, it just made the bathroom look creepier.
This is Bob in the creepy all black mirrored elevator.
The first thing we did was head toward Times Square.
Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square. We didn't try to go in, it looked crazy busy.
Not all that wander are lost.
The steampunk themed Macy's window display.
We grabbed a bite to eat at Ginger's on our way up to Times Square.
It was the same price as Chinese back home, and it had a very diverse atmosphere.
We went with our favorites: sesame chicken and pepper steak.
With nice full bellies we continued our adventure.
We found ourselves in front of BB King's Blues Club and Grill where the Pink Floyd tribute band "The Machine" was playing. Since we showed up during set break, the bouncer was nice enough to let us both in on one ticket.
some video from my phone:
Afterwards, we hung out in Times Square.
The "Ball" up at Times Square.
Chillin' back at the hotel after a busy day, my poor feet.
We tried to get back at a decent hour and were asleep by 2am.
(That's a decent hour in NYC- the city that never sleeps)
We grabbed a bite to eat next door.
We did a little shopping.
I joked with Bob about how this little store carried shoes in his size.
In the evening we met back up with our friends at the Penn for a little pre-party.
Now we are ready!!
set break photos:
The crew. In the show.
Thank you for our tickets!!!
Yes, we brought the card with us!
5, 4, 3, 2, 1!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Video from youtube.
We went back to the Penn after the show grabbed our stuff, and headed back out in search of food and beer. We briefly stopped in the Pig 'n' Whistle for one of their house beers, then went and found some street meat. We went back to our own hotel, walked around a line about half a block long to get into our hotel, flashed our room key and got right in. I guess Paper magazine was having some ultra exclusive NYE party in the lobby. While waiting for the elevator we could see all the hipsters and models dancing and jumping around to some horrific Cher remix. Not really our scene...
We pretty much went right to bed. Not even sure what time that was...?
We checked out of our hotel around 11:30 and went to find sandwiches. We did not have to go far, there are sandwich shops everywhere. We got some bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches to eat at Penn Station, and some turkey sandwiches to eat on the train.
Bob waiting for our train in Penn Station.
The ride home felt like forever!! I was sore and tired. (totally worth it!)
Thankfully, I was not really hungover, I didn't go crazy with the beer.
I was also super bored.
While I was happy to be home and see my cat, I really can't wait to go back!
I <3 NY!!
Phish live at MSG NYE 2011-2012:
Set One:
1. AC/DC Bag
2. Wolfman's Brother
3. Scent of a Mule
4. Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan
5. Lawn Boy
6. Gotta Jibboo
7. Farmhouse
8. Pebbles and Marbles
9. Ocelot
10. Fluffhead
Set Two:
1. Party Time
2. Light
3. Golden Age
4. Theme from the Bottom
5. Heavy Things
6. Ghost
7. Sneakin' Sally thru the Alley
8. 46 Days
9. Suzy Greenberg
Set Three:
1. Cavern
2. Steam
3. Auld Lang Syne
4. Down with Disease
5. The Wedge
6. Alaska
7. Wading in the Velvet Sea
8. First Tube
Encore:
1. Slave to the Traffic Light
