My Trip To New York - Radio City Music Hall

As you know, last month Dan and I travelled to New York City but I don’t think I’ve explained the reason why we decided to go….other than the obvious, duh it’s New York.  I know I’ve posted about my love for the band Coheed and Cambria in a previous blog post and it’s that love that brought me to New York. 

The band recently released a double album (it was released in two parts) and just completed a North American tour to promote it.  Originally, the tour did not include a stop in Toronto so I was a sad Alex.  Luckily, I was able to convince Dan that it would be a good idea to coordinate a trip with one of the American tour dates and we settled on New York.  Luck was on my side again when they added a Toronto stop so I got to see Coheed and Cambria on March 16^th in New York and then five days later in Toronto.  

Another added bonus of travelling to New York for the concert was the location: Radio City Music Hall.

Dan looks like he's contemplating something.

I really wish that I took better photos of the bathrooms because parts were swanky and they were definitely unique.

The bottom left says, "To Operate Hand Dryer Push Foot Pedal" and there was a brass foot pedal below.

Rockettes Costume Display

These were the doors from the lobby into the concert hall area.  Again, I wish I took better inside photos but I was too busy wandering around staring at all of the beautiful architecture.

Shot of the merchandise table.  Individuals with "VIP Passes" (which you got by ordering the box-set from the band's website) were given signed copies of the set list so I wanted to buy something to get a bag to safely carry the list back to the hotel (it was snowing).  I was going to buy a toque, since it was snowing and cold, but there was some confusion over what I was asking for (do Americans really not know the word toque or was it this one woman?) so I ended up getting a shirt from one of the opening bands.

Did I mention that it's beautiful inside the venue?   The sound is also incredible and has completely ruined any other concert venue for me.  The show in Toronto sounded like muddled garbage when compared to Radio City's sound. (it wasn't garbage -- both shows were awesome)

If you ever get the opportunity to go to Radio City Music Hall, do it!

Alex & Arthur

New York - The MOMA

I was going to wait a couple of days to do another New York post but I was going through my image gallery yesterday I saw all the pictures I took at the MOMA.  I studied art and art history in university (longer ago than I want to admit...I'm going to be 30 this year, eek!).  I knew what pieces the MOMA has in their collection when I was in school and had written a couple lengthy essays on some of them.  For some reason that knowledge left my brain and I completely forgot what was at the MOMA, so when I stepped into the room with Andy Warhol I entered "kid in a candy store" territory.

I definitely had tears in my eyes and Dan had to tell me to slow down because I was so excited I didn't know where to focus so I ended up scuttling around.  He also had to tell me to use my indoor voice more than once.  I may have yelled, "OH MY GOD IT'S *insert artist name*" a few times.

 Andy Warhol

Mark Rothko

Jackson Pollock

Piet Mondrian

 Willem de Kooning

Henri Rousseau

Edvard Munch

Pablo Picasso

Claude Monet

Henri Matisse

Vincent Van Gogh

ART!!!!

Alex & Arthur

New York - Babycakes

When I was in New York I was able to visit the vegan bakery, Babycakes.  We almost didn't get to go because it wasn't close to any of the other places we wanted to visit (had to also fit in Dan's requests as we had both never been to NYC).  The morning before our flight I went on a solo mission to the bakery.  Boy am I ever glad I went -- so delicious.

 I wanted to say "One of everything please!" but I was by myself so there would be no way for me to carry it all.

Well obviously....

I picked up a salted caramel donut for Dan and grabbed myself a chocolate brownie cupcake with mint frosting (it was St. Patrick's Day so I needed something green).  I wish I got a better picture but there was a frosting massacre that occurred during transit.  The cupcake was delicious and they make the best donuts.  If they use the same base for all the different flavours I can confidentially say that whichever one you decide to try, it'll be yummy.

I also picked up a cookbook (I have this one and really like it).  I'm so glad I got this book because as soon as I got home I wanted more treats.  On the back of the dust jacket there's an excerpt of Emily Deschanel going on about how delicious the mini-mounds bars are and I immediately wanted one.  A few days later I was able to make them -- 1) they're extremely easy to make and 2) so delicious!!

This is a terrible picture but trust me, if you like coconut definitely try this recipe out.  It's posted on the Babycakes blog, here.

I'll be posting more of my New York adventures in the future.  It's bittersweet looking at the pictures I took on my phone.  When the end of the trip came around I was happy to be going back home (I really missed Arthur) but now that I'm home I really wish I was back because there were so many things I wish we had time to see.  Excuse to go back!

Alex & Arthur