{TEEN Trip} New York City - Day 3

 We kicked off today really dark and really early with a trip up to the Today Show Plaza...

This is always so much fun...

Today, we got to do a "shout out"...

before the anchors came out!

Today, we saw Al, who is always so kind to make the rounds and speak to every single person...

Sheinelle...

and Savannah!

M wanted a picture with Producer Kevin, too!

He's been there the last few times I've gone and is so fun and good at what he does!

From there, we headed back to the hotel (and couldn't resist a couple of coordinated photos with signage for the newest Andrew Lloyd Webber show that opens TOMORROW)...

{Foreshadowing, maybe???}

to freshen up, before hitting the streets again and making our way down to Magnolia Bakery for a cupcake breakfast...

because, why not?!?!?

We walked off our cupcakes, literally, heading from the West Village down to SoHo...

for a visit to the Museum of Ice Cream...

where "Cherry Pop", M's ice cream name (everyone gets one when you start), and I had fun exploring all there was to offer...

including a mirrored room...

a pink subway...

an area with sprinkled walls...

and a room with hanging bananas...

I am so very grateful for this one-on-one time celebrating M...

By the end of the tour, we'd eaten about 3 scoops of ice cream and a popsicle...

Our favorite spaces were the newer (meaning it was something different when L and I visited this time last year) fair-themed game room with a cotton candy treat...

and the "sprinkle pool"...

From there, we walked up Broadway...

to lunch at The Smith in the East Village...

From there, we booked it straight to the afternoon performance of Funny Girl at the August Wilson Theatre!

Once we arrived, we learned that Lea Michele would be out for both performances today, and that they were offering refunds if desired. While I was super disappointed, M said that she didn't know who she was anyway, so we decided to go ahead and see the show, and I'm so glad that we did.

It was a great one!

Unfortunately, we later found out that Lea Michele was in the hospital with her son...

{from Lea Michele's instagram story}

I sure hope all will be okay...

After heading back to the hotel to rest our feet a bit, we booked it down to Chinatown...

for a lovely dinner at Chinese Tuxedo...

a contemporary Chinese restaurant housed in an old theater...

and, it was YUM!

After an early morning and a FULL day, we headed back to the hotel to get some sleep!

Day 3 Step Count - 14,680

Another fabulous day in the books!

{TEEN Trip) New York City - Day 2

 We got going pretty early this morning and Ubered down to the Color Factory...

where we were in for such a treat!

We absolutely LOVED our time there and getting the chance to "play" together...

in so many different colorful and interactive exhibits...

Our favorite just might've been the ginormous ball pit "pool"...

complete with a slide!

What a blast!

From there, we walked a bit down Spring Street to Balthazar...

for a delicious brunch and surprise birthday treat!

We then walked around and did a little shopping in SoHo...

before heading down to Battery Park and checking in for our ferry over to the Statue of Liberty!

It was an absolutely beautiful afternoon, and we enjoyed our tickets up to the pedestal...

but it was SUPER windy!

Next, we made a stop at Ellis Island...

where M found the name of her great, great, great grandfather (whose last name is actually her middle name) on the wall...

and I tried to recreate one of my most favorite photos that I took of B on his trip!

{February 2019}

Got one of L on her trip, too...

{March 2022}

and now, my "collection" is complete!

Such a beautiful view!

After ferrying back, we made our way over to the World Trade Center site...

and then...

over to one of my favorites, El Vez...

Sadly, they have yet to bring back my favorite cauliflower tacos, BUT the Brussels sprout tacos continue on and are equally amazing!

Day 2 Step Count - 15,031

Another great day!

Now, on to prepare for an early morning tomorrow...