Ever since my obsession with the television show "Friends" began circa 1996 I have dreamed of visiting New York City. I always envisioned myself sipping coffee in Greenwich Village, carrying around shopping bags from Bloomie's, and having drinks at the Plaza. And don't EVEN get me started on my love for Kelly Ripa and my dream job on "LIVE with Regis & Roz."
Please note that I did not do a single one of these things this past week on my first trip to The Big Apple, nor did my morning show premiere on networks worldwide. (Sequel trip? Already in the works.)
My cousin Jason picked us up from the airport on Saturday afternoon after a long morning of traveling. As we crossed the Verrazano Bridge I saw... the Statue of Liberty! And literally started tearing up. But hey, it's my vacay and I'll cry if I want to. We settled in to Casa de Jarrell thanks to our fabulous host family then headed out for a city tour. It is widely known that Nick and I insist on doing a bicycle tour in every new city we visit. Instead of doing a group tour per our usual routine, Jason borrowed some Coast Guard bikes and gave us our own guided city tour! From the base... across the harbor via the Staten Island Ferry... and into... THE CITY!
We zipped through the Finance District, rode through Battery Park and past Ground Zero then made quick stops in Chinatown and Little Italy. The three of us dodged cabs, ignored red lights, and cruised up the wrong side of the street like true New Yorkers. After my daring escapades in the city, Nick and Jason dared me to jump down some steps close by the house. Easy breezy for a bicycle hot shot like myself. After I successfully cleared the steps I raced past them in all my glory, leaving them in the dust. Then I dared to conquer the impossible. A feat not even a pro like me could manage. I attempted to jump... a 2-inch curb. Needless to say I ended up face first in an iron fence with no skin left on my knee and bruises the size of New Jersey on my forearms. 
Not exactly what I had in mind for my first day in the city. I spent the entire week cleaning my wounds, changing band aids, and limping through subway terminals. Injury aside, the trip was amazing. What I love about the Northeast (other than the go-go-go-go-go mentality)(and the shopping)(and the amazing accents) is the history. Very rarely do I get to draw upon my Bachelor's in History (and by rarely I mean never) so just being in a place that has so much of it was unbelievable. I think I took pictures of every building, statue, and tree in the city just in case it had a back-story I had not yet heard. Just in case you don't believe me, here is a little taste of how I spent my trip to the NYC...
Speaking of history, Nick and I were able to check out McSorley's Old Ale House which is rumoured to have had every U.S. President since 1854 walk through it's swinging doors. They only have two types of beer- light or dark- which they serve up two at a time. (Apparently a popular concept- it was so packed there was barely a seat in the house.) Even though we didn't stay long, the experience was totally worth the trip. The moment I stepped foot onto those sawdust-covered floors I felt like I was in a time warp. The place definitely doesn't look a day past 1854.
Another interesting place was Dangerfield's, which is the longest running comedy club in the WORLD. It was awesome to be in a place knowing that some of the greatest comedians got their start in that very club. In fact, we met a bartender who began his career there in 1969 when the club first opened... and still works there. Talk about job security! He served us up our drinks ($80 for 4- ouch) and even got up on stage to tell a joke at the end of the show.
Not only did I get to learn some history, I got to create some with my amazing family. We ate pizza at Lombardi's Pizza, which claims to be America's very first pizzeria. I insisted that everyone treck through Central Park to walk through Strawberry Fields and travel almost an hour to get to The Museum of Natural History (complaints about this all around but lots of thank-you's afterwards). We took strollers on the subway, ate cheesecake in Times Square, and never went anywhere without our Globetrotter travel guide in tow. We were total tourists and it was embarrassingly amazing.
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