Quick Trip to NYC (via MWK)

I'm just home from a whirlwind trip to New York City -- which included two short but worthwhile stops in Milwaukee because I was able to find a crazy cheap flight on Midwest Airlines!*
My trip to NYC was a chance to reunite with my UGA buddies, Mary Ann and Ted. Mary Ann took time off from work to serve as my official chaperone while in town -- and we spent a lot of time just roaming around the city, enjoying the GORGEOUS weather and catching up.

We also did our fair share of eating -- something that both of us do with expert skill. MA took me to the restaurant where she works -- Danny Meyer's Blue Smoke where we feasted on ribs, brisket, potatoes (chips, fries, and mashed), deviled eggs, and mac-n-cheese. The next night we dined with Ted at Eatery on 9th Avenue and enjoyed not only delicious food, but a great Blueberry Lemonade cocktail. Mary Ann also introduced me to New York's own nutritious "ice cream," Tasti D-Lite (I had the Peanut Butter Fudge rolled in Reese's Pieces).
The trip was also my first opportunity in many years to see some legit Broadway shows -- and just in time for the Tony Awards (LIVE Sunday at 8pm on CBS).

Spring Awakening was absolutely incredible -- a great rock score by Duncan Sheik and a storyline adapted from the 19th century play by German playwright Frank Wedekind. The theme -- that oppressive, Puritanical adults can squelch the independence and creativity of youth -- is an important one (though it is delivered in a typically heavy-handed naturalistic way). I loved the youthfulness and exuberance of the cast -- especially Jonathan Groff and John Gallagher, Jr. I also approved of the set design (which includes a visible band upstage center and audience seating at stage left and right) and the direction by Michael Mayer (who has placed the actors in the seats with the audience -- a choice that helps to bring everyone in the theater together in the experience of the show).

Surprisingly, I found Grey Gardens a little more difficult to completely love. The musical is based on the cinema verite documentary by the Maysles that focuses on the reclusive, cat-infested lives of Edith Ewing Bouvier and her daughter, "Little Edie" Beale. I loved Act One of the musical -- a fictionalized account of what might have been a typical day in the life of the Beales back in 1941. And then I was disappointed by several aspects of Act Two (set in the 1970s) -- the metallic tin can of a set, the reappearance of "ghosts" from Act One, the rah-rah musical numbers that belie the overall sadness of the story. However, I was mesmerized by the performance of Christine Ebersole (who plays the mother in Act One and the daughter in Act Two) and the more realistic scenes between Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson (playing the mother) are phenomenal. And certainly two songs from Act Two -- "Around the World" and "Another Winter in a Summer Town" -- find the tone I wanted more of.

Between flights home in Milwaukee, I was able to spend a few hours with my friend Laura and her two kids, Gabe and Isabel. We didn't have time to do much, but we shared a meal at a Perkins near the airport and were able to catch up and reminisce -- and we both agreed that we wished we lived closer together or could more readily commute between Atlanta and Milwaukee!

*No doubt about it: Midwest is the best airline experience I have ever had -- and not just because they give you two "baked on board" chocolate chip cookies near the end of each flight. The other reason would be that all the seats are wide leather with foot rests. Midwest is attempting to avoid a hostile takeover by (tacky tacky) Air Tran right now. I'm among the many who hope that it doesn't happen. Save the Cookie!