Day 6......

Ryan has turned into a teenager and is sleeping the day away. But having a nice lazy day is not so bad after a year full of the craziness of life. Usually we are running to the bus, from the bus, to gymnastics, to piano, to dance, etc, etc. so a bit of a respite is nice. But we warned him that starting next week we are getting going a lot earlier. Before we left for the city, my dishwashers had to do the dishes because there is not a dishwasher in our apt.--pretty typical. There isn't a washer or dryer either so we have to go to the laundry or have it done for $1 a pound. We do have a great apt in a great location. Check it out at http://www.vrbo.com/342016  I would recommend it if you want to experience New York as a New Yorker would and I can still see the Empire State Bldg in the distance as we walk home from the G train.

By the time we made it into the city today it was about 2 pm and we had not eaten lunch so we went to Juniors in Times Square. The restaurant embodies the American dream of someone with an idea who made it a success.

http://www.juniorscheesecake.com/juniors_cheesecake/Juniors_Cheesecake_Home/About_Us.php

We had hoped to go to the new Discovery Museum near Juniors in Times Square because the Terracotta soldiers are here from China and they have a new Spy exhibit which Ryan is very curious about but we didn't have time today so we will go next week. Looks good--check it out:

http://www.discoverytsx.com/

We did some shopping and then took the train home and got on the A which is an Express train and it expressed right through our stop. We should have been on the C but I nodded off and before we knew it we were in the middle of a not so great neighborhood so we had to get off the train, go upstairs, and get back on the right train. It took forever to get home and Ryan loved that I messed up and made sure to remind me of it for the next 20 minutes. I guess it is nice to know that he thinks I am so rarely wrong that he has to make a huge deal when I do.

We ended our evening with pizza from a great Brooklyn pizza joint and then we went to the playground with some friends to hang out--we walked to both places. Good times! Ryan and Christa ended up having a sleepover at our friends house leaving me on my own for the night. I should go party down in the city, but I wouldn't even know where to begin so I am home watching the Daily Show and catching up on some work. Not so exciting but I need my rest for tomorrow--Michael arrives to LaGuardia at 10 am, Christa has a film audition, and then we leave for my niece's graduation in PA over the weekend. So goodnight, it is time to get some rest!

Day 5....

This is Christa--the sister and I am the youngest in this family. New York is the most fun place ever because you are never bored. For example today we went to Prospect Park off the G Train in Brooklyn and we got to ride our scooters. WE went to many playgrounds because there were seven. We scootered and mom walked about 1 1/2 miles. The playgrounds here are really fun because they have climbing things and some things I have not ever played on or seen before. Like this cirle thing--you spin it around and you go up and down in a circle. My mom even went on it. WE did get a little bit lost and I was really hungry but we finally found our way out and mom had some MnMs in her purse so we were good.

Then we went home to return our scooters because we were going to go to Times Square and we just can't take our scooters there. So we went to Alice's Tea Cup and it was so much fun. This one is new--we had never been there before. I wanted to go to the usual one, but my brother and mom wanted to try something new. This place is on the Upper East side near Dylan's Candy Bar and FAO Schwartz. I like the one on the Upper West Side which is near Central Park on the other side. Check them all out at http://alicesteacup.com/ The food there is really good and they have a great choice of menus. It has lots of food if you are a big eater or a small eater. This place is based on Alice in Wonderland so you have tea and scones and sandwiches. I enjoy it there because it's all kid friendly. When you enter you get sprinkled with fairy dust and you make a wish. Then once you are seated, you can go get fairy wings to wear during your meal. While you are waiting to get seated (which is not much) you can read a good book from their library. It is a fun place for everyone to be even if you are an adult.

After dinner we walked to FAO Schwartz but it was closed. We were going to go to Dylan's Candy Bar but mom said next time which I hope she really means this time. So then we walked to the Lego Store but my mom had to use the restroom and you can never find a restroom in NYC so I had to go with her even though Ryan got to stay and shop in the store becuase he has his phone and he is older. I can't wait to be 12. After the Lego store, which wasn't as big as you would expect for NYC we walked to TimesSquare. I stopped at the Swatch store to see ifmy watch was any cheaper. I haven't done any more street performing yet so I have not earned my money but Iwill. My borther got a new music book tonight for his violin so he is going to play the violin and I am going to sing taking turns with him. We should be great and earn lots of money. We went to the Toys R Us in Times Square and in the store there is a Ferris Wheel--how awesome, right? Mom and I rode it while Ryan went and tried out all the video games. After, we went and looked at Barbies and legos. Good times!

After a fun day we came back home on the A train to the G train and then a short walk home. It was good to finally arrive at our subway stop at the end of a long day. I am tired so I actually fell asleep writing this half way through and my mom finished it up for me.

Night 4....

So first of all this is Ryan. I'm the Brother. So me and my sister had an argument about where to go for dinner. I wanted to try something new--this Greek restaurant but she wanted to go the Ellen's STardust Dinner which is a place where the peoples sing and I got a milkshake. It was good so you can tell where we ended up going but before we get to that we must talk about the subway trip in. So my sister sang on the subway and I was really nervous but really proud of her cause that was really brave of her. Ommm..... So we went to Ellen's because my sister won rock, paper, scissors and my sister requested this song called "You're never fully dressed" from Annie and it's snappy and it's a good song. The waitresses came over singing and my sister was shrinking back into her seat because she thought they were going to make her sing and she had just sang on the subway so I told my mom to cut her some slack and then I had a patty melt and a milkshake and it was good.

Then we walked to Times Square to get Christa a swatch watch because she sang on the subway but they were too expensive still so she has to earn a little more money maybe by singing for swatch watches outside the swatch store. So after that we went to talk to some Navy guys because it is Fleet Week so my mom asked when they ship out because I really want to see some cool ships and the last guys said "No navy ships for YOU!" but we might try to go down in the morning and see if they are still there and if they are I will be happy and I might get to take a tour of a real live battle ship or destroyer or something even cooler like a floating aircraft carrier like in the Avengers.

We walked to this theatre called the Roundabout Theatre that is at Studio 54 which my mom says is all famous and stuff. WE watched this play called Harvey. Harvey is Elwood P. Dowd's (aka dr. Sheldon Cooper) large 6 foot3.5 inch tall rabbit friend. It was a great play! My favorite line from the play was from Elwood and he said "My mom always told me to be smart or pleasant. I spent the first half of my life being smart and now I prefer to be pleasant." We came up with a new phrase in our family: What Would Elwood Do! Then we went to this new pie store and we ate pies and I said hi to the pie lady because that is what Elwood would do. This is one of the things I love about this city--you can have a baby pie after a Broadway play at 11 pm at night. What a city!!!!!!!!!





Day 4....

Today we decided to rest and get acclimated to our new home away from home. Ryan slept in like a teenager while Christa and I grabbed some bagels at Connecticut Bakery. After breakfast, which Christa explained to me is called that because it breaks her fasting period, we went to the neighborhood grocery called the Associated and enjoyed a much different shopping experience. First our buggy was quite small compared to what we are used to and we had to consider what we were able to carry home so we could not get a lot. The store was full of organics. In fact, the Jiffy peanut butter was on the bottom shelf and the organics were at eye level. Yeah! After going to the grocery, we took our laundry in to get washed priced $1 a pound. Not sure if it is worth it--next time we will do it ourselves. It does come out ironed and all so that is nice. We walked everywhere today except when we moved our car to the parking garage because I can't do the street parking thing. I am not a city girl when it comes to parallel parking nor am I good at remembering the days I have to move the car to the other side of the street to avoid the street sweeper. Another great day of adventure today. Tonight we are headed into Manhattan to see a Broadway Show. It is called Harvey and should be wonderful--it is the kid's first time seeing a Broadway play vs. a musical so we will see what they think.

Day 3....

Christa had a sleepover with her friend Maddie. They made a fort in Christa's new bedroom and slept inside. Maddie and Christa wanted to make Tyler breakfast in bed so we snuck out early and got some bagels-I know what a surprise. We have to go back to oatmeal soon (our breakfast standby). After breakfast, we stopped by Maddie's apartment to get her family and we scootered on our day's adventure--literally scootered! It made the distance we traveled so much easier on the kids and on us as well.

 

We headed to the Brooklyn Bridge Park where the kids rode the Carousel and we walked the Promenad down to Pier 6 where all the ships were docked for Fleet Week. There we found a collection of playgrounds that include a water park, a sand area, slide mountain, and crazy swings all surrounded by trees and beautiful shubery. It was a hot day so we went from shady spot to shady spot. Tyler had to catch his flight at JFK. Our friend, Tracey, took him while we all hung out at the park. The kids hated to see their Daddy go but playing with friends made it a little easier.

Day 2.......

We started our morning off with wonderful NYC bagels. Yumm!!! Headed into the city to the Chelsea Market where we sampled the amazing food. The restrooms everywhere were packed (one downside of NYC) so Tyler led the way to one of Christa's audition spots and we used the RRs there--score! Next we headed up to the beautiful highline park where we walked on the old railroad track that is now the scene of a curious garden (anyone know the book??). It is a wonderful example of how NY takes run down areas and brings them back to life--beautiful! Can you find the famous building in the background? Here is a link to the park: http://www.thehighline.org/

After walking the 18 blocks or so of the park, we exited on 30th and then strolled back down via 8th Ave to 23rd where we were meeting some friends for BBQ which seems appropriate given that our friends are transplanted to NYC from NC and that it is Memorial Day weekend and that in fact, NYC is known for great BBQ. WE went to RUB and it was fantastic but the portions were huge. We followed up with a trip to our favorite playground in Central Park. Here is a link to the park: http://www.centralparknyc.org/ After that, a stroll through Times Square and a some play time in Bryant Park where the morning shows do all their free concerts. Our friends then suprised us and offered to take the kids back home to Brooklyn so Tyler and I took the subway from Grand Central to the East Village where we enjoyed some great Indian Food at the Brick Lane Curry House on 6th Street and 2nd Ave. Awesome! They have a curry so spicy there that you have to promise not to sue them, but we played it safe with something much more moderate. Tyler and I enjoyed a long but lovely train ride home via the F to the A to the G. What a wonderful day!



Day 1 of our adventure!

We arrived to our cute apartment that would be our home for the summer--small, cute but crazy expensive. If we spent this much money in Atlanta we would be living in a mansion but we would not be in NYC. Our neighborhood is filled with great restaurants and bars so Tyler was feeling pretty bummed that he was only with us for a few days before he returned to Atlanta. We had our first meal at Putnam's--a Gastropub on Myrtle Ave. It was good but a little too fancy for us. After dinner, we made our way into the city via the subway. We take the G train to the A train under the East River into the city. First stop was the Freedom Tower but before geting there we passed a most unfortunate site--about 50 rats enjoying a late night meal of garbage in a construction site. We have spent a lot of time in this city and we have never seen anything like it. Yuck does not begin to explain my reaction, but of course my family thought differently. Tyler wanted to show the children the rats, Christa wanted everyone to love the rats, and Ryan just thought it was hysterical especially since his mother was cringing with horror. We finally made it to the freedom tower and this is what we saw. Much better than the rats.

Afterwards, we stopped for a late night Falafel and I got a raw juice from some street vendors and we headed to South Street Seaport where we had a beautiful view of the Brooklyn Bridge. So happy to be back--I feel like I am home.

Empire State of Mind

We finally made it back to the city that never sleeps. Land of dirty water hotdogs, taxi cabs that don't stop, and subway trains that take you right to your destination. A place where there are playgrounds right next to wonderful cafes and more museums than you could physically see in a year. Yes, it is New York City--the best city in the world. What makes it so magical?? Maybe it is the fact that I don't have a yard to take care of so I am free to explore or maybe it is that my apt is so small it only takes me 30 minutes to clean it completely. Maybe it is Central Park or Prospect Park in Brooklyn or maybe it is all the bike paths or the tree lined neighborhoods with beautiful brownstones. It might be all the music festivals in the summer, free concerts in the park, or all the Broadway shows. Not sure if I can put my finger on exactly what makes NYC so magical but it is and we are definitely in an New York of Mind.

Welcome to our Blog

Hi! We are the Campbell family. We live a normal suburban life that seems quite ordinary but stratch the surface just a little bit and you will find out much more than you ever wanted to know about the antics of us CRAZY CAMPBELLs and all our fun adventures that take us every which way but sane. Hope you enjoy our blog!