I have loved going to the theater since I was a very little girl when my parents took me to the local amateur productions.  

In fact, they relished telling the story of me at about age 5 or 6 jumping up in the middle of a production where my father had a small role and shouting, “That’s my Dad.”  Evidently I brought down the house.  

Recently in New York I felt like jumping up at yelling, “This is amazing.”  I don’t like that word amazing. It’s a bit of a cliche, but it describes the staging and production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.  

I mean really.  Amazing.  

Attending this over-the-top show was the centerpiece of a three day trip to the Big Apple  The fire shooting out of wands, incredible visual impression of time travel, dementors floating over head, flying fighting characters, under water scenes. Incredible lighting effects.   I can’t begin to describe.  You gotta see it for yourself. 

Of course, I have no photos except this one taken before Act 2 started.  Not allowed, but do know this production takes Broadway theater to a whole new level.  

Harry Potter and the History of Magic

The play wasn’t the only part of the NYC visit that dealt with Harry Potter.  The group (seven women on a gal pal trip) thoroughly enjoyed the History of Magic exhibit at the NYC Historical Society.  I hope this exhibit travels around the country because it did a superb job putting the magic in Harry Potter in a historical context.  Quite interesting.  

The three days included some other fun stuff that i will highlight here.  

A Walk on the High Line. 

It was especially fun to see the Shed and the Vessel, major architectural wonders at the north end of the HIgh Line.  If you aren’t familiar with the High Line, I’ve done several blog posts documenting the progress of this landmark destination in the city. 

Here’s one blog about the High Line.  There are more if you do a search on DesignDestinations.org 

The Shed—a huge special event venue—and the Vessel—an interactive sculpture inspired by Indian step wells (see blog about step wells here) are truly a marvel. They open soon and I can’t wait to go. 

As always the art work, architecture and funny stuff along the HIgh Line are fantastic.  While the elevated park is prettier in the summer when the plants are in bloom, a winter walk is great because the often croweded park was pretty much deserted.

Chumley’s. 

I love this restaurant, former speakeasy in the West Village.  It’s a perfect spot for members of a book club to enjoy dinner because the walls are lined with book covers and there’s even a special corner table named for F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald who frequented  this bar in the 20s.

It was still decorated for the holidays adding to the festive atmosphere. 

New RH Store in Chelsea

Being a former retailer and writer about home design, I couldn’t go to NYC without popping in to see the new RH store in Chelsea. It’s fabulous including lunch at the roof top restaurant.  At a time when more than 20 percent of  store fronts in Manhattan are vacant, opening a huge new store is gutsy.  

But Chelsea is hot, hot, hot and the Hudson Yards is filled with new apartment and condo buildings so there must be a lot of shoppers in the area.  They clearly have a new choice.  

Walk in Central Park 

I normally like to meander in Central Park, but it was cold and blustery so we walked briskly with no detours while we made our way from West to East side of Manhattan.  The sculptural trees grabbed my attention with the bark looking to me like works of art. 

Guggenheim. 

Lastly no trip to NYC is complete without at least one thought provoking art exhibit.  The Hilma af Klint at the Guggenheim provided that opportunity.  The artist, a Swedish woman from early 1900s, did abstract painting before many of the famous male counterparts.  Her work is dramatic, interesting, colorful and creative.  It was well worth the couple of hours, we enjoyed in this historic beehive of a building.  

Last Stop Before Airport: Bemelmans Bar in the Carlyle 

Expensive but full of atmosphere including the hand painted murals and lively pianist.    Lovely for a last cocktail before heading to the airport.  Here’s the link to Bemelmans Bar 

Already planning my next trip to NYC…….