Saturday in Brooklyn and Phantom

I walked up these subway stairs and immediately fell in love with Brooklyn. The crowds were gone, there was a picturesque park across the street and a pretzel vendor calling my name. Brooklyn neighborhoods look like the set to Sesame Street. 

The Brooklyn Bridge was one of my favorite experiences this weekend. The architecture is brilliant, the walk was lovely, and the views of Manhattan and Staten Island were outstanding. 

Kasey and I saw so many young people taking selfies posed exactly like this, we decided do create our own, but couldn't keep a straight fave long enough to snap the pic. I thought I was going to pee I was laughing so hard after. I highly recommend doing this trip with your bestie. I laughed my face off this weekend. 

For lunch, we sweated out (literally) the sweltering 30 minute wait for Grimaldi's Pizza under the Brooklyn Bridge. It was totally worth the wait! 

We walked around and took a few busses around Brooklyn, got stuck behind a huge wedding party and a parade with street performers offering religious texts and social commentary, anddound some gorgeous buildings and clever street art. 

We picked up half price tickets for Phantom of the Opera and headed back to our hotel to change, grab a bite, and headed over to Broadway. 

The show was even better than I expected it to be. Wow. I knew the singing would be top notch, but it was really the orchestra really blew my mind.  

I've listened to the soundtrack to phantom many many times but hearing the instruments live was really what makes Broadway a bucket list experience. The pit needs more credit. We also lucked out and caught Sierra Boggess' last performance. What a voice. Everyone was really on and the whe show was so good, I'd pay as much to see it again. 

The sky finally opened and poured buckets on us right in Times Square after the show (and every other show on Broadway) let out. It was madness. We just laughed, busted out the umbrellas, and ran through puddles and downpour to the bus. 

No, not daytime...just the billions of lights lighting up Times Square at midnight. This was just before the clouds spilled over on us.