New York Anniversary Trip, Part 1

I'm a bit behind on posts, but last week Big Poppa and I celebrated our 9th anniversary! In what's becoming a yearly tradition, we went back to New York to celebrate our last year of being married in single digits :)
My mom came into town Thursday night, and we left on the first flight out Friday morning! While it hurt a bit to wake up that early and get to the airport, it gave us the full day to spend in NYC which was nice.  After we arrived at LaGuardia, we went ahead to our hotel and dropped our bags so we could go and play before our room was ready.  This year we stayed at the Marriott East Side on 49th Street. It was a super nice hotel and the location was perfect!

I was a lot little sad that we didn't get to stay at The Ritz-Carlton, but when we booked our trip, we weren't sure if we would have enough points to stay the full weekend and by the time we realized we would, they were booked. Oh well, the upside is that we still have mucho points left over so that means more mini-cations for mommy and daddy!!!
We ended up not seeing a show, as we weren't able to score tickets to The Book of Mormon because they are completely sold out through February.  Like completely meaning no luck through our AMEX card concierge, TKTS booth, nada.  But boy did we make up for it with some shopping and eating!!  (Let's just say I was up 2 lbs at my WW weigh in that next week! BUT, I am back down 3.5 lbs since then so it's ok!!)  Friday night we had reservations at Macelleria, an Italian steakhouse in the Meatpacking District.

Big Poppa and I shared some fresh mozzarella and a cannelli bean and tuscan sausage appetizer, and a Porterhouse steak and brussel sprouts for dinner.  The food was good, but I think the atmosphere was my favorite!  We opted not to have dessert at the restaurant, but instead headed to Crumbs for a cupcake...yum!

  

Saturday morning we woke up and headed down to the Financial District.  We had tickets to the 9/11 Memorial but Big Poppa wanted to go see the hoopla that is Occupy Wall Street before our trip to the memorial.  I get their point, and the message they are "trying" to convey but all it looked like was a bunch of smelly, filthy tents and people that hadn't showered in a LONG time.  If I didn't know any better, I would have thought there was maybe a Woodstock revival going on, not a protest over Corporate America!  Case in point below. Agree??

Y'all-  the 9/11 Memorial.  Was absolutely. breath. taking.  So serene and peaceful in a place that just ten years ago was, in my eyes, location to the most horrific act of violence and hate ever.  It broke my heart to see a couple doing a rub on one of the names on the fountain.  I don't think I've ever felt so much sadness and pride in one place before.  If you are ever in NYC, this is a MUST do.  Big Poppa and I were in NYC in the summer of '04 when they were still digging and removing rubble that seemed like it would take forever to clear.  Even last year when we were there, I remember thinking there was no way that it was going to be finished in time for the 10th anniversary.  But it's finished and it's beautiful.  There's also a small museum/gift shop that has donated items and stories from survivors and loved ones.  Tears galore, folks.

And the tree that was damaged in the blasts but dug up, replanted, and nursed by the city worker? Alive and another testament to the strength of our great country.

Not only was the memorial breath-taking, my company on this trip wasn't too hard on the eyes, either!!