New York City, Day 6, Tuesday, June 28

Home Sweet Home!

Our trip has come to an end, but before we go Jen and I have one more thing to do.
The Harry Potter Exhibit!

New York City, Day 5, Monday, June 27

Today is the day! We have been working so hard and for many months for this evening performance at the Lincoln Center.

Rehearsal at the Manhattan Temple Monday morning.



Jen and I went to lunch at Chevy's.
Chevy's has been a family favorite and the ones in Utah have closed, so it was great to see this one in New York City. We got our favorite meal...Chicken flautas, with jalepeno jelly sauce and corn cake.


We got back to the hotel and changed our clothes for the concert. I would be at the concert hall for several hours and Jen went and visited Central park again and the Museum of Natural History.

At Lincoln Center.

Lots and lots of rehearsal and instructing and waiting.



Photo time! In front of the Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center.

What a thrill and amazing opportunity it was to perform this evening. It was a perfect evening. The concert was incredible. We all worked so hard and everything was just Fantastic! What an opportunity this has been.


After the concert we went on a dinner cruise. We passed by the Statue of Liberty and all the New York buildings and then by the many bridges including the Brooklyn Bridge.




I love this photo of the Cronks. They are one of my favorite couples. I admire them so much. I sing next to Karalyn and love her. Me and my dear friend Julie Boogert

Wonderful, memorable evening.

New York City, Day 4, Sunday, June 26

Sunday in New York City.

We found ourselves on the subway in our Sunday best headed for church. The LDS chapel is located in Manhattan as part of the Manhattan temple.

We got off the subway next to the Lincoln center and right across the street was the LDS Manhattan Temple. What a great thing to see and behold right in New York.

After church Jen and I hurried on to Central park which was a few blocks from where we were.

We only had a few hours, had to be back at 1:00 pm for rehearsal and we wanted to see as much of Central Park as we could so we opted to rent some bikes and ride the parameter of the park which was about 7 miles.

Jen had looked online before we came to New York to find the best hot dog in New York City and one place was the Shake Shack near Central Park. We had a several block walk but we found it and each had a Chicago Dog. I also bought a tee shirt for Ian there. He loves Chicago dogs and so hopefully he will like a shirt from the Shake Shack just as well.


I got back to rehearsal a little late, (oops), and after rehearsal Jen and I hurried off again for some more New York fun. We still had so much to do. We had also looked up the best pizza in New York and found Lombardi's. Lombardi's was the first pizzaria in New York City and it was stil there. It was yummy! Thin crust, thin red sauce, fresh mozzarella cheese and fresh basil.


After pizza we were walking back to the subway and saw, "Rice to Riches", a rice pudding shop that was seen in the movie "Hitch."

Next stop. The choir was extended an opportunity to sing at another church, St Patrick's on Sunday evening.

At the hotel as a group
Sunday evening we all went as a choir to the Empire State building.




Out on the town, at time square.

New York City, Day 3, Saturday, June 25

Today began with rehearsal and ended with rehearsal.
It may sound like an unusual thing to do when you are in New York City, but I loved it.

This trip to New York was brought about by an invitation to sing in the Lincoln Center Monday evening in the concert series. A beautiful musical piece called "Memorial" was written a few years after 911 and we will be singing this number.

Dr. Torkelson, of New York, would be a guest conductor. We will also be singing it with a full orchestra. Today, day 3, we would spend the entire morning rehearsing with him. It was a thrill and a privilege to do this.

He brought so much enlightenment to this number and I enjoyed every minute of his direction.

I think we are all looking a little tired.
After our rehearsal, Jen and I whisked ourselves off to see another Broadway play starring Daniel Radcliff in "How to Succeed in Business without really trying."

After the amazing play we went to eat dinner at the Ellen's Stardust Cafe, a famous cafe where Broadway hopefuls sing to you while you eat. We were told while there that many people who have worked there have gone on to successful Broadway careers. It was great fun.


At some point in our trip, Jen and I sampled one of New York's famous and fabulous "Black and White" cookies.

Then off we went because I had rehearsal that evening with just our own Mapleton Chorale.

New York City, Day 2, Friday, June 24

Today in New York City was full of adventure, excitement and so memorable. We, as a group, left the hotel early and discovered New York City, on foot.

Our hotel is connected to the subway station, Grand Central Station. It was so convenient and cool.
There was a big eatery there and a market place that Jen and I really liked.
Each morning we would eat breakfast there.
At the market we found fresh cut up mangos and fresh pastries, cheeses and yogart. It was so much fun.
Jen is holding up her pastry from the first morning. It was a pear tart.

At the hotel before we left for the day.


A fellow in our group wore a pedometer and said we walked 10 miles our first day and that was before dinner. We still had an evening of walking to do.

We all got pretty good at using the subway.

Walking the streets of New York City.
We got a kick out of this.


Boarding a ferry headed for Liberty Island.


Aboard the ferry, headed for Liberty Island and Ellis Island.

Jen, aboard the ferry headed for Liberty Island.


At Liberty Island. To finally see the Statue of Liberty. Inspiring.
We sang as a choir.

Me, Jen, Julie and Meika.

Singing on Ellis Island.
Jen and Me at the station on Ellis Island. This looks like the spot in the movie "Hitch" where the girl finds the name of one of her relatives. Now it is a donation box.


Jen and Julie at the station on Ellis Island.
Ground Zero. This statue survived 911 in one of the towers and was taken out of the bldg and placed here as a memorial to that event.


The ground zero project is underway now.
Trying to sing at the Ground Zero bldg.

We sang at two churches today.
St Paul's Episcopal Church.

and Trinity Episcopal Church.


After a long day in New York City we returned to the hotel, changed into our evening attire and went off to BROADWAY!
Jen went to Lion King.


and I went to Wicked. (Some of our group took this group photo.)