With Rita, Rockin’ NYC
Friday, September 24, 2004
My first visitor came last weekend! Rita was here!
It was so nice to have Rita come out here to visit. It was like we were roommates still! (I still consider myself one of the roommates at the Bachelorette Pad) Weather-wise, it was the first cold spell of the fall. It felt like the dead of winter in L.A.! Phew! And all we had were little light jackets to keep out the bitter cold wind! Well, by bitter cold I mean, around 60 degrees or so…
Anyway, we wander a street fair on Broadway in the upper west side near my place, ate at the Restaurant that’s in Seinfeld and visited Columbia campus. We tried to go south, but the 1 and 9 tracks were flooded from the rain. Somehow or other we ended up in Time Square. We passed the theater that was showing RENT and noticed their $20 ticket lottery. We waited for the appropriate time and signed up for that (first in line! Woot!). Half an hour later, they began calling names….and they called Rita! Yay! So we got to see RENT for $20 and in the second row, right smack in the middle!
We were so close, in fact, that when they lit the stage, we were also illuminated. It was great. Mark Cohen was played by Drew Lachey, brother of the now famous Nick Lachey, aka Jessica Simpson’s husband. I’ve seen this play 4 times but this was the best performance I’d ever seen of it. Everyone’s voices were on, the choreography was great, and all the people fit their roles well. I sang along the *entire* time. At the end, Rita and I were taking pictures in front of the stage when the guitarist in the band called down to me congenially, “Hey, you should have been up on stage!” Even from the back of the stage where he sat, he could see me, lit by the stage lights and so close, so into it and singing every word. Wow! I got noticed!
Outside, Rita and I were taking memorabilia pics when I noticed the guy who played angel come out of the theater and duck into the next door bar which had all glass windows. Rita said, “let’s get an autograph!” But I didn’t want to – it felt too tourist, too cheesy, so I held back. But Rita waved at him through the window, and glory be, he looked, *recognized* us, and came back OUT of the bar to talk to us! We ended up chit-chatting with him (Justin Johnston) when the guy who played Tom Collins (Destan Owens) came out, so we started talking with him! Also, the guy that played Benny (D’Monroe) followed. I found out that he was the same guy who played Benny in RENT the first time I saw it in L.A. back in ’98. Crazy.
Justin Johnston (Angel) and Destan Ownes (Tom Collins)
D’Monroe (Benny) - the same guy i saw in L.A. 6 years ago...
The entire time, people were coming up asking for autographs, but they would always come back to us to keep talking “real” talk; you know, not just “Thank you. I hope you enjoyed the show,” kind of stuff. It was great!
The next day we spent at the statue of liberty and checked out Ground Zero. We also happened to catch a political music concert going on in Battery Park. It was awesome! All these people just spontaneously started dancing! It was so...New York.
Can you see the Statue of Liberty way out there?
Enjoying the “Freedom Grass” (no, not marijuana) at the foot of Lady Liberty!
Oh, did i mention we went to Cafe Lalo, too? It’s sooooo good! Their cakes and stuff is just superb! The cafe was actually seen in “You’ve Got Mail.” Seriously, i was happy just to sink my teeth into a mouse/cake combo that melted in your mouth. yum....i’m drooling right now just thinking about it…
The best cake i’ve ever had - half mousse + half cake = purely melt-in-your-mouth heavenly goodness
Anyway, we basically had a really full weekend. I don’t think we slept that much. I’m still trying to catch up on sleep! But it was so much fun! Thanks Rita!
of course you’re one of the roomies still! we don’t let a thing like you moving all the way across the continent come in between the roomies bond us gt bachelorettes have! =)
i’m so glad you guys had a wonderful time touring the city and i’m looking forward to when i get to visit you! walking around and eating in all the hot spots, stuff you see on tv, the whole touristy bit that people do when they come to hollywood, but backwards this time =)
all you gotta do is jump over the moon!
Posted by kimi =) on 09/24 at 11:34 PMhi Rita!
sounds like you guys had a great time. The strange thing is that just yesterday tickets went on sale for a production of Rent here.
Yes, that’s right, Rent in Lincoln, Nebraska. My guess is that people in Lincoln have no idea that Rent is about “them” lol! Actually, with all the schools in the area it really shouldn’t surprise me.
That’s really cool that you got to meet the performers. Rita, you are the type of person that has that certain “mojo”, “fire”, etc where people just have to pay attention to you when you walk in the room, so of course they remembered you.
Posted by Les on 09/25 at 06:54 AMWaitaminute, Les, you’re in Lincoln Nebraska?
Kat, I LOVE the pictures. That’s so badass that you got to see Rent. I wanted to see Rent. I’ve never seen Rent. Poo.
Posted by on 09/27 at 10:17 PMHey Stephan,
Laura and I forgot to get your permission before ditching California, though I’m sure we told you. Our deepest apologies!
Kathy inspired us to keep up our own blog, so you can check us here:
Posted by Leslie on 09/27 at 10:31 PMKat, U rock! Thank you so much for moving to NYC. NYC is now the home away from home. I will definitely be visiting again soon. “Rent” is still playing at the Nederlander. What a BLAST! I have so many little memories from that weekend, that when I flew home I filled up about 5 pages in my notebook, entitled, “my first NYC trip”. Too fun, girlie. So I’m sure I’ll be back before the year ends. Les, please dont pay money to see “Rent” in Lincoln, that all sounds wrong. Thx for the note. Luv ya all, Ritz
Posted by on 09/29 at 02:29 PMYou WON RENT tickets, then took pictures with cast members?!!! I’m so jealous!!! but props to you.
Posted by on 10/20 at 10:42 AM