After learning some tricks for queuing for cheap Broadway tickets, we set ourselves up for tickets. I was hoping to see Penn and Teller, who were touring Broadway and had their last night tonight. Unfortunately there weren’t any tickets available, but we picked up tickets to see The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, and bought our tickets at 40% off, nice.

We then repeated my walk of yesterday up 5th avenue, this time with E awake and Deb and Leanne along too. We took some more time checking out the lovely architecture of Rockefeller plaza. I was particularly taken with the Lego shop which had incredible Lego replicas of some of the local features. A lot of time and love had clearly gone into these. 

   
Another stop through Central Park for E to stretch his legs and run around in the sun. Again, a large percentage of New York’s population seemed to be in the park.

  
We grabbed hot dogs and pretzels for lunch from one of the local vans. This proved to be somewhat of a mistake, the hot dogs were unpleasant and the bagel was so stale it was more or less inedible. Even the pigeons were giving it a wide berth, clearly they knew something about the standard of the local fare.

Heading back to Times Square Deb and I headed to the Barrymore theatre for our play. The story of an autistic boy’s journey through a family breakup, it was a really well done production, and the lead actor was fantastic. The show even ended with an animated maths geek out so it got extra nerd points in my book.

After the show as we headed back past the ticket booth we noticed that Penn and Teller tickets were available for the evening performance at 40% off too, so on impulse I grabbed a ticket.

 

 
We then added to our cheesy Times Square experience by heading to the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner. Otto was having such a good time – he was bopping along to the music and playing with all the staff. The service was really good and the food and drink were not too bad either. E smashed his Mac and cheese and was giggling the whole time. He seemed to particularly like Stevie Ray Vaughan so that was pleasing.

After dinner Deb and Leanne and E grabbed an open top bus tour and I hit the Penn and Teller show.

Having grown up watching this duo, who have been together for 40 years, it was a little surreal to see them in person, but the show was brilliant. The whole show was highlights but some particular favourites were Teller animating a ball, transforming a “Pygmy spotted elephant” (cow) into a chicken, and the nail gun memory test. Such a good night.

I met the rest of the family and we turned in. Tomorrow Leanne heads to Niagara Falls and we move out of Times Square to Central Park West. It’s been a fun experience being right in the middle of it all but I’ll be glad to have saner surroundings.