Favorite NY Memories #1: New Year's Eve in Times Square

At long last, my friends, we have reached the top of this list, the #1 item, my MOST FAVORITE New York Memory. And that honor goes to: New Year's Eve (2008-09) in Times Square, watching that famous ball drop live and in the flesh. As if there was ever any doubt!

The ball was new that year, and before placing it in its famous spot atop Times Square, it was on display at Macy's.

Here I am in November 2008, saying a quick hello to the ball we would stare at for hours just a couple months later.

This memory is one I will be telling people about for the rest of my life. It is one that I will relive every single year as I watch that ball drop on TV. The feelings associated with it will always stick with me. And I will never, ever do it again.

New Year's Eve 2008 was our very first in New York City. As I mentioned in my post about our #3 Favorite Memory, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Eric and I arrived in New York ready and gung-ho to do every single New York-y thing possible. Our plan was to do them all in our first year if possible, thinking that after we had lived here for a while the novelty would wear off and we'd become jaded, unimpressed (read: wise) New Yorkers who would never do something so ridiculous as, for example, standing outside in frigid temperatures for hours just to watch a big lighted ball slowly lower for about 10 seconds. I don't know that I would say the novelty did really wear off, because obviously I'm still quite obsessed with All Things New York City, but this turned out to be a good plan. It was great to have these big, exhausting events crossed off by the end of our first year so we could spend the rest of our years here doing whatever we liked with no regrets.

Of course, spending New Year's Eve in Times Square was one of those big events we had to cross off our list. So, in 2008, we went for it. We had friends come up from Washington, D.C. for the big affair, and we were excited to have people in this thing with us, because misery loves company and all that. At 4:00 that afternoon, we started the Putting On Of The Clothes. We wore so, so many clothes. It had snowed that day and the temperatures were not exactly toasty. We were so bundled.

We made our way out to Times Square, trying to enter where we could. We finally made it in around 49th Street, made it through security, and settled into our "pen" by about 5:20 p.m. We ended up halfway between 48th and 49th Streets, so about six blocks back from the ball. That was the closest we could get six and a half hours early.

I should explain how this whole "pen" thing works for those who might not be familiar. NYPD uses barricades to create these pens all throughout Times Square. When you arrive, you are corralled into the closest open pen. When the pen is filled with people, NYPD closes it off. And then that's it. Nobody else is allowed in the pen, including you, if you leave. So once you're in, you're in. There are no bathrooms. There is no food. There is no drink. There is nowhere to sit. There is no warmth. And if you leave, you will only be allowed to enter into the next closest open pen, which (depending on the timing of your exit) could be blocks further back from where you started. So you don't leave.

So, as of 5:20, we were committed. Our pen didn't get too crowded for a while, so we spent some time snapping pictures, enjoying the space and staking out our spot along the barricades.

Ready for a fun New Year's Eve in Times Square!

We spent the next six and a half hours standing in that pen, watching it fill up around us. There were people around us from numerous different countries, which I found very cool. Every so often they would come by and had out some SWAG: hats, scarves, balloons, candy. Also, every hour they would countdown to the hour, and the screen below the ball would say "X hours to go!", so we came to look forward to that.

What we really must discuss, however, is the temperature. When we arrived at 5:20 p.m., the temperature was 17 degrees. Seventeen degrees was the warmest weather we stood in all night. According to Ryan Seacrest, by midnight, with windchill the temperature was two degrees. One, two. Two degrees. I'm no meteorologist but I would say generally, people prefer more degrees than that. I know I do, at least. It was COLD, by far the coldest I have ever been. You might think that you would stay warm huddled in with all those people at least, but I am here to tell you that is false. That does not help. It is still cold. It was the kind of cold that made any inch of skin exposed to the air sting (painfully). I spent a solid half hour wondering how exactly you tell the difference between just being really, really cold and in actual danger of frostbite. It was so cold, our friends left by 7:30 p.m. Eric and I were the only crazies left standing.

I have so many pairs of gloves on that I can't even pull my pinky finger in to give my thumbs up.

I think Eric is under there somewhere.

We may be crazy for sticking it out, but stick it out we did. Eric and I took turns wavering in our commitment to the cause, but we managed to pull each other through and remained in our pen until midnight. At long last, the approximately two minutes we had all been waiting for were upon us.

Right before midnight, they played "Imagine" through Times Square. For those couple of minutes, all the craziness died down and everyone sang along. Everyone. All those people from all over the world just stood there in this one place, singing this beautiful song, ready to bid farewell to the year gone by and celebrate the arrival of a fresh start. It was one of the single most overwhelming moments of my time here, if not my life in general. It was beautiful.

Not only was I overcome by the feeling of togetherness in that moment, but I was also so in awe of where I stood and what I was doing. Like most of America, I have watched the New Year's Eve countdown from Times Square on TV for as long as I can remember. I have always wondered what it would be like to be there, but never in a million years would have guessed that I would someday actually do just that. It was just such an incredible feeling, to be a part of this tradition that is cherished by millions, to be standing in a place that the whole world was watching. What an incredibly cool place this city is.

And then, the countdown began! As 2008 became 2009, fireworks exploded over Times Square, confetti fell (although we were too far back to be under it), people cheered and hugged and kissed.

VIDEO: The final seconds of 2008!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Midnight kiss with frozen lips!

After the ball dropped, they played "Auld Lang Syne" (of course), "New York," "It's a Wonderful World" and other great music as the crowds started to disperse. The funny thing is that so many people wait so long in their spots for just these few seconds of celebration, and then when it's all over they book it out of there. I understand this, of course, but Eric and I chose to linger for just a few minutes to take it all in. To this day, the song "New York" makes me think of that moment, and I can't help but feel a little misty-eyed and nostalgic. It was such an incredible feeling.

Amidst the craziness after the ball dropped

When we had our fill of the moment, we walked home (and finally got feeling back in our poor, frozen toes!), where our friends were waiting for us in our nice, toasty apartment. They were kind enough to go out and get us a pizza, which we happily enjoyed with some champagne as we recounted the tale of our evening.

We did it!

That night was just unlike any other that I have ever (or will ever) have. Would I do it again? Never ever, not in a million years. It was awful. Although I will say that each year since has been significantly (like 40-degrees-or-more kind of significantly) warmer than the year we did this. So maybe trying again wouldn't be that bad. But, no. No, no, no. Our official stance on New Year's Eve in Times Square quickly became this: Yes, we did it, and it was awesome. But also awful. If you want to come visit us for New Year's Eve and go to Times Square, we will happily lend you every warm article of clothing in our home and point you in the right direction. And we'll be waiting with pizza when you get back.

The next year, we did just that - we watched the ball drop from the comfort of our home, where we could see Times Square from our living room. The crazy did almost take over on New Year's Eve 2010, when we made a quick stop by Times Square just to snap some pictures, and the warm temperatures nearly convinced us to stay. Luckily, sanity kicked back in and we returned to our apartment, where we once again watched the ball drop live from our living room window with a glass of champagne in hand. MUCH BETTER. Sanity for the win!

Our view from our bedroom on New Year's Eve 2009-10

Briefly back in Times Square on New Year's Eve 2010-11

Fireworks over Times Square at midnight on New Year's Eve 2010-11, as seen from our living room, because we do still have some of our wits about us.

Despite the craziness of it all, New Year's Eve 2008 will always be one of my most cherished memories. There is just no way to understand the energy of that experience until you have been there yourself, and I am so thankful to be able to say that we have done that. It may have been cold and crowded and generally miserable, but all that only adds to the story. At the end of the day, it was an extraordinary experience that I will not soon forget.

And there you have it, folks. My top ten favorite memories brought to me by this city that I love so dearly. Tomorrow, it is time to officially say good-bye.

To read the full recount of our New Year's Eve in Times Square adventure, click here.

Favorite NY Memories #2: Central Park Snow Day

Given my very consistent whining about winter weather every year, it may be a little surprising that the #2 spot on this list goes to a snow day. In the 2010-2011 winter season, we were blessed (?) with two very large snowstorms, much bigger than any we had seen since leaving Florida. On this particular day, the day that nearly tops my Favorite NY Memories Countdown, we woke up to another 15-19 inches of freshly-fallen snow. Eric had to go in to work, but I decided to walk with him to take some pictures. I figured I would walk east to Rockefeller Center then up for a brief jaunt through Central Park before heading home. I had work to do from home that day, so I planned to make things quick.

Needless to say, I ended up spending over two hours walking through the park. The wind was still so the snow clung to the tree branches, the sky was a divine shade of blue, and the sun was shining. It was a weekday, so the park was not very crowded. It was quiet and peaceful and beautiful, an actual real-life winter wonderland. I may have planned to only make a quick pass through the park, but I got so caught up in the beauty of it all that my feet just kept going and going and going.

The Bridge

Snowy walkway

Gorgeous trees

Winter wonderland

The Mall

I was just so in awe of it all. I just remember thinking in the moment what a special experience this was - to have this wonderland right there in the middle of Manhattan, the result of exactly the right conditions, and I was able to spend my morning there taking it all in. It was so serene and was just unlike anything I had ever seen.

For that morning, all my usual griping about snow seemed nonsensical. What could there be to complain about, when it is so very beautiful?

And then I exited the park, the sun disappeared and the sky clouded over, the wind picked up, and a huge truck sprayed icy slush all over me as I waited to cross the street at an intersection. Then, both my snow boots sprung leaks, leaving my socks cold and wet for nearly my entire walk home. So, yeah. That winter love was short-lived. Don't be fooled, my friends. Winter sucks.

Although, this one magical winter day also brings a couple other things to mind. One is another New York snow day that was actually pretty fun. This was the first major snowfall of the same winter season, in December 2010. We got 19 inches of snow, including thundersnow, which is a real thing. The day after the storm, Eric and I went out about town to check things out and spent our afternoon climbing on gigantic snowdrifts like all adults do. We also scored rather cheap tickets to see Billy Elliot on Broadway thanks to a Snow Day Special. Once again, snow was making a pretty good case for itself. But don't be fooled!

Left: Enjoying the snowy afternoon on Sixth Avenue

Right: Me atop a snow drift on Sixth Avenue; me atop a snow drift in Times Square

As a side note, this was the same snowstorm during which Eric took the following photo of a man skiing down our street:

Just skiing on past our grocery store

I posted that picture to Twitter and ended up being nominated for a Shorty Award for it! Oh, New York. Sometimes I really can't do anything but sit back and shake my head at some of the crazy things that have happened to us here!

Anyway, the Central Park Snow Day also brings to mind other seasons in the park. Eric and I made it a point to try to take in each season in Central Park, including spring:

Spring in Central Park

Summer:

Top: Summer at the Bridge

Bottom: Playing checkers in the Park; Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater; checking out the sea lions at the Central Park Zoo

And of course, fall:

Fall in Central Park

The fall day pictured at top left above was one of my other favorite seasonal days in the park. It was November 2012, the leaves were at their most beautiful, and Eric and I took advantage of the day (knowing our days as only a couple were limited, before Ellie would be joining us in a few months) by renting boats from the Boathouse and enjoying the fall foliage that way. It was fun and relaxing and gorgeous. Overall, a perfect afternoon, and one we often think back on fondly.

Even with all these lovely seasonal days in Central Park, that snow day in January 2011 takes the cake for me. It was just such a lovely, peaceful day and I won't soon forget how lucky and awestruck I felt as I admired the beautiful scenery. I've never seen anything like it and now, certainly won't again for a very long time.

To read all about that Central Park Snow Day, click here. Also, click here to read about the December 2010 snowstorm, here for that fall afternoon spent boating in the Park, or here for more posts about Central Park.

Favorite NY Memories #3: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Eric and I actually attended the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade two years in a row: 2008 and 2009. In 2008, we had just arrived in New York a couple of months earlier, and it was our first real big New York thing we went to. Thanks to not yet really understanding how early people show up for these things, we were a bit later than we needed to be to get a really good spot (silly us, only two hours early! What were we thinking?!), but we were able to see things pretty well so it wasn't too bad. The worst part was that it was a lot of standing around in the cold for many, many hours (although far from the worst we'd endure in that regard in our NYC life, that's for sure), but all in all it was a lot of fun. The best part was that my dad was marching in the parade with the Awesome Original Second Time Arounders Marching Band from St. Petersburg, Florida! It was pretty cool to see him march through Columbus Circle. And, of course, as newbies to the city, we were just happy to be a part of a New York institution like the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. It was really fun.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, 2008

Top row: The sign I made to hold up as the 'Rounders marched by us; my dad and the band marching down Broadway

Bottom: Santa making his grand entrance; Eric in the street after the parade had passed us by

However, as fun as the parade in 2008 may have been, we vowed to never do it again. We were on a strict "Do Everything Once Right Away Before The Novelty of New York Wears Off" plan, and the Macy's Parade in 2008 just left us with memories of bone-chilling cold and really pushy crowds. No thanks, we thought. We'll watch it on TV like all the other sane people from here on out.

But, not so fast. One day, Eric happened to be talking to a coworker about our first Macy's Parade experience and how although it was fun, it was less than desirable. As it turned out, this coworker's wife happened to be formerly in charge of the sales department of the ESPN Zone in Times Square, which hosted a parade-viewing event every year for the children of NY police and firefighters. They would block off the sidewalk so these families can have crowd-free street viewing of the parade, or you could spend some time in the ESPN Zone playing games, getting warm, or enjoying the free breakfast buffet. When Eric got an email from this coworker asking if we would like to join them at the ESPN Zone event for the 2009 parade, to make up for our experience in 2008, we were ALL OVER IT. How lucky!

This sort of speaks to something we have discovered about these sorts of things in New York: you have to either be really early or really lucky. Sure, you can get to these kinds of events hours and hours before start time to try to make the experience as great as possible, or you just kind of have to be in the right place at the right time. For example, we waited in Times Square for seven hours to see the ball drop on New Years Eve, and we were too far back to even be under the confetti. However, we have friends that just happened to get to Times Square on New Year's Eve a couple years later right as NYPD was opening up some barricades close to one of the stages. Just by being in the right place at the right time, they had a much better experience than we did. This Thanksgiving Parade situation was kind of the same thing: The first year, we were early (although not early enough!). The second year, we were lucky. Frankly, I prefer the latter.

The ESPN Zone event did not disappoint. We had plenty of open sidewalk space to view the parade without getting constantly pushed around by crazy crowds. We had a fantastic view of the parade as it exited Times Square and turned east towards Bryant Park. We had free hot chocolate to drink to stay warm (even though the weather was quite a bit warmer than it had been the previous year!). We enjoyed some free breakfast. It was so luxurious and such a fun way to once again be a part of such a major New York City tradition.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2009

Left, top row: Our passes to the ESPN Zone event

Left, second row: Eric demonstrating how much room we had on the sidewalk; the overcrowded other side of the street for comparison!

Left, third row: Macy's Parade begins; balloons passing through Times Square

Left, fourth row: Our view of the passing balloons; Santa kicking off the holiday season

Right: After a very fun parade experience!

That second attempt at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was just such a blast and left us feeling so grateful - both for the opportunity to view the parade in such a special way, and for the opportunity to live in this city in the first place. And gratitude is a very appropriate feeling to have on Thanksgiving, wouldn't you say? We are so thankful that Eric's coworker was so generous and gave us this very memorable New York experience.

To read more about our Thanksgiving Day Parade adventures, click here for 2008 or here for 2009.

Favorite NY Memories #4: Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live was something we wanted to do the entire time we lived in New York, but were just not quite sure how to make it happen without either being really, really lucky or really, really crazy.

You see, SNL distributes tickets to the general public every year through a ticket lottery. You email during the month of August to get your name put into the mix, and then they'll email you if you are selected. We actually know someone who managed to get tickets this way, which is shocking, because I was convinced this was all just a clever ruse to make the public think there was a chance to ever see this show without being BFFs with Lorne Michaels or something. We emailed every year, to no avail.

The other way to get tickets is to try for standby tickets on the day of the show. Every Saturday morning at 7:00, they hand out standby tickets to both the dress rehearsal and live taping on a first come, first served basis. Now, these tickets do not guarantee you a spot at the show. Rather, they give you a chance to see the show. If the studio is not already filled with VIPs and regular ticket-holders, they'll let the standby people in to fill any empty seats. So, every Saturday, there are lots more standby tickets distributed than there are actual available seats at showtime. And for big name guests, such as a Justin Timberlake or Alec Baldwin host, or Justin Bieber or Lady GaGa musical guest, people will camp out for these standby tickets for days. A week, even. Days on end of sleeping on the streets of New York just for a chance to maybe see SNL. Now, Eric and I have been known to do crazy things to see New York events, but that just did not sound worth it at all to me. Sleeping on the street for days with no guarantees of actualy seeing a show? Nah. No thanks. So, we figured SNL was just not meant to be for us.

Until one Friday afternoon in January of this year, that is. The host for that Saturday's show was Charles Barkley, with musical guest Kelly Clarkson. Both good enough, but not big pulls. Eric got the crazy idea that we should give the standby line a shot. The weather was unusually warm (only got down into the 40s that night), I was pregnant but not super uncomfortable yet, and he figured we could head out to the line around 3:00 in the morning and get tickets. Pregnancy apparently ate my brain because I agreed.

Waiting in the SNL standby ticket line!

So, head out there we did, and spent several hours sitting on the street waiting for our chance. We ultimately secured tickets to the dress rehearsal, and much to our surprise and delight, we were able to get into the show that evening! Our seats were awful (worst in the house, actually), but the whole thing was still incredibly cool to see. Because it was the dress rehearsal, we were even able to see an extra 30 minutes worth of material that didn't make it into the show. It was so neat to watch the whole process, from the warm-up to the cue cards to the set changes to a fit of hysterical laughter for the actors during one sketch. We had a fantastic time and it was definitely one of the coolest things we were able to do during our time here.

Our standby tickets

Terrible seats.

Thumbs up for an awesome night!

Of course, we made it into the audience of quite a few other shows during our time here, too: Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show With David Letterman, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, SportsNation. All were very cool experiences, but nothing topped SNL.

Top row: Us on TV during The Late Show, and outside the theater after the show

Middle row: Outside NBC Studios after Late Night with Jimmy Fallon; outside the studio after The Daily Show; and Eric with Michelle Beadle after SportsNation taping

Bottom row: At The Colbert Report, which tapes just a few doors down from our old apartment building!

Saturday Night Live is just such a New York institution, and to go through the process of waiting out for tickets, doing the standby line that night, having that moment of excitement when you get off the elevator and they tell you that you've made it into the show, getting goosebumps when you walk into the studio, seeing the cast running around and making the show happen before your very eyes - it's all just very, very cool. After the show Eric and I were on such a high and we were so, so glad that we made it happen. It ended up easily being one of our most favorite New York nights, and that is how it secured the number four spot on this countdown.

To read the whole Saturday Night Live recap, click here.

Favorite NY Memories #5: Easter Bonnet Parade

This is the one item on the list that ultimately resulted in a tie. I knew I wanted to include the NYC Easter Bonnet Parade, but try as I might, I could not choose between two of the three years we attended the parade: 2009 vs. 2010. Both were very awesome in different ways, so we're calling it a tie.

In 2009, Eric and I set out to have a perfectly normal Easter. We colored eggs, went to church, planned a nice dinner. On our way home from church, however, we decided to walk through Central Park to check out the blossoming trees, with the ultimate goal of getting over to the east side to stop by Rockefeller Center. Eric told me they had put in all sorts of lovely spring flowers on the Promenade, and we wanted to take some pictures.

However, when we exited the park onto Fifth Avenue, we realized we had led ourselves right to a great New York City Easter Sunday tradition: the Easter Bonnet Parade. The parade originated in the 1800s, when New York's most fashionable would parade along Fifth Avenue after church to show off their Easter finery. These days, however, the Easter Bonnet Parade is essentially Halloween but with more pastels. The bonnets on display range from dainty, simple and sweet to comically large, elaborate and eccentric. There is not an actual "parade" as you may think of with marching bands and floats and organization, but rather, everyone just wanders along the Avenue, gawking at each other and taking pictures.

A selection of the outrageous get-ups from the 2009 Easter Bonnet Parade

Eric and I did not actually participate in the parade in 2009, of course, because we did not even know it was a thing until we just happened upon it thanks to a little Easter stroll. It made our day, though. It was our first Easter in the city, and I was just amazed that even Easter was New York-y in New York. All I could do was shake my head and think, "man, this city is so cool."

In 2010, we knew we wanted to check out the parade once again, but this time we wanted to participate. I donned a flowery headband, but the main attraction was Achilles, who we decided should tag along in his Easter headwear. As it turned out, he was a smashing success. We very slowly made our way up and down Fifth Avenue, stopping every few steps so someone could take a picture of Achilles. The paparazzi was relentless!

Achilles and me at the 2010 Easter Bonnet Parade

VIDEO: Achilles was a hit!

Of course, all the bonnets were quite fascinating to look at, too.

A selection from the 2010 Parade

So, both the 2009 and 2010 parades were incredibly fun. In 2009, it was just so unexpected and we were so excited to have found this great event that we knew nothing about. In 2010, we enjoyed that event as participants, and it was great fun to parade up and down the avenue as people fussed and fawned over Achilles. So how does one choose between the two? Well, we don't. It's a tie.

One thing is for sure though: we loved the Easter Bonnet Parade tradition.

Happy Bonnet-wearers

But please, let's not talk about how disappointing it is that we won't have a chance to dress Ellie in a bonnet and parade with her this Easter. Let's just not mention it, lest the disappointment lead me to abandon all plans to move and stay here forever and ever.

To read more about the Easter Bonnet Parades, click here for 2009 or here for 2010. Although it didn't make the list, we also went in 2011, too!

Favorite NY Memories #6: Fashions Night Out 2010

Fashions Night Out was one of those great New York events that we just happened to stumble upon without any real planning. The very first Fashions Night out was held in September 2009, in which all the glamorous stores around the city open their doors and offer sales, celebrity appearances, food, drink, live music and various other promotions. Somehow, we didn't hear anything about this until the next year's event, in September 2010. Even then, I only heard about it after we had already purchased $10 preview tickets to a Broadway play for the same evening. What I was hearing about FNO sounded fun though, so we decided we would just leave early for our show and catch some of the action on Fifth Avenue before heading to the theater.

Well, we never made it to the theater. For the first (and probably only) time in my life, I voluntarily let Broadway tickets go to waste in favor of another event. We were just having too much fun to leave and go to a show. That night, we dined on caviar and champagne and then goofed off in a photo booth with Bar Refaeli at the Armani store. We browsed through Prada while sipping champagne as a DJ played music and Dakota Fanning hung out downstairs. We walked the yellow carpet at Tiffany's, posed for photos and hit up the free candy buffet. We caught what we could of a free Idina Menzel performance at Michael Kors, and then watched her and her handsome husband graciously fight through the crowds to make their exit. We admired strange window displays, many featuring live models (including one featuring cast members from the Real World/Road Rules Challenge). And of course, we posed on the red carpet at Rockefeller Center.

Fashions Night Out 2010

Top: Sipping champagne in Armani; posing with Bar Refaeli

Bottom: Free candy at Tiffany's; photobooth fun; Eric posing with Aubrey Hepburns at Tiffany's

Right: On the red carpet at Rockefeller Center

Since that first year, we have attended Fashions Night Out twice more. In 2011, my sister was in town. We did more wandering, celebrity searching, and drinking of free champagne, but it was much more crowded than the previous year so we were less successful.

Fashions Night Out 2011

Left: Posing in Fendi; Right: Free sparkling grape juice in Gap; on the red carpet at Rockefeller Center

In 2012, we took Ellie to be a part of the action. She looked quite the part of the baby fashionista in her polka dot dress, but given her early bedtime we did not stay out too late.

Fashions Night Out 2012

Top: Ellie and me on the red carpet at Rockefeller Center; posing for the paparazzi

Bottom: On the red carpet at Macy's; Ellie with her dad in Rockefeller Center

Although we certainly had fun at Fashions Night Out all three years we attended, none could quite match the awesomeness of the first one. Maybe it was that it was still new so not very crowded, maybe it was that we got lucky and got to do and see almost everything we wanted, maybe we drank more champagne than other years. Whatever the cause, that first Fashions Night Out has stuck out in our minds as one of our most amazing and unbelievably fun New York nights. I mean, you know it's good if I feel very little regret over giving up our Broadway tickets for something else! We just had such an unexpectedly fantastic good time, so much so that we have been unable to replicate it since. It was a perfect evening, and that is why Fashions Night Out 2010 is the one that has earned a spot on this countdown.

To read more about our Fashions Night Out fun, choose a year: 2010, 2011 or 2012.

Favorite NY Memories #7: Our First NYC Independence Day

Our first Fourth of July in New York (2009) was just so very, very New York-y. It was hot, and exhausting, crowded and busy, but it was fantastic.

I had watched the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on television before, but can't say that I ever imagined myself attending such an event. However, when I realized that this contest was held at Coney Island (a part of NYC we had yet to visit), we knew we had to try to make the trek to Brooklyn to see it for ourselves. We arrived early and waited in the midst of the thick crowds in the brutal sun for two hours, because we are dedicated people. (I can't say I would have been sad if I had remembered sunblock, but, alas.)

Eric in front of the board counting down to hot dog time!

As we waited, we were treated to all sorts of freak show-esque entertainment, and that was before people started stuffing their faces with hot dogs at record speed. My favorite part of the whole thing was probably the introductions of the contestants, as they outlined each feat of eating in which the competitor held the record. Some of them were just crazy, and inspired much "who would do that?!" and "that's really a thing?!" commentary on our part.

On a historical note, the 2009 Contest was the last in which the famous champion Takeru Kobayashi competed. He lost to the American, Joey Chestnut, who ate a record number of hot dogs (68 in 10 minutes!) - a record that still stands. It was disgusting to watch, and quite over the top, but it really is something to be there to witness history, you know?

Top row: Takeru Kobayashi working the crowds during his introduction; the line of contestants gobbling up hot dogs

Bottom row: Joey Chestnut proudly celebrating his victory; us in front of the stage after the crowds cleared out

VIDEO: 2009 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

After the Hot Dog Eating Contest we spent some time exploring Coney Island, then got some hot dogs of our own.

The Cyclone roller coaster; our hot dog feast; and Shoot the Freak

After our lunch we went home to rest up, and later that evening went back out to catch the Macy's NYC Fireworks on the Hudson River for the first time. We were so exhausted after our day in the sun at Coney Island, but we figured, hey. We live two blocks from the Hudson, where they will be putting on one of the premiere fireworks displays in the country. We should probably just go to that.

And so, we did. It was insanely crowded but we had a great spot to witness a beautiful display. 

Crowds gathering for the fireworks; us waiting for the show to begin; and fireworks!

I couldn't help but get choked up as I stood there, watching this fabulous fireworks show, after such an incredible day in New York City. I was just filled with gratitude for where life had brought me and could not believe how lucky I was to be living in such an incredible place.

So, this incredibly New York-y Fourth of July takes its place on my countdown as yet another day in our four years here that left me overwhelmed and in awe of this city and how blessed I have been to call this place my home. It may seem strange that a place boasting freak shows and people stuffing their faces with hot dogs in the most disgusting manner would bring about this kind of response, but the heart wants what it wants, right?

To read the full account of our first New York Fourth of July, click here.

Favorite NY Memories #8: "Rent" on Broadway

Oh, Broadway, how I love thee. When I started making this list, I knew Broadway had to make an appearance. But, how could I choose which particular show or moment? I have now seen 25 Broadway shows (and four off-Broadway). All were fantastic in their own ways and I loved every second of theater I have enjoyed in this city.

But then, it hit me, and it was so obvious. And so the number eight spot on my countdown goes to Rent, which we saw in its last week on Broadway, just two days after we arrived in New York City. That was the quintessential Broadway experience in my book.

Rent at the Nederlander Theater, September 2008

Before we came to New York, we caught wind that Rent would be closing, but that it had just extended its end date to be just a week after our scheduled arrival. In fact, thanks to the extension, we were able to buy tickets in the front row of the center balcony the day they went on sale. We ended up with a great view.

I remember we had arrived just two days earlier, were right in the midst of unpacking (and running up to Lincoln Center daily to use their free WiFi to connect with the world while we waited for our cable/internet to be set up), but we dropped everything and got dolled up for a night out - our first in the city. We walked to the show, which I thought was amazing. The show itself was fantastic, of course. Rent is one of my favorites, so I was not surprised. After the show we hung around the theater and ended up meeting three of the actors (those who played Mimi, Roger and Angel).

Outside the theater after the show

Happy to be new New Yorkers!

Then, we walked back home through Times Square, and it was just this "holy cow, I live in New York" kind of moment. I had wanted to live in this city for so long, and then all of a sudden, there I was, standing in the middle of Times Square on my way home to my New York City apartment after just having seen a fabulous Broadway show. I was so overcome with excitement for this new life I was entering into.

From our walk home through Times Square

Since that night, Eric and I have enjoyed so many fantastic shows, and I have been repeatedly hit with that "I'm so lucky" feeling I had the night we saw Rent, but never with quite so much intensity and excitement for what was to come. It was so surreal and so exhilarating. And that is how Rent takes its place on this list.

Click here to read all about our evening out for "Rent," or here for all Broadway-related posts.