Death Becomes Her and Omakase

This is our last full day in New York City.  It is the warmest day we have experienced since we arrived.  it almost felt balmy.  But most of the days here have been blistery cold.  We have seen so many bicyclists delivering Grub Hub with gloves wrapped in duct tape on the handle bars.  This way they just need to stick their hands in the secured gloves and set off.

Since it was such a nice day we walked over to Carnegie Diner, a place we had already sampled.  We even ordered the exact same meals we did last time we ate there.  We know what we like.  After breakfast, Gayle headed back to the room to rest her back before our matinee of Death Becomes Her.  I went shopping.  I love shopping in museum gift stores.  They are filled with things I would love to own.  I was searching for earrings.  I like to buy earrings when I travel.  Then when I wear them I remember my trip and smile.  I didn't find earrings I loved but I did find a present for my grandson and a gift for a friend.

I enjoyed my little excursion.  There is art on street corners....

and graffiti messages....

and models/influencers/crazy rich people getting their photos taken walking down the middle of Fifth Ave.

As I was out enjoying this amazing city I got a text from TodayTix, the app Gayle and I used to get tickets to many of the shows we are experiencing on this trip.  The text said I was receiving a very important email about Death Becomes Her and I should check my email "as soon as possible".  The lead, Megan Hilty, would not be performing this afternoon.  It didn't say who was taking her place.  They offered us a full refund or a 110% credit on the app.  Everything Gayle and I read said that TodayTix does not refund if the "over the title performer" is not available for a particular show.  But we are being offered a refund for just that scenario.  Hmmmm?  We looked around at other matinees we might attend instead and ultimately decided to stick with Death Becomes Her.

I loved the musical.  It was campy and very funny in a dark comedy way....and really well done.  The sets were amazing; the singing was outstanding; the choreography was fun; the slow motion fall down the stairs was incredible; and the shotgun hole through Helen Sharp was mystifying.  (Rating 92)

There was also some unexpected intermission drama.  A woman two rows in front of us had been taking photos during the musical.  An usher told her to stop.  During the intermission the usher, who had asked her to stop, went back over to have a further conversation with her.  She was belligerent about it.  The usher finally walked away and stood near me.  She got up and followed him.  She wanted to continue the "conversation".  At one point she turned, pointed at me and said, "This is the woman behind the counter who offered me free tickets to the 9/11 exhibit."  I said, "I don't work here."  She turned back to the usher and said, "I have asbestos in my brain and I am dying."  Then she looked back at me and said again, "You are the woman behind the counter who offered me the free tickets to the 9/11 exhibit."  Again, I said, "I don't work here".  Then she turned back to the usher and said, "I have asbestos in my brain and I am dying".  Realizing that we may find ourselves inside this same weird loop forever, the usher said, "I'm sorry to hear that.  Please enjoy the rest of the show."  

There were several audience members seated nearby who enjoyed this intermission show.  Once the woman finally returned to her seat, these audience members were commiserating with the usher.  I leaned over and said, "I have free tickets to the 9/11 exhibit if you are interested".  They looked so stunned.  They thought I was serious.

After the show Gayle and I wandered over to the Chemistry Room, a sushi restaurant.  We had reservations for Omakase.  We were given the option for a 12 course or 15 course dinner.  We went for the 15 course!  It is the last night of our NYC adventure and we wanted to suck the marrow out....I mean eat the raw fish out of this experience.  We took photos of every course.  

The first course began with the Itamae (assistant chef) burning bamboo and then putting a cup over it to smoke the sides of the glass for our smoked miso soup.

My favorite course was the box set of Shisho Fraiche Soup, Langoustine and Chawanmushi.  

I have always thought that gold wrapped or gold sprinkled food was silly and sinful.  I still do but I had gold on several courses tonight.  Call me a hypocrite.

The sea trout with kimchi was a delight.

I liked the Otoro (fatty tuna).  Gayle is a fan of Akam (lean tuna).

We had one course with uni (sea urchin).  The Itamae showed us the box of uni.

Because we were so delighted and giggly with each course we were given raw spot prawn and fried spot prawn.  The fried spot prawn came with the eyes.  I'm not a fan.

The meal ended with a yuzu cheesecake with the cutest little fork.  This was only my second Omakase experience.  It was Gayle's first time to do Omakase.  She admitted that she was a bit frightened by the idea.  But she is now a convert.

I got one last photo of Times Square and we headed back to our hotel to do some packing and so Gayle could watch her beloved Kansas City Chiefs compete for the AFC championship.  

We will set our alarms tonight for the first and only time on this trip.  We have scheduled a Town Car to drive us to La Guardia in the morning and we don't want to miss our flights home.