First off: Obligatory (belated) “Happy Birthday!” to Sam. Second, this is the third installment of her incredible first trip to NYC. Here are the others:
And here is part 3:
Sunday was my actual birthday. We had a plan already set for the day. We had an early showing of “Little Shop of Horrors”. Now, this was Off-Broadway, so it was a more intimate setting. I did find that people were extremely underdressed for this show. Look, I’m not saying you had to have on your Sunday’s best, but Cookie Monster pajama pants aren’t it.
We actually had little slips of paper in our programs that told us that we would be watching a few of the understudies in this performance. Man, you couldn’t tell. Everyone was so good; even the Doo Wop street performer girls were top notch! And because the theater was so small, you really got to see everyone’s facial expressions.
Andy Karl (I had to look this guy up afterward) played multiple characters throughout the show, but him as Orin Scrivello D.D.S. was so damn good. What a talented guy, and his physical comedy was on point. (Jacki Note: Well spotted, I looked him up, and he’s been nominated for a Tony THREE TIMES!!! Including originating the role of Rocky in the musical of the same name. Yes, it is based on the Sylvester Stallone movie. I gotta see this musical, y’all. Revival, anyone?)
The puppets and robotics used to be Audrey II were so cool! At the end of the show, they even rolled out a TV on a cart to show a camera view of someone inside (or underneath?) who was controlling the giant plant.
Chasing Mr. Robot to Coney Island
Our next stop was Coney Island! Yeah, maybe it is a bit of a trip to get out there, but this was one of the top places on my list to hit. My motivation for going to Coney Island is my obsession with the show “Mr. Robot”. The whole city was full of “Mr. Robot” backdrops and scenes, but there’s something about Coney Island and the Ferris wheel and the arcade that is F-Society’s headquarters…I just had to go. (Jacki note: I am similarly obsessed with this show and have a pair of F-Society socks my daughter D got for me when she lived in NYC and there was a “Mr. Robot” pop-up shop.)
We walked around the pier a bit. It gave such a nostalgic feel, like a fair lost in time. It seemed like a lot of the patrons there were regulars, and everyone genuinely seemed to be having a great time.
I, of course, had to check out the El Dorado Arcade and found the door that had F-Society on it and took a pic next to it like the true nerd I am. (Jacki note: the other reason to go to Coney Island is to live your “The Warriors” dreams.)
Taking on The Cyclone at Luna Park
We decided to brave The Cyclone, the giant wooden roller coaster out there at Luna Park. That thing opened in 1927! I forgot that, when I was reading about it, someone said that if you are an adult, you should ride in one seat by yourself, but instead I muffin-stuffed my long legs into this tiny seat with my husband.
In some way, I almost felt safer this way, as if it would be too tight to fly out. The teens working the coaster were great. They seemed to really enjoy their job and the lore around the coaster, which really made the experience more fun because they didn’t seem miserable like some ride operators.
As soon as we started to go up this rickety ass lift, I felt like maybe I had made a mistake and was about to have a panic attack. I kept myself calm enough to make it to the top, and then we started flying! And I do mean we were lifting out of our seats and in the air for most of the ride, and I am not sure how that is even physically possible with how we were crammed in there, but we definitely got a lot of airtime. (Jacki note: my favorite part of the wooden rollercoaster experience. Also, I think wooden roller coasters are the superior coaster, and I know that is an unpopular opinion. I used to love to go to Fun Spot and ride their wooden coaster over and over and over again.)
The Best Seven Dollars I Spent in Brooklyn
They also tell you where the camera is going to be on the ride so you can be ready for the picture, which I wish everyone would do, like don’t you want people to buy these things? If I’m looking the other way or my hair is in my face or whatever, I ain’t gonna waste my money.
I thought for sure the price of the photo would be outrageous, but I asked anyway. The physical print was like $30, I think, but she then said, “But I can just send you a digital copy for $7.”
Hell yeah! It was a fun way to end our day in Brooklyn.
What will tomorrow bring for our intrepid traveler?
OMG White Lightning is my fav ride at Fun Spot too! I also have love for the wooden coasters, the best!