Travel Plans #3

Even the most touristy plans can be magical once in a while

Mar 12, 2025

Hi friends!

Welcome to “Travel Plans”. I thought it would be fun to share some anecdotes and recommendations of the places I’ve visited over the years. This will also be the place to share some of my travel photography and any updates on my website.

Dinner and a Show on Broadway, New York City

In New York City, Times Square is at the centre of the tourism hurricane. If The Oculus is Manhattan’s backbone, Times Square is the beating pulse of the city.

If you have gathered the small fortune that visiting New York City requires nowadays, I say go all in—save up a little more and splurge on a Broadway show. (Don’t worry, I’ll tell you where to find cheaper tickets in a minute.)

My husband grew up about an hour from Manhattan, so when we visit his family, we’ve made it a tradition to escape into the city for a date night. The only valid excuse for spending more than ten minutes in Times Square is having Broadway tickets in hand because, during the day, Times Square is a never-ending game of dodging slow walkers and mysterious smells. It’s smaller than it looks in the movies and if you try standing in the middle of the street for the iconic photo, you’ll probably get run over.

We take public transport to Port Authority and choose a hotel within walking distance to avoid any delays from traffic or unpredictable subway schedules. After that, we grab sushi at Natsumi (currently temporarily closed), but there are plenty of other great options in the area—I’ll list a few that look promising below. After that, I carry myself and all of my excitement through the chaotic streets of Midtown in heels, until I make it to the theatre.

To a European kid, Broadway always felt as far away and unattainable as Disney World. I still can’t believe I’ve seen multiple Broadway shows because, growing up, this was the dream in my family. I grew up in a family of artists, and watching an uncle, cousin, or even a parent take the stage fills me with an overwhelming mix of joy, gratitude, pride, and excitement.

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Rent – I saw this for the first time in NYC when I was fifteen. It’s a classic and feels almost like a Broadway rite of passage.
Aladdin – Be amazed by the Genie and his tricks and colourful ensemble.
Into the Woods – What a dream, with the ensemble being pitch-perfect at all times and the orchestra live onstage.
Sweeney Todd – As a big fan of Tim Burton’s movie, seeing it on Broadway surpassed all my expectations. The performances were outstanding, and the set design was incredible.
The Book of Mormon – I laughed so hard it was almost grotesque, which I think is the point of this show. The performances were perfect. (Fun fact, there was a guy in the second row who didn’t even chuckle through the whole thing… must’ve been Mormon.)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – The only non-musical on this list, but, my gosh, just imagine what you can do in a theatre when the budget for the show is unlimited (the magic looked real!) It helps that the whole theatre is Harry Potter-themed too.

Even if you “kind of” like musicals and the theatre, Broadway is worth every penny. The talent, the sets, the energy—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience every single time.

After the show walking back into Times Square looks different. You’re still riding the high of the show, floating through the chaos in that dream-like state that shows leave you in. You look up and see the neon lights, the honking taxis, the heat rising from the pavement and it all makes sense in a way it didn’t before.

Broadway on a Budget

For same-day Broadway tickets, walk to TKTS Lincoln Center. If you have your heart set on a particular show, it’s best to start lining up around 9 AM. If you’re flexible with your options, 10 AM should be fine—that’s how we managed to see Aladdin. The booth opens at 11 AM.There are probably other hacks, but this is the most reliable for us.

(And when Kevin can’t go, I’ll go in and out of the city with my sister-in-law no problem, she’s as fanatic of musicals as I am. Singing in the car on the way there is part of the ritual.)