The most epic weekend ever

 After a terrifying drive home in the dark Thursday night, Cesca and I got up bright and early to catch our flight to NYC to meet up with Lauren and get down to business. After an uneventful flight, we were almost killed in our stupid airport shuttle on the way to the hotel by AWFUL NYC traffic. Seriously, I've never been more sure that I was going to die.

Anywho, we got in around 3 on Friday, planned a bit and then headed out to explore. Lauren has never been to NYC before, so we went to lots of touristy places like the M&M store, FAO Schwartz, Central Park and other Times Square locations.

Our hotel at the Milford Plaza

Typical NYC tourist activity

we stopped for amazing cupcakes

OM NOM NOM

We stopped by Toys-R-Us. Lauren barely
made it out alive!

After a visit to the Discover Center's SPY exhibit (where we learned all about what real spies use in real life, and where Cesca got asked out by one of the workers LOL), we headed over to Ellen's Stardust Diner for dinner, where we were serenaded by the singing waitstaff. Our waiter even sang one of my favorite Italian songs, Con Te Partirò. Then we shopped a bit and headed over to the stage door of Phantom, since after Saturday it was sure to be a madhouse.

It was crazy crowded cause Sierra Boggess is somewhat of a musical legend nowadays, having been Andrew Lloyd Webber's star child for the past few years, but we managed to meet her and get an autograph and picture, despite rude, pushy adults being douchebags.

She's quite lovely and has gorgeous hair

Saturday, we did some more touristy things such as visiting the Central Park Zoo and exploring the snow festival they were having (complete with hot apple cider and apple cider donuts, YUM!). We stopped and did a bit of shopping/browsing, then headed back to get ready for the show. 

clearly we are related- any weird statue must be
reenacted 

found this guy hiding in the tropical zone

cesca doesn't like this snake

This snake wants to eat Cesca

NEW FAVORITE ANIMAL OMG

Polar bear!

cesca gets creative

PENGUINS

Sea Lions being cute

we found Balto!

Gotta keep those tosies warm

Just getting her Dark Knight on 

We stopped by the Majestic to take wonderful pictures

Masqueraaaaaaaaaaaade

Final lair- Lauren and I make an excellent
couple

Cesca and I fangirling over Hugh Panaro

Despite the fact that we had to wait in an ALLEY to pick up our tickets in 10 degree weather, it was worth it to be a part of this monumental event.

Fancy schmancy at the show

Champagne cause it was a super classy
event 

Curtain call with Hal Princ and Cameron MacIntosh,
the director and producer of the show

Hugh and Kyle, the Phantom and Raoul

The lovely Sierra Boggess, whose portrayal I really liked
this time

The post show celebrations included speeches and a
 4-Phantom  rendition of MOTN

For Cesca and Me, this is also a celebratory performance, as March 23, 2013 will mark our 10 year Phanniversary, and we had originally decided to go to Vegas. Well, Vegas closed early so we made the trip last summer, and so then we decided to go ON our Phanniversary. Then the contest happened, and we decided that if we won, it would be our 10 year celebration. Lo and behold, the universe said GO AND BE HAPPY. And we were.

 The energy and enthusiasm in the crowd was unmatched by any other performance of a show that I have seen. It was AMAZING and I will review it later so that those who don't want to hear my ramblings about minute hand movements and interpretations can skip it (coughAndreacough) but afterwards we decided that meeting Dan Stevens from Downton Abbey would be really awesome so we headed over to the Walter Kerr Theater and waited at the stage door...

...For about 40 min. In the FREEZING cold. Buuuuuuuuuut he's adorable and gorgeous and wonderful so it was totally worth it. I mean, look at that face!

Totally worth it

I even snagged a playbill so I could have his autograph

It was one of, if not THE best trips to NYC I have ever had. It was great to share with my sister, friends from home and other Phantom Phans. I hope to be a part of many more milestones in my lifetime, but for now I am content that the universe wanted me to go to this and made it all possible. What a great start to the new year and my last semester at IC. I can't wait to see what 25 more years of Phantom brings me!