Empire State

After finally making it to NYC after various delays I met up with a good friend from UT, Arnell around Times Square. Arnell somehow got reservations at this amazing speakeasy called "please don't tell." From what I've heard it is almost impossible to get reservations for the place.

(Arnell will hate me for putting this up)

We walk into a strange cheap hot dog restaurant and entered an enclosed phone booth. You pick up the phone and talk with someone and the other side of the booth is a secret door. It was pretty cool. The place is tiny, but really nice. We read the drink menu, but the cocktails are beyond complicated with many ingredients and mixtures I've never heard of. In the end we asked the waitress to get us something we shouldn't leave without having. I have no idea what was in the drink, but it was great, but oh so strong. Next we went to a bar hidden by a barber shop. The window shows a barber shop, but yet another secret door opens up into a big bar with a party going on...just another Wednesday night in NYC I guess. Before parting we went to a terrible looking country bar. The bartenders get out a megaphone and insult everyone. They interrupted songs to to say "Hey you fat guy with the beard. You better get her another drink before she notices your terrible dancing." It had personality to say the least.

I stayed at Big Apple Hostel half a block from Times Square. It was an amazing location at a low price and filled with Europeans. I went to sleep Wednesday night with the peaceful sound of the a/c working perfectly, but awoke 3 hours later suffocating from the smell of my European roommates sweat. The a/c broke. I showered and hit up the nearest Starbucks. The rest of the day was spent walking around NYC.  I got discount tickets to the show that won the Tony this year Memphis. The ticket put me on the 4th row. Before the show I got to see where my friend Shannon works for a band management company (sorry I don't know the technical term for it). Then I had dinner at McGees Pub. The pub is what the writers of How I Met Your Mother designed MacLaren's after. Barney was a no show unfortunately. Memphis was amazing. Everyone going to NYC should see it. After the show I met up with a friend that is now a drummer Mason and Shannon.We had a great time catching up.

Due to my early flight, I didn't get to sleep until I got on the flight. Flight was great and now we are at the Yotel. Interesting hotel.

Derek got here and we are exhausted. I'll post more soon. Dublin tomorrow morning!