Would you not agree that Mindy's cheesecake is the best cheesecake alive?
It would seem only right and proper that for the first blog of the New Year I was back in Boston… but circumstances would mean that I am once again in New York City- this time for a bit of a girls’ weekend. I feel I should point out right from the start that I know I am no longer 18, and while I wouldn’t say I was tucked up in my bed by ten pm, I am more than happy to admit that the night did end with a cup of hot chocolate and a slice of brownie cheesecake in Lindy’s. I have to say that in the best Sky Masterson (Guys and Dolls) fashion I am a bit partial to a slice of Lindy’s cheesecake, and I have been since the first time I went to New York and tried it. Lindy’s was originally opened on Broadway (between 49th and 50th) by Leo “Lindy” Linderman and his wife Clara in 1921, this location was sold in 1969, and now there are two locations, both on 7th Avenue- one at 52nd and one at 33rd. It was the location at 33rd that we frequented.
Lindy’s has had many famous and infamous patrons over the years; these are immortalized on the walls of the restaurants in pictures and quotes, but also I think, just through urban legend. Journalist Victor Riesel was attacked with acid as he left the restaurant in 1956, actor Milton Berle was a near nightly visitor and writer Damon Runyon was a fan. It was his story that later became the Guys and Dolls in which Lindy’s is referenced as “Mindy’s”. Nonetheless the cheesecake is just as good.
Hot chocolate and cheesecake aside the real reason for the trip to New York was to see a show. Luckily, the tickets for the show were free, having been a free draw prize from the previous theatre trip to New York, so the entertainment for the night was “Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage” http://www.missabigailsguide.com/ staring Eve Plumb of “The Brady Bunch” fame. The website for this show and the efforts the staff go to beforehand to try and promote audience participation are commendable. The day before the show we received a chatty informal email with hints about where to eat, and a bit of a preamble about the nature of the show and the audience involvement on the night. I’m not generally a big fan of audience involvement- I have paid to be entertained not to entertain others- but these tickets were free so I was prepared to give a little leeway.
For a free show, it was well worth the money! I do think it is a great idea, the website and email I mentioned, the audience fills in question cards with dating issues, the front of house staff run around during the show with handouts and cards that reference material that is being talked about, the theater is quite intimate and chat show like, and best of all you get a free pen; always a winner in my book. Unfortunately the execution was just not up to the level of preparation, and it was a bit of a let down. The actors were very wooden, and struggled to remember lines, some lines were written on pieces of paper and tucked into books, yet still they managed to make mistakes. There are only two characters and they do have to carry the entire show, but at 1 hour 10 mins and with such a small set chemistry and pizzaz are essential to keeping an audience engaged. As it was I felt a lot of the jokes were underdeveloped or flat in delivery, and audience participation was cajoled by a very easy on the eye actor coaxing people onto the stage.
Not to be unfair, “Love, Lust or Stalker” was an entertaining game and did get some car time on the way home, but then so did “Guess What I am Counting”, “The License Plate Game”, “Just a Minute” and “Botticelli” so all in context. I would also say that I think I am pretty good at the stalker aspect of that game, but I’m not really sure that is something I need to be advertising- it could make future endeavors a little tricky J
All in all, and I know I have sounded a little harsh, a weekend in New York for $54.00, including hotel, a show and parking can’t really be complained at. I have had great company, so many laughs I was crying at one point, and a fantastic trip with awesome people- thanks girls.
P.S. In AOB fluffy pink, Union Jack, silver sequins and bright red? Did I get it right, or miss one out?
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