a typical tuesday night in new york city

i got free passes to an early screening of the new nicholas sparks penned movie "safe haven".  let me state that i would NOT have gone to see this movie if it required me to pay for the viewing pleasure.  i generally find nicholas sparks adaptions for screen annoying.  my one exception to this rule is "the notebook". 

 

any hoo...my buddy lauri agreed to accompany me to the screening, which was taking place at one of the largest movie theaters in the city.  so after work i trekked over to 42nd street in times square.  let me paint you a picture of my trek.

• tourists clogged every inch of space on the sidewalk.
• "characters" like the statue of liberty, mickey mouse and dora the explorer were out in force waiting for parents to shove their kids their way for a picture that would cost the parents $5.
• wind howling down broadway so it felt like my coat was a light wind breaker.
• sirens from two firetrucks screamed through the square as they tried to negotiate speed without injuring oblivious tourists.
• two NYPD vans parked with lights flashing directly outside the movie theater entrance.
• about 100 teenagers yelling and holding signs outside the movie theater entrance because some boy band was holding a free screening of their concert film.  pandemonium.
• about 12 cops barricading the entrance.
• the wind is now colder because i've ventured closer to the water (aka hudson river)
• was jostled while trying to make my way to front of crowd to have a little chat with an NYPD officer so i can gain entrance to the theater.
• finally a movie theater employee opened the door so i could walk through and stand in line with about 80 other women for the screening.

luckily once i got inside all was rosy.  the generous screening promoters didn't just offer us the free viewing but it came with a small popcorn and soda.  boo-yah!  throughout the movie, lauri and i had fun playing the game "guess what happens next".  the majority of our guesses were accurate.  well done us.

 

so that is a typical february tuesday night in manhattan.