Sitting in LaGuardia waiting for return flight home and figured I'd drop a trip report.

Arrived in NYC Tuesday afternoon. Good weather. Traffic was terrible into the city.

Checked in at our hotel ( HY36 on W. 36th Street). A newer Crowne Plaza. Very clean. Very nice staff. Room was actually a decent size.

That night, walked/strolled Times Square. Ate at Butter (W. 45th) and had a fantastic meal. Probably the best steak I have ever had (NY strip). My son had the tobacco smoked pork chop that he said was great. Daughter had the Branzino, which was also very good. Wife had the gnocchi mac and cheese. Solid bourbon selection.

Next day (Wed.).

Got breakfast at Best Bagel and Coffee on W. 35th. Bagels were damned good. Coffee was okay.

From there to Empire State Building, then a bus tour, then hit the stores for wife/daughter (5th, Park, etc. [Saks, Tiffany, Louis Vuitton]). Went to Trump Tower (damn do they have some security there) and bought a Trump cap.

Ate late lunch at The Black Tap (W. 55th) for burgers, wings and shakes. I had the Mexico City burger which had a good kick to it. Daughter had the Crazy Mexican which was good, but because it was mainly chorizo, the texture bothered her. Wife and son each had wings (spicy Korean for her, Carolina for him - these were supposedly good). Wife and I split a Cookies and Cream (Oreo) shake. Son and daughter split a Brooklyn Blackout. Both were very good (and they are big).

Headed back to room to get ready for Book of Mormon. Headed there. Show was great. Hilarious and wholly inappropriate. Kids got signed playbills and pictures with cast afterwards.

Headed back and had late dinner at restaurant connected to hotel ( TGA NYC). We all got salads, which were good as salads go.

Next day (Thurs).

Rainy in the morning and that night. Fairly clear during the bulk of the day.

Slept in until around 10. Ate late breakfast at Freidman's on 10th Ave. Excellent. Daughter and I had egg white omelettes (I had a side of bacon). Son had blueberry pancakes and wife had chicken and waffles (waffles had cheese in them and were savory).

We split up and wife and daughter did more shopping then ubered to SoHo to meet up with niece/cousin. Son and I checked out the Intrepid (which has added the Enterprise Shuttle and Concorde since I was there last), then after a pint and snack at Connelly's on W. 45th, took the subway down to Chinatown/Little Italy to meet up with niece/cousin for dinner.

Ate at Luna Ristorante on Mulberry. Very good. Both wife and son each got the Petti di Pollo alla Francese (chicken francesel. I got the Gamberi alla Vodka (shrimp in vodka sauce). Daughter got salad and ravioli. They gave us calamari while we waited, which was solid. Had dessert at Ferrara's on Grand.

Took subway back to stop near hotel and walked back.

Last day (Friday).

Clear, but windy and a little chilly. Warmed up during the day.

Took subway to south ferry to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Checked those out. Wife and daughter went back earlier to try to get tickets for a show in the evening (there's a ticket location in lower Manhatten where you can get discounted same day tix - scored 4 great seats to Beetlejuice for half-price for the evening show).

Son and I got back and went to check out Ground Zero. It's an impressive memorial, but there was a lack of reverence there (people taking among selfies). Oh well.

Met up with wife and daughter at Trinity Church and then went to Wall Street. Checked out NYSE, Federal Hall and The Continental Hotel (NY Cocoa Exchange building off Pearl). Hopped the subway to eat at Bleecker Street Pizza (7th Ave and Bleecker). Damned good pizza and not expensive. Walked to see the Friends apartment (exterior) then had ice cream at the Big Gay Ice Cream Bar on 7th Ave. (that's really the name and it was good ice cream).

Hopped on the subway and headed to Central Park. Got out at Columbus Circle and walked the bottom 3rd of the Park. Saw the Bethesda Fountain and Terrace (where scenes from Enchanted, Home Alone 2 and John Wick 2 were filmed).

Did a little more sightseeing and shopping and ate at The Ribbon on W. 44th. Was very good. I had the Pig Club, wife had the fried chicken sandwich, son had the cheeseburger and daughter had the Quinoa bowl.

Went back to hotel and changed for the show. Beetlejuice was hilarious. Great production and the two leads were phenomenal. Girl who plays Lydia is only 17 (18 next month) and she's going places.

Very fun trip.

This post was edited on 6/17/19 at 4:10 pm