Seeking adventure abroad
Catherine was all eager delight; — her eyes were here, there, every where, as they approached its fine and striking environs, and afterwards drove through the streets which conducted them to the hotel. She was come to be happy, and she felt happy already.
Last August I found out that an award-winning stage adaptation of Northanger Abbey would be running again in New York City in the fall. For all my interest in NA adaptations, I’d never been able to see one of the stage plays performed, and I had it on good authority that this was a very good one. I’d never visited New York City either and hadn’t taken a solo trip in several years. Clearly, the time was right for an adventure.
Adventures are not necessarily cheap, so I would have to confine the trip to one weekend, with the play being the event around which all other activities would be planned. I’ve always dreamed of visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art, so that was another must-see. Fortunately the Museum Mile was only a few blocks from Theater Ten Ten. I also made plans to meet up with a former college roommate (best known as the Virtue Queen, or VQ). Members of the on-line Republic of Pemberley are always up for an Austen-related get-together, so prior to the trip we worked out a pre-theater dinner.
I chose to stay at a brand-new Marriott on the Upper East Side, not far from the theater and also close to the Museum Mile. It was one of the more affordable hotels in the area, but even so to manage costs I shared a room with Kelley, a fellow Pemberlian and willing partner in all escapades Northangerian. The room was clean, quiet, and comfortable, and the hotel provided a complimentary continental breakfast.
My flight arrived in the midst of rush hour. As the shuttle slowly made its way uptown through Manhattan, it was encouraging to spot our pre-theater restaurant, even if it was unlikely I’d remember how to get there. By the time I made it to the hotel, I was a little travel-shocked and didn’t feel much like exploring an unfamiliar place at night. The front desk recommended Pinocchio’s Ristorante, a very nice little Italian restaurant only a block or two away. Even though it was a Friday night and we didn’t have a reservation, we were seated immediately, the service was pleasant, and the food was delicious. The dining area couldn’t have been much larger than my kitchen but they made the most of their space.
Upon returning to the hotel, Kelley and I discovered we had both brought copies of the play to look over, and as (1) neither of us turned out to be axe murderers, and (2) neither of us tire of discussing Northanger Abbey, the weekend was off to a great start.
