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Throwback to July 1, 2012

1. Riding Amtrak in the “quiet car” means you are spared from hearing loud talking and/or other people’s cell phone conversations.

2. Times Square, especially at night, overloads many of your senses.

3. Porgy and Bess rightfully earned its Tony award as Best Revival–the Gershwins are timeless and the cast was incredible.

4. Choosing to leave the camera and cell phone in the hotel safe and just EXPERIENCING modern art is strangely appropriate and liberating.

5. Brian is the kind of wonderful friend that you can re-connect with immediately, even if you haven’t seen him in 19 years.

6. Brian can be counted on to introduce you to porchetta and Brooklyn pizza and lobster roll and a Salty Pimp ice cream cone.

7. Yeah, we may think we are forward-thinking and accepting, but seeing a topless young woman walking toward us in Times Square is nonetheless surprising.

8. An hour-long wait to get to the observation deck of the Empire State Building on a clear Sunday night is a small price to pay to cross one more thing off your bucket list.

 9. There are 10 US restaurants at the Michelin three star level, the highest recognition in the culinary world.

10. If you plan ahead by weeks, you too can dine at one of these restaurants.

11. The cocktails will be sublime, the entrees amazing, and the desserts breathtaking.

12. You will be grateful that your wonderful spouse and you see eye to eye on the necessity of a big splurge to usher in the milestone birthday.