Actually, the great Big Apple adventure started during Mikomi Con. I realized I would not have much time to record the Zero Hour Vlog, so I did it on the morning of Mikomi Con Sunday. In between school, work, and finishing up the Mikomi Con report I was ready for a vacation to my favorite destination in the world. This would also be Jared's first time in Manhattan.

Jared and I arrived at Long Beach airport just in time for our red eye flight. In between napping and going through our itenerary, I spotted a familliar figure at the gate who would be on the same flight as us to JFK. Tired from a long day at work, I was looking forward getting some sleep on the red eye to the East Coast. Unfortunately, I did not get a wink of sleep on the five hour flight, but Jet Blue's in flight Direct TV service did keep me entertained. We arrived in New York at about 5:00AM.

I spotted the familliar figure again at the baggage carousel. After closer observation, I realized it was John Lloyd Young, Tony Award winning actor from Jersey Boys and my favorite Marius from Les Miserables. In this rather strange moment, slightly groggy, I wished him an awesome weekend in New York. Jared thought John Lloyd could pass for Tommy from Power Rangers. It was really cool to run into one of my favorite actors. I would have taken a photo, but both of us were far from photogenic for smiles on camera. (JLY - if you're reading this, hopefully we can see you again in LA at a concert or event!)

It was a rather tiresome walk to get to the Air Train to the A train. Though dawn was breaking, it was still 3:00AM in our minds. We took the train into Manhattan and got off at 34th Street Penn Station. For many New Yorkers, it was another day in the rat race. For us, we just wanted to get to our hotel as soon as possible to get some sleep. When we arrived to the Hampton Inn at 7AM. Unfortunately, the room was not ready for us. However, one of the best things about staying at the Hampton Inn was the continental breakfast. We ran into Aldo (i360) during breakfast. We were surprised to see another Los Angelino in the city. Even after breakfast, the room was still not ready for us. Jared and I decided to hit Rockefeller Plaza since we bought unlimited seven day subway passes.

First, we went to the NBC store. After all, Rockefeller Plaza is home to 30 Rock. If you are a NBC afficianado, you will fall in love with this store. There was not as much Heroes merchindise as there was last year and the year before, it seems like Dunder Mifflin company products have outshone the Tim Kring series.

Next door to the NBC store was the Nintendo Center (formerly known as the Pokemon Center). It was Jared's first time in America's one and only Nintendo themed store, so he felt like a kid in a candy store. On the other hand, I was running on no sleep that I nearly crashed while playing Scribblenauts. There was no Nurse Joy to get me fully rested in a pokeball on site.

Since the bell boy told us our room would be ready by 1:00PM, we decided to head back to the Hampton Inn for check in. Luckily, the hotel had free Internet in the lobby. I took my chances on the Jersey Boys lottery. After all, we were stuck in a plane for five hours with Frankie Valli (John Lloyd Young). Jared and I took a nap in the lobby while waiting for the room to be ready. It finally was a little bit before 1:00PM. The first thing we did was crash and get caught up with sleep.

Once we were refreshed, we decided to grab dinner at a famous restaurant along Broadway. We went to Sardi's for dinner. The restaurant is known for having famous drawn portraiture of celebrities.

We did not win the Jersey Boys tickets, so instead, we went around the typical fun things to do in Times Square. First, we went to the M&M's store. Cue "The Land of Chocolate" music! Walls and walls of chocolate.

Why does the red M&M have a rape face?

Next, we went to the Toys R Us a few blocks away. FAO Schwarz is dead. The Times Square TRU ranks as the best stop for toys. Jared picked up a Ralts plush.

We did more walking around Times Square and onto 5th Avenue back to Rockefeller Plaza. We stopped by Radio City Music Hall which was the site where Kanye West started the "I'mma let you finish..." meme (sometimes known as getting Kanye'd). There were also plenty of Chase ATM machines around the city to my surprise.

We arrived at Rockefeller Plaza again. The Nintendo and NBC stores were already closed. We thought about going to the famed Rainbow Room for drinks, but it was only open on the weekend. Ice skating was not even in season. So, for the moment, we just enjoyed what was there at Rockefeller Plaza.

On the way back to our hotel, a few of the stores were still open in Harold Square. (Harold Square should be renamed to Rick Astley Square because that's where Rick Astley Rickrolled the nation on Thanksgiving 2008.) Or, if Internet memes are not your cup of tea, Harold Square is where Macy's Thanksgiving Parade takes place and home to the Macy's department store that you see in Miracle on 34th Street. I had to do a few shopping trips because I forgot some supplies from home. As Carrie Bradshaw (Sex and the City) says, "Every year, women go to New York for two things - labels and love."

And Jared would like to point out because of his induction to Scarlet Rhapsody, our core press team is much more colorful. Yay for the token Caucasian.

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