I’m not a morning person, but when Mr. Smith nudged me last Saturday morning at 6:00 a.m. and said “hey, you’re the one who wanted to get into the city early”, I popped right up and headed for the shower. By 8:00 a.m., Mr Smith, Jeanne and I were headed into the Big Apple.

We had a crisp, clear, sunny fall day and a smooth drive in. Then we hit Midtown. Traffic that morning gave new meaning to gridlock and on top of that the street in front of our hotel was closed for a street fair. With my (unsolicited/unwanted) backseat driving, Mr. Smith persevered and we finally arrived at our hotel.

We had 2:00 p.m. theater tickets so after checking our luggage, we hailed a cab and headed out to grab some lunch at Chez Josephine, a lovely quirky little place on 42nd Street, started by Jean-Claude Baker, son of the eponymous Josephine Baker. Our taxi ride took FOREVER due to all the traffic so we were a bit rushed and didn’t get to truly appreciate the restaurant and it is on the list for a return visit.

After our rushed lunch, we walked over to the Shubert Theater for the 2:00 p.m. matinee of To Kill A Mocking Bird. Based on the 1960 novel of the same name by Harper Lee, it was adapted for the stage by Aaron Sorkin. I’ve read the book and I’ve seen the movie but neither of those moved me like the play. Mr. Sorkin did a brilliant job, including giving new meaning to the words All Rise. Mr. Smith shared that he had always thought All Rise was simply a nod of respect to the judge. Instead, the words are elevated to a higher meaning, making “All Rise” a call for decency and compassion.

After the play, we headed over to The Algonquin for a drink. The Algonquin is Midtown’s oldest hotel and was a gathering place for writers in the Roaring 20s. It was designated as a National Literary Landmark by the Friends of Libraries USA in 1996. While sipping my delicious Cosmopolitan, I did my best to channel some of that extraordinary writing talent that used to lunch there daily.

After our cocktail, we continued our walk back to the hotel to freshen up for dinner. This posted sign caught my attention as I am a Madame Secretary fan. And it reminded me of being in the city years ago with Mr. Smith and our friends the Pillers. On our last morning there, Mr. Smith headed out for a business meeting and Bob, LouAnne and I headed out to Rockefeller Center to check out the Today show that morning. We walked out of the Waldorf there were large towers of lights set up and several official looking folk with clipboards running around. One of the clipboard commandoes asked “Are you with the TV pilot?” In our trustworthy midwestern way, we said “No” and were quickly asked to leave the area. Later we decided that should that happen again we would answer “Yes” and ask where the food truck was located. We may have missed our 60 seconds of fame.

We returned to the hotel and freshened up for dinner, before heading to DeGrazia Restaurant for a delicious dinner. We toasted Jeanne’s 77 years on planet earth.

Jeanne’s one birthday request was Sunday brunch at Tavern On The Green. She had fond memories of taking her sons there many years ago. Mr. Smith and I had never been there so we were more than happy to accommodate her request. As former residents of Ithaca, NY in the Finger Lakes Area, we were delighted to see Konstantine Frank’s Sparkling Riesling on their wine list. We had a delightful meal – I had avocado poached eggs. Jeanne had steak and eggs, Mr. Smith had Eggs Benedict but saved room for a delightful dessert of cheesecake.

After brunch, we walked through Central Park, heading to the New York Historical Society to see the exhibit LIFE: Six Women Photographers. From the early 1930s through the 1970s, LIFE Magazine retained a few women photographers who played an important role in creating modern photojournalism.

All too soon it was time to head home but we all felt energized by our time in the city that never sleeps. A fall weekend in the city is something everyone should experience at least once in their lives. Grab your favorite sweater and stroll the streets. Ride the subway and explore the different sections. And if you have the chance to go see To Kill A Mockingbird, do it. It’s worth every penny. Here are a few of my tips to help you with your own trip.

1. Bring lots of small bills – $1s and $5s for tipping. All the service employees rely on these tips. The doorman, the bellhops and porters. In the bustle of packing up when we’re leaving, I am sometimes guilty of forgetting to leave a tip for housekeeping and really, where would we be without housekeeping. So you don’t make my faux pas, here’s A Guide to Tipping in NYC.
2. Allow plenty of time to get where you’re going. Remember that walking is sometimes faster than a taxi – who wants to watch the meter climb as you sit in gridlock?
3. Wear comfortable shoes. These don’t have to be big, ugly, white sneakers. There is a plethora of attractive, comfortable shoes if you take time to hunt them down. I have spent much time in the city watching women – young and old – shifting from one foot to the other, trying to find a bit of comfort.
4. If you walk out of your hotel and into a filming, just go with it and act like you belong there.
5. Don’t give your spouse unsolicited driving advice. They don’t want it and don’t need it. At least that’s what Mr. Smith’s says.

C’est la vie.