and finally, day three of three

My mom is not a big theater lover.  Ten years ago I took her to see Hugh Jackman in The Boy from Oz.  I thought it was amazing.  My mom’s assessment was less enthusiastic. “It was okay,” was her review.

But Valerie is insistent that we see a matinee.  “You can’t come to New York and NOT see a show.” 

We know my mom would not enjoy a drama, and there are no decent comedies playing that we think she would like.  That leaves musicals.

Valerie and I go to theater often. So finding a good show that neither of us has seen, or a show we’ve seen and would see again, is a challenge.

The ONLY musical neither Valerie nor I have seen is Wicked, and that's because neither of us has a strong interest in it.  M saw it recently and texted me every ten minutes through the entire 2 hours and 45 minutes of the show, updating me as her level of boredom escalated. 

We consider everything worth seeing.

Book of Mormon?  Tickets are impossible to get, and Val and I have both seen it.

Jersey Boys?  Everyone, including my mom, has seen it.

Kinky Boots?  Valerie saw it and has no interest in seeing it again.

Beautiful?  Valerie and I have both seen it.  Valerie thinks my mom would love it. We try, but can’t get tickets.

Cabaret?  I saw it in 1998 but would see it again.  My mom has an interest in anything Nazi-Germany related.  Valerie is lukewarm (at best).

I suggest a private tour of lower Manhattan instead but Valerie has zero interest.

Finally, we choose Motown.  Valerie has seen it, but thinks my mom will enjoy it, as she’ll be familiar with much of the music. 

And Valerie is right.  

We have a great lunch at the iconic Joe Allen's, and then see Motown. We all love it.  The book is flawed, but the music is sensational.  At one point in the packed theater, everyone is holding hands and swaying in their seats as a dead ringer for Diana Ross sings Reach Out And Touch (Someone’s Hand).  During the curtain call, it is announced that Stevie Wonder will perform, and for a second, Jean and I actually believe it’s the real Stevie Wonder.

My mom easily adapts to New York living, and with no argument, agrees to a 7:30 reservation at Ethos Gallery, an excellent Greek restaurant on the eastside.

The restaurant is loud, but my mom loves all the energy.  We are given a choice booth near the front of the restaurant. 

My favorite dish there is the outstanding langoustines.  But everything we order is fantastic.

The restaurant makes a lot out of birthdays, and when dessert comes it is with a big sparkler in a piece of baklava, accompanied by very loud, conversation-stopping music.  My mom is happy to be with her girls.  It’s a great end to a fabulous three days.

We have already begun talking about my mom's 86th.  The bar keeps getting higher.