nice day off

We were heading to Times Square to catch a show. This is probably the neighborhood you must come with low culinary expectations. Food are mostly bad to mediocre and higher priced. Services are usually fast, though. All the tourists traps are what I would normally avoid, but with a four-year-old, it could be a rather pleasant experience. After passing by a few boring Irish sports bar, I saw "Planet Hollywood." Taiyo was immediately excited. "Yes, I want to go there!"

And this visit turned out to be just what I expected. We were greeted by a photographer when we walked into the restaurant, who placed us in front of a blue screen for a souvenir shot (which of course I did not purchase.) The decor only was just so worth the visit for Taiyo. Airplanes and trains hanging from the ceiling! Rhino head and big car parts! Big murals of Chinatown and New York City and whatever! So disgustingly touristy but so fun and amazing to a four year old. It's basically bumped up fast food with reliable service, since being in Times Square you'd usually served by a cute and friendly actor type. And that was exactly what we got. 80's hit music in the background, the noise level is just comfortable for not feeling conscious about young companion. Most of the tables had at least one child under 10. And the food was rather gross - terribly-tall-and-impossible-to-bite pretty burger was so dry and tasteless. But Taiyo loved his kid's mac & cheese that was macaroni with melted velveeta. And he genuinely loved the place so I felt it wasn't totally waste of money. Although I would seriously avoid setting my foot ever again there, because the food is really gross, we may do something like this again. It just reminds me that I'm not so typical American. But I do recommend the place for dining with kids. They really love it.

A little show at New Victory Theater was another gem. "Still Awake Still" was simple cute funny cabaret show that made little kids giggle and laugh so much. How they love to laugh is so amazing. One thing we eventually forget to do as we get older. After the show, we trekked to Bryant Park for carousel ride, then to Grand Central Station for the Train Show, and had a bad crepe at Ciao Bella in the food court. Please do not have the crepe at Ciao Bella- the mix berry crepe was smeared with strawberry jam (too sweet), and crepe was dry and tasteless it seemed like a frozen crepe. Taiyo ate most of it but he didn't finish. For $6, I'd like something more edible. So food-wise it was horrible day, but still a fun-filled nice day with Taiyo.