As the new movie Wicked has been the latest talk, my four friends and I could not wait to watch it together. While seeing it in the movie theater would be fun, we had an even better idea. We thought, “Let’s go back to where it all started and go to NYC to see Wicked on Broadway.”

So that’s exactly what we did. My friends and I rode the train into NYC on Saturday morning from Trenton Transit Center. Only a 90-minute ride, it was smooth sailing, and we were there in no time.

About a 20-minute walk from Penn Station, we started our day with some apps and cocktails at Valerie on 45th Street. It was super cozy inside with tons of vintage artwork and beautiful holiday decorations. The service was top-notch, and they gave us complimentary warm biscuits and jam. My favorite drink was the Earl Gray martini!

Leaving Valerie, we explored the streets of New York City and headed in all directions: to Bryant Park, Rockefeller Center and even Grand Central Station. The big Christmas tree was still not lit or decorated; however, the ice-skating rink is up and running in Rockefeller Center.

Just in time for our dinner reservation, we headed to Serafina on 49th Street in the Theater District. With so many amazing choices, we all had a hard time deciding what to eat. We started with bruschetta to share, and for my main course I got the pappardelle short ribs in a Brunello di Montalcino sauce. It was so yummy; my mouth was watering with every bite.

As dinner wrapped, it was finally time to head to Gershwin Theater to get in line for Wicked. We headed to our seats, and the show started promptly at 8 p.m. Two hours and 45 minutes later, my jaw was still on the floor from the beginning of the first act. With the mix of creative storytelling and modern-day humor, the characters brought Wicked to life in the most captivating way. As someone who has never seen the show before and didn’t know much about it, I can proudly say it was the best show I have seen on Broadway thus far.

After a long day, we hopped on a lit-up rickshaw, weaving us in and out of traffic to Penn Station just in time for our 11:15 p.m. train back to Trenton.

Giddy over the magic of Wicked, my friends and I curated a long list of shows we can’t wait to see on Broadway next.

‘Til next time, NYC!

— Emily Gladu, administrative coordinator