the island manhattan.

i would consider myself an island girl.  true, i was born and raised in a land locked state with bear lake being the closest thing to the beach.  another truth, i have never been to hawaii.  but no.  i am not the hula-dancing-lei-wearing-beach-bum island type. but, rather, i am the concrete jungle type of island girl. 
perhaps the most romantic lyric i have ever heard is: "if i could open my arms and span the length of the isle manhatten, i'd bring it to where you are" {marching bands of manhattan, death cab.}
i love new york city.  {no duh, right?}  i love it like i love salt lake city, movies, sev, taylorsville dayzz, and if i dare say, i love it like i love my birthday.  yes, that much.  and my beautiful sister girl, miss marie, is off to fall in love with my city.  so, my love, this is for you.  this is how to fall in love with my city.

1.  BROADWAY!  seriously.  life changing happens there.  my suggestions include, but aren't limited to:  wicked, west side story, wicked, billy elliot, in the heights, promises promises, and wicked.  also, watch the movie every little step because then you'll love broadway even more.
2.  shop soho.  so unique.  so marie and paige.  and go into every store that you might maybe want to, even a little bit.  don't skip any.  even if your feet hurt and you are hot and you don't think it will be as magical as you think, trust me, it will be magical.  also check out other places outside times square or fifth avenue, because that is where the true new york city beauty is...but you have to see time square and fifth avenue for obvious reasons.
3.  eat at true new york places.  my suggestions:  big nick's pizza, serendipity {a bit cliche, but totally brilliant and more than worth the wait. and the crazy prices.}, and junior's cheesecake.  please please don't eat anywhere you have before {i.e. mcdonalds, sbarro...gross.}  best food ever belongs in nyc!
4.  take the subway.  even though gossip girl looks down on it, doesn't mean it's not great.  it's not the cleanest thing ever and sometimes your family leaves you behind when you're metro card doesn't work and you think you are going to be eaten by natives, but it's part of the experience.  taxi's aren't worth it.  i still carry around my broken metro card.
5.  watch every new york city movie you can before you go.  seeing movie scenes in real life is the best thing ever, especially for movie lovers like my family.  plus, nothing is better than saying "i've been there" when watching goodies such as you've got mail.

those are my personal lovlies.  if you don't love new york city using these tips then you're crazy...or i am...or something.  but i cannot leave out just a few more must sees.  dylan's candy.  rockefeller plaza.  central park {be sure to go right in the middle or else you'll miss some serious treats}.  the stairs at the met {marie, i trust you know why this is important}.  the manhattan temple {the most beautiful building in the entire city}.  if you, marie, are feeling adventurous, i highly recommend taking classes at broadway dance center {best thing ever}.  nyu and julliard.  touristy places are good {i.e.  lady liberty, empire state building, blah blah blah}.  and, obviously, harlem {love it}.  i could go on all day.

marie, remember to take a million pictures and pray that your camera doesn't break on top of the e.s.b. like ours did.  and write down everything so i can hear your list of goodies for my trip in april!  also check this out, if you haven't already.

i love you, new york city.  and i know you will too, miss marie.