Jay loves to drive.  Jay also loves the tv show “The Office.”  So, for my thirtieth birthday, we planned a roadtrip to visit all the key places mentioned on the show.  We visited Scranton, Pennsylvania (the town where the show is supposedly set), New York City (where the corporate head office of Dunder Mifflin is), Stamford, Connecticut (where Jim transferred to after Pam decided to follow through with marrying Roy and where Jim met Karen), Utica, New York (where Karen became the regional manager after Jim and Pam got together) and Niagara Falls (where Jim and Pam had their wedding).

DAY 1

The Plan: Pickup rental car around noon and motor down to Scranton in 6 hours.  Walk around and take photos during sunset.  Drive to Wilkes-Barre for dinner at the Chilis (season 2 episode 1: where the Dundies were held and season 2 episode 7: where Michael wins back a client).

What really happened: Jay left work late and we didn’t leave Toronto until 2pm.  He drove like a granny and 8 hours later, we arrived in pitch dark Scranton.  We checked in to the Lackawanna Hotel which used to be a train station and drove 22 minutes out to Wilkes-Barre.  The Chilis was open late so I downed half a rack of ribs before closing time.  We made it back to Scranton in time to snap a few photos before the Electric City sign shut off at midnight. (season 6 episode 13: Michael and Dwight rap about Scranton the Electric City).

DAY 2

The Plan: Wake up early and drive 2 hours to New York City.  Lunch at the Olive Garden in Times Square.  Pick up a few things from Ikea, Home Depot and Walmart out in the suburbs.  Shopping at Steve Madden, Borders, Macy’s and Chanel in Manhattan and swing by Bon Chon for some Korean fried chicken and soju.

What really happened:  Woke up late to explore Scranton.  We sat on the town square as Jay had his macchiato (his new chichi drink of choice: a single short espresso topped with foam and raw sugar).  Some local Asians volunteered to take a photo of us in front of the paper factory featured in the opening credits of “The Office.”  Shopped at a Home Depot and Walmart nearby and sat in Father’s Day weekend traffic all the way to the Ikea in Newark.  We had a late lunch (4pm) of chicken fingers at Ikea, bought what we needed and sat in traffic all the way to the Lincoln Tunnel.  We checked in to the Bryant Park Hotel and did some shopping before returning for a bath.  We went to the Olive Garden for another near midnight meal.  Jay took me for an after dinner walk away from busy Time Square (he doesn’t like crowds) along 5th Avenue where the homeless people sleep at night.  We made it to the edge of Central Park and went into the flagship Apple Store which is open 24 hours.  After playing with the iPads for a bit, we walked 20 blocks on my blistered feet back to the hotel.

DAY 3

The Plan:  Wake up really early and drive 8 hours to Niagara Falls via Stamford, Connecticut and Utica, New York .

What really happened: Slept in….it’s the Bryant Park Hotel, after all.  Had a great lunch at a Peruvian restaurant in Stamford.  Jay had his chichi espresso at a Starbucks which was attached to a used bookstore which was attached to the public library.  Bought a book entitled “How to be a Canadian.” Read that book aloud all the way to Utica which looked a lot more run down than Stamford.  Spent the whole day paying New York State tolls.  Entered the Canadian side of the falls just as the fireworks started.  Missed dinner….the voucher is still good for another time.  Took photos of the falls lit up at night.  Ate at TGI Fridays next to our hotel.  Took a bath in the fallsview jacuzzi.

DAY 4

The Plan: Sleep in, breakfast buffet, drive home.

What really happened:  TGI Fridays hours before a breakfast buffet — bad idea.  (My burger had deep fried mozzarella and cheese and bacon!)  Ate nothing but fruit and yogurt at the buffet.  I enjoyed the bottomless perk coffee while Jay argued that they should invest in an espresso machine.  “It’s an international tourist attraction.”  Drove to Toronto, returned the rental car and slept for the rest of the day.

Nothing went as planned but we had a great time….a mantra for turning thirty!