Robin's NYC Adventure #2 To See NKOTB on Today Show About This Page:

[RobinKay6573]

A Little Background:

I have loved New Kids on the Block since I was 15 years old. My first love my Joey McIntyre. I would gaze a photos of him on my wall and just droll. Sometime in 1990 I discovered Donnie Wahlberg. My love for Joey went out the window and an almost two decade obsession with Donnie begun. I moved to Boston in 1992 to attend college. In the first month my friend Marisa found out that our school was less then a mile from Joey McIntyre’s house. We would often take walks to his house, giggle alittle and turn around and go back to school. Yes it was silly but we were teenagers. Marisa loved Jordan, I was a Donnie girl and Sandy was in love with Joe. As time went on Marisa, Sandy and I went our separate ways never having realized the dream of meeting any of the members of New Kids on the Block (despite the fact that we lived in their hometown).


Me, Sandy and Marisa across from Joey McIntyre's House
Brookline, MA 1993

I married a man named John who was originally from the neighborhood of Dorchester in the city of Boston. Dorchester is the neighborhood that 4 of the five members of NKOTB grew up. John knew of the guys and actually went to the same school as Donnie and Danny as some point. So close yet, so far. When we would go back to John’s old neighborhood I would be on the look-out for anything NKOTB related. We moved to Michigan in 1995. It broke my heart to leave Boston.

New Kids on the Block broke up in the spring of 1994. Sadly I had no idea. My life with my husband had enveloped my life. With school and work there was not time for much else. I didn’t know they had broken up until 1995 and I felt terribly guilty. I had abandoned them.

Fast forward to January 2008, I was watching a morning news program called The Daily Buzz. They are based in Orlando and often have Disney related stuff on there. Also the anchors aren’t your normal stuffy reporters. I in the bathroom brushing my teeth when I hear the first few notes to Hangin’ Tough, I dropped my toothbrush and went into the living room. After the commercial a photo of Joey, Jon, Danny, Donnie and Jordan popped up on the screen and the anchor said, “According to People Magazine New Kids on the Block are going to reunite.” I shook my head in disbelief and thought to myself, “After 14 years? Noooo…can’t be.” I rewound my DVR. I had to sit down. This was big.

I joined a message board for New Kids fans a couple of days later. For months we all sat and waited to see what was going to happen. Would there be an album? A tour? How many dates? When? Were all 5 going to be involved? When would we hear word? Finally on March 31 it was confirmed, New Kids on the Block were reuniting with all 5 members and they would be on the Today Show to make an announcement on April 4!!

My friend Melissa begged me to go with her to New York City. I wanted to but I just couldn’t drop everything and go. I stayed behind and watched it on TV. There they were Danny, Donnie, Jordan, Joey and Jonathan dressed in suites looking as sexy as ever in 2008!! It was pouring rain. Joey commented, “We have the best fans they are standing out here in the pouring rain like it was a sunny day.” Joey had no idea how sunny that day actually was.

My mom called me that morning and laughed, “You never know who will come out from behind the curtain.” When I first heard about the possibility of a reunion I had told everyone that I would be at their first live performance no matter where it was. Donnie had announced that their first live performance together in 15 years would happen right there on the Today Show in May 16. I was on the computer that afternoon checking airfares.

[chezp]

Great start Robin!

[DrDolphin]

Wonderful start!

[Colexis Mom]

Great start Robin!!

[lauren-roxy]

Great start Robin!!

[ripkensnana]

GET ON WITH IT!!!! (Yeah, I've heard it all already....but the rest of these people haven't....)

[RobinKay6573]

Within the 5 weeks they announced four concert dates in 4 cities, Toronto , Boston , New York and Chicago . Tickets sold out for each show between 3 and 10 minutes. Melissa and I didn’t stand a chance. We tried to buy VIP tickets (which are a more expensive ticket package that include a meet and greet with the band) but they also sold out quickly. We both prayed that more dates would be released. Finally some more VIP tickets opened up for Boston . Melissa was having some financial problems and told me that she was not even sure if she could afford to go to a concert. I called Erin and asked if she wanted me to get the tickets and she said, “Yeah, go for it.” I was able to get them before they sold out. On the drive home from work I called Erin and told her I got the tickets. We were both crying….we were not only going to go to a concert we were going to meet New Kids on the Block!

Five short weeks later my friend Melissa and landed in New York City . We arrive at 30 Rockefeller center just after three and found a place at the end of the line. It was great being there with so many people who loved NKOTB as much as I did. Erin who I met on Passporter boards years ago was my lifeline to the message boards back home. She would tell me when new stuff was posted. Erin said she was living vicariously though me and she wished she could have been there. When all was said and done there were over 4000 people lined up for the show. I was about 200 back in line and waited 17 hours. The line wrapped around 4 city blocks!!



This was the line for the Today Show in May.

Seeing the guys live was amazing even though we were pretty far away from the stage. It was also pouring rain but no one seemed to care. Later Donnie commented that he wished the stage was higher because he knew the fans in the back could not see. I was just happy to be there…it was the closest I had ever been to the group.


This is the view from where I was standing. The tent in the back was behind the stage.

After the performance the guys came out to the little platform in front of me. I was able to touch all five of the guys and spoke briefly with Donnie. It was my first “moment” with any of them and something I will never forget. When the guys exited the crowd started to disperse. Everyone was hugging everyone around them. Many of us were in tears, the emotions were overwhelming.


Donnie Wahlberg…yes I was that close. No zoom lens needed!

That day they announced more concert dates. Thankfully there were a lot more. Detroit was on the list and that made me very happy. I decided to buy VIP ticket by myself for the Detroit show. What the heck right?

On June 5th (my 35th birthday) I was standing in line waiting to check in at the Orlando airport. I had just spent another birthday week at Walt Disney World. I was coming down from my high. The last thing on my mind at that point was New Kids on the Block. I had come to the conclusion that I would not see them live again until September 26th in Boston (little did I know). My phone started ringing and I picked up the call when I saw it was Melissa, “We were invited to a party in Toronto …I can get tickets…do you want to go?” By that time I was next in line and had to let her go so I could check-in. “Do whatever let me call you back in a half hour.” I did this and she rattled on about a private party with the band at a local nightclub in Toronto . Over the next 10 days we went back and forth on the idea of going to the party. I later found out that the guys were going to do radio interviews the next day and if we waited over at the radio stations our chances of meeting them were almost guaranteed. That sealed the deal; we were on the road on Sunday by 3.

The six hour drive to Toronto was worth it. The party at the nightclub was a bust. I did speak to Donnie and Danny briefly but security was unorganized and there were a lot of people pushing and shoving. The guys only stayed an hour or so.


Me and my friends outside Fluid Night Club


Donnie Walhberg at Fluid Night Club in Toronto


Joey McIntyre at Fluid Night Club in Toronto

After a couple hour nap in the car we were up at 6:30 am. We waited over at the radio station with about 25 other ladies. The guys showed up just after 7. Not only did we get to meet them but we got some incredible photos. Donnie was sweet as pie. He stood there and listened to me babble on for about 5 minutes. He gave me a huge bear hug and a kiss on the cheek (I almost melted into the pavement). At the second radio station I talked to Joey and Danny for a bit. My friend did take a photo of me with Joey but Joey moved (we all think he has ADHD…that guy can’t stay still) so the photo didn’t come out. The photo with Danny came out beautiful. Melissa and I drove back to Michigan on a major New Kids on the Block high.


*SIGH * The moment…with Donnie Walhberg.


Me with Danny Wood in Toronto

Days after we got home the official NKOTB.com message board went down and after a few weeks we had all but lost hope that the message board (a communication tool we used to stay in touch with other fans) would come back up. Thankfully I was able to stay in touch with several people via MySpace and found a new “unofficial” message board.

[chezp]

Great update Robin.

[Colexis Mom]

Very cool Robin!! Great update!!

[Disneydiana]

More, more, more, please !

[DyanKJ130]

Great updates, Robin! Sounds like you're having a great time! Every time I look at your signature photo, I'm amazed at how much Jonathan looks like his brother, David!

[pamcarey]

Very interesting TR! You're really doing a great job finding ways to meet the guys! More please!

[ripkensnana]

Come on, there's more to tell....

[DrDolphin]

Great update Robin!

[RobinKay6573]

The summer seemed to drag and I was counting the days until my first New Kids on the Block concert since 1990. Even though I didn’t know where my seats would be in Boston I knew they would be good seats because the package Erin and I purchased guaranteed us seats in rows 1-10. I had become friends with a number of people via the message board. One person I really connected with was Rockergirl (she doesn’t use her real name on the internet so I won’t use it here…I will call her RG as well). We started talking on the phone almost every day. The New Kids announced that they would be doing the Today Show again on Labor Day. RG asked if I was going and it was a resounding, “NO, I am not doing that again.” A couple of weeks before the taping RG called me when I was on the way to a meeting. “The New Kids are doing an autograph signing at Best Buy on 5th Ave the day after the Today Show concert.” Ugh…we were going to be able to meet the guys together. After alittle persuading I finally agreed to go to NYC again. I purchased my airline tickets a couple of days later.

Here was my plan:

August 30
4:30 PM drop Belle off at doggie camp
9:30 PM Go to Bed

Sunday, August 31
2:00 AM wake-up
3:00 AM pick up Michigan Flyer bus from East Lansing to Detroit airport
6:30 AM flight to New York City
9:00 AM arrive in NYC
10:00 AM arrive at 30 Rock to meet with friends

Monday, September 1
5:00 AM line starts moving
7:00 AM loaded into concert area
8:30 AM New Kids on the Block live!!!
10:00 AM Walk over to Best Buy to wait for RG
12:00 AM RG arrives
4:00 PM I take RG’s son (age 4) to the hotel and then eat, shower and sleep.

Tuesday, September 2
5:00 AM wake and rejoin line at Best Buy
8:00 AM purchase The Block and get bracelet for autograph signing
9:00 AM RG goes back to hotel and I sit with her son while she takes a shower and changes
12:00 noon RG returns
6:30 PM Autograph signing
7:00 RG and son go back to hotel I wonder NYC with friends
10:00 Bed

Wednesday, September 3
4:00 AM wake
5:00 AM Shuttle to airport
8:00 AM Flight back to Michigan
10:30 AM Arrive back in Michigan
11:00 AM Michigan Flyer back to East Lansing
2:00 PM pick up Belle at camp

This is NOT how my trip turned out…not even CLOSE!!


Sunday, August 30, 2008:

Belle was at camp, my suitcase was packed and everything I needed was sitting by my front door ready to go. I got carried away talking to RG and cleaning and before I realized what was going on it was midnight. I hung up the phone and tried to sleep…not happening, I was too excited. I set my alarm but in my daze hit snooze and woke up in a shot when I read the clock, 2:30!! It was a 15 minute drive to East Lansing! I threw on clothes, threw food in the cat’s bowl and tossed my toothbrush in my carry-on. On the drive I kept looking at the clock, 2:50, 2:53, 2:57….I pulled onto the street where the bus parks at exactly 2:59 and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the bus still sitting there. I pulled in front of it just about tossed my suitcase on the poor driver and said, “Please don’t leave…I have to park my car.” He assured me I had 2 minutes What? I parked my car in the nearest spot in the garage and took the elevator down. I was on the bus at 3:03. We made it to the airport at about 5:20. I checked into my flight and after a short wait was on my way to NYC (again). I caught the shuttle at the airport. If you ever fly to NYC and need to get to Manhattan I recommend “Supershuttle” It cost my $30 round trip to take it from/to LaGuardia. The Shuttle dropped me off at 30 Rock and I met my friend Nena and her girlfriend Stephanie.

Time drew on and we waited and waited. There was not as much excitement as there was in May but it was definitely fun hanging out with other NKOTB fans. I spent much of my time watching movies on my DVD player, talking to those around me and chatting with RG and Erin on the phone. Rockefeller Center was nice enough to let us use their bathroom although they would not allow us to charge out cell phones in there. At one point we staged a lookout so each of us could change out phones.

Just after 5 some official looking people came outside and started walking down the row of fans. The announcement was made that Today Show was canceling the NKOTB concert. Hurricane Gustavo was bearing down on New Orleans and they sent the entire Today Show crew down there to cover the story. My heart sank and I (along with everyone else there) were very disappointed. The bright side was that Danny, Jonathan and Joey were on a flight from LA and were going to down and spend some time with us.