New York: My 5 Top Experiences (Part I)
Those of you who have read my “Marie Claire” article on New York, will know that my introverted self used to not like it. It was just too harsh, too brash, too loud for me. Yet, a job took me to New York almost 10 years ago and I spent two marvellous months living in Manhattan. I moved around the world since then but occasional business trips take me across the pond. And I get to fall in love with Big Apple over and over again.
New York, being one of the coolest and most popular destinations in the world, offers numerous choices for cultural, historic and gastronomic experiences. You will never run out of options of things to do. So, here I offer my top 5 tips for exploring this city.
1. Be the tourist for a day
Even though I used to live in New York, I still follow my touristy routine every time I come back. Here is my quick and dirty itinerary that is free and lets you explore some of the city’s top sights. Just wear something comfortable to walk in!
I usually stay in mid-town which means I can easily reach lower and upper Manhattan. This time I started my epic 7-hours walk via Grand Central Station not only famous for transporting millions of passengers every week but also its well, shall I say, ‘grand’ design. Besides the famous celestial ceiling, I also love its food market with gorgeous crystal chandelier and stalls with mouthwatering food.
So, if you are pressed for time, this is a great place to grab a quick snack. Just look at these handpainted New York taxi cookies!
I then continue on to the Bryant Park, which used to be home of New York Fashion Week. With the sun shining, the park is very inviting but I can only stop for few minutes before charging on to beloved Rockefeller Plaza while passing by New York Public Library.
Rockefeller Plaza was officially preparing for the summer season as they were setting up Summer Garden and Bar by the fountains, space that is used for ice skating rink in the winter.
From there I walk to Radio Music Hall, an entertainment center that has seen world stars perform on its stage over the years.
From there I continue on 7th Avenue, towards 42nd Street to see buzzing Times Square. It never sleeps and provides sensory overload.
While being distracted by giant screens with top news and commercials, you will run into cartoon characters and celebrity look-alikes. Like this one who promises to make America great again.
Tip: find TKTS booth at 7th Avenue and 46th Street to buy Broadway tickets at half off prices for the same day shows. Just choose a show and get in the queue to buy your tickets.
Next on the itinerary is Garment district on 7th Avenue and 37th Street, once home to the fashion industry. You can still find fabric and accessories shops, as well as world famous Parsons School of Design and Fashion Institute of Technology Museum.
When on 34th Street, walk back to 5th Avenue to look up at the Empire State Building which provides amazing views of the city.
Another building that takes my breath every time is Flatiron building on 5th Avenue and 23rd Street.
My tour winds up at the Lower East Side in Chinatown (around Canal Street). If you fancy a great Chinese food or a backrub, or inexpensive New York souvenirs, this is the right place!
A short walk away from Chinatown is Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream on Rivington Street, which serves ash ice cream! It’s very popular among New Yorkers and visitors like myself, so expect a queue to get in. But it’s worth it and my black coconut ash ice-cream was very delicious.
From there walk to Bowery on 2nd Avenue, a cute nearby neighbourhood with hipster restaurants, bars and galleries.
Once done with walking, I hop on the bus to take me back to midtown. If you have energy left, you can also head to the Central Park which is great for picnics, walks and people watching.
2. Get cultured
True history and art lovers will find a plethora of museums and galleries in New York. My top favourites are MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) and MET (The Metropolitan Museum of Art).
I have been to the Guggenheim Museum of modern and contemporary art on 5th Avenue, but apart from impressive building, the collection at that time was slightly underwhelming.
Don’t forget about Museum of Natural History (just think of Night in the Museum!), Whitney Museum of American Art that is currently displaying Grant Wood’s paintings, and The Frick Collection of European sculpture and decorative arts.
Source: Whitney Museum of American Art
If you are into fashion, like myself, I recommend The Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology. It holds a permanent collection of over 50,000 garments and accessories from the 18th century to modern day. The collection includes garments from fashion icons like Balenciaga, Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent and Rick Owens.
Source: The Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology
Another cool museum I would recommend is Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side. The museum offers an immersive experience of walking through two neighbourhood buildings preserved for over 100 years. The tour takes you through time and tells stories of people living and running businesses in this neighbourhood as it grew and became more and more diverse.
Source: Tenement Museum
Last, if you love musicals and live performances, Broadway visit is a must. I watched Mama Mia and Phantom of the Opera here and both were great fun. Just remember to visit TKTS booth at Times Square I mentioned above to get same day show tickets at 50% off.
I hope you enjoyed Part I of my New York trip. Tune in for Part II next week.
Happy travels xx
