In a little over two weeks I will be in New York City!VABeau asked what I wanted to do to ring in the big 2-8 and a weekend in NYC with my favorite person seemed like the perfect way. Bus tickets have been purchased, two nights at the Waldorf have been booked, and we have two tickets to Wicked in our possession!
VABeau definitely knows how to treat a Birthday girl right. To say I am excited is a huuuge understatement. I really don't mind getting one year closer to 30 when I have a reason to look forward to my Birthday like this.Here's where you, my faithful readers, come in. The last time I was in NYC I was 18. That's 10 whole years ago people! So I need any suggestions you may have for sights, restaurants, bars, shopping, anything.
I would really appreciate any ideas and thanks in advance :)
I have no advice, but it sounds like you're off to a great start! That certainly makes the upcoming birthday something to really look forward to. :)
ReplyDeletewe just went to NYC during christmas and i used to live there--here are some of my all-time favs:
ReplyDeleterestaurants: pastis, norma's, quality meats, il bastardo, cosi, ray's pizza, serendippity 3
shopping: soho, midtown (5th avenue), herald square, chinatown
attractions: times square, NYC bus tours, empire state building, statue of liberty/ellis island, union square
you're going to have a blast! and P.S. seeing wicked on broadway is the BEST
We saw "Wicked" in NYC a few years ago and it was SO GOOD. Personally, I just loved walking all over the place - Times Square, Central Park, the museums. And if you love cheesecake, you've got to check out Junior's Cheesecake - the best!
ReplyDeleteOh I saw it in NYC a few years ago and had the BEST time. Def get on yelp and poke around for some good dining gems. Or sometimes I looking up that show "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" on food network and seeing if there are any places/dishes mentioned in a city I will be visiting that I want to give a try.
ReplyDeletemy best friend that lived there for over a year had left a comment for suggestions a while back... so i went to find it and here it is:
ReplyDeleteAdditional suggestions for NYC from a former Manhattan resident! When Becky came to visit I was somewhat new to the city and hadn't yet found the city's best secrets (but I certainly did know how to get us into clubs with VIP table service for free.)
SoHo:
SoHo is great if you have a bit of money and like unique things. LF has bi-annual sales with amazing deals. It's also not as expensive as 5th Ave or as crowded as Broadway.
Food:
There are over 4,000 restaurants in NYC and most are AMAZING. The ones which are published about are only there because they spend the money. Go off the beaten path for a place with great ambiance. Yelp is always a great helper. That being said, I will never forget Cipriani (SoHo and 5th Ave location.) Great food and the best Bellini that I have ever had. Still searching for someone in Chicago that can make one so great.
Museums:
All of the museums are phenomenal. It's a great place to go for a moment alone to reflect, or for fun with a friend. My personal favorite is Museum of Natural History.
The Highline Park:
Can't go wrong with Central Park. Great place to picnic for lunch or go for a walk. Lots to discover. However I visited NYC again last summer and got to check out The Highline Park. Industrial meets beautiful. Plus it's really cool getting to see the cars pass underneath you.
Sport:
Chelsea piers. Running, cycling, tennis, soccer... it has it all.
Funky, Cheap and Artistic:
St. Marks place. If you like art I would strongly suggest checking out De La Vega at 102 St. Marks Pl and then heading over to check out all of the street vendors.
Broadway Show:
If you get the chance, definitely check one out. I'm never a fan of fighting the crowd for a half-off ticket, but the show is always worth it in the end.
China Town:
Becky loves haggling, so she loved this neighborhood. It is definitely a rush with the crowds, shopping and millions of back door stores; but I wouldn't call it kid friendly.
Last suggestion:
Make a plan and then throw it out.
Choose what neighborhood you want to see and then throw out the rest. Forget the time. Go with the flow. Be curious. NYC has so much going on that no single source could capture it in a calendar. Some of my best memories are spent by meeting unexpected strangers or accidentally walking into unexpected events. The city is magical; let it consume you.
Magnolia Bakery and Top of the Rock! Top of the Rock is cheaper, less crowded and actually has a better view than the Empire State Building.
ReplyDeletePatsy's for Italian food- best Italian in the WORLD and Frank Sinatra used to eat there! The owners treat you like family! Also the boathouse in central park for brunch- so romantic!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm new to your blog---it's adorable!! When we were in New York, we bought tickets for the hop on hop off red double decker busses. Not only was it a great way to see the City, but we used it for transportation intead of cabs and it worked great! It gets you to see neighborhoods that you might never see otherwise!
ReplyDelete