Spring 2010.
Finally made it to the Big Apple for the very first time. And to make it extra special, we stayed at an iconic establishment in midtown Manhattan, The Plaza Hotel.
New York is magical, New York leaves you spell bound, New York is refreshing!
The cuisine, the shows, the museums, the rumble of the subway, the skyscrapers, the Upper and Lower East Side, the delis, I just can’t get enough of the Big Apple.
So it was a good idea that my first trip there was a 10-night stay which included a day-trip to Washington DC. But for now, let’s just talk about New Yawk!!!
The Sights
The 22-hour flight from Singapore with a transit in Tokyo got us in JFK Airport at 1130am and our room at The Plaza was thankfully ready. So we checked in, then wasted no time heading out again.
First stop was an easy stroll to 30 Rock which was 10 blocks away. The viewing deck at 70-something floors above, gave us a magnificent view of UES Manhattan + Central Park, on a gorgeous day in the springtime.
We went to The Empire State Building towards the end of sunset, and seeing the massive light-up of Manhattan skyscrapers made me think it could be Christmas everyday in the Big Apple. If you hate the idea of waiting in line, the express pass is well worth it, and the staff are good at honoring it and making sure you don’t stand around waiting to get to the viewing deck.
Times Square was mind-boggling at first, it was very crowded all the time. And bright, huge billboards everywhere, especially around the red stairs.
One of the best ways to take in Manhattan, is via a chopper ride. We did that one fine day with a pre-booked “Romance Over Manhattan” package. Highly recommended if you can spare the time. Also, advanced booking is recommended. It’s a popular activity, especially if the weather’s fine for flying.
And you gotta get on the Staten Island Ferry for sure. That’s the best way to get a view of the statue of Liberty, without going to Ellis Island. And on the way back, you also get a decent view of Manhattan, from across the water. From the ferry terminal, it’s an easy walk to Wall Street.
The Museums
The The Metropolitan Museum of Art covers a three-mile space. That’s HUGE. Of course, we didn’t see everything on exhibit on the first visit. The BF had the foresight to arrange for a private guided tour – just the guide and the 2 of us. There is a lot to take in, the sculptures, the paintings, the marble statues, the Egyptian exhibit, and a whole lot more. The room of Louis XV with its ornate furnishing and super old luxurious European touch was one of my favorite places at The Met.
At the American Museum of Natural History I could stay and marvel at the exhibits in the dinosaur section over and over, and over again.
MoMA | The Museum of Modern Art was another great stop. And there were live exhibits by Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present during our visit. There was a fair amount of live nudity as part of the performance art.
The Architecture
Skyscrapers everywhere! Well, that’s the main view on Fifth Avenue. St Patrick’s Cathedral was rather breathtaking. But I couldn’t get enough of The Chrysler Building, which was just astoundingly beautiful and majestic.
The Brooklyn Bridge is definitely a must-do, especially on a gorgeous not-a-cloud-in-the-sky day. It’s really something, strolling on that structure while the water’s on both sides, and the traffic is just under your feet.
The Shows
We went to 2 shows on Broadway. First one was Avenue Q, went to a Saturday matinee. It was hilarious! And a great first Broadway experience. And after much thought and debating, managed to convince the boyfriend to catch Billy Elliot (I was always a fan of the movie). And I’m glad we made that choice. The cast, the set, the music, the lighting, it all came together spectacularly.
The Eats
Was averaging one hot-dog a day from various food carts.The novelty lasted for 3 days. We had pre-booked some restaurants,and on some days, we’d just stroll around and see what we would find.
One of the dining highlights was a 9-course chef’s tasting menu at Thomas Keller’s Michelin 3-star PER SE. We called for reservations one month in advance, and the only seating available was on a Monday night for 10pm. Of course we said yes! The 9-course dinner of chef’s tasting lasted about 2.5 hours.
THE FOUR SEASONS RESTAURANT is NOT at the Four Seasons Hotel. We made a booking for dinner here also about a month away from the trip, because it’s that popular. And I’d spent countless times looking at the menu on the website, and had basically decided on my main course before even getting on the plane to New York. The crabcakes were succulent, juicy, packed with fresh crab meat and they did not disappoint.
Serendipity was another place where we had made an advanced booking. The food was good, and of course we had the famous hot frozen chocolate. But the guy at the next table was raving about a dessert that he’d always have, and about how it was just as good the first time he had it many years ago. It was the lemon box pie. We went back another day, just to try that. And it was baked with love and lots of lemon goodness.
On our last night in New York, we decided to try our luck and managed to get a table at Cafe Boulud on a Sunday evening. My main course was the day’s special “Tasting of Vermont Baby Pig” which was portions of pork chop, belly, shoulder and ham. And it was yummy! And their complementary madelines which were served at the end of your meal, they were nicely hot and fresh from the oven. A lovely touch.
And when in New York, you gotta have a pastrami sandwich. Someone had recommended 2nd Ave Deli over Katz, so we went there. OMG it was heavenly! Generous layers of pastrami between soft white bread, with all the mustard you want on the side.
The Bars
Campbell Apartment at Grand Central Station was on my list, from watching Gossip Girl. We arrived close to midnight & even though it was near closing time, the staff didn’t chase us out. In fact the bartender was friendly, and he suggested a drink that’s off the menu, a creation he’d been working on, which he called English 76. A heady concoction comprising 2 types of gin, mixed with agave nectar, pernod, a dash of lemon juice and topped with champagne.
As an aside – The Grand Central Station itself, is also worth a visit.
Back to the bars – Empire Hotel was also on the list, influenced by Gossip Girl. Went there for a quick drink, but also to take in the view from the rooftop, and I just wanted to be at the same spot where Chuck Bass would usually be pouting and brooding.
The Library at Hudson Hotel is a cozy spot for drinks, especially if you can get a table close to the fireplace if it’s a chilly night.
The Rose Club at the Plaza is another great lounge venue for chilling out. We hosted drinks there to catch up with friends and the hotel staff were kind enough to set aside a corner for us. The service, as is with all things at The Plaza, was impeccable.
The Shopping, Oh The Shopping
Hmmmm…where do I start?!
- Fifth Avenue: It was great just walking on this street, going into Saks, Henri Bendel, Tiffany, Nike super store and many more
- Broome & Mercer: Made several trips there to my favorite store, Kate Spade
- West Broadway: Love the area, was directed there to pick up a DKNY cozy cos they didn’t have the size I needed at the Manhattan store
- Upper East Side: This area just smells of money. Hermes has 2 shops across each street, a His & Hers
- Manolo Blahnik: This had to be part of the itinerary, since I had been religiously following Sex and The City
- Christian Louboutin: Another modern day shoe museum I had to visit!
The Ball Game
We went to the Yankee Stadium, to catch NY Yankees play Minnesota Twins! It was my first baseball game. It was a perfect game day. Yankees won 7-1. Also saw a player steal 2nd base. Very cool.
The Sad Goodbye
So the saying goes ‘all good things must come to an end’ and I definitely left New York with a heavy heart; but a lighter me. This was the first holiday where I dropped some weight at the end of the trip – from a lot of walking.
By The Way…
New York tap water. I think it’s one of the best things in the world. Couldn’t get enough of it.
Always Pack Heels 