NY State of Mind

With warmer weather approaching (keeping fingers crossed), it’s the perfect time to plan a quick weekend trip. New York City is a great place to go to start curing that cabin fever. See the list below for just a few of my favorites out of the endless reasons to visit the Big Apple.

1.  SITE SEEING

I’m somewhat obsessed with the sites in NY.  In my opinion, here are a few must-sees:

• The Empire State Building.  My personal favorite to view because it looks gorgeous all lit up.  They even change the colors to reflect current events and put on light shows for special occasions like New Years Eve. You can also buy tickets to go inside to the observatory or top deck for great views of the city.

• 9/11 Memorial and the Freedom Tower.  The 9/11 Memorial is a beautiful tribute to remember and honor the victims.  The Freedom Tower, at 1776 ft. tall, symbolizes the year the Declaration of  Independence was signed and is an undeniable symbol of resilience.

 (photo credit: 911memorial.org)

• Central Park.  You can enjoy street performers, artists, sculptures, and the Strawberry Fields memorial to John Lennon.  Or you could run into celebrities trying to find some peace too.  (I was a foot away from the Biebs and Usher while they were skateboarding there last spring- before twitter got word of it!)

• Little Italy.  If you’re familiar with the feasts every summer weekend in Boston’s North End, try going in September to catch the San Gennaro feast which lasts a couple weeks.  The pic below is from one of my favorite booths at the feast this past fall.  Viva!

• The East Village and Lower East Side (LES).  Hookah lounges, bars, restaurants, and very unique shops.  There is also amazing street art.  The picture below is Lady Liberty located near where Little Italy, Chinatown, and the LES meet.

• Times Square.  The center of the universe and what some might consider people-watching heaven.  Shop, watch live tv broadcasts, and view all of the lights if you can manage the crowd.  Now a lot of taxis have backseat sunroofs, so if you’re lucky enough to get in one of those you can enjoy from the comfort of the car.

• Rockefeller Center.  I’d loveee to see The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon if I could ever be lucky enough to get tickets. (I try every month but they sell out in seconds!)  Even without Fallon Tonight tix, there’s still so much to see on the tour of this area, including the Top of the Rock and Radio City Music Hall.  My pictures below are from the holiday season this past year and right before the tree lighting the prior year.

2.  AMAZING FOOD.  24/7 for a lot of places too.  Here are just a few recommendations:

• Jaiya. Thai.  Try the Tom Yum Soup medium spicy.  If you want to feel the burn, try it hot.  You might regret it though.

• Uva.  Italian.  My favorite thing off the menu is the truffle oil and cheese flatbread. And wine of course.

 (photo credit: uvanyc.com)

• Madangsui. Korean BBQ.  Watch the video and you’ll understand.

• Maya. Modern Mexican.  I love the crab and shrimp enchiladas and carne asada.  And the pepino margarita will knock you out in a good way.

• Patsy’s Pizza.  Sausage and peppers pie all day.  Mangia!

• The Halal Guys.  Trust me, the chicken and rice plate is well worth the mile-long line you’ll wait in.

 (photo credit:The Halal Guys Facebook)

3.  SHOPPING & ENTERTAINMENT

• Broadway.  The Lion King is unreal!  I saw it on broadway when I was in middle school and it’s still my favorite, and still going strong almost 18 years after opening.

 (photo credit: lionking.com)

• Party Brunch.  Emphasis on party since it’s easy to feel like you’re at the Rio Carnival with these.  Lavo and Il Bastardo had me back home and in bed sleeping by 8 pm.

 (photo credit: lavony.com)

• Meatpacking District- If you’re into the club scene you’ll find them here.  Or visit The High Line.

 (photo credit: thehighline.org)

• Soho.  Synonymous with shopping, as you can see by the map of stores below.

 (Photo credit: NY Shopping Information)

• Museums.  Too many to name, but definitely something for everyone. The picture below is from the Jeff Koons exhibit that was on display at the Whitney Museum this past Fall.

4. TRANSPORTATION TIME AND OPTIONS

 (photo credit: dreamstime.com)

You can get there by:

• Plane.  Some airlines offers flight deals from Boston to Newark, JFK, or Laguardia starting at around $50 each way if you book in advance.  It takes less than an hour from gate to gate!

• Train. Take Amtrak from South Station to Penn Station starting at around $70 each way for a 4 hour ride.  You can take the Acela to get there in 3 1/2 (but it is usually twice as expensive).

• Bus.  There are various different bus services that leave from Boston’s South Station or Back Bay that’ll get you to the middle of Manhattan in about 4 1/2 hours.  These include Bolt, Peter Pan, and Greyhound.  Prices range from $15-$40 each way depending on when you travel.  Bonus: they have wi-fi.  So sit back, relax, and enjoy those Netflix shows that Monica suggested in our previous post.

• Car.  It’s a 3 1/2 to 4 hour ride.  The best part is that there is no such thing as “Resident Parking Only” there.  That means you can find a spot on the street in many areas in the city and stay there all weekend without getting these!

What are your favorite things to do in NYC?  Share your suggestions with us @yoprobtg using hashtag #yoprobtg, or comment here!

(Tweet blogger @alittizz)

Photo credit for featured image on cover: Rockefellercenter.com