If I Had More Time in New York, I Would...

Monday, March 12, 2018


I just got back from a few days in New York City, where my office is located. As longtime readers may know, I work from home but work a standard 9-to-5 (or, fine, 10-to-6) because all of my coworkers work together in an office in Manhattan. It's great to be able to go into the city every so often to visit them!

Unfortunately, the weather wasn't ideal on this trip, and I hurt my knee pretty badly one day at work, both of which severely limited my plans for the week. I forfeited a ticket to Book of Mormon because I didn't feel like my knee could take the pressure, & on my last night, my friend Rebecca & I canceled our plans because the snow was so bad.

I did do a few fun things while I was in town, mostly food-related, like eating a big, delicious bowl of curried ramen at Iron Chef Morimoto's Momosan - but now that I'm back in Cleveland, I'm dreaming of all the things I'd like to do next time I get a little more time in the city. Believe me, I'm kicking myself for not visiting Manhattan more frequently back when I lived in New Jersey!

Here's what's on my "Someday in New York" list. What would be on yours? 

1. Browse books at The Strand.

Yes, hello, this massive, historic, independent bookstore is home to more than 2.5 new, used, & rare titles. I'd like to read them all, please. Wait, what do you mean, I don't have time for that? Fine, can I at least touch them all?

2. Take a double-decker bus tour.

I'm weirdly very into these touristy-as-hell bus tours, but of course, only if the weather is nice & only if I'm sitting on the top level of the bus. I took one all over London & always wanted to do one in D.C.; I bet NYC would be a lot of fun.

3. Pay my respects at the 9/11 Memorial.

I've not been to the new National September Memorial & Museum, which is, at this point, not exactly new anymore; still, I think this is a spot all Americans ought to visit at least once.

4. Check out Coney Island.

Who doesn't love a tourist trap? Bring on the bright colors & peeling paint & creepy rides! And corndogs. Are there corndogs? I'm in.

5. Visit Dylan's Candy Bar & Momofuku Milk Bar.

I don't even know why I want to go to these two places, specifically, except that I seem to hear about them a lot &, like, why not? Plus, I'm always a sucker (no pun intended) for a pretty candy shop & a beautiful pastry.

6. See a show on Broadway. 

It's been a few years since I saw anything on Broadway; my last visit was to see Newsies way back in 2012 when it made its debut. Though Cleveland gets lots of great live shows, there's something so sparkly & special about seeing them on Broadway, where it all begins.

7. Walk the High Line.

About a decade ago, this abandoned freight rail was turned into a mixed-use public park that looks freaking wonderful. it's a 1.5-mile walk, too, which means you can get your exercise in while exploring a cool space suspended above 11th Ave.

8. Eat at an old-fashioned diner.

I've been reading Alexandra's blog for years, & though I've been to a few old-timey diners in my day, her photos make me want to seek out, like, the old-timiest diner possible & settle in for an egg cream.

9. Visit my best friend in Brooklyn.

My friend Rebecca, who grew up in Manhattan, now lives in Brooklyn, & it's been three years since I visited her there. Apparently her neighborhood has changed a lot, so I'd love to get back to explore a little... &, uh, check out the GAP outlet next door.

10. Take the Gossip Girl site tour.

My friend & coworker Marissa says that this tour, which stops at key spots from the popular show, is not exactly worth it, but I want to take it anyway. And I would even wear a headband for it. Who wants to take pics with me on the Met steps?

11. Browse MoMA and The Met.

To be honest, I'm not much of an art museum gal, but what kind of tourist would I be if I didn't want to see these ones? They're both world-class, they're both incredible, & they're both on my one-of-these-days list. My grandmother the painter would be proud.

12. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Have you ever seen Newsies? My whole life, I've wanted to stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge while wearing a jaunty newsboy cap... & Instagram an artsy photo with the caption, "I spent a month there one night."

13. Visit the Tenement Museum.

This cramped museum is located in an old tenement home on the Lower East Side, one where working-class immigrants (including many Jews) lived in close quarters in the early 1900s. it's supposed to be, like, the must-see museum for living American Jewish history.

14. Eat something Instagram-worthy.

From cronuts to rainbow bagels to rolled ice cream to the sushirito, it seems that all great (slash ridiculous) food trends originate in NYC. Some of them filter down to the rest of the country, but just once, I'd like to eat - & 'gram - something on the cutting edge of absurdity. 

Annnnnd there you have it. What's on your "Someday in New York" list? 

No comments

Post a Comment

Leave me some love.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...