Ok, just one…The Big Apple! It would be an understatement to say I love NYC. It feels so invigorating being in the city every time I’m there. It is a place you could visit a dozen times and not see the same things twice. I was fortunate to visit (quickly) this month, as well as in October of 2021. I certainly have been there other times in the past, but I’ll be sharing about these 2 trips. I enjoy staying in a different neighborhood each time, as they all have their own personality and culture. In times past, I have stayed on the Upper West side and in the East Village. More recently, I had the opportunity to stay in The Bowery and near Central Park.
This is the Sohotel on 341 Broome Street in the pictures above. It’s so moody and sexy all at the same time. It is more of a boutique hotel due to its smaller size compared to a lot of hotels in the city. The rooms are small but clean. They have walls with exposed brick along with glam touches throughout. I just love this aesthetic. It is the “oldest operating hotel” in the city as stated on their website! The friendly staff offered to hold our luggage until check-in while we ventured out for the day. There is parking available nearby. It may not offer a lot of amenities, but the few things it lacks, it certainly makes up for being situated in a great location. It is within blocks of SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown. http://www.thesohotel.com
There are plenty of restaurants, cafes and shopping nearby. Speaking of which, we ate at Da Nico on 164 Mulberry Street for dinner one night (they also serve lunch). I was intoxicated by the Spaghetti alla Carbonara, so creamy and decadent. They have a large menu of all things Italian including appetizers, pizza, seafood, chicken, meat (I could go on). It was a busy place but definitely had a cozy, family atmosphere and the food was dee-lish! http://danicoristorante.com. The next morning we had breakfast at Fiat Cafe located at 203 Mott Street. I really enjoyed this small establishment as it made me feel like a local. There were maybe a dozen or so tables, 3 employees working and thoroughly decorated all things Fiat. The food was excellent, we had a full breakfast along with cappuccino. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and at the time, only accepted cash. http://fiatcafenyc.com
Let’s head uptown now, shall we? I took my mother on a short trip to celebrate a milestone birthday, and I wanted it to be truly special. Little did I know, it would feel like my birthday too. We stayed at the Park Lane Hotel at 36 Central Park South just steps away from The Plaza and Ritz-Carlton hotels. http://www.parklanenewyork.com. I had booked a park view room and was hoping I wouldn’t be looking at tree branches. To my surprise, they had upgraded us to the 44th floor where the view was breathtaking! I’m still daydreaming about this view. This hotel had a Great Gatsby vibe and was really spectacular. They offered to hold our luggage before and after check-in, our room was spacious and very clean, and 24-hour room service was available. They have 3 dining options here: Darling, Rose Lane and Park Lane Cafe. We did not eat at the Cafe as we had other meals in the city, but did enjoy a grab-and-go breakfast at Rose Lane (fruit cup, blueberry scone and coffee). Oh my, Darling is magnificent. We did not have a drink on this rooftop bar, but a woman on the elevator recommended we take a look. So after our dinner, we headed up to the 47th floor. One word, AMAZING. I want this life. The lavish decor just draws you in like Hansel and Gretel following breadcrumbs and before you know it, you’re perched high above this city that never sleeps. By the way, only hotel guests can have a more substantial breakfast up there. Can you stand it?! Compared to Darling, I feel like I’m slumming it on my deck on sunny mornings (and for those of you who know, I have a nice view). See what I’m talking about…
Ok, let me come back down to level ground. At the very least, The High Line. For those of you who have never heard of it, this is an old railroad converted into an oasis from the streets below. It’s an elevated (slightly aerial) sidewalk that spans from Gansevoort Street to W 34th Street along the west side of Manhattan. Open year round, people get a different perspective of the city from up here. They have gardens and art scattered along the way. What I personally like about it is you can see the stores and restaurants below and make your way down to something that catches your eye. There are plenty of staircases and elevators available to get on and off the High Line. It also brings you up close and personal to some of the swanky real estate too. You can clearly see how one’s living room is decorated, that’s how close you are while walking through. It’s one of my favorite places in the city. I love when something old is repurposed into new life. One should take the time to see this if you’re ever on the west side (the shopping here is fantastic too). http://www.thehighline.org
One more feature I wanted to add to this segment is Chelsea Market. Which by the way, is right next to a portion of the High Line. Kill 2 birds with one stone and see both! I love this place, there are stores to shop and plenty of food options. Imports From Marrakesh had beautiful rugs, lanterns, jewelry, etc. I wish I wasn’t getting on a plane later that day, I would’ve grabbed me a Moroccan rug to take home. There’s always next time. And the colorful display of dried flowers at Damselfly Flowers made me forget there was a concrete jungle just outside the door.
Chelsea Market Baskets was a unique find with so many foods and candy imported from other countries that you just can’t find in the local grocery store. Their products make for some creative gifts. The whole building was outfitted in fall decor throughout the building, and I can only imagine how beautiful it must be during Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you’re ever in the Chelsea neighborhood, which I recommend, stop by the market. The building spans from 9th to 10th avenue, east to west and 15th to 16th streets, north to south. Check out their website to see hours, map, history and directions. http://www.chelseamarket.com
If you live in the tri-state area and have never been to New York City, what are you waiting for? It is not just skyscrapers and gritty yankees on the streets. I do believe there is something for everyone. Even if you don’t like big cities and crowds, I guarantee there are neighborhoods with pockets of peace and quiet and green space throughout this island. I hope you liked this segment on NYC because next time I’ll be sharing some other sites and activities that were part of my trip. Stay tuned till next time…
