This year marked my 10th visit to New York City. To say that I love NYC is an understatement. It has been a while since I was last in Paris, but I think The Big Apple surpassed it as my favourite city in the world. Granted, I haven’t been to that many places, but NYC just calls to me. To live there would be a dream come reality. I was in NYC to participate in NMUN – NY (National Model United Nations – New York) (more on that soon), a 5-day conference in which my delegation and I pretended to be diplomats to solve the world’s various problems. Fortunately, the conference happens to be right before Easter break, so I stayed for two extra days in the city. One cannot do much when one is “MUN-ing” because it takes all your energy. Imagine going to school for 15 hours a day and having to do an oral presentation every two-hours in front of an audience of 300+ people while simultaneously writing an essay on how to solve world hunger. That’s the best I can explain it. However, since I have been multiple times to NYC, I can share with you some of my favourite spots to visit. This post is going to be a little different than my Miami one simply because the day-by-day was not that interesting since I didn’t stay long enough, it is more like a compilation of my favourite things to do. Enjoy! Thank you to KL, KF, M-LF, FH-H and JH for sharing your NYC pictures with me and saving my life after my phone was stolen! Thank you also to CB for editing them. The classicsThe Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) I went to the MET this year for the first time in a while. I love museums in general, and the MET is undoubtedly one of my favourite ones. I especially love the Art of Arab Lands rooms which had magnificent embroidered carpets. The Arms and Armor rooms were equally fascinating. I have never been interested in combat gear, but I was visiting with two friends who were, and they made it interesting. The MET is truly worth a visit. Broadway / Lincoln Center New York City is one of the most fascinating cities for the arts. If you are not a fan of museums and inanimate forms of art, you should at least try to go to a Broadway musical, play or a performance at the Lincoln Center. Nowadays, even off-Broadway shows run extremely expensive and need to be booked months in advance (unless you go to the last-minute ticket booths). My group and I were travelling on a student budget, so instead, we went to the Lincoln Center to watch a performance of Lucia di Lammermoor by Donizetti. You would think that opera is much more expansive than a Broadway show, but you would be wrong. Family circle tickets run between 25-35$USD. Opera is an acquired taste, but I think it is one of the most universal of art forms once you start appreciating it. It is a perfect mix of theatre and music, what’s not to love? UN I love the UN. Everything from the architecture to its mission absolutely inspires me. One day, I hope to work there. Meanwhile, I’ll just gaze at the beautiful sculpture garden or wander through the UN bookstore. Go learn about current issues and admire the beauty of the General Assembly. Take the time to understand that this building is where some of the most important decisions in human history have been made. As an aspiring diplomat, I can feel the weight of past generations on my shoulders when I step through the grand hall of the General Assembly. Times Square I don’t think I need to explain this one. Just go and feel grand and powerful under the neon lights shining through the black night. UnderratedBrooklyn Museum (BM) Last year was my first visit of the BM and it was a phenomenal one. From the permanent collection to the temporary expositions, BM is a truly unique museum. Last year, I saw Pretty/Dirty by Marilyn Minter (pictured above) and was absolutely blown away. It was probably one of my favourite art exhibitions ever. It also has the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art which aims to raise awareness about “feminism’s cultural contribution”. It hosts the famous piece The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago which I honestly think should become as iconic as any Van Gogh or Monet. The BM also has a pretty large collection of historical artifacts from all corners of the world, although I have not visited that part. I would highly recommend a visit to their magnificent contemporary exhibitions. Chelsea Market I don’t understand why this is only #69 on TripAdvisor. Every time I come to NYC I make time to head to Chelsea Market. You can find a perfect blend of good food (it is not a coincidence that the headquarters of Food Network lie just above), and great local clothing stores, vintage apparels, quirky ornaments and modern art. You can easily spend a good afternoon browsing the various shops to find the perfect present to bring home. Clothes and accessories normally run a bit expensive due to the hard work of well-payed artisans that went into making them and to the quality of the products used, but they will last you a life time. I still have multiple pieces of jewelry and a few coats from previous visits that are as good as new. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EV4uet3T6E High Line Somehow this is #14 on TripAdvisor but I don’t know anyone in my entourage that has done the High Line hence why I think it is severely underrated! Coming from the Chelsea Market, you can access this old railway of the 1930s that has been converted into a walking park. The fauna and flora of the place are beautiful and contrasts with the surrounding industrial buildings. You want to make time to stop at all the little kiosks that sell a variety of products from honey to tote bags. It is a nicer way of getting around than by subway (especially in NYC). FoodSource: http://thewanderingeater.com/2013/03/18/brunch-at-friedmans-lunch-2/ Friedman’s lunch Words cannot express how much I love fried chicken with waffles. It is quite simply the perfect brunch food with its mix of crunchy, sugary and protein-y. The best I’ve ever had is at Friedman’s in Chelsea Market. It is just fabulous. Every time I am in NYC I make a point of stopping by even if the line is always long. The chicken is fried in a batter not too heavy to achieve crispiness and juiciness of the chicken at the same time, a true achievement. The habanero honey adds the perfect tinge of spice with the cheddar waffles. For people who have not had chicken and waffles, I understand the idea sounds confusing, but just try it. I promise it’ll blow your mind. Eataly Another must is the Eataly market in the Flatiron District. (I have a thing for markets.) Eataly is a chain with multiple stores throughout the world. The one in NYC is owned by celebrity chef Mario Batali and the Bastianich family. They have restaurants, counters, caffès and a market. There, you can find the best gelato, cannoli and pasta in the city. You can also buy goods like flour, sausage, seafood and all things Italian. They also host multiple workshops and happenings year-round. My favourite dish has to be the pappardelle at La Pizza & La Pasta. Homemade pasta are my weakness. Nagle’s bagels Coming from Montreal, I know a lot about bagels. I can proudly attest that NY bagels are clearly inferior to MTL's. Here are the key differences between both bagels:
BooksNYC Public Library (Stephen A. Schwarzman building) I generally have an aversion to libraries, but everything is always better in NYC. The Stephen A. Schwarzman building of the NYC Public Library system is the central and most important building of the system, it is also called the Main Branch. Built in 1911, the building is made mostly of marble with two lion statues (Lord Astor and Lady Lenox) who guard the main entrance. The Main Branch is known for the Rose Reading Room which looks like Belle’s library in Beauty and the Beast. My favourite part is the painting of the sky that hangs on the ceiling. It is like seeing a piece of heaven during long hours of studying. The library also has a bookshop for tourists with plenty of little knickknacks to bring home. Source:http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/252530/farewell-to-the-scion-of-the-strand-bookstore-fred-bass-new-york-city Strand
Perhaps NYC’s most famous independent bookstore, the Strand is an institution. It is 18 miles (!) of books. That’s about 2,5 million books in the middle of NYC. In addition to an up-to-date department for new books, it has a huge used book section where you can find everything from Advance Reader Copies to signed copies to original editions for a cheap price. The store also has a rare books department. It is a paradise for every literary nerd. If you ever have 4 500$ laying around, you can get a first edition of The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle or an inscribed custom-bound first edition of Curious George Goes to the Hospital by Margaret & H. A. Rey. Feel free to comment down below your favourite parts of NYC! Xx.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
MeI'm in love with the world. Archives
April 2020
Categories
All
Archives
April 2020
|