Photo Diary 010 | New York

The last time I was in New York was over a decade ago, for a middle school field trip. As painless as that sounds --and I'm sure you can imagine-- it was definitely time to visit again (this time with less angst and more autonomy). We exercised this control of destiny by planning this holiday-weekend trip almost entirely around two things: bagels and pizza. Throw in a day filled with Part I & II of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and lots of walking-- and here we go!

Day One: The Best Pizza, Ever

After being on a plane for the morning and early afternoon, our first stop was clear: pizza. Just down the street of our hotel was a 99c pizza place, and you may not believe me but it was the best pizza I’ve ever had. It was the perfect example of what pizza should be. Later in the day we stopped by Joe's pizza (of Spider-Man fame) which was also, very good.

The rest of the afternoon was spent wandering around the city, enjoying the park views of the High Line, devouring some amazing donuts in the beautifully hipster Chelsea Market, and making the necessary pilgrimage to the friends apartment in Greenwich. 

Another necessary stop was The Strand Bookstore, with miles of books- including my favorite “rare book room” with Vogue magazine issues from the 30s and the inspiration for my future library. It will happen...

We ended jam-packed day one by watching the Macy’s Fireworks Spectacular from the FDR highway overpass. We were actually escorted into the overpass by NYPD-- an experience I understandably wasn’t expecting--and got to sit on the pavement with crowds of people, anticipating the most impressive pyrotechnic display I’ve ever seen. 

Day Two: Cursed Child

Harry Potter & the Cursed Child was day two. Being able to see both parts of the play in a single day is a fantastic all-day affair. On our walk over we did peruse Fifth Ave, with a quick stop in Saks (aka my dream closet). My favorite part was the entire floor of shoes, each one in its own beautiful space, being displayed as they should be. The escalator was wonderfully rainbow themed, leading to one of the most extra selfies I’ve ever taken.

Now, Cursed Child. I cannot begin to explain how blown away and surprised I was by this play. I have been openly critical of the book adaptation of the screenplay-- so I went in open-minded but cautious-- as to not be disappointed. It shattered all of my previous opinions. The acting was phenomenal, the special effects were a wonderful mix of new and classic practical. It was exiting, with some genuinely surprising moments, and it ended with one of the most beautiful moments of acting I have ever witnessed, bringing legitimate tears to my eyes. 

We couldn’t stop talking about it on the walk back down Broadway, surrounded by the magic of Times Square lights in the muggle night.

Day Three: Bagels & Brooklyn

Day three was back to another adventure day, this time beginning in Brooklyn. I had a pretty spectacular everything-pumpernickel bagel, which I didn't even know existed but I am all the better for it now that I do, fresh from the Bagel Pub. After achieving an adequate carb level for the morning-- we took off for a tour of Brooklyn. We both fell in love with north Brooklyn, the views from the Brooklyn Bridge Park, and the shops around. The next time we go to New York we will definitely be carving out more time to explore.

Not pictured, but we ended the evening in The Flat Iron district, where I had one of the best meals I've ever consumed at Beecher's Cheese. They are not exaggerating when they say "worlds best mac 'n cheese". Believe them. We also wandered over to Eataly, where I experienced a cannoli bar. It was spectacular.

Day Four: Museums, Museums!

Our last day in New York was certainly not just travel. We began with a morning stroll through Central Park (a must) and continued on to another a must: museums.

And now, an ode to the MET:  I love the MET, and could easily spend multiple days there. To my ultimate sadness, we had about four hours. Even so-- it was one of the best four hours I have spent in a museum. Every artifact there is displayed with so much attention and care, and it shows. The special exhibits included a rock-and-roll homage, Apollos Muse (celebrating the moon), and the exhibit on Camp-- this years MET gala theme.

Our adventures concluded at the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, which had a much different, more modern vibe-- perfectly exemplified by the immersion room-- which of course we covered in pizza. Pizza; the perfect homage to the trip.

So thanks for some really good food and a lot of walking, NYC. Maybe now I won't wait so long before visiting again...