Ah, the illustrious metropolis that is New York City: the city on everyone’s bucket list and that is known by so many names (City that Never Sleeps, the Big Apple, Gotham). So, why is it that NYC is referred to as “Hong Kong on the Hudson” when Hong Kong is just known as Hong Kong? Simple. When you cross over that Brooklyn Bridge, you know that your journey (be it a day, a week, or a lifetime) has just begun. Something about the hope and electrified energy that the city so readily supplies makes you feel invincible. Because so many types of entertainment are so concentrated on the tiny island, it’s hard to know where to start. Though it might be hectic, I’m going to detail my idea of a perfect day in the world’s favorite city.
8:30 a.m. (Breakfast in Chelsea)
Leave behind your sleepiness and get ready to step into the bustling microcosm that is New York. Your first stop is Chelsea Market for a Nutella&Strawberry crepe from Bar Suzette or a Lemon Poppyseed muffin from Sarabeth’s. The underground chic feel of this indoor market makes you feel, if not like a New Yorker, at least like a foodie.
10:00 a.m. (Tour of 30 Rock)
Fresh from your wonderful breakfast, grab a marked NYC taxi and head on over to 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Home to NBC, 30 Rock is where Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon are taped. (Heads up, go to nbc.com to reserve tickets to these tapings) For insider access, get tickets to the NBC Studio Tour, where you will be taken through the history of NBC with particular attention to its most popular shows. High points? Getting to record your own Weather segment and seeing the SNL wig department.
2:00 p.m. (The Great White Way)
If there is one thing that encapsulates the intrigue and drama of New York, it’s Broadway. Your trek through Times Square will have ultimately led you to the TKTS booth where you can purchase discount tickets to On & Off Broadway shows. See, not everything in New York is expensive! So, relax those pavement-pounding feet for a few hours as your matinee starts. Hopefully you can get those songs out of your head before dinner. (Unlikely.)
4:30 p.m. ($hopping)
Just as your rest break ends and you finish wiping the tears from another undoubtedly fantastic Broadway show, you’re back at it again to hit the best shopping in the world. On a budget? No problem, window-shopping is always in style. Oh and if you’re feeling a little low on fuel, stop in to Laduree for the most luxurious snack that the City has to offer. Macaroons flown in weekly from Paris? Yes, we’ll take a dozen.
6:00 p.m. (Become a Culture-Vulture)
No trip anywhere would be complete without bringing home some new insight to share with your friends and family. A quick trip through the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s (the Met) many galleries will leave you with enough inspiration that you may even consider taking an art class when you get home.
8:00 p.m. (Dinner of Champions)
After a long day of sampling some of what the famed city has to offer, grab your final meal of the day at Rafele Ristorante in Greenwich Villiage. The food here is better than what you would find in Italy… trust me.
A day in New York doesn’t get much better than this. Enjoy your time in the Big City and make sure to take a giant bite out of the Big Apple. I promise it will be sweet.
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