New York City: Top Picks!

I can’t believe it’s already been over two months since I returned from my first trip ever to New York City. I must say I am proud of myself that I was able to navigate Manhattan with confidence (I think spending extended time in London certainly helped prepare for the bustle of the city and how to use the transportation.) My mom and I went all over the island, which equated to several subway journeys and a great deal of walking. Every night we fell into bed completely exhausted, but woke up ready the next day ready for more exploring. 

Since we had never been there before, we went to quite a few of the touristy attractions, which means the crowds were pretty crazy at times. It was so exciting though to actually be in the places I have seen so many times in pictures, movies, television shows, etc. 

There was a lot to do, and not a whole lot of time, but we managed to see so many things. Here were my favorites moments!

Creme Puff at Bouchon Bakery: We spent quite a bit of time in the Rockefeller Plaza area because our hotel was so close. We wandered into this bakery in the hopes of a place to take a break and decided to try a cream puff, since it isn’t something we see offered too often. The cream puff was huge and as we bit into it, we were surprised to discover that it was filled with two types of cream and a dollop of caramel. It was so delicious that we came back another day to have one again! We also tried a giant lemon macaron and a madeleine at the bakery.

Show Tapings: I have been to a few late-night show tapings in Los Angeles and was excited to finally check out a few in New York. It can be a bit of a hassle waiting for show tapings, since you don’t really feel like you can go anywhere (and being in New York there are so many things worth checking out, you don’t want to waste too much time), but I have always had good experiences that make it worth it.

The first taping we went to was Late Night with Seth Meyers. A highlight was getting to walk past the SNL studio on the way to Seth’s! There was a warm up comedian and Seth came out right before the taping to chat for a few minutes. The guests were Taraji P. Henson (who was hosting SNL that weekend), Carice van Houten, and comedian Keith Alberstadt. After seeing Seth, we went to the Top of the Rock observation deck (where it was very drizzly and hazy.)

I tried, unsuccessfully, to get The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon tickets, but did manage to get tickets to his monologue rehearsal. I’m a big Jimmy Fallon fan, so even though it wasn’t the actual show taping, I was very pleased to still see him and sit on the set. The guests scheduled for that night were Kevin James and Vanessa Hudgens, and we got to hear a little bit about the plans for the episode. It was a Friday, so we got to see Jimmy rehearse Thank You Notes, and James from The Roots came out to play his special Thank You Note writing music. I stayed up that night to watch how the episode turned out and see what stayed and what was cut (I noticed a few weeks later one of the cut Thank You Notes appeared on another episode!) 

Finally, we went to a taping of Live! with Kelly and Michael. The guests were Kevin James, Oscar Isaac, and Fifth Harmony. Michael was incredibly friendly and interacted with the crowd every commercial break. The audience also got free breakfast items and coffee while we waited in line. 

At each show the checking in, waiting in line, and getting seated went very smoothly. It was definitely a lot of fun and I would do it again the next time in New York.

9/11 Memorial: While it puts a bit of a damper on your day, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum are incredibly beautiful and memorable. It was one of the rare times I felt like I was able to see an entire museum from start to finish. My mom and I both have our own memories of 9/11, so to stand on the actual ground where the towers fell really made us think back to that day and how it impacted us. 

Statue of Liberty: This was a highlight simply because it is such an iconic image, and it was exciting to finally see it in person. The statue was bigger than I imagined and we ended up having perfect blue skies that day (it was VERY windy though!) We didn’t spent much time on Ellis Island, but it is something I would like to return to.

Little Italy: What we didn’t realize until we got off the subway station was that Little Italy was right in the middle of Chinatown. We spent a little time in Chinatown, but found Little Italy a bit more mellow. We enjoyed a nice meal while there and also shared cannoli, gelato, and cappuccinos as we walked around the pretty streets.

Empire State Building: The Empire State Building felt so classic and retro. There were a lot of golden accents and the entrance was really elegant. I also got some good photos overlooking the city here, and had my first look at Central Park before we made our way there the following day. 

Matilda The Musical: It was pretty hard choosing just one Broadway show to attend (we later wished we had made time for one more!), but we went with Matilda. I had wanted to see this show when I was studying abroad in London and figured I better take the opportunity this time. Simply put, the show was hilarious! I have watched the film version of Roald Dahl's story so many times growing up, and loved how the play had a whimsical feeling to it. The actors who played Mrs. Wormwood and Miss Trunchbull were especially fantastic, and brought many laughs. The most memorable scenes were when Miss Trunchbull swings Amanda's Pigtail's and when Bruce Bogtrotter must eat an entire chocolate cake. I was amazed how well those scenes were done on the stage! (I do wish The Theatre District was a bit further from Times Square. It was just a bit too crazy there for me.)

Levain Cookies: We trekked out to Levain Bakery after visiting the The American Museum of Natural History and it was definitely worth the walk! We got two of these chocolate walnut cookies…and the best part was that they were served warm.

Metropolitan Art Museum: While we didn’t really put much of a dent into seeing everything at The Met, what I did see was really fantastic. What I especially enjoyed were how many of the instillations and exhibits were built into the walls, which really brought a nice touch. 

The main thing I regret is not spending more time in Central Park. What we did see was really lovely, but we just ran out of time. I hear they are planning to open School of Rock The Musical (based on one of my favorite movies) on Broadway at the end of the year, which I think would be the perfect time to return! (wink wink)