New York is not an easy place to love.
It is a place so rose tinted by movies and television that if you go with expectations based on that,
you are bound to leave with disappointment.
The reality is that most New Yorkers speak too rapidly and are not the friendliest people around to strike up casual conversations with.
Bad service in their retail stores or F&B establishments are not rare encounters.
Traffic packed roads flanked by skyscrapers.
Everything rushes about at such a fast pace without ceasing and the 24/7 hustle and bustle make it hard for people to relax.
A tough concrete jungle indeed.
This post will bring you virtually around all the places of interest I’ve been to in New York.
Nowhere near comprehensive for sure, because of my limited time there.
Bedford Avenue, WilliamsburgBedford Avenue has tons of hole in the wall shops and cafes,
perfect place for you to while away the afternoon.
Catbird was recommended by a friend who did an exchange in New York and I ended up buying some trinkets as souvenirs for some friends from here!
Williamsburg BridgeAlmost walked across the Williamsburg Bridge one afternoon,
but the sheer intensity of the sun and the distance caused a change in plans.
Hahaha.
And also to excuse myself,
most people crossed the bridge by driving/cycling,
I didn't see anyone attempted to cross the bridge on foot.
Empire State BuildingDefinitely underestimated the amount of tourists clambering to get up to the top of Empire State Building in the evening.
350 5th Ave
I barely had enough time to get through the long suffering queue right before the sun set.
You'll need at least 30 minutes for queuing (not including time to squirm and squeeze your way through the crowds to get to the edge of the building + secure a good spot for photos) so if you want to catch the sunset,
I would advice you to arrive an hour prior to that day's sunset just to be safe.
I would say that I am thoroughly biased towards the view from Top Of The Rock though.
So if you only have the time/budget for one out of these two,
go for that.
Plus, you get the Empire State Building in your photos taken from TOTR too.
Scroll below to see!
Whitney Museum of American ArtAwesome view at the terrace area.
99 Gansevoort St
They have some really intriguing art installations as well,
enough to occupy a couple hours of your time even if you're not an avid artsy museum person just like me.
The High LineA public park elevated on a historic railway line which runs through the West Side of Manhattan.
You get a really good view of the Meatpacking District + a nice scenic walk with interesting photo spots along the way.
Unfortunately my camera ran out of battery and I lost my phone earlier this month so I don't have many photos to share.
I didn't come across The High Line while I was doing research for my trip,
but someone told me to check it out and I'm glad that I did.
It was a fun walk made more memorable by a random gypsy who came up to me and offered to read my fortunes for 30USD.
Oh, and be sure to grab one of the park guides so that you can look out for the highlights along the walk!
Grand Central Station
89 E 42nd St
Apple Store (Fifth Avenue)I think I must have wandered into every single Apple Store that I came across whilst in New York;
767 5th Ave
this is my favourite one thus far.
Apparently also the most iconic Apple Store in New York, too.
Apple gadgets are also marginally cheaper there I think!
#lovewall
corner of Kenmare and Mott Street
Central ParkBrought along a long shawl which doubled up as a picnic mat, a read in hand and Eileen's Special Cheesecake and spent 3 serene hours at Central Park.
Met Museum
1000 5th Ave
Brooklyn BridgeIf you want to catch a panoramic view of Brooklyn Bridge and the cityscape, head over to Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Took some photos there and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge right before sunset.
What I didn't expect though, was the massive crowd.
So difficult to take photos there without having another human being caught in my frame.
Still, one of the most breathtaking sunsets I've caught in NYC.
Top Of The RockThe lack of directions and signages make getting to the ticketing booth a tedious one,
Rockefeller Center,
30 Rockefeller Plaza
but ask around and you'll be good.
Can't believe that I was initially contemplating to give this a miss since I've been up the Empire State Building already.
So glad I found my way up there, eventually.
The views literally took my breath away.
Bryant Park
Saturdays Surf NYC
31 Crosby St
Shinola Detroit
177 Franklin Street
Monocle Shop
535 Hudson St
The Paris TheatreAnother thing which I thought I would never do:
4 W 58th St
catching a film in a foreign country on my own.
Times SquareBefore you even step foot into Times Square,
you know that it's a famous place when it comes to tourism and potentially filled with tourist traps all around.
Everywhere you turn,
you see and feel people in swarms and droves all around you.
But there's just something about the allure of bright lights which draws you there anyway.
I went there on my last night in New York,
just a couple of hours before I left for my flight home.
Albeit being a typical tourist-y thing to do,
it marked an impressionable end of my first ever solo trip.
But there is something about the immense vibrance and frenetic, buzzing energy about New York which makes it endlessly enchanting at the same time, even if it is not love at first sight.
The charming brownstone apartments and quaint little shopfronts along Nolita which I never tire of. People sitting by the Soho sidewalk just minding and going about their own business.
Never even a remote possibility that you are going to run out of a hipster-looking cafe when you need a strong kick of caffeine.
Everyone on the streets primped up like they came straight off pages of the Sartorialist site.
The hypnotising bright lights and skyline of Manhattan city which you can stare at for hours on end.
The hypnotising bright lights and skyline of Manhattan city which you can stare at for hours on end.
That you will never exhaust the list of off-the-beaten-track things to explore in Brooklyn.
New York, New York.
I will be back for you.
But maybe next time round,
with someone else in tow?
But maybe next time round,
with someone else in tow?
