Hello again everyone! As of a few months ago, I have started a ‘travel dream list’. This simply consists of places or activities in the world that I would like to visit. The main point to this trip was to tick off one of these from my new list. Ice skating in central park. It has been in the back of my mind for a while now and due to having a few days available it seemed like it was meant to be. Now friends, if you haven’t been to New York City yet, do yourselves a favour. Get another cup of tea and work out your next available annual leave. You will not be disappointed! NYC will always be one of my favourite places, so much so that I have a tendency to visit it every year.
I was lucky enough to get a few extra days off before my annual leave in December, so got to transit through New York City for a few days before heading to see my family for Christmas. I flew direct from London to New York JFK and landed around 1930. Thankfully, from London there is about twenty flights a day to choose from! I’ve found the easiest way to get to downtown Manhattan is to get the AirTrain. It loops around all terminals before terminating at Jamaica station which, in turn, has connections to the subway and the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) to take you onto Manhattan. Tickets for both of these options can be purchased via self service machines at Jamaica Station. The best way to get around is either walking or with a MetroCard. The MetroCard will give you access to the MTA subway across the city. It’s a similar system to Paris, London and Hong Kong. The card itself is $5 and then you just top it up as you go from the self service machines in the stations. Its also helpful to know, that depending on whether you are traveling uptown or downtown the entrances to the designated platform are on different sides of the street. Its pretty straight forward once you get the hang of it. Make sure to download the NYC subway app to your phone. It saved me on numerous occasions!
This trip to NYC was great. I got to revisit all the things I loved, as well as checking out new things I didn’t get the chance to last time. Ice skating was obviously high on the list, as well as the high line and Chelsea markets. My first day there was raining, so took that as a hint to hit the shops…not that I really need to find an excuse! For all my stationary addicted friends out there you must check out Paper Presentation and A.I. Friedman both conveniently (perhaps too conveniently) on 23 West 18th Street. They have got some really creative and different things. In terms of fashion, the city has every option you could possibly hope for (one again, very dangerous)! From the high end designers to high street to vintage classics, there is so much to discover. Its very easy to see why its a fashion capital. I fell in love with the garment district and had the best time wandering around the streets with a cup of tea in hand. I made a of point of visiting FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) and Parsons New School for Design. Both of these campuses are amongst the most prestigious in the world for fashion design, and after completing my degree, it was always a dream to visit them. Post grad study perhaps?
Another one of my favourite stores was Mood Fabrics. This, dear friends, is where I lost my creative mind. Whilst studying my degree I was obsessed with project runway, and this very fabric store was where they brought all the supplies for their designs. It’s located down an unassuming side street, but when you get inside it is buzzing with creatives. I was in textile heaven! I think I even squealed a little?! Three levels of every kind of fabric need to create anything you could dream of. And, to make it even better, Tim Gunn had been in that very building (he’s the host of the show). I could just imagine him yelling “make it work” throughout the store. Oh my goodness, it was all too much. I had to sit down in the sequins section to calm down. It was like Christmas morning!
I will never forget my second day in NYC. I got up bright and early and headed out to towards the high line in west Manhattan. The high line was opened in 1999 to the public and is part of an old rail track running from West 34th to Gansevoort Street. Its runs above the Art Gallery District and ends up in the Meatpacking District. Its a great way to see a different part of the city or to simply take a gentle stroll with great views. The end of the high line itself ends a few blocks south of Chelsea markets and is a great part of NYC to explore (it’s got a bit of an ‘East London’ vibe to it). Chelsea Markets are full of character! The architecture itself is pretty awesome – stripped down brick with exposed beams make up the framework for this bustling marketplace. I happily got lost in the bookstores, cute little food places and boutique fashion stalls.
The experience of ice skating is a relatively new one to me. Ever since I learnt how to ice skate in Canada a few years ago I try do it as much as possible during winter. So, why not go to one of the most famous ones in the world?! The Wolfman rink is located near Central Park South Street. This is helpful to know, because central park is massive and I got lost a few times. Admission to the rink is pretty straight forward…there is a flat fee and can get skate hire too if needed. Being the week before Christmas, the rink was pretty busy, but still a fantastic experience. I have also discovered, I secretly compete with other skaters, seeing if I can race them around the rink. Yes, I do realise how strange that sounds. I have a problem.
Now friends, if you are looking for singing waiters, go no further than Ellen’s Stardust Diner. Its open all day and is a lot fun and a truly unique experience. Its close to times square and demonstrates how influential broadway is to the city. Broadway is just amazing and everyone must go and see a show when visiting the city. I was lucky enough to see my one of my now favourites there. Its called If/Then and is a story of a woman rebuilding her life in NYC. It shows how one moment (or one decision) can change the overall outcome of someones life. The story plays out both of these. I loved it and would highly recommend it. While on broadway, be sure to spend some time in Times Square, specifically on the red stairs. Its the best spot in Times Square to sit and take in the city. Also, the TKTS booth is directly below it for buying tickets to most of the broadway shows. Its most helpful.
Meet you in New York City friends!
Sending hugs and smiles,
Vanessa
