A nugget of New York

40°44'25.5"N 74°00'29.3"W New York

These are our nuggets of New York. A snippet of a long weekend spent in the Big Apple.

We tried to do too much, does everyone make this mistake? One imagines you could live here for a lifetime and there would still be an historic building, a fresh outlook, a new restaurant, gallery, show, event to discover.

The Museum of Modern Art

The rain bought everyone inside and MOMA was a popular choice. It rained so hard that the government were sending flood warnings to every single mobile phone within Manhattan, repetitively. So what may have been an insightful visit, exploring the art, ideas, and issues of modern times encapsulated by some very iconic pieces, became broken thoughts intercepted by alarms. We went to eat waffles. We shall return.

Statue of Liberty Sailing Cruise

A 90-minute sailing opportunity to stop walking and take in the sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline aboard a beautifully restored 1929 Shearwater Classic Schooner, sailing past Ellis Island and the great lady herself The Statue of Liberty. Lovely boat & lovely views but we were so cold! This May is apparently unseasonably freezing.

Please Don’t Tell

A prohibition themed hidden cocktail bar, Please don’t tell is accessed via a pink rotary phone in a hot dog shop.

Am I supposed to tell?

We were also recommended, amongst others, Death&Co and The Dead Rabbit (casually voted the worlds best bar, a couple of times).

Not Your Standard Bingo

This was the highlight of our trip. It was pure luck and generosity we got to go. Brooke was invited to join a friends table at the last minute and they kindly extended the invite to Captain and I.

A few years ago the iconic hotel did what The Standard does and flipped bingo on it’s head. The concept of a game usually reserved for old ladies in retirement homes, was transformed into a scintillating spectacle. Every Sunday night at 10pm an eclectic crowd of revellers descends onto the Meatpacking District to play bingo, sing ‘Balls Karaoke’, and transform the space into their own private hedonistic den. That is, if they could snag a reservation.

The host MC J.Michael Stauffer is quick, witty, next level entertaining.

It is the superlative of a great night out.

The High Line

We did Central Park by bike and it was fantastic…

… However, the High Line stole my heart.

The High Line is a public park which floats above the West Side of Manhattan for 1.5 miles along a dis-used historic, elevated rail line.

The Wild Son

A stones throw from the southern end of the High Line, The Wild Son cafe offers a scrumptious menu with an ‘emphasis on delicious and healthy proteins, vegetables, greens and grains’. We brunched on egg/avocado/aoili brioche, blueberry waffles and fresh juices.

Bubby’s

On the theme of casual chic brunch cafes. There are a couple of Bubby’s across Manhattan, we visited the Tribeca cafe on Hudson. In for the win with warm Banana Bread and Butter to start the day!

The New York Public Library

Beautiful building, worth it for the dreamy ceiling mural alone.

Sleep No More

We met Brooke at Pier 66 for a little dutch courage before our theatrical experience.

Immersive theatre was new to all of us, this play is based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth with added Film Noir vibes to intensify the atmosphere. Hosted by the McKittrick Hotel, a mock hotel space in which the audience roams freely, every room is a ‘set’. Every audience member must wear a white mask for the duration of the performance. This distinguishes audience members from performers with no masks and McKittrick staff in black masks. I would recommend if you go with someone to split up and have your own experience, you can’t talk anyway. It’s live theatre after all. Find a character early on and follow them, allow yourself to be swept into the story. It’s dark, voyeuristic, mysterious.

There’s some really good pointers here for attending, my top tip, whatever you do wear contact lenses not glasses and comfy shoes - you’ll be charging around a dark multi-floor warehouse for the entire 3 hour performance!

After the show our minds were buzzing so we headed to the twinkling rooftop bar ‘Gallow Green’, feasted on platefuls of wood fired pizza, then retired to the sofa next to the fire pit where we shared sentiments about the show.

Although we each had our own experience, collectively we were all equally intrigued and ignited by it.

Definitely an experience to be had.

Times Square

Friend’s had suggested ‘stand in times square and let the world pass you by, taking in the colour and vibrancy of it all. It’s the beating heart of NYC’.

I can see their point, but there is no denying I felt exposed in Times Square, American ‘gun culture’ terrifies me and I couldn’t shake the feeling I was standing in a target zone.

Rockefeller Centre

We chose the Top of the Rock Observation Deck for our 360 degree panoramic views.

Brooklyn Flea Market

We went to Artists & Fleas indoor market in Williamsburg. I was too busy eating street food to take photos so try here for more info. There are some good un’s.

The Oculus

Designed by Santiago Calatrava, this large, cavernous ribcage of a building is the transport hub serving the new World Trade Centre. On our visit the space was host to an interactive art project called ‘1612 Dots’ by Jonathan Horowitz.

9/11 Memorial & Museum

We found this memorial to be a poignant, appropriate space in remembrance.

Jazz Standard

Captain requested we find Jazz, so Jazz Standard we found. Black and red interiors cast with Edison bulbs. American tangy chicken wings and mac n’ cheese by candle light. Brilliantly talented musicians crooning via a lineup of microphones, instruments and stories. They introduced us to the Heart Song, composed in the 80’s using all the ‘happy’ Major chords.

Hugo Hotel

Good Soho location, plus Hotel Hugo offered a bedroom which didn’t require a re-mortgage (The skies the limit in NY), mainly we were sold on the Azul roof top bar which ‘channels a Cuban cantina vibe against the backdrop of magnificent 360-degree views of Lower Manhattan’ only problem was it wasn’t open and nobody could tell us why! We settled for giggle juice at Bar Hugo.

Chelsea Market

A beloved destination for locals and travellers alike, iconic culinary destination Chelsea Market is considered one of the greatest indoor food and retail marketplaces. Located in the heart of NYC’s Meatpacking District, the market’s collection of merchants makes for a lively place where one can shop the region’s finest produce and load up on artisanal cheeses, flowers, confectionary and baked goods.