There’s nothing you can’t do; Now you’re in New York; These streets will make you feel brand new; Big lights will inspire you; Hear it from New York, New York, New York!
That’s right on this long weekend honoring the late and great Martin Luther King Jr. my family and I took the six and a half hour drive from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania to the bright lights of New York City. We passed through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, through the sea of swirly twirly gum drops, and then we drove through the Lincoln Tunnel. There we found ourselves in the city that never sleeps, the big apple, the melting pot, The City.
Somewhat on a whim and a little bit on a desire to just get out of town we drove into New York City with no agenda and that sparkle that NYC puts in your eye. The thing about New York City is that it is everything that you’ve thought NYC was and it is. It’s gritty, dirty, lively, fast paced, bright, and beautiful all at the same time. It’s one of those places that you get your hopes up and when you arrive it delivers like when you visit Disneyland there is absolutely no letdown needed.
Well we had woke up around five in the morning so we could spend as much time as possible in NYC. The drive wasn’t bad aside from a stretch of a couple hours driving in the snow through the mountains of Pennsylvania. Once through the passes near Altoona, PA the snow ended and I was able to motor along at a fantastic pace. Just a heads up once you hit Jersey and reach Newark, traffic stinks and frankly the roads were designed and labelled by a drunk five year old with cross eyes not wearing their glasses.
Once we checked into our hotel which ROCKED because it was at 7th and 56th street, for those who aren’t familiar with NYC that means we were staying on the main street straight down into Time Square. Also an enormous shout out to the staff at our hotel Park Central New York who let us check in early and get situated. Yet even better the hotel was three blocks from the South side of Central Park which only put us a couple of blocks from Time Warner Center, Columbus Circle, and FAO Schwartz! So saying we picked a winner is an understatement. To add to the awesomeness we landed an online deal through a travel site which means our hotel was a great deal and that’s a HUGE win staying in Midtown Manhattan!
Checked in, set up in the room, we hit the hotel lobby ready to roam the streets of New York. Then the thought hit us all along with the gentle (yeah right) rumble of our stomachs. Time to find food in Midtown Manhattan! So with that in mind we made our way to the TGI Friday’s. I know TGI Friday’s? Well it was a quick we know what we’re gonna get and it was for a quick in and out. Well if you are going to eat anywhere in the Midtown area near Time Square DO NOT eat at a chain restaurant!!! The food was the same but holy crud the sticker shock floored me! TGI Friday’s was charging $19.98 for the usual burger so a burger that would run you ten bucks in almost any other place in America was twice as much for the same old burger! Well we learned after this if you are gonna have to drop some change on a meal might as well roll the dice going to the many myriad of local options that abound on almost every street and corner which I promise you won’t regret.
So we set out to see the glories of Time Square with full bellies and rested feet.
It’s all you want it to be… loud, bright, flashy. Shops abound with their flagship stores which are stunning large affairs with all the glitz and glam of a runway show. The square hums with life, all the languages of the world mix together creating a sing song melody in your ears, the smells are perfumes from the stores, cars, people and the food oh the food. It was overwhelming yet engrossing all at the same time.
As night descended on the city we retreated to our hotel to rest, recollect ourselves, then attack the city again. So once the batteries were recharged figuratively and literally back out into the city to find some delectable dinner and evening entertainment. We sauntered over to the Russian Tea Room which is a restaurant founded in 1927 by the Russian ballet dancers as a place to get together with one another. It was a beautifully appointed place with good food and efficient if somewhat impersonal service.
Once the dinner was through we were off to another Russian place called the Russian Samovar. Now here’s a place where you can instantly transport yourself to a bar in Moscow! A singer was crooning Russian songs and Russian was falling smoothly from almost every lip in the place. This was the final stop of the night for us and obviously our hopes were high for a good end to our first night in NYC. Well we weren’t disappointed! The in house made vodka’s were amazing with different infusions to try. The pomegranate was really tasty but the one that took the cake was the peach vodka. We ordered a plate with Shuba and Olivie which are traditional Russian salads which only added to the awesomeness. By the end of our time at the Samovar we happily made our way back to the hotel and slept comfortably snug as bugs in a rug.
The next morning we awoke fresh and set for more adventure. Down three blocks bright and early to Central Park Drive South taking a right at the light and down to the great little bistro called Sarabeth’s for breakfast. Now to say it was an amazing breakfast is an understatement. Everything from the coffee, the fresh squeezed orange juice, and the entree’s was amazing. Once we had finished our breakfast we moseyed on down to the 53rd street subway and jumped onto the E train to go see the one thing on our list that was mandatory… the 9/11 memorial.
So a little about visiting this memorial for me. I was serving my country in the United States Army when the 9/11 terrorist attacks happened. I watched in uniform as the planes hit the towers, stood by my friends who’s family was there, To this day 9/11 is a rough day for me. My job in the Army was air defense so in other words my job was to help shoot down enemy aircraft. Add to that I have been a volunteer firefighter and this memorial has a meaningful and special place in my heart and mind. I can say that once there it was breath taking. The footprints of the fallen towers turned into an endless pool of water falling into infinity is magnificent. Also all the victims and fallen heroes ring these pools on granite forever to be remembered. The one thing I had an issue with was that the visitors from other countries failed to grasp the enormity of the memorial. They snapped photo’s and selfies laughing, pointing, and jabbering like they were at the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building. I know it’s personal for me but I also know if I was at a very significant memorial in another country and I was laughing and joking around I might get hit with a brick by a local. Other than that slight issue the memorial itself is stunning, beautiful and should be visited by everyone who can make it as it is the perfect remembrance to those who lost their lives that day.
After the visit to the memorial we were off to the Upper West Side to meet with a friend for lunch. We took the C train to the 79th street stop which is also the stop for the Natural History Museum which you immediately recognize from Night at the Museum. We took the short walk to a small New Yorker restaurant named Fred’s. Fred’s is quintessential New York. No tourists here just good food and the spice of real New York life. Although I do have to say this what the heck is up with New York? All the restaurants offer Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, and some have Root Beer… seriously that’s it… nothing else… so short of going to a convenience store that’s the ONLY soda you can get! Okay I’m done with that moment since yes I’m a Mountain Dew junkie and I will supplement with Dr. Pepper if needed.
Gorgeous view from Time Warner Center.
So once the lunch was over we walked the thirty blocks back to the hotel…. yes you read that correctly THIRTY blocks. Now these aren’t small blocks these are big blocks so it was a walk but fun and great to see the city in action. The fun part is the walk is along the West Side of Central Park so you get to drop in and out of the park at will. One minute you’re in a vibrant bustling city the next deep in the hundred acre woods waiting for Tiger and Pooh to jump out.
We got back to the hotel crashed out for a couple of hours. Now with the batteries back to full we went out to poke around and find a fun restaurant to eat at. We visited Columbus Circle and Time Warner Center where it’s astounding to walk in and find yourself in an indoor mall with a gorgeous view of the circle. After our time there we found a fun sports bar and grill for a burger and the NFC Championship game. The Seahawks and 49er’s were into a serious contest and I can tell you this nothing is quite as AWESOME as being in a NYC sports bar and grill eating a good burger, watching your favorite team play football, and other random fans of your team cheer them on as they go having an bond in a faraway locale with others. So after the meal, after the game, and after the bill we headed back through Time Square one more time. It was everything you want it to be even after you’re tired, worn out and ready to go home it’s still amazing!
So the next morning dawns the city never stopped or slept and it’s time to return home. Happy to be returning to the confines of our home in our beds with all the comforts of our home. Sad to be leaving behind such an amazing city that New York is and continues to be. So we made it home in one piece a bit lighter in the wallet but happy to have visited The City! A trip I recommend everyone do in their lifetime!
Pittsburgh from Mt Washington
Eat Shop StayLive 