A year has passed since my trip to the big apple.
Though this was not my first time in the states, as a Londoner, I found falling in love was not hard, and it didn’t come as a surprise. Yes, it sounds cliche, but it was hard to be in the city that never sleeps and not find yourself falling a custom to the stereotypes. To my biggest surprise, I was more shocked at how quickly it had all happened. I instantly felt at ease and like I knew how to navigate through the city, understand mannerism and blend in like a “New Yorker”. I was definitely happy throughout (except when I was hungry).
Everything you have ever read and imagined about the fast-paced city, from its hustle and bustle lifestyle to the bright lights and go-and-get attitude, is all real. Though whoever said New Yorkers were rude probably hasn’t been to London either. Our hotel Stewart Hotel was a stone’s throw away from Maddison Square Garden’s, I knew there was something in the air that I loved.
So what was it? With a jam-packed itinerary, I thought I’d break down what I got up to and the things I loved the most.
The dates of travel were Friday 24 August – Monday 4 September. On day 1 we literally just grabbed food, did some shopping and explored what was nearby from our accommodation. The jet lag was real!
25 Aug / Day 2: Power 105.1 – Angie’s Summer BBQ at Studio Square
I came across this event via Eventbrite, which became the go-to for checking events and activities for this event. Alongside Instagram, it’s great for finding local gems if you’re looking to go to places that don’t necessarily appear on TimeOut New York. The event is an annual barbeque held by Angie Martinez, this year’s line-up included Tory Lanez & Hood Celebrityy. Cameos on the day featured Tiffany Hadish, Issa Rae, Jesse Williams and the rest of the Power 105 crew. Honestly, the vibes here were unmatched, it was a great start to my New York adventures and the attendees were all down for having a great time.
Time: 2-6pm
Ticket: General Admission, including a free cocktail upon arrival.
One thing about America that’s true. The drinks really will be the size of your head. And you will drink it all, even if it’s a zombie because you paid your money right?
After the party, you need an after party right? Well, we attended a Paint’n’Pour event in Harlem. The price was $50 and included drinks and all materials. The event only takes place on certain days of the week I’d recommend adding it into your itinerary where possible. The atmosphere is fun and some a little bit different to the usual bar and clubbing vibe.
26 Aug / Day 3: The Brits in Central Park
Now is probably a great time to note that we didn’t actually purchase a metro card while in New York. Though I do recommend it, it all depends on where you’re staying and the things you plan to do. While staying in Manhattan you’ll find many things are within walking distance. We also found tricks to make the trip easier. On this particular day, we rented bikes and explored Central bike. There are several shops you’re able to rent them for, just be sure to bring valid I.D and you pay the price required at the shop. It’s also worth noting you should feel slightly comfortable riding a bike which sounds silly but the pace people ride within the park and in the street is crazy.
27 Aug / Day 4: The Road Trip
Whenever you’re in America, always aim to a neighbouring state to maximise your experience. Read about my day trip to Washington D.C. here.
28 & 29 Aug / Day 5 & Day 6:
Another money-saving tip is to purchase yourself a New York pass. This digital pass provided access into multiple of the top tourist attractions from the Statue of Liberty, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), Coney Island and hundreds more. The price varies on how many days you need, so it’s worth considering how many attractions you want to visit within a certain period.
To make things easier, I’ve compiled these dates together as they were all the “tourist” days of the trip, so costs vary. The experiences are varied but there was not one part I didn’t enjoy. As it was my first time in New York, I felt like I wanted this tourist experience just to say I’ve done it.
- Top of the rock
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tour
- 9/11 Memorial Museum
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)*
- Empire State building
- Rockefeller centre tour
- Coney Island*
We had more on the list that we planned to, but like any guided tours and trips to the museum, you can never plan exactly how long you’ll spend somewhere.
*This took place on 31 August, so I’ll explore more here in Day 8 section.
With a group of friends, this is a great and inexpensive activity that I would consider adding to any itinerary. However, if you’re not into bike riding Central Park is enormous. There are several spots to relax and take great pictures. Try John Lennon’s ‘imagine’ mural and the iconic fountain that can be found in the opening titles of Friends.
30 Aug / Day 7: Brooklyn Bridge & Beyond
When planning this trip, we decided we wanted to spend half the time in Manhattan and the other half in Brooklyn.
31 Aug / Day 8: All fun in games at Coney Island
Coney island text + random club.
1 Sep / Day 9: A bit of drama
As someone who loves theatre more than Drake, this was a no brainer. I’ve seen him perform multiple times but being in New York seemed like it felt compulsory for me to watch a theatre production. The prices for Broadway productions were beyond extortionate. Luckily with my great research skills, I came across an amazing play called Little Rock at the Sheen Centre (Loreto Theatre) based in Brooklyn. The tickets started at $39, I went with another friend who was in New York at the time. My other friends went on to see Drake at Barclays Centre in Brooklyn. If you want to see my review on the production you can read it here.
2 Sep / Day 10: Bottlomless Brunch
brunch text.
3 Sep / Day 11: Carnival in NYC
We spent labour day weekend roaming the streets of Brooklyn and enjoying the labour day parade. As a Londoner though, I was mindful of the experience because in all honestly, it doesn’t compare to Notting Hill. If you’re looking for something free and fun to do, then I’d definitely recommend attending. Who wouldn’t say no to such an experience?
4 Sep / Day 12: The Departure
After every great trip, the reality of flying home is the low point. As I’ve probably mentioned 192391 times I’m not a fan of departing early (before 6 pm), especially when you are dealing with timezone travelling.
Since our flight was at 11 am an early checkout and drive back to JFK. Our flights were all booked with Norweigan Air who failed to information unless we arrived at the airport we were flying on an old aircraft which meant 7 hours no entertainment or anywhere to charge your phone. The only option was to entertain ourselves; playing games on our phone, and singing songs for the whole journey. The arrival time into London was around 11 pm, which meant most the day was spent travelling!
Exploring the different boroughs of New York, balancing being a tourist and attempting to do what the locals do was great. Overall I know New York will be a city I return to again, the question that remains is when.