Take Me to the Big Apple

Are you planning on visiting New York City? Whether it is your first time visiting the city that never sleeps or not, these are a few of my top picks of things to do and places to see while on a quick getaway to New York City.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met is the perfect place to visit on a weekend getaway to New York City. It includes 5,000 years of geographic and non-geographic art collections distributed in 17 curatorial departments.

If you have never been there, you should plan to visit its permanent collections – Greek and Roman Art, and Egyptian Art. You may also want to see other collections or even patron the museum’s Great Hall Balcony Bar or Café and Wine Bar (first-class architecture guaranteed). The museum is located on the eastern perimeter of Central Park, allowing all you nature fanatics (hey there ;) ) to explore.

L'Artusi

NYC is known for being a food metropolis -- you’ll find anything from modern to authentic food in the city and I have the hit list for it all. First of all, skip the tourist traps. Don’t even try the chain restaurants. This city is home of some of the best chefs in the world. We are talking about Michelin stars, and culinary pioneers. If you are ready to eat this city, go for something local, friend. L’Artusi is a bold Italian restaurant that serves everything excellent. I am a huge fan of all things ricotta and the ricotta gnudi from their menu was spectacular. Be mindful that the space can get a little noisy but, it doesn’t dampen the experience. Next time you are in West Village try this place out.

Bibble and Sip

I loved the alpaca theme -- they have alpaca graphics, alpaca doodles on their cups, and some alpaca shaped pastries, too.

Lost in Midtown? In need of a good Matcha latte, and a good atmosphere? Head over to Bibble and Sip. The cafe is small and intimate with a menu that is perfect for a snack and a quick sip. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a taste of their pastries, but they had a really good selection that looked delish. I’m definitely going back to this cafe on my next visit to NYC.

Death & Co.

I’m fairly certain Death & Co. is the darkest bar I have been in. It is so dimly lit that you can barely read the menu. But, it made the scenery feel intimate and romantic. They have so many amazing cocktails to try from. I love Gin and I tried the Hummingbird to start that was $18 and calls for the Dorothy Parker Gin. My friend tried the False Summit that was made with Tyrconnel Single Malt Irish Whiskey and cost $24. We also tried the Dr. Zhivago and a drink that was not on the menu that the bartender whipped up for me on the spot. And, it was absolutely delicious. Drinks are a bit expensive, but they were very well made and completely worth the stop we did on a cocktail-bar-hop that evening.

9/11 Memorial

In light of the 17th anniversary of 9/11, I made a stop at the epicenter of the event on my most recent visit to NYC. I’ve been to the memorial a few times, but each time is emotional. As you walk around, you notice the names of the lives that were lost on that day. The water flowing down the black marbles was glistening in the sunlight and all the visitors were very respectful. The World Trade center buildings surround this memorial along with the Oculus and the Museum. This memorial is a must visit as it commemorates the past and places a sense of hope for a brighter future.

"Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11.” President Obama

SoHo

SoHo was once famous for its artsy neighborhood. But, it has now evolved to being a fashion center with shops ranging from trendy upscale boutiques to independent-designer outposts. Need an outfit? Perhaps a Louis? Or want to furnish your loft? -- SoHo has it all. Once you’ve had your dose of retail therapy, take a break at one of its famous restaurants, or local coffee shops while mesmerizing it’s beautiful cast-iron architecture. I love wandering the streets of SoHo and finding quaint places to explore.

Bryant Park

My favorite, Bryant Park, is centrally located in Manhattan and a few blocks away from Times Square, and is the site of ice skating in the Winter and offers free movies on the lawn in the summer. It is the perfect casual date location with endless meals, a water fountain and a Le Carrousel to bring out the Parisian charm this park has to offer. I make a stop at this Park on almost all my visits to NYC and I always enjoy myself.