I usually go some where the week of Thanksgiving. Especially, I am not a big fan of Black Friday shopping. I was in Curaçao last year. I didn’t feel like traveling far this year. A train ride to the New York City seems to be a good choice. So I got the ticket for a trip down to NYC on Friday and came back home on Sunday.
I enjoyed the train ride very much. It’s like watching a movie as the train travels through the sea coast, towns, and cities. I arrived at the Penn Station close to lunch hour. I checked in to the Residence Inn Manhattan in Time Square first. I got a very good deal using Priceline’s Name Your Own Price for this hotel. I was given a room on the very top of the floor (34th floor) with the view of Empire State Building. The room was very comfortable. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about the room!
I went to Keen’s, which is a classic New York steakhouse for lunch. Well, how could I resist to a nice piece of meat? I got a piece of 16 oz dry aged New York sirloin and a side of sauté mushroom. Boy, what a nice piece of meat. Very flavorful and cooked pertly medium rare. The restaurant decorated the ceiling of the room with rows and rows of smoking pipes. It’s very neat. The service was also fantastic. A good to relax after the train ride and to start my long weekend in NYC.
I took a walk through the Bryant Park to the Museum of a Modern Art. Lots of places got their Christmas decorations on already. I could feel the energy of the city strolling around. MoMA is such an exciting place. I found out that there was a special exhibit of Magritte’s work. He is such an amazing surrealist. By browsing through his painting, I feel the connection with his orderly approach for his work with the element of chaotic. It was surreal! There were so many wonderful pieces to explore. I felt like a treasure hunter who discover a new experience with every step I took. It was an exhausting but fulfill experience.
On a cold winter night after the museum, I walked to the Time Square. The energy of a big city was easily reflected in the lights, the people, and the sound. It was the storm before the calm, my dinner at a fantastic Japanese restaurant Kajitsu. I will use a separate posting here for one of the best meals I have had. It was mesmerizing.
On the next day, I went to one of my favorite museum, Guggenheim museum. The collections were fantastic. There is something about enjoying art work in a spiral space. I felt very comfortable and joyful to be inside the uniquely designed build. I was thinking about going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. After I visited two museums, I felt that’s enough of mental stimulation. I don’t want to be overwhelming with all the beautiful art work. I skipped it and went for a nice walk in the Central Park. Although it was a bit cold, the sky was clear and people were out and about. I went across from the east side to the west side of the park, and stopped by the famous Barney Greengrass for a late lunch. A bagel with sesame seeds loaded with smoke sturgeon and salmon, and cream cheese hit the right spot. That was really tasty. The restaurant was an old fashion establishment. Based on the line outside of the restaurant, you can’t go wrong with it.
After I met with my friend Dan, who is a psychiatrist and living in NYC, for dinner at the Turkish restaurant Pasha for some lamb chops, I headed to the Lincoln center. I looked forward to Metropolitan Opera’s production of Rigoletto very much. It was a long time ago when I came to NYC and saw the opera Romeo and Juliet. The quality and the production at MET are top grade. MET put a modern twist to this opera – the Las Vegas style! And it works! The singing was fantastic and the production was great. A very nice way to end my trip to NYC. I enjoyed the view of Empire State Building from my room for the last night in NYC. It was a short and sweet trip. 🙂
What a bountiful vacation in Big Apple. You are not the guy who goes to Wall Street, Macy’s(Black Friday is not applicable to you), charging bull, Statue of Liberty…… I appreciate the way you go! I visited Staten Island by free ferry, watched Mamma Mia at Winter Garden, visited Metropolitan Museum of Art, and of course, enjoyed nice dinner at Keens Steakhouse and watched nice game at new Yankee Stadium. I walked two hours in the Central Park and I will find Barney Greengrass next time! LIFE IS GOOD(not from LG)!
Yeah, I have to be careful of not doing too much. 🙂 I did consider going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. After visited two great museums, I felt it would be too overwhelming to enjoy it. So, change of plan! What I learn from traveling to lots of places around the world: there is always more to do, to see, and to eat. I can’t do it all. My plan for traveling has been knowing enough of information for a location, and go with the flow based on what’s happening. Based on the knowledge, I may need to reserve a ticket ahead (such as the opera ticket), or take my chance (I did go to the discount ticket both in Time Square but nothing was interesting to me). It makes the trip more spontaneous and exciting!
I also reserve all the tickets ahead. Thanks for internet, we can book ticket and just print it(with barcode) at home immediately. I did it for my baseball games in Big Apple and Tokyo dome. I like to go to Time Square but I won’t use my time to reach the booth to get the discount ticket.
I don’t blame you for by passing the discount ticket booth. I wasn’t sure if I want to go to any Broadway shows since I was going to an opera already. If there is a good deal and a good show, I might tried it. Well, I didn’t see anything I like. So change of plan!