TRAVEL The Big Apple REVISITING NEW YORK AFTER 20 YEARS BY MANDY SINCLAIR 24 • HURONPERTHBOOMERS.COM
y Mandy Sinclair It had been more than a New York minute since I was last in the Big Apple, and as I prepared to return 20 years after my first visit, I was certainly excited to, “Be a part of it, New York, New York,” as Frank Sinatra so famously sang. But with so many must-visit sites, Broadway shows to see, and restaurants in which to indulge, trip planning felt overwhelming (one tip is to book attraction tickets and restaurants in advance, particularly during peak tourist season, but be sure to leave time for meandering too). I happened to be travelling in January, and, while the weather wasn’t always the greatest for wandering outside, it was perfect for heading indoors and indulging in tasting menus ranging from $30-$60 and designed specifically for Restaurant Week at leading restaurants across town. I opted to spend my days exploring a few neighbourhoods rather than taking in all the sights. So, in between meals, afternoons were often spent rambling – Mulberry Street in Nolita for the sweetest, independent boutiques, admiring art exhibitions and speaking with gallerists on a gallery hop through Chelsea, and refueling with a good coffee (Sunday to Sunday in the Lower East Side was a favourite), while chatting with friendly locals also in search of a hit of java. A moment in Midtown TRAVEL From the flashing lights of Times Square to shiny skyscrapers like the Chrysler Building, Rockefeller Centre, and the Empire State Building, to the iconic New York Public Library where Carrie Bradshaw was prepared to say I do, the neighbourhood, as heavily laden with tourists as it is, deserves a moment... or even two. While New York may be famous for many things, its skyline is certainly up there. Thankfully, the options for seeing the city from above are plentiful, particularly in Midtown. The animated elevator ride to the Top of The Rock at the Rockefeller Centre zoomed by as we were whisked up to the 70th floor in less than a minute. From the top, the Empire State Building hovers proudly above hundreds of other towers. To the north, the expansive Central Park appears. Yet the unique selling feature here is the Beam experience – an opportunity to secure oneself onto a steel beam before being hoisted 10 feet above for views and a photo similar to the famed portrait featuring 11 ironworkers sitting on a steel beam from 1932. While at the Centre, I admired the neon signs for Radio City Music Hall and NBC Studios, considered skating on the famed rink, and grabbed a pizza at Ace’s Pizza before wandering along Fifth Avenue for some (window) shopping. SUMMER <strong>2024</strong> • 25