NEW YORK, NEW YORK: THE CITY THAT STOLE MY HEART
I’m in love!
In the words of Peter Shaffer, ‘if London is a watercolour, New York is an oil painting’. And his analogy holds true. From the minute the plane hit the runway at JFK, I was captivated by the lurid colour, brash sounds and the constant reminders that this city is a living, breathing entity. This city is a true work of art.
So, when you only have 48 hours in New York, what do you do? Where best to take in this expanse of light, colour and orchestra of hard vowels, loud horns and constant chatter? The Empire States Building was a perfect place to start. Home to Hollywood masterpieces such as ‘Sleepless in Seattle’, ‘King Kong’ and ‘Superman’, the Empire States Building ‘s illustrious history puts this sight at the top of your ‘to do’ list. From the 102nd floor, illuminous yellow taxis appear like tic-tacs, making the whole of the city appear like the interior of a miniature snow globe. In the distance, Brooklyn Bridge glinted and gleamed in the heat of the day whilst the Statue of Liberty was almost like a speck on the horizon. There’s simply no better place to embrace New York City than from the highest point in the entire city!
And after surveying the entire city, you’ve got to explore one of the most iconic places in the whole of the city. But where do you start? The zoo? The horses? The movie sights? When you envisage some of the best scenes in the movie ‘Elf’, they’re filmed in this park. More notably, I embraced my inner Meg Ryan, in the infamous film ‘When Harry Met Sally’, strolling through the park or perhaps even my inner Jaylo as I embraced the sights and beauty that this world-renowned park had to offer. In particular, Central Park Zoo had to be one of the pinnacles of the park for me. From the brown grizzly bear bathing himself in the stream to the penguins gathering together in search of fish, the Zoo is a definite ‘must-see’. Is there really anything you can’t do in New York City?
Have you ever heard the phrase about New York being ‘the city that never sleeps’? That’s certainly true! Times Square at night is one of the most spectacular sights. The illuminous glow of lights showcasing the diverse assortment of shops, Broadway billboards and advertisements cultivated a feeling of magic and excitement, as the buzz of crowds
The M&M shop, situated at the heart of Times Square, is one of the most iconic places to visit within New York City. From the infamous M&M jackets to the huge assortment of M&Ms which had probably colour you could ever think of, this emporium of sugar makes Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory look miniscule and inadequate. Although, my favourite discovery is the peanut butter filled M&Ms – a genius invention if you ask me!
Whilst many people love to be dazzled by the bright lights of Broadway, there’s a vibrant, little diner where the waiters not only serve you food but can hit all the high notes. Cue the Stardust diner… With delicious and scrumptious food, the entertainment will leave you wanting seconds. I heard a great rendition of George Ezra’s ‘Green Green Grass’, as the performer danced across the tabletops whilst I tucked into my delicious southern fried chicken!
Then there’s always time to hit the shops! Macy’s first springs to mind! 5 floors of retail therapy. Only the world’s largest department store! Superlatives are aplenty in one of the most eclectic department stores in the world. The escalators may be archaic – wooden and rickety. The choice is bountiful. Clothes, make-up, bags, sweets, electricals, toys, etc. But for me, the ‘It’s Sugar’ section of the store had me captivated from the very start. The giant sour patch kid disguised as the Statue of Liberty beckoned me, calling for me to browse the extensive range of American candies from Nerds to Twinkies. I managed to buy my own can of Duff Bear and a toxic blue Ted Lasso energy drink; however, my most iconic purchase has to be the huge Nerds cushion. American candy just hits different!
But where do you go to eat in New York? New Yorkers know how to eat! I think New York city is a melting pot for international cuisines. But, for me, the best meal had to be a traditional, American breakfast at the Comfort Diner. Three light, fluffy pancakes, drizzled in maple syrup topped with two eggs, sunny-side up (in the UK, they’re just known as fried eggs – cleverly pointed out by my dad). They breakfast like they mean it! Pancakes a plenty!
If you fancy a cupcake, try Magnolia’s – it has to be one of the best cupcakes I’ve ever had. So excited to try the sweet treats that Instagram has teased me about for many years, I over indulged buying a cupcake and a huge slice of confetti cake. ‘Sex in the City’ educated us all on the baking prowess of this stunning cake shop. The cupcakes are beyond divine: a little piece of heaven in a paper case. These cupcakes will astound your tastebuds. It’s well worth a trip to this smorgasbord of sugar laden delights.
I lost my heart.
I’m in love with this city; I’ve been swept off my feet. Even just strolling down the sidewalks took my breath away. The bold, brashness and unapologetic confidence of the city captivated me. I love my own capital city (London), but New York is like a wild best friend that you yearn to be around because you’re waiting to see what to do next.
New York – I’ll be back to see what else you have to offer.
