NYC does not have a signature itinerary to show you have been there. It attracts visitors from around the world. There are so many events and places that are tied to NYC, the Met Gala for fashion, the tennis US open, the wall street for finance, the Broadway for shows, the nobody-can-remember-every-station subways, the Central Park, the Washington Square, the bagels, and the list goes on and on. The “I 💖NY” sign says it all. At the same time, there are the smells of the homeless, the smell of the trash, the have-been-cleaned-up-but-still-dirty subways, the scary rodents. The stairs and the uneven grounds annoy me. Visiting NYC is to experience the contrast, the wealth gap, the diversity. NYC has a lot to offer, like it or not, I never run out of interesting things and places to visit every time in NYC.
We went to NYC as a family some years ago, with the primary objective of visiting famous colleges in nearby Boston. We were last in NYC in the summer of 2019 to visit my eldest child who just moved to NYC after college, and conveniently went to watch the US open. After four pandemic years, our family of four were together in NYC this October. So much has changed. Now my spouse and I were the visitors, while our two children have become New Yorkers.
The first day, we strolled across the central park and SOHO. The CheeseBoat Georgian restaurant, near SOHO, served us a surprisingly good meal. We would definitely want to go back another day. There are many coffee shops in NYC, and the Spanish latte at the % Arabica is the drink of the drink. We had dinner at the COTE Korean steakhouse. COTE is a one-star Michelin restaurant. Its butcher’s feast is the signature ready-to-grill-in-front-of-you steak package. It has four different types of steak in different flavors. We worked our way from the most mild flavor to the Galbi steak. Together with other side dishes, it made a delicious, rich and fulfilling feast to celebrate my spouse’s birthday. It was a day of culinary enjoyment.
The next day started with dim sum in ChinaTown. When we travel, we always make time to visit some Chinese restaurants to support their business. We arrived at the first Dim Sum Palace, but there was nobody inside, and the neighborhood was average. We thought it would be better to try another Dim Sum Place in ChinaTown and we enjoyed the meal. Our walk to the World Trade Center memorials helped burn some calories. The 911 museum was the only museum we visited on this trip. It did a comprehensive job to record the devastating losses of the day, but not quite enough to reflect. The US politicians continue to throw money to fight wars, sell weapons and adopt sanctions/isolations to deal with rival countries. Could there be a better and kinder tactic from the world’s only superpower?
After the 911 visit, we walked to take the free Staten Ferry ride, a free ride to enjoy the Manhattan landscape and the symbolic statue of liberty. It was a warm day with a clear and blue sky. On our way back from Staten Island to Manhattan South Ferry, we caught the sunset at the perfect moment. There are many beautiful things that are there for free, and this was yet another example.
On our third day, we wandered around the West Village, NYC, SOHO and NOHO (South and North of Houston). There are many affluent neighborhoods in NYC. The affluent West Village has a different vibe, less of a hustle and bustle that is often felt in the city. We visited the three lives and company bookstore to read some books. It was not a large bookstore, but we found books that were quite interesting. We strolled down Bleecker street and enjoyed our lunch at the Jack’s wife Freda restaurant. This restaurant has five locations in NYC and seemingly a hot spot for tourists and locals. It serves Mediterranean breakfast, lunch and dinner in one restaurant. We thoroughly enjoyed the fried Zucchini, the duck bacon and the Peri Peri chicken.
The Grove Court and the building in the Friends TV series at Bedford was nearby and we decided to take a photo shot. Have you pondered what brought Cappuccino to America? Cafe Reggio, opened in 1927, is the answer. The cafe is still in business. We enjoyed our cappuccino and latte in an outdoor casual seating. Located next to NYU, it made for a good meeting point for professors, students, and tourists. Down the street is Washington Square Park. I did not recall any park with so many benches and sitting areas for everyone. Washington Park is almost like an outpost of NYU which crosses over the SOHO and NOHO (South and North of Houston). The Lafayette and Broadway streets are good streets for shoppers, with its shops, restaurants and coffee shops. The LeVain Bakery serves the richest chocolate chip cookies. The Lady M has arguably the best crepe.
We did not catch any broadway shows though we discovered the telecharge lottery draw for discounted show tickets. Instead, we enjoyed dinner time with our children at the COTE Korean steakhouse, the Hearth. The best of all dinners, without a doubt, has been the homemade dinner at our daughter’s place. The Hearth sets itself up as a fine dining restaurant. The size is fairly small. The dishes are healthy and delicious. The ambience is relaxing. It made a good choice for those who are willing to pay $$ for a light dinner.
NYC reminds us of the wealth gaps and opportunity gaps. It is a melting pot of all kinds. It is the place to be for young and up starters. My two children live in Queens and Manhattan respectively. A sizable chunk of their paycheck is spent on rental and the essentials. They complain that they do not have enough money. I’m proud they work hard to afford and live the NYC experience.
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