Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Last spring, Brad and I had the opportunity to spend five(5) luxurious nights in the Big Apple. An event I have not given much coverage because this blog did not exist until three months after. Not to mention, the revolutionary 'Business Capital of the World' we visited a year ago carries a much heavier burden than previously. Despite the gloom and smog of it all, I figure the preceding post makes now a better time than ever to reflect on the experience.

The inspiration for the trip was [ultimately] long, overdue business. Therefore, the first full-day was spent shuffling Brad around the City to visit with multiple inviting counterparties of the Bank: Bank of Montreal, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Koch Industries, Societe Generale. And myself? Patiently toying with my [relatively new] iPhone while laying low in the respective waiting areas. These small gestures expressed [their] appreciation by reciprocating with a few complimentary business-trip style perks. Needless to say, no complaints here.

When planning a trip to New York [most] individuals look forward to afternoons spent shopping 5th Avenue's exclusive boutiques or mysterious nights at posh, swanky clubs anticipating celebrity sightings. However, anytime I visit the 'Big City' my request will always be the same: a few evenings relaxing in a dark theatre while Broadway casts its magical spell with all its talent and splendor. The rest of the time is considered fair game. As luck would have it, we were surprisingly blessed with first-class tickets to Wicked: The Untold Stories of the Witches of Oz via our man, Steve, formerly of UBS. Let me reiterate, FRONT (row 12) and CENTER with a dinner at Molyvos prior to the show. Though expectations were high, we were whisked away (again, via bubble) to a breathtaking new level. The set design and costumes are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, the songs refreshingly catchy, along with [that] humorous, witty dialogue Broadway knowingly delivers. Let me clarify, this was not our first Broadway experience. Two nights earlier, we were also graced with tickets to Jersey Boys, another incredible performance recounting Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons rise to fame, featuring several of the group's songs in a jukebox-style format, and dinner at Serafina. Oh What a Night, thanks to Adam and Joe at Koch!

Our accommodations at the Library Hotel were top-notch and guarantee a truly unique stay in modern New York. As their web site boasts, the luxury boutique is one of the "most celebrated" concept hotels the City has to offer. Each floor is dedicated to one of the ten(10) primary categories of the Dewey Decimal System: Social Sciences, Literature, Languages, History, Math & Science, General Knowledge, Technology, Philosophy, The Arts, and Religion. Each room is thoughtfully adorned with books to further enrich the room and floor's appointed theme(s). We enjoyed our stay in Room 800.002 :: Classic Fiction.

Conveniently located in Midtown Manhattan, the hotel is nestled steps away from the New York Public Library as well as Grand Central Station, our primary mode for transportation and yet another historical gem. After a long day of sight-seeing, we would rest our feet and rejuvenate our spirits at the complimentary wine and cheese reception on the second floor Reading Room be

tween 5:00 – 8:00pm before dinner reservations and an evening out on the town. After 5:00pm, the Poetry Garden and Writer's Den transform into Bookmarks Lounge, a local hot spot for after work drinks with clever names, such as the Great Gatsby and Capote.

I {HEART} NY. Almost anyone who has visited will agree, the City instills a contagious, motivating vibe, rekindling lost inspirations and reminiscent of childhood beliefs that anything is possible...

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer

yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know

what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go. And will you succeed? Yes! You will indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)"

Oh, the Places You'll Go Dr. Seuss

The trip also served as a learning experience for our next visit, and as long as New York is center stage for enchanting creative talent, charming audiences with every ounce of razzle dazzle they can brew, there will be a next time.

:: NYC Favorites and Tips ::

• In order to avoid freezing temps or the nauseating smell of garbage baking in the sun, plan a visit during early summer (June) or early fall (Sept).

• Purchase an up-to-date Frommer's New York City Guide (or equivalent) approximately 4-6 months prior to your visit and read up on noted hotels, attractions, and restaurants of interest to jump start the process.

• Visit StreetWiseMaps.com: order a laminated Transit Wise NY Metropolitan Commuter Rail map and Street Wise Manhattan map to carry at all times.

• Schedule ONE main excursion per day and a few, less time consuming sites located in the same vicinity in case you finish up earlier than expected.

• Consider purchasing a City Pass (or equivalent) to save on entry fees for possible attractions you plan to visit.

• Broadway Select the show(s) you look forward to seeing and purchase tickets ahead of time. Note: If your husband groans at the idea, then politely sympathize by saying "I am truly sorry about the person in your childhood who broke your spirit at such a young age. It was probably the same person who told you boys don't cry." while rubbing his back and placing the order ;)

• Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island A MUST-SEE for all. There are limited tickets for Statue tours, only on sale at 8:00am for that day. There is usually a line for tickets, a line to get on the ferry, and lines on each island for tours. The ferry ride to the islands are 1 hour and 15 minutes round-trip alone.

• The Chrysler Building Tour the Seven Wonders of the World stained glass windows on the ground floor, one of my favorites! Unfortunately, these were boarded up for protection, due to renovations, during our recent visit :(

• The Empire State Building Great aerial views of the City. BEWARE of the relentless, tourist-trap solicitors throughout your entire trek to the top.

• Rockefeller Center Great outdoor shopping, ice skating in the winter months, or arrive early (like 6:00am) for front-row views of the TODAY Show.

• Museums Only one per day: American Museum of Natural History, MOMA (Museum of Modern Art), The Met(ropolitan Museum of Art).

• Central Park Pick-up lunch, have a picnic, and you'll be daydreaming about tossing a frisbee with your four-legged friend while living in NYC... that is, before extended family, jobs, friends, cost of living, actual storage space, etc lovingly slaps you (SMACK) in the face and brings you back to reality.

• Fifth Avenue Spend an afternoon strolling between 34th and 60th, shopping luxurious boutiques as well as flagship stores for Apple, FAO Schwarz, Lord & Taylor, and Tiffany & Co.

• Serendipity3 The hole-in-the-wall foyer and flea market-inspired decor had me rethinking our 2-hour wait. However, the Curried Chicken Almondine casserole warmed my soul, while the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate evaporated any ill-thought preconceptions. Dylan's Candy Bar (as in Dylan Lauren, daughter of American fashion guru Ralph Lauren) located a block down "sweetened" our wait. Plan for a substantial wait on the food as well, selecting a low-key afternoon with a lacksidasical mind-set, because it's well worth it!

• Norma's, located in the Le Parker Meridien Hotel. A modern, upscale (yet kid-friendly) cafe open for brunch from 7:00am – 3:00pm. The prices are fairly extravagant, but (like most New York restaurants) the portions are large enough to split. If your feeling generous, then say "yes" to the daily fresh-squeezed orange juice served in a footed pilsner at $9 each. Ouch!

• 'inoteca, an Italian wine bar that is perfect for late-night fare, featuring an extensive [Italian] wine list and small-plates to compliment your selections, such as antipasta, panini, brushetti, and a variety of imported formaggi.

• Necessities: comfortable shoes, band-aids for blisters, travel umbrellas, sunglasses, light weight cross-over bag, camera, maps, and ear plugs for the continuous rumbling of garbage trucks running at night.

"So... get on your way!"