New York, New York
When we’re already in the states, Tim has a random week off in the middle of training and the kids say they want to go to New York City… You hop on a plane and go to New York City.
I think they got the idea from Home Alone 2, which has been a favorite Christmas movie for a few years now. Usually on some night that I’m out at a holiday get-together, Tim and the kids make some popcorn and watch Home Alone.
I’m not sure what part of the sequel made them want to see the city – it doesn’t seem like a particularly flattering portrait of the city – it’s heavy on the scary elements and light on the charm I’ve seen when I’ve been there many years ago.
So this is trip isn’t the grand East Coast tour that I’ve been imagining for many years. We still need to come back to explore DC and visit various friends there. And I can’t wait to share Boston with the kids. I don’t know how much I can share the nostalgic feeling of joy and independence and adventure that city conjures for me as I remember back to my college years.
But we’re really excited about the next few days. As with many of our trips, we have way more things on our list than we’ll have time to do them. But we’ll start with the Statue of Liberty tomorrow, go to see the Lion King on Wednesday and fit as much of the other good stuff in as we can manage.
More soon!
I just watched the first Home Alone with Naomi and Erica for the first time in forever and can’t remember the sequel at all! Will need to watch that!
Having lived in NYC for 4 years, I feel like it’s a third home of sorts along with Savannah, GA and the bay area though it’s been so long that I’m sure so much has changed in NYC and in Savannah. I’m looking forward to seeing what it’s like in NYC through your adventure!
Central Park is huge so you might want tuk tuk rides through there and then there’s the High Line park which was created after I left and everyone talks about it. The best views of Manhattan are from the Brooklyn Heights side and the Brooklyn Bridge is iconic to at least see if not walk across. You can subway it there and walk back across the bridge to Manhattan to enjoy the views. I recall something like 11 subway lines go to Brooklyn Heights. DUMBO is right there too in walking distance and I remember loving the cobblestones and old NYC feel in DUMBO immediately. Jacques Torres chocolatier is still in DUMBO – I just checked! The passion fruit is my favorite and his hot chocolate is French so it’s literally almost dangerously hot – it’s thick molten chocolate and I loved it especially in cold weather. The best truffle flavor he made was burnt caramel but they stopped making it even before I left because it was too hard to make. I don’t understand that logic… It was the best flavor they had! Almondine bakery is also still there right across the street from Jacques so that’s quite amazing post lockdowns.
The waterfront on the Brooklyn side is all park now (after I left) and there’s even a 1922 carousel near DUMBO on the water with Manhattan views.
I lived at 2 Grace Ct which is only 2 blocks from my office. My real estate company where I worked was Brown Harris Stevens located at 129 Montague St which is the main street in Brooklyn Heights. If you need anything while in my neighborhood, ask for my former boss, Chris Thomas. I’m still in touch with him even this past Christmas and he’s still managing the office. Reception is ground floor of the office but the main office is on the second floor so it will look empty when you walk by. Just mentioning these things in case you do wander to my old stomping grounds and want to feel more personally connected to the place. 💕 Can’t wait to see where you go! No pressure at all to go to these places I mentioned – just mentioning them in case they help.
If you see the Anthropology store in lower Manhattan, use their bathroom on the second floor. It’s the prettiest and cutest gem of a bathroom in Manhattan. Little chandelier and all unless it’s changed.
If you go to Union Square, the well known Strand bookstore is near there and the Whole Foods’ eating area upstairs pleasantly overlooks the square if you need an afternoon snack and respite.
These are fantastic recommendations (especially the bookstore 😉 )! We’re just having an afternoon in the sun, re-grouping before we set out for the rest of the day!