Before I begin this odyssey to a city that is more populated than the state in which I currently live, I should admit that I grew up in or near Philadelphia, and always felt like the poor step-sister next to the razzle-dazzle of the Big Apple. As a family we spent a great deal of time in New York City as I grew up, shopping, celebrating holidays, going to the theater and museums, and visiting the occasional relative. My memories of the city at Christmas are more dear than any family snap shots of the few holidays we could not spend there. Spring at the zoo, fall in Central Park, tasting foreign cuisines, seeing people on every street from around the world, experiencing a New York taxi drive, going to Carnegie Hall or the Lincoln Center -- these are some of the memories I cherish, each worthy of making a sojourn to the Big Apple for a weekend of nostalgia and excitement.
Getting there: Many domestic flights arrive at La Guardia, 6 miles east of Manhattan in Queens, or at Newark Airport, across the George Washington Bridge in New Jersey. Both airports offer public bus transportation into Manhattan, or you can hire a taxi, or call ahead and arrange for a limo. In New York City this is more likely to be a black sedan than the stretch limo of prom or wedding days. If you're flying in from abroad you will likely land at JFK International Airport which is 15 miles southeast of the city. Once in the city you can rely on taxis, buses, and subways. Out-of-towners often ask about tipping the men in yellow cabs which honk their horns through the half-blocked streets, day and night. The rule is 10 to 15%. If you have experienced bad service, get their name and license number and report them to the Taxi and Limo Commission. A Hacker's License is valued in the city and very expensive.
Now, let me share my favorite weekend in Manhattan. My husband and I have slightly different interests so we tend to trade off. He loves to shop; I love art; we both love great restaurants and the theater. Depending on who wins the coin toss, we either stay on the Upper East Side, on Museum Mile, or Central Park South, near shopping and the Museum of Modern Art. On the Upper East Side we have stayed at both the Carlyle and the Mark. When we come to large international cities, we are always blown away by the prices, but if you're smart you can get a weekend price for your room. If you belong to AARP, be sure to check out the discounts. If we stay on Central Park South, we have stayed at the Plaza, the Essex House, and the Ritz-Carlton, as well as the Hemsley Park Lane. Then again, you may get a better rate in the theater district at one of the very large major chains such as the Marriott where they offer 2 free tickets in a room package deal. You won't have a view of Central Park, but you'll be just minutes from Times Square.
As soon as you know when and where you want to go, make your reservations early. This includes restaurant reservations if you're planning on taking in "the best." If you get there without restaurant reservations you can get help from the hotel concierge, but don't be disappointed if your first choice is booked. If you made the reservations yourself in advance, call upon arrival to confirm. Look at a recent New York Times to find out what shows are in town and get your tickets beforehand. There are places to get cheap tickets for that day, but it means standing in line. If your time is limited, you may wish to pay more and have less aggravation. Also look for special exhibits at the art museums you wish to visit in case you need a ticket for the exhibition. Again, waiting in line for a ticket and then yet another to get into the museum, and then a third line to get into the show is a drag, especially when the people with tickets seem to float by.
You have your reservations, your great price on a luxurious room, and a schedule that would make a 20-year old tired, so get going and remember that nothing is written in stone. If you want, just take a walk. New York City is a walker's paradise.
Arriving Friday afternoon or evening you'll be tired and hungry. Since the weekend is full, we start out with an Italian meal. Our favorite places are Palo and Il Nido, but the list of New York City restaurants on the Internet is long so you can use your computer to decide on location, price, and type of food you'd like to eat. Only in New York can you dine on everything from Ethiopian to Kosher and everything in between. Once dinner is done, take a relaxing bath, snuggle in the long terry cloth robe hanging in the bathroom, and get ready for Saturday. You'll fall asleep to the lullaby of cars and horns, intermixed with the sirens of the city.
If you are doing the Museum Mile, the Metropolitan (5th and 82nd) has a vast collection and many of the classics you studied in school. Their special shows are glorious. The other two museums are the Whitney (Park and 42nd) and the Guggenheim (5th and 89th). My personal favorite is the Museum of Modern Art (11 West 53rd) where I have literally spent the better part of a day before looking at a watch.
After breakfast on this particular weekend, I get the museum of my choice for the morning and this trip, it's the Met. Lunch time sneaks up on us and we grab a bite, not too big, because of our dinner plans. Then we're off to shop. I give my husband 3 hours at his favorite stores and then I rush off to the Museum of Modern Art while he returns to the hotel for a rest or to another store for more damage to our balance of payments. We meet back at the hotel to shower and change for an early pre-theater dinner so we can get to a Broadway or off-Broadway show. Saturday night in Manhattan to us means splurging and not being upset when we see the bill. There'll be time to budget and scrimp once we're again home. To us, that means going to the very best restaurant for elegant food. Again, you can ask friends, use the computer, or buy a recent guide to the city. For us, however, we must choose from our favorites: Le Cirque, La Cote Basque, Lutece, The Four Seasons, La Grenouille, and Daniel. New York is full of good, very good, and exceptional restaurants and most every menu offers lots of healthy choices for a person with diabetes. Just order a salad and the grilled fish, chicken, quail, or duck breast (it's quite lean), having the salad dressing, sauce, etc. served on the side. If you must have dessert, make it fresh fruit. Most restaurants have fresh berries on their dessert cart or can provide a piece of fresh fruit from the kitchen. I've enjoyed a perfect fresh pear at Lutece while my husband partook of a triple chocolate mousse cake. I'm not a saint; I just don't like how I feel when my blood sugars run high. After the theater, a brisk walk or a taxi ride, you're back at your hotel. It's time to unwind with sparkling water, fresh strawberries (you've picked up a small basket at one of the Asian produce markets that line the streets of Manhattan), a quiet talk about your day, and a restful sleep.
Sunday in New York, before you have to go home, requires that you change gears a bit. When I was younger it meant going to Lindy's for a sandwich and a piece of cheesecake, one to eat there and one to carry home. There are delis in New York like the Ess-a Bagel, Stage, and Carnegie, and if that's your thing, go for it. Our Sunday starts with a newspaper and light breakfast from room service. Then we pack and go for a walk, just the two of us and some of the other millions who live in the city. The Park looks beautiful, the exercise feels good, and we think about lunch before the taxi ride to the airport. For us, that means Tavern on the Green, but there are many places with a bit of romance in the city, including many in whichever hotel you have selected. As we sit at our table, watching the famous and other tourists eating, we talk about our weekend. We're tired, but we're rejuvenated. New York City does that to a person. We reminisce about another time in Manhattan, this weekend dedicated to shopping for art, exploring SoHo, trying a new ethnic restaurant, going to the Fancy Food Show, visiting the United Nations building, or overdosing on the theater by getting tickets for three different shows in one weekend with meals in between. We're tried all of these and to tell the truth, they are all wonderful ways to spend three days.
New York is now touted as one of the safest cities in the U.S. and that's apparent to those of us who have been visitors over the years. But, a word to the wise is sufficient. Stick to the main tourist areas and carry a street map, preferably one that marks "must see" spots. While certain areas such as Central Park are quite safe during the day, at night we'd take a handsome cab or taxi. Women, carry a purse that can go around the neck and over a shoulder, leaving your arms free. Or, wear one that attaches around your waist. Don't walk around with an open purse. If you're carrying a small evening bag, leave whatever you won't need in the way of money, credit cards, traveler's checks, etc. in the hotel safe. Men, be careful with your wallet. A friend was pick-pocked at the airport on New Years Eve. Having to call to cancel credit cards, replace traveler's checks, and finding a cash machine is not our way of spending any evening. Leave your good jewels at home.
Take care to know where you are going and map out the route before you start. There are taxi drivers in NYC who don't speak English well, and may not know how to get where you want to go. Traffic in New York can come to a standstill at any minute. You can always get out and walk. In fact, Manhattan is a walker's paradise. If it rains, the taxis in the city seem to literally disappear from the streets, but you can buy an umbrella at most any corner, and walk. In some restaurants the wait people are as colorful as the food, and you may want to try one of these places, once. The bead is better than I remember, and I think that each time I return, the food is more elegant. The streets are cleaner, the hotels sparkle, the art is dazing, and you and your husband, wife, or significant other will look years younger. The city is full of pleasures. I love New York! You will, too.
