A DC-er’s Weekend Guide to New York City
Having been to NYC a dozen times to visit family, attend fashion week, see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and travel through the boroughs, I curated a list of my favorite things to take advantage of whenever I’m in the Big Apple. All of my pictures are from this past weekend, but my selection of things to see and do come from the past few years of learning what it means to travel with intention. Cheers!
Food & Drink
Midwinter Kitchen
Like any DC resident, I’ve become accustomed to weekend brunch as a way of life. New York has long been the older sibling who brought DC along to brunch out of obligation, meaning the city’s restaurants are well-versed in the language of bottomless cocktails. Midwinter Kitchen takes up residence in a quiet corner of Gramercy, with farm-to-fork ingredients that make for a delicious American meal — just close enough to 5th Avenue that brunch-goers can work off their full stomachs afterward.
Arturo’s Pizza
A cozy, jazzy spot in SoHo that fires pizzas in coal ovens alongside live musicians that light up Houston street on any cold rainy day. An extensive wine selection to beat, and walls covered with vintage entertainment posters pull in influences of the old Italian neighborhoods of New York City while patrons enjoy traditional pies. Eating here is a must, if my opinion isn’t already obvious.
Dough
As a known sweet-tooth, I can’t help but overindulge on donuts whenever I get the chance. Dough always has a set of staple flavors — Hibiscus, Mocha Almond Crunch, Lemon Cake — and a few seasonal flavors that change every time I visit. Hence, a reason to keep going back. Did I mention their donuts are massive? I always end up with leftovers, that are perfect to reheat and plate with ice cream. Luckily, they have to-go bags that are super easy to carry without squishing your sugary prized possessions.
Other fab places to eat: La Duree SoHo, Rubirosa Ristorante, Max Brenner Chocolate Bar, Boqueria
Art
The New York Botanical Garden
If you want to explore the boroughs, but don’t know where to start, a trip out to the Botanical Gardens is your perfect excuse. Currently home to the traveling exhibit for Dale Chihuly’s blown glass series, the extensive gardens offer an afternoon’s worth of art, architecture and nature right off the steps of the train station.
The Rubin Museum
As most museums in the District are free of charge, I was thrilled to find free admission to the Rubin Museum on Friday nights. Just a few blocks from Chelsea Market, the Rubin hosts five floors of Himalayan artwork — complete with sound installations of chanting and interactive features for learning about Buddhism and Tibetan culture.
Sports
The U.S. Open
I’ll be honest, I don’t know all that much about sports, but I’ll be damned if I don’t mention the sheer adrenaline of hearing a crowd cheer for Venus Williams in the U.S. Open this past weekend. Attendees can purchase tickets to Arthur Ashe stadium to see the biggest players in the tournament, or watch smaller matches up close at any of the 13 field courts at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, while enjoying the extensive variety of stadium food. Highly recommend Korean tacos from Korilla.
College Basketball
As the Atlantic Coastal Conference traveled above the Mason-Dixon line for the first time in 2017, Brooklyn became a perfect destination for March Madness fans who can attend ACC and NCAA games just two weeks apart in the same place. And since traveling to NYC from the District is relatively inexpensive by train, there’s no reason not to go twice in a month, am I right?
Of course, there’s a million other things to do in the city that never sleeps: take a walk on the High Line, buy fresh ingredients in Chelsea Market (there’s a store inside just for cheese!), pay respects at the One World Trade Center, gaze at the architecture inside The Oculus, and even take a water taxi on the East River if you’re feeling particularly touristy. You can’t really go wrong — unless you end up in New Jersey.
Till next time,
XO
Hal