Big Apple Adventures: The Dog Days of Summer

Weekend #1:

I decided to mix it up and do all of my errands on Saturday, allowing me to enjoy Sunday in the city in sunnier weather. (Makes for better pictures!) I found out the day before that there would be a heat advisory, but I remember thinking “How bad could it be?”

HOT. It. Was. Hot.

I was in the city before 11 a.m. and the temperature was already in the upper 80’s. As I made my way south in the sweltering heat, the sun was beating down and I was pouring with sweat. I saw a bunch of people walking around in pants and some with jackets! I couldn’t believe it.

Despite being already exhausted so early in the day, I was on a mission. I had heard for years that the “Friends” apartment used for exterior shots of Monica and Rachel’s place resided in Greenwich Village. Being a huge fan, I knew it just wouldn’t be right not to go see it.

I knew I had come to the right place when a huge tour group was standing across the street snapping pictures. You have to feel bad for the people living there though…I’m sure they get tired of tourists constantly stopping by!

Did I have sympathy? Yes. Did I take a picture like every other tourist? You bet.

After wandering around Greenwich Village a little more, I decided I needed to re-hydrate and get out of the heat for even a short break. I did the one thing I always swear I wouldn’t do in NYC: stop into a Starbucks. (Actually, I try to avoid Starbucks no matter where I am, but enough about that…) Hey, it was air-conditioned, they sold cold drinks, and I was desperate.

One of the nice things about Manhattan is that it’s very pedestrian-friendly. When it’s 90-some degrees out, however, the last thing you want to do is walk on the hot concrete. So I caved (I normally try to walk to get exercise) and took the subway up to Columbus Circle/the southern end of Central Park.

I was growing increasingly frustrated that I was unable to truly enjoy the park, as I had to keep taking breaks in the shade. I went ahead and made the walk to snap a pic of the outside of the American Museum of Natural History. Someday I want to see the inside!

At that point I decided to just give up and head back home. It was becoming too hot to enjoy anything and I was anxious to get back to my air-conditioned bedroom.

I did, however, make a quick pit stop to cool off with some sorbet from Grom.

Weekend #2:

After getting cable installed in my apartment (yay!) I met up with Summy and her friend Mindy in the city after lunch.Though still another warm day, it was at least cool enough to still be able to enjoy ourselves.

The two of them decided to try the free kayaking. I politely declined. Not only can I not swim, but water and I have always been a disaster together. Just ask my parents; I used to scream and cry when being bathed as an infant.

But I definitely don’t mind appreciating its beauty from land!

Hot, summer days are the perfect excuse for froyo! The three of us couldn’t resist stopping in Pink Berry for a cool treat.

After spending some time cooling down in the TimeWarner mall, we decided to try a pizza place called Merilu. I actually have yet to make a repeat visit to any pizza joints in the city, which has been a fun food adventure. I actually think my favorite place so far was the first one I ever went to back in spring 2012.

But this was still a good meal, and although the place was small, it was cozy!

For our evening entertainment, we decided to head to the Lincoln Center for their Out of Doors summer concert series. Not only was it free, but the weather made it even better.

Below: Hip hop artist (Lil Buck) dancing to some interesting music

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Below: Wycliffe Gordon and his international all-stars (jazz group)

Below: Randy Newman!

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All of the performances were very unique; it was a great evening to relax outside!

Big Apple Adventures

When I returned to this blog earlier this year, I decided to use it as a way to journal about my experiences, from finding a job to moving to a new city.

Now that I’m here and settled into my life in New Jersey, it was suggested to me that I regularly update on one of my new favorite pastimes: exploring Manhattan.

Never in my life did I imagine I would live a 10-minute bus ride from NYC, with the chance to spend a day in the city and be back by dinner. I no longer have to cram a bunch of tourist attractions into a short period of time. I can explore the city at my leisure and now have a chance to discover things I didn’t get to see on my previous visits.

So here is an update on my Big Apple adventures thus far:

Weekend #1

My first time in the city since I visited with my OSU scholars group in fall 2012. I decided to go back to the most tourist-y places to see if anything had changed…

My first stop: Times Square.

Port Authority Bus Terminal (the station for NJ buses that travel through the Lincoln Tunnel) is right outside Times Square, so it seemed like a good place to start.

The thing about Times Square is that it’s awesome the first 10 times or so, but after that…it makes you want to pull your hair out. I highly recommend anyone visiting the city to spend time there. I mean, how many places can you find a Toys ‘R Us with a ferris wheel inside?

But once you’ve enjoyed all Times Square has to offer….stay away. There are plenty of other things to see in the city that aren’t painfully-crowded, tourist traps.

I decided to make my way to another popular destination: Rockefeller Center. This also happens to be the location of the NBC Store, which made me feel like a kid in a candy store my first time there. While I was disappointed with the store’s selection this time around, I did enjoy seeing the area on such a gorgeous day.

Central Park, unlike Times Square, is one attraction I will never get tired of visiting. Not only is it a nice way to escape the urban jungle, but the park is so huge that I still have yet to see all of it.

This time I decided to explore the southern end, and I still only saw a small fraction of the area.

As you can see, it was very busy! New Yorkers have no idea how lucky they are to have such a gorgeous park in their city!

Although I didn’t visit, I couldn’t leave without seeing the entrance to the Central Park Zoo. I admit I immediately thought about the movie Madagascar!

I actually walked so much that day that I was in pain for almost a week. Guess I was a little too ambitious!

Weekend #2

My coworker Summy and her friends invited me to join them on a visit to a NY location I had never even heard of: Governors Island.

Located across the southern tip of Manhattan, the island was just a free ferry ride away to the arts and music festival taking place there that weekend.

Not only did I get to experience this peaceful getaway, but it was fun to take in the festival with new friends!

Above: Summy wrote a Haiku…the rest of us helped to illustrate.

Here I am with Summy in front of Castle Williams, a fort that later became a prison.

Much like Central Park, the island had a very relaxed vibe to it.

It wouldn’t be an arts festival without art!

Above: Summy and I creating a shirt for a booth on the Triangle Fire Coalition

Below: the finished product.

Another perk to the location? Great views of both Manhattan and New Jersey!

Weekend #3

On a rather rainy & dreary Saturday, I decided to continue with my visits to popular attractions around the city that I had not yet explored.

My plan of attack was to hit up one area of the city, and just walk around to see what I could find!

I first made a quick pit stop in Grand Central Station, whose architecture (both interior and exterior) was as impressive as I imagined!

Unlike my other visit, I didn’t stay in one area for too long. Instead, I walked around snapping photos of various buildings and sites that I stumbled upon during my excursion.

The famous Macy’s was a shopping nightmare. I went inside for a quick restroom break and couldn’t wait to get out. I don’t know how anyone can shop in there!

Passing by Madison Square Garden…

The somber weather meant Madison Square park was next to empty:

I nearly missed the Flatiron Building until I saw other tourists taking pictures.

My last visit to Washington Square Park had been at night, so it was a nice change to experience it in daylight. I can’t help but think about the movies “When Harry Met Sally” and “I Am Legend” when I see the famous arch!

It’s a popular hangout for NYU students, and (minus the lack of grass) reminds me of the Oval at OSU in many ways. People playing music, handing out flyers, singing and preaching.

Weekend #4

After reading online about a special Seinfeld exhibit in NYC for a limited time, I knew there was no way I could pass up the chance to see it. It was only there for one weekend, so I decided to brave the crowds.

When I showed up to the studio, I was not the least bit surprised to see a line out the door. I was, however, stunned to see it wrap around the building. Just when I thought I finally snagged a place, I was informed that the end of the line was across the street at the park. I felt like Randy in “A Christmas Story.”

“The line ends here! It begins there!”

Yikes.

Initially, the line was moving pretty quick. We were told long before the photo below was taken that it would only be an hour and 45 minutes. “Piece of cake!” I thought.

By hour three I was losing my mind. I was sore from standing and was convinced the exhibit would close before I even got to see it. If I hadn’t been so close to gaining entry, I would’ve given up and walked away.

Just when I was about to have a meltdown, I finally got to go inside. The highlight of the exhibit was by far the replica of Jerry’s apartment (there was also a museum of props, but I decided not to include those pictures).

Would I have waited for four hours (yes…it was four hours; don’t judge), if I had known it would be that long? Hard to say. But the nice thing about living in the greater NYC area is that you can waste an entire day for stuff like this because you have don’t have to worry about seeing other things in the city.

I ended up with some great pictures, so I’m definitely glad I suffered through the painfully-long wait!

Weekend #5

At the last minute I decided to head into the city for Independence Day, hoping to see some patriotic activities. Unfortunately, all I encountered was high humidity and heavy rain. (Raining for the 3rd Sat. in a row, of course!)

Despite the crappy weather, I was actually able to get some decent photos on my trek North from Battery Park.

I knew I had to see Lady Liberty on America’s birthday. It just wouldn’t have been right not to snap a pic.

As I walked along the shore boardwalk, I was able to take in the sights along the Hudson River.

Below: a replica of the 18th century French ship Hermione (in the center of the picture)

Other sights along my walk:

Eventually I decided to return to Chelsea, where the Seinfeld exhibit had been located the week before. My first stop was at the Highline, an old railroad that had been converted into a path and sprinkled with vegetation. It was quite a sight!

With my hunger looming after eating nothing but a mediocre pretzel for lunch, I made a run into the Chelsea market. The smells in there were enough to make my stomach growl, so I stopped in the Manhattan Fruit exchange and bought…candy. But it was delicious!

The market itself had so much to offer, and I was disappointed I hadn’t made that my lunch stop. I will definitely make sure to make a return visit in the near future!