One of the highlights of our Summer Holiday Trip this year, was revisiting New York. Last time I visited the place was in 2013, just before moving back to Singapore. It’s been four years since then, and my feelings toward the place hadn’t changed a bit! I still super loved it! I fell in-love with New York in the fake spring of March 2013, and I loved it even more in the unbelievably hot and humid summer of July 2017!
Coming from a one-hour plane trip from Montréal, we headed straight to have a late lunch at Katz’s Deli. For those who are 80’s fanatic freaks like myself, you would know about this place as the setting for the famous movie, “When Harry Met Sally”, where Meg Ryan had that famous fake orgasm scene. I got seated at the exact same spot (or it looked like it) where she was seated, I think. But it was not on purpose. I only realized it after the trip, upon watching again the scene on Youtube.
The iconic Katz’s Deli… New York always makes me feel like I’m in one of my favorite movies
A delightful mess of oversized pastrami sandwich, some fries and cold beer for a late lunch at Katz’s Deli
On our very first day, we headed out for some shopping around SoHo. Luckily for us, a lot of our favorite brands were on sale. At one point while crossing the street, there was this double-decker, open-top tourist bus with people dancing and screaming and waving at everybody. New York feels a lot more festive and lively in the summer. I have also never seen so many pretty women in very pretty clothes. And so many, many interesting places, and shops and restaurants to visit.
Our hotel, called Sixty LES, is situated close to all the trendy hipster bars and restaurants. The hotel itself has two restaurants, which seemed quite nice, but we never really visited. We only went to the bar once, which has a lovely terasse with a nice view of the city. Speaking of the view of the city, we took a room with a very nice panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline — we could see the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building and One World Observatory, which was still being built, I think, during the first time we were in New York.
Hubby resting on one of the comfiest seats ever. I wanted to bring it home. Sitting here on our hotel balcony where you can see the One World Observatory in the background.
This is the view of the street, the bar and the restaurant of our hotel, from our room’s balcony
Hubby had been dying to dine at Ivan Ramen eversince he saw it on Chef’s Table on Netflix
Eating a Non-Ramen (Tsukemen)
At a cozy brunch place called, Devocion in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Instagram-worthy breakky
The view of the city from Williamsburg Park
Chanced upon an Italian-American Fiesta
Queensboro Bridge at Sutton Place Park — that bridge from Woody Allen‘s movie, Manhattan
Lying in the shade, resting my tired feet while waiting for lunch
The face of hunger… Shake Shack for lunch!
Taking the train at Grand Central
One World Observatory
I will never get tired of this view!
Never!!!
Ever!!!
Seafood dinner with a friend… I forgot the name of the restaurant but it was really good
A visit to New York is not complete without a visit to one of its famous museums. Last time we were there, we visited The Guggenheim and the Museum of Natural History. This time around, hubby and I went to the MOMA. I’m not really so much into modern and contemporary art. But I am quite fond of the earlier ones like Picasso, Seurat, Dali, et al. I do not really care so much about Rothko (which hubby loves) and Pollock (which I absolutely detest). And I most especially abhor those weird (verging on the absurd) installations whose artistic values are always very subjective.
I was so happy and so lucky to have come to the MOMA on one of its less busy days and least busy times, the exact details of which, I will not share here to preserve this quiet time that I could hopefully be able to return to someday. For this, I seek your forgiveness and kind understanding to bestow upon a lover-of-the-quiet-and-peaceful introvert like myself.
Broadway Boogie Woogie and Lady in Red
Matisse
One of my favorite Picasso paintings, the first time I have ever known too, back in the Encyclopaedia days of my romantic, Google-free childhood!
That rare moment at the MOMA when I had this famous painting all to myself for a few heart beats! For those who live in another planet, this painting is called, “Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh
Seurat!
Funny!
I’m not much of a Warhol fan but this one kinda speaks to me… the cans just look so cheerful!.. or not…
One of the things that I was so happy about to be back in New York was the fact that Miss Saigon is back again on Broadway. I missed seeing it a decade or so ago back when they were showing it in Manila with Lea Salonga in the cast! But this time, I didn’t let this opportunity pass. You can read the full experience here, if you wish to know more about it.
Very much a Miss Saigon fan!.. New York City, always the setting of any “movie in my mind”
So happy to be back at Times Square and not be wrapped in thick, heavy coat this time around!
One last look at this view!
Bagels and eggs at a vegetarian place called, The Butcher’s Daughter on our last day in New York
The last time I was in New York, it was bleak and cold and snowy. This time around, it was all bright and sunny and smiley and even more photogenic! One of the very few regrets I have in life is not having lived in this vivacious city while I was still single. Sadly, it’s not really a very practical place for married people with kids. But still, it’s one of the places I’d always look forward to seeing again and again in my life.
I ♥ NYC. 🙂
Thanks for reading and have a good weekend!
