New York Groove by Ace Frehley from KISS – it certainly gets you in a New York mood! I’ve now been to NYC 3 times and this time the focus was just on enjoying Manhattan and maybe see some of the boroughs – a girl’s trip for Myrna and I to relax. The one thing that stands out the most about this trip for me is the fantastic people we reconnected with and the new ones we met!
I also witnessed 2 marriage proposals which warmed my little heart – I’ve never seen one live in action before! One was on the ice rink at Rockefeller Centre and the other was on the boardwalk at Coney Island – perfect locations picked by these husbands-to-be. I’ve sworn I’ll never marry again, but if there was ever to be another Mr. Jackie, my proposal better be in a shoe store. None of this diamond nonsense for me, sit me down, give me a wine glass filled with merlot and propose with a shoe. Laboutin, Christian Laboutin.
But I digress … New York City!! One of the best cities in the world for a girl’s weekend! It seems like we did a lot of stuff, but I think we mostly ate and drank.
Thursday
My flight was at 6:00 am and boarding was 5:25 am – WTF! I got up at 3 am and once I was on the plane I tried to take a selfie where I didn’t look half dead. This was the best I could do and I settled in to watch Alien Covenant. It was okay, but none of them are better than Alien and then Aliens (yes, that IS the correct order). Was there ever a better female action hero / ass kicker than Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley? I don’t think so. Myrna and I were flying on different airlines, so we met up to have a beer in Toronto and then we were on our way!
Everyone please note that I made good food choices on the airplane.
We got to New York, found each other, stood in line for a cab and off to our hotel and first night! We stayed at the Westin New York at Times Square and booked the traditional room at the SPG member prepaid rate of $273.74 USD per night. The room was perfect for the 2 of us and the location was convenient. Times Square is crazy busy though. It seems to be a struggle finding a room in NY – the Waldorf Astoria (my favourite) is now closed and I can’t afford The Plaza every night.
Our first meal was at Montebello, an Italian restaurant. We both had Pollo Montebello, which is parmesan encrusted breast of chicken in a white wine lemon sauce. It was very, very good – we both wanted to go back for more, but we ran out of time.
We chatted a bit with 2 ladies sitting next to us and they told us about The Red Wine Experience. I am booking this in advance of my next NY trip. It includes a 60 minute massage and a 90 minute thermal session in baths at different temperatures (ice, cold, warm, hot). The highlight though is a 30 minute red wine bath! Read the description … sigh!!
During my last trip to NY, we hung out at P.J. Carney’s quite a bit – it is billed as New York’s friendliest Irish Pub. We headed there for drinks. Here is the fabulous Kate taking a picture of all of us!
Friday
Walked: 22.3 kilometers (30,534 steps)
We actually slept in a little bit on Friday – we were both so exhausted from the day before. Once we got up we were off to Starbucks and an hour long walk to Katz’s Deli! This is the deli from “When Harry Met Sally” and where Meg Ryan faked an orgasm. There’s a little sign hanging over the table where they sat.
This was my 2nd time at the deli and I ordered the corned beef sandwich and it is delicious. I also got ID’d getting our beers! There were 2 gentlemen from Denmark sitting next to us who marveled at the entire sandwiches 2 Canadian girls could put away. They split a sandwich and a hot dog.
Near Katz’s Deli is a street sign for Joey Ramone Place – I love The Ramones!
Another highlight today was the Michael Kors store on Broadway. I really like the MK shoes and some of the clothes. This particular MK store had 3 floors! On the bottom level was the men’s section complete with a man cave (pool table and bar).
Ladies, drop your man off in the man cave and browse the store at your leisure and preferably with his credit card!
We also had a little visit to the Louis Vuitton store on 5th Ave. Who doesn’t want a Louis Vuitton trunk?
Here are some of the shoes and boots I saw throughout the day that I liked. If I had bought the trunk, I would have had room to bring home all these shoes with me! I love my logic.
We got thirsty. The Plaza Hotel conjures up so many images and movies in my head – we had drinks at The Palm Court and I had a little bit of fun taking selfies in the mirror in the ladies room.
Still thirsty. We stopped into P.J. Carney’s again, visited with Kate and had beer and wings!
Still thirsty. The Hard Rock makes a mean Long Island Iced Tea or two or three or four!
The next evening, the night security guard at the hotel remembered us and laughed – I can’t imagine why.
Saturday
Walked: 19.3 kilometers (27,363 steps)
First thing today, we headed over to the Harley Davidson store to get some NYC t-shirts for our loved ones! I fully intend to learn how to ride in the Spring.
The best part of the trip was seeing Come From Away. This is the play based on the planes that landed in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada during 9/11. I was born in Gander and this play was spectacular! I laughed, I cried and I wanted to get up and dance!
Go and see Come From Away!
There is a restaurant called Junior’s where I had the best burger I’ve had in a long time- it was delicious! We went here because Myrna had heard about the cheesecake, which Wolfgang Puck ships to his restaurants every day. We had cheesecake too – good thing we did so much walking! Definitely worth a visit!
The previous evening we walked by Rockefeller Center and realized that the rink was open! We were so excited! Sadly, the Christmas tree wasn’t up yet. But … we decided to go skating. We also shopped in the NBC store and picked up some Saturday Night Live ball shirts to wear. We had a lot of fun at The Rink at Rockefeller Center.
John D. Rockefeller, Jr said “I believe that love is the greatest thing in the world; that it alone can overcome hate; that right can and will triumph over might.”
Live From New York City … It’s Saturday Night!
We wrapped up our evening with another beer on the rooftop of another Irish Pub, Connolly’s Pub And Restaurant.
Sunday
Walked: 14.3 kilometers (20,381 steps)
We had another great day in New York! We started off by walking across the Brooklyn Bridge and having pizza at Grimaldi’s Pizza.
Walking across the bridge is very cool for a tourist! I think if I lived in NYC I’d be running every day either in Central Park or across this bridge!
Oh my goodness, this was good! We had a sausage and pepperoni large pizza and we ate every single bit. There was a small line-up to get in, but it is worth every minute waiting.
If you’re looking for something to do for a morning in New York, go and walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, have pizza at Grimaldi’s and just take a look around Brooklyn.
We decided to go to Coney Island! We had to take the train – easy peasy. So we’re on the train to Coney Island and a lady gets on with her niece and nephew. Myrna and I must have screamed TOURISTS because after a few stops she told us that the train would end early and we had to take a bus to Coney Island. Well that threw a wrench into hopping on a train and voila arrive at Coney Island.
This lady took us off the train when it stopped, out of the terminal and around the corner to the bus stop. We waited for a couple minutes and I think we were about 20 minutes on the bus. I sat with the 2 children. These were the best behaved kids I’ve seen in a long time! The little guy was 4 and had a “Worst Behavior” hat on and the the girl was 7. His little brown eyes got big as saucers when I said I was 4 and 7. I don’t think he understood what 47 was, only that it was a really big number. Myrna sat with their aunt and learned how to make fried okra and fried green tomatoes. We all got off the same stop and she pointed out where to go and they headed off home. I truly regret not getting their names or a picture.
We crossed the street and were at Coney Island! We both always wanted to go to Coney Island.
Myrna and I went on the Wonder Wheel!
I went on the Cyclone! That’s me in the middle with one hand in the air and the other hand hanging onto my hat!
We wrapped it up with a hot dog and beer at Nathan’s! Coney Island is definitely worth another visit when it’s a little warmer so we can hang out on the beach!
We took the Q train all the way back from Coney Island to Times Square without any changes. Easy Peasy.
Our last supper was at Carmine’s in Times Square – food is served family style and everything is large! We had meat balls, shrimp scampi and bread pudding.
We were in the corner and ended up sitting next to a great pair – Dayna and Jeff! Dayna’s boyfriend was stuck in traffic in the tunnel on the way to the restaurant, but he made it! We had the best time talking with these folks – and we all shared our food. Our corner was the happening spot in Carmine’s that night.
The best thing about travelling is the fantastic people you meet! The best thing about social media is that you get to add each other on Facebook and Instagram and keep in touch!
Monday
Sadly, we were up bright and early to head back to Canada. See you next time New York! xoxo
That’s all folks!
Links
- Westin New York at Times Square
- Montebello Restaurant
- Aire Ancient Baths New York (Red Wine Experience)
- P. J. Carney’s
- Katz’s Deli
- The Plaza Hotel
- Come From Away
- Junior’s
- The Rink at Rockefeller Center
- Connolly’s Pub And Restaurant
- Taking a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
- Grimaldi’s Pizza
- Coney Island
- Carmine’s
Jackie is “Mom” to one amazing son, an IT professional and an obsessed traveller. She spends her time reading, golfing at Ladies League and implementing software projects. Jackie has travelled to all 7 continents and 90 countries and is always planning the next destination and adventure!