Features

Weekend in New York: A Slice of the Big Apple

4 Jan 2017 by Business Traveller India

You think you have seen all there is to see in New York City – climbed to the top of the Empire State Building, eaten at internationally acclaimed restaurants, revelled at open-air concerts at Central Park and spent hours browsing through the Metropolitan Museum of Art. But there is more to this city that delightfully surprises you at every corner. Each visit (even if to the same areas) unveils a new experience; from scintillating musicals to soul food by truck diners and tours to the city’s “other” side. Here is a look at a few of them.

DO

There is no doubt that Central Park is a wonderful sprawl of green space in the throbbing heart of the city. However, there is another urban oasis, tucked away from the hubbub of midtown Manhattan, 30 feet above the ground. High Line is a stunning piece of renewal work — a park repurposed from an abandoned railway line.

The once defunct space was on its way to being torn down in the 1990s, but was saved by the timely intervention of ordinary citizens who wanted to preserve it as a recreational green expanse. Thus, High Line came into being as a narrow stretch of parkland, running for across two kilometres, from the hip Meatpacking District to the bustling West 34th Street.

It is surreal to walk at almost eye level with higher floors of neighbouring buildings, even as cheery summer flowers wave in the wind along the sides. The outer walls of these buildings provide visual boundaries to the park, separating it from the rest of the city, but never shutting it out. From striking graffiti on their facades to quirky metal installations on the pathways, there is no dearth of interesting sights in High Line.

Entry to the park is free; open from 7am throughout the year, closing times vary according to season; thehighline.org.

SEE

Broadway: been there, seen that? Instead of yet another conventional musical or drama, how about a Cirque du Soleil show. This entertainment company, originally from Canada, puts together some of the most dazzling theatrical performances of the world today.

Here, foot-tapping song and dance meets mind- blowing stunts in a drama that is also part circus. Not surprisingly, the cast of Cirque du Soleil, in addition to actors, typically includes skilled acrobats and athletes, sometimes over 100 of them in a single show.

Cirque du Soleil first came to the USA in 1987, and since then, has been performing across the country, from the west coast to the tri-state area (Greater New York). In the Big Apple, the shows take place both, on and off Broadway.

On my recent visit to New York City, I managed to catch a show of Paramour, a story about love, ambition and disappointment, and I couldn’t get enough of it. Everything seemed larger than life to me, especially when we had to crane our necks upwards to watch a dazzling performance unfurl above us. (Visit cirquedusoleil.com for the schedule; ticket prices start from US$65/₹4,341.)

EXPLORE

Visit the Lower East Side for a food tour of this immigrant neighbourhood with Big Onion Walking Tours. A bulk of the immigrant population who came to the city between the 19th and 20th centuries settled here. Alternatively, go off the grid with the edgy “Art, Sex and Rock and Roll” tour to understand the ways in which New York City has contributed to popular culture across the world. The tour explores “the many waves of artists, musicians, and cultural figures who have found creative expression in the City”. Tour prices start from US$25/₹1,669 for adults; bigonion.com.

On another day, sign up with Free Tours By Foot to delve into the African-American history of Harlem, or explore the lanes of the artsy Greenwich Village. Tap into your inner ghost-buster on a late evening “Dark Side of the High Line” tour or see some of the city’s most iconic landmarks bathed in moonlight on a night-walk in midtown Manhattan. There are no fixed rates for the tours, pay as you wish; freetoursbyfoot.com/new-york-tours.

If walking sounds like too much work (and it can be in a large city such as this), hop on to a boat with Circleline Sightseeing Cruises. Whether it is seeing the best of the city within three hours or exploring Lady Liberty along the harbour, seeing New York by water is a completely different experience. Ticket prices start from US$29/₹1,937 for adults; circleline42.com.

EAT AND DRINK

Continue your discovery of New York City by spending lunch hours with locals at trendy food trucks that line the streets of Manhattan. There is even a dosa (Indian rice pancake) cart right on Washington Square, and a favourite for most residents and visitors, alike.

From thin crust pizzas, falafels and tacos to lobster rolls and pork barbecue sandwiches, there is something for everyone (even vegetarians like me, who usually get a raw deal). It may be your best opportunity to indulge yourself with a dessert of sinful homemade chocolate ice cream or a creamy fruit smoothie.

If you’re thoroughly confused about what to eat and where to find it, take your time browsing through a list of food trucks on nyctruckfood.com. You can learn about the food through reviews, and leave one after your meal too.

If you’re in the mood for gourmet shopping, Grand Central Market may interest you. It is a row of artisanal food stalls right inside the area’s landmark railway station. It’s a vibrant bazaar that sells pungent cheeses, wines, designer chocolates, fresh roast coffee, and organic vegetables, amongst other treats. Open 7am-9pm on weekdays, 10am-8pm on Saturday and 11am-6pm on Sunday; grandcentralterminal.com/market.

Finally, wash away fatigue at New York City’s rooftop bars, which serve views with cocktails. One of the more bustling and hip terrace haunts in the city is 230 Fifth Avenue. It is also the largest, with space for 500 revellers. Try the vodka-based NYC Mule for US$14/₹935. Open from 4pm daily until late, kitchen closes at midnight; cocktails start at US$14/₹935; tel: +1 212 7254300; 230-fifth.com.

Top of the Strand is another trendy venue, next to the imposing Empire State Building. Its retractable glass roof means that it stays open through the year, even in the colder months when al fresco dining is impossible elsewhere. Open from 5pm daily until late, kitchen closes at 10pm on weekdays; cocktails start from US$15/₹1,001; tel: +1 646 3686426; topofthestrand.com.

And for a dose of high culture and sweeping views of Central Park along with cocktails, head to the MET Roof Garden and Martini Bar on the fifth floor of the scintillating Metropolitan Museum. Open early May through October: Sunday-Thursday 11am-4:30pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-8:15pm; tel: +1 212 5703711; metmuseum.org/visit/met-fifth-avenue.

Charukesi Ramadurai

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