Who: Special visitors to New York City this fall. It’s a great itinerary for parents or even grandparents since it’s easy walking.
Date Day Requirements: The real feel for NYC in what is arguably it’s BEST season - Complete with Central Park stroll, relaxing guided boat tour (for a deal!), good Italian food, and a Broadway show (for another deal!).
Check out all the NYC Fall family tour details with this link: Google Map
The spot: Central Park
Location: Park entrance at 59th/Central Park South and 5th
The basics: Stroll around the park to show off the city’s natural beauty and experience NYC leaf peeping at it’s finest. I like this spot to prove to my parents that NYC isn’t just a concrete jungle.
Don’t Miss: Family picture opps! The skating rink right near the entrance won’t be open yet, but from there, there are great pictures of the park + the city skyline in the background, as well as the picturesque pond nearby.
The spot: Boat Tour
Location: Pier 83 - W.42nd Street & 12th Avenue
The basics: The best way to sit back and see the skyline that’s made Manhattan famous. A guided tour let’s you in on all the secrets to the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street & World Trade Center, and the Brooklyn bridge as you float by for more classic picture opps.
Don’t Miss: I booked a deal aboard Circle Line Cruises for my whole family through Goldstar. The site has a ton of boat tour options including their current Water Taxi Sunset Champagne toast tour for only $12.50 a person!
.
The spot: Dinner at Basso 56
Location: 234 West 56th Street between Broadway and 8th
The basics: The theatre district can be a tough spot to find a reasonably priced meal that actually tastes good. NYC is known for great Italian food so Basso56 is a solid spot to bring your out-of-towners.
Don’t Miss: If you time it right they offer a price fixed, 3 course lunch for under $23!
.
The spot: Broadway Show
Location: Theatre District (spans 40th-53rd streets from 8th-6th avenues)
The basics: The best shows in the world are right here in New York. Jersey Boys has been a massive hit with just about every one of my friends parents, and I’ve heard Avenue Q is sure to be a hillarious hit with any younger-minded visitors.
Don’t Miss: find out how to get the best deals on Broadway shows here or take another look at Goldstar where Avenue Q tickets are going for $55-$65!
Who: A good friend, an out of town visitor, a sibling, or even your parents - foodies and explorers
Date Day Requirements: Food (obviously) and a new experience
.
The spot: Beauty & Essex
Location: 146 Essex St, between Rivington and Stanton
The basics: A lovely loungey NY spot with great, sharable small bites. The front of the house is actually a pawn shop which opens up into a classy, grand dining area (you could say it’s ‘business in the front, party in the back’).
Don’t Miss: The Brunch Menu will make you salivate. The lemon blackberry ricotta pancakes are light as air and the classic eggs benedict is a split-able savory sensation. But it’s a whole different scene come night time and they keep the party going by handing out champagne in the ladies bathroom.
As you move on from brunch, you’re only a few blocks away from a beautiful community garden project on Forseyth Street and Rivingtown. Stroll through or sit down on one of the many benches to digest and appreciate one little pocket of nature inside the bustling world of NYC.
The spot: Tenement Museum Tour
Location: 103 Orchard, on the corner of Delancy
The basics: The Museum tells the tale of immigrant families living in New York City during different time periods. Visitors tour the very apartment building where the families lived, and each apartment has been restored to represent the exact family story and time. Reservations are suggested for a selection of tours available for $22 for adults or $17 for students if you’ve held onto your college ID.
Don’t Miss: The “Hard Times” Tour is a great entry point. If you arrive a few minutes before your tour, the gift shop is a great place with lots of New York souvenirs that are far beyond the the cheesy “I heart NY” t-shirts.
Check out all the good date day details with this link:
East Village Exploration Google Map.
I spent most of this week drooling over the amazing fashions donned at this year’s Met Gala.
Some of my favorite looks had me thinking back to a recent visit to the Museum at FIT, and this date day…
Who: fashionable friend
Date Day Requirements: fashion forward and well fed
The spot: The Museum at FIT
Location: 7th Ave at W 27th St - New York, NY 10001
The basics: This free (yes FREE!) museum is linked to the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). You can spend as long as you like wandering through the impressive permanent collection or speed your way through one of the ever-changing special exhibits in the lower level which often highlight fashion history and present.
Don’t Miss: As you make your way through the permanent collection, take a peak at classic fashions through time and note that each label also identifies the exact fabric used. There are some surprising materials, but as an amateur sewing enthusiast myself, it was interesting to see that I could be using some jersey fabric in a whole new way! One day maybe…
(I’d love to post some amazing FIT images here but I don’t have the rights so you’ll just have to visit or Google it yourself!)
The spot: Cafeteria
Location: 119 7th Ave - New York, NY 10010
The basics: This little food spot aims to make comfort food trendy. It’s open 24 hours, but I think it’s a nice stop for a late brunch/lunch. With outdoor seating options, it’s also a nice setup for Chelsea people watching.
Don’t Miss: Although I can’t vouch for it, I’ve heard the mac ‘n cheese is comfort food at it’s best.
The spot: Housing Works thrift shop and Pippin Vintage Jewelry
Location: 17th street between 7th and 6th ave
The basics: Some of the classics at FIT should have you feeling inspired to go vintage. Housing Works is thrifty shopping all for a good cause, and Pippin has some one-of-a-kind jewelry finds for reasonable prices.
Check out all the good details with this link: Google Map
