Take A Bite Of The Big Apple!
Phil Murphy guides you round his home town.
The City That Never Sleeps, The Big Apple, The City That’s So Nice, They Named It Twice... perhaps you’ve heard of my home?
New York, New York is a travel destination not to be missed, and being a native New Yorker living in Dublin, I’d like to show what "The City That Has It All" has to offer to the senior on holiday.
With world-class dining, top-notch entertainment, and sights that must be seen, New York is an ideal destination.
A Brief History
New York has a long and storied history. In 1625, Dutch settlers purchased the piece of land now known as Manhattan from the Native Americans for a mere $24.00. As settlers established their new city, more and more people began to immigrate to New York from all over the world, truly making the city the melting pot that it is today. When George Washington was sworn in as President of a then infantile United States in 1789, the population was 33,000. Within a century, that number had exploded to 1.2 million. This caused the city to expand to the 5 boroughs that comprise it today - Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, the Bronx, and Queens. Since its establishment, New York has seen its share of highs (vast wealth, economic prosperity) and lows (September 11th, blackouts), and even served briefly as the capitol of the United States. Now with a population of over 8 million, roughly half the state of New York lives in the city’s metropolitan area.
Getting Around
Navigating New York City is, for the most part, a rather simple task. The streets are laid out in a grid system, with the higher numbered streets representing points furthest north in the City and vice versa. The streets run east to west, while 14 named avenues run north to south on the island. Where you may find some confusion is points below 14th Street, where this grid system gives way to curvy, named streets and cavernous corridors through tall buildings. You’re best bet trying to navigate this terrain is to hail a taxi.
Taxi’s are a sure-fire way to get from point A to point B in the City, and are relatively inexpensive. However, you may find it useful to look at and figure out the subway maps, as a flat rate on the subway of $2.00 can take you pretty far. Both forms of transportation have their charms and their drawbacks, such as crowding on the subway and the odd, sometimes unhygienic taxi, but both are very reliable.
Where to Stay
New York has an abundance of hotels - one to fit every style and price range. When looking for the perfect hotel, keep in mind what you would like to do on your trip. If you want to be in the middle of it all, The Marriott Marquis in Times Square puts you literally in the heart of New York. For a step up in price, that I personally feel to be well worth it, the Palace Hotel offers elegance, fantastic service, and a great location. For a hotel a little further downtown, closer to New York’s trendy villages, the Grammercy Park Hotel is a New York institution. And for a quieter location, further uptown you will find the Bentley Hotel, offering some of New York’s best views.
The Marriott Marquis in Times Square offers well-appointed rooms, but what you’re really paying for ($200) is location. Here, you are in walking distance of the theatre district, a short cab ride from Central Park, and literally in the heart of Times Square. If staying here, make sure to make reservations well in advance, as this is one of New York’s busiest hotels.
The Palace Hotel, located at 455 Madison Avenue, offers a superb location, putting you a short distance form Central Park, across the street from St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and a short walk from Rockefeller Center and Radio City. The price may seem a bit steep (rooms starting at $295), however, the service, accommodations, and amenities are definitely first rate. For the fine diners, one of the world’s renowned restaurants, Le Cirque 2000, is located in the lobby of the hotel.
The Grammercy Park Hotel, located at 2 Lexington Avenue, is a beautiful and popular choice for lodging. Well-furnished rooms at relatively reasonable rates ($150-200) are well worth the value. Location wise, you are in a great spot to visit many of the more diverse areas New York has to offer, such as Greenwich Village, Chinatown, and Little Italy. For drinks, be sure to have a cocktail in the private garden the hotel offers guests.
The Bentley Hotel is a great location for a quieter, more relaxed visit to New York. Located on New York’s upper east side, the Bentley is a boutique hotel offering spectacular views of the city.
Reasonable rates ($135-235), great location, and superior service make this an excellent choice. Be sure to enjoy a drink on the hotel’s rooftop restaurant.
Hungry
Navigating New York is a sure-fire way to build an appetite, and with a seemingly endless array of restaurants to choose from, you are sure to leave satisfied.
For a taste of the homeland, I strongly recommend having a pint at McSorley’s Pub, located on east 7th Street. As it is New York’s oldest pub, as well as the longest continually operated pub in the United States, it has certainly seen its share of history. Everyone from Abraham Lincoln to John Lennon has enjoyed a pint at this venerable New York institution. This bar is busy, but you are always in good company. They only serve 2 beers here - light and dark - both of which are brewed by McSorley’s. And if you’re hungry, the barkeep would be more than happy to serve you a plate of cheese and onions.
For some of the best seafood in New York, I would recommend the Oyster Bar, located in Grand Central Station for reasonable prices and that classic New York atmosphere. Handwritten menus show you the freshest catch of the day, with many other specialties for those not particularly keen to fish. The wine list is impressive, and if oysters are your fancy, you’d be hard pressed to find a better selection.
I’ve eaten at dozens of steak houses in New York, and the standard by which they are all measured against is Ben Benson’s, located on east 52nd Street. This is not your typical dark cherry wood, dark lit, stuffy steak house. This is a lively and vibrant room serving what many, my self included, believe to be the finest steak in New York. Impeccable service and an extraordinary wine list make this a fantastic choice for dinner.
What to Do
I’ve lived in New York my entire life and I haven’t even come close to seeing everything there is to see. The museums I’ve visited are incredible, the professional sports teams always provide some excitement, and the sights I’ve seen are breathtaking.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a great way to spend an afternoon, gazing at the priceless works of art in one of the world’s most renowned galleries. The Met, as it’s generally called, boasts a collection valued at roughly $300 million, with works by such artists as Picasso and Matisse. The Met is located on 5th Avenue at 82nd Street, and the suggested donation for seniors is $5.00.
Of all of New York’s professional sports teams (there are 12!), none is revered than the New York Yankees. A baseball dynasty winning 26 championships, there are few better ways to take in the New York experience than a trip to Yankee Stadium. The Yankees play from mid-April to mid-September, and tickets to their games are among the cheapest ($8.00-$42.00) you will find for a sporting event in New York. Yankee Stadium is located at 161st Street in the Bronx, and is accessible by subway or taxi.
Two of the most architecturally stunning structures in New York are St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. St. Patrick’s Cathedral, located on 5th Avenue at 50th Street, is home to the Archdiocese of New York. Sunday Mass is held at 10:15 and usually presided by Cardinal Joseph Eagan. The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, located on Amsterdam Avenue at 112th Street, is truly a masterpiece, though still a work in progress. As the first stone was laid in 1892, this cathedral is still technically under construction and, when completed, will be the 3rd largest church in the world.
For a relief from the hustle and bustle of the big city, a stroll through Central Park makes for a lovely afternoon. Designed in the 1860’s as sanctuary for New Yorkers, this massive park (it’s actually larger than Monaco!) could consume an entire day, boasting a zoo, a skating rink, concert and Shakespeare performances in the warmer months, lovely gardens, massive lawns for sunbathing, romantic ponds for boating or gazing upon, carriage rides through the park... the list goes on. For some incredible views of New York, there are 2 recommendations. First, a trip to the top of the Empire State Building can you a great aerial view of the city. This massive symbol of New York has 2 observation decks, on the 86th and 102nd floor. Located on 5th Avenue at 34th, a trip to the top costs $9.00. Be careful for long lines, however, as early morning or late day would probably be the best time to go.
For a spectacular view of the city by water, a trip on the Staten Island Ferry is not to be missed. A great bargain (absolutely free!), the ferry leaves port on the half hour and gives you some of the most magnificent views of the city. Leaving port just east of Battery Park, you get a great view of the city and a glimpse of the ominous gap in the skyline that used to be occupied by the World Trade Center. The ferry also takes you within a half-mile of the Statue of Liberty, and is the best place in the city to see the sunset.
Getting There
There really is no "best time" to visit New York, as there is always something important to see or something great to do.
Aer Lingus offers daily direct flights from Dublin and Shannon to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, with great deals to be had if you book well in advance.
