A Whirlwind Weekend in the Big Apple – No Tourist Traps Allowed!
Spending a weekend in New York City after jetting in from Toronto, we opted for an unconventional itinerary to make the most of this vibrant metropolis.
Friday Night: Kicking Off in the West Village
First stop—settling into a cosy West Village flat, generously lent to us by friends. This area is famous for its restaurants, cafés, and bars, as well as the legendary Stonewall Inn, the site of the historic 1969 riots when the LGBTQ+ community fought back against police brutality. Today, it remains a hub for the city’s gay, trans, and lesbian communities—though it’s also a highly sought-after (and pricey) neighbourhood for the younger crowd. With 24-hour restaurants, buzzing bars, and streets teeming with revellers, it was the ideal place to launch our adventure.
Saturday Morning: Navigating NYC Like a Pro
First order of business—grabbing a no-contract phone with a data plan to avoid those dreaded roaming charges. This meant we had GPS and Google Maps at our fingertips, plus instant access to Facebook recommendations from friends.
As we strolled up 7th Avenue, we stumbled upon a temporary pedestrian zone—complete with vintage clothing stalls, hot dog vendors, and street food stands. A quick detour to 6th Avenue led us through the Broadview area and West 34th Street, where we took a breather in a small park, got familiar with our new phone, and mapped out the rest of the day.
A Flea Market That Left Us Wanting More
Next stop: Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market on West 39th. Now, in New York, everything is bigger, bolder, and “the best of the best”… or so they say. Unfortunately, this market didn’t quite live up to the hype. Yes, there were vintage postcards, collectible American flags, and the usual trinkets, but it wasn’t exactly a treasure trove. A bit underwhelming, to say the least.
Lunch with a Fancy Name but Little Else
Lunchtime, and we found ourselves at a new fast-food joint boasting a très chic French name: Prêt à Manger. Sounds promising, right? Wrong. It’s basically the Starbucks of sandwiches—overpriced and underwhelming. Give it a miss unless you’re truly desperate.
A View from the Top – But Not the Empire State
Having spent the morning at street level, it was time to take in the city from above. Friends had advised against the Empire State Building (been there, done that in 2009), so we opted for the Top of the Rock instead—housed in the Art Deco GE Building (formerly RCA). Standing at 259 metres, it offers three observation decks and, ironically, the best view of… the Empire State Building!
The entire process—ticket purchase, security, two lifts, and a short film—took about 20 minutes. The view? Absolutely breathtaking. To the north: Central Park, Harlem, and the Bronx. To the south: Manhattan’s iconic skyline stretching down to the gaping void where the Twin Towers once stood. While One World Trade Center is rising in its place, its presence remains a sombre reminder of a wound that hasn’t quite healed.
We spent at least an hour up there, playing with camera filters and zoom settings. The top two observation levels are enclosed by towering glass panels, but the third level—set slightly back—has none, offering an unobstructed panoramic view.
Surviving Times Square – A Crash Course in Avoiding Tourist Scams
No NYC trip is complete without braving the madness of Times Square—not for sightseeing, but purely to marvel at the sheer number of tourist scams in action. Here’s a quick survival guide:
- Beware of costumed characters. You’ll see knockoff SpongeBobs, Mickeys, and Elmos beckoning for a fun photo—only to demand cash afterwards.
- Avoid dodgy comedy club promoters. They’ll swear they have tickets to big-name Comedy Central comedians. Reality? You’ll be stuck in a grim basement watching painfully bad stand-ups (assuming you even understand them). Oh, and you’re required to buy three overpriced drinks.
- Ignore CD sellers. Everyone in Times Square is apparently a rapper. Just keep walking.
- Evade tourist bus ticket peddlers. Make eye contact, and you’re doomed. Walk with confidence, don’t look lost, and ignore everyone trying to flag you down.
Honestly, Times Square is just a flashing sea of screens—nothing worth lingering for.
Saturday Night: An Evening of Pure Elegance
Time to swap trainers for something more sophisticated—we had tickets for the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center. And what a night it was! The extraordinary Augustin Hadelich performed Lalo, followed by Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, conducted by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos—complete with real bronze bells offstage. A magical performance, capped off with a late-night stroll through Manhattan’s near-empty streets.
Sunday: A Walk Above the City
Sunday morning, we could have ventured to Harlem for a gospel service, but instead, we met friends for brunch at the ultra-chic Cloister Café in the East Village. With a few hours to kill before then, we explored a lesser-known gem: The High Line.
This former elevated railway, now transformed into an urban oasis, offers walkways, gardens, and lookout points high above the streets of the West Side. Spanning 1.5 km from 14th Street to 30th, it’s a serene escape from the city’s chaos.
Exploring the South of Manhattan
Post-brunch, we set off for a final wander through Canal Street, Little Italy, and Chinatown—snapping photos as the sun dipped lower. While these neighbourhoods are packed with energy, a word of caution: stay aware of your surroundings, especially in the quieter corners.
The Final Hours – And a Hard Goodbye
As the weekend drew to a close, we indulged in one last meal before packing our bags for an early morning departure.
In just 60 hours, we covered nearly 20 kilometres on foot, took over 200 photos, and left with memories to last a lifetime. But more than anything, we fell—once again—under the spell of Manhattan.