Dose of Prose
Fun fact: I lived in the Northeast for 4 years!
For those of you who are confused as to what a Southern girl from Little Rock, Arkansas was doing on the East Coast, here’s a bit of a backstory: I attended college in Pennsylvania and often travelled to New York for conferences and other academic related events. The location of my university was close to major cities like Philadelphia and NYC, so it was super easy and convenient to visit surrounding states. Although I now live in Los Angeles, I try to fit a trip to the East Coast in my calendar whenever I can, since most of my college friends and sorority sisters live there. This year, as a birthday present to myself, I decided to go to NY for the weekend for a much needed change of scenery. I documented parts of my trip on Instagram, but thought it might be helpful to put together a blog post sharing some of the places I visited to serve as a guide to those who are planning a NY trip of their own.
Please keep in mind that this is not your typical tourist-y guide. In this post, I’m going to give you some alternative attractions to check out that are popular, yet remain hidden gems that locals would frequent.
HOUSING – Long Island City
During my trip, I stayed in an area called Long Island City. I emphasize the word city so it won’t be confused with Long Island, a completely separate part of NY (this is an ongoing debate among NY locals, haha). Anyway, LIC is a neighborhood in Queens, and is located very close to Manhattan. If you’re unsure of where to stay in NY, I suggest LIC, not only because of its beautiful skyline views of Manhattan, but also because of the atmosphere. It’s residential, safe, clean, suburban and quiet, which makes for a great place to rest after a long day of sight-seeing and being in crowds. I saw a mixture of families and young professionals walking around, so I’d say LIC is a perfect place to stay for a variety of age groups, ranging from millennials to senior citizens. There’s nice bars, coffee shops restaurants and brunch spots within walking distance as well. Overall, I would consider housing in Long Island City during your next trip to NY, as it will definitely positively add to your experience.
FOOD
Coffee
I don’t know about you, but I love coffee! So of course I had to find a coffee shop as soon as I landed. On the first day of my trip, I went to a small, cute coffee spot called Sweet Leaf. I had some work to do on my laptop, so I ended up staying there for a few hours. The staff was super friendly and personable (they addressed their regular customers coming in by first name). The music playlist was good – not too distracting or overpowering. The menu had a variety of coffee/tea options as well as pastries. The overall vibe of the shop was chill and relaxed. I ordered my go-to coffee, which is an americano (espresso + water), and it was delicious. An americano is simple to make, but easy to mess up, so I can always tell whether or not a coffee shop is the real deal by ordering one. I also ended up getting a slice of banana walnut bread as well as some tea, which was equally as tasty. Whether you’re going to NY for a work trip, or just want to get your caffeine fix without giving your money to a giant franchise like Starbucks, I suggest Sweet Leaf!
Breakfast
If you go to NY and you don’t get a bagel, did you really go to NY?
The answer is a certified: no. When I lived on the East Coast, getting a multigrain bagel with maple walnut cream cheese was one of my simple pleasures. I hadn’t had it in a while and was craving one so I went to a family owned bagel shop that has been around since the 80s called Bagelworks. This bagel shop, located on the Upper East Side, is popular amongst locals and for good reason. There was a line when I went, but it moved quickly and was well worth the wait. The bagels were delicious! I believe the bread is made fresh daily. Bagelworks has a variety of bagels and cream cheese flavors to choose from. You can also create your own bagel breakfast sandwiches. If you’re looking for a place to try your first NY bagel, I recommend going to Bagelworks.
Brunch
Since I consider myself a style blogger, it is no surprise that I did some shopping while in New York. However, I needed some fuel before I went on my spree of retail therapy. I heard about this cute brunch spot in Soho (they have multiple locations) called Jack’s Wife Freda. The best way to describe the food is a mixture of South African, Israeli and Jewish cuisine. Although the restaurant itself is small, crowded and noisy…and I had to wait an hour for a table to become available, I still think it should be added to your itinerary. The food is good and so are the drinks! I recommend the Soho location because there are tons of other shops and stores surrounding it. If you are looking for a brunch spot, be sure to add Jack’s Wife Freda to your list.
Dinner
If you don’t like Indian food, then you might want to skip over this one, but if you’re on the lookout for a good Indian spot, Awadh is the place to go. This restaurant has hands-down, the best paneer in NY. Take my word for it!
Whether you’re with friends or going out for date night, The Daisy fits the bill. The restaurant is seasonal, so the menu changes, but one thing that remains the same is the beautiful interior and chic, sexy, modern atmosphere. I went for dinner and they were playing R&B as well as hip-hop tunes, which definitely earned brownie points for me. The only cons I will say is that the music was very loud which made it difficult to hear/talk to others at times and the portion sizes of the food are small (especially for how pricey the food is). However, the incredible ambience makes up for it. Check it out!
NIGHTLIFE
Looking for sweeping views of the city? Look no further! The Skylark, a cocktail lounge/rooftop bar near Times Square, is absolutely breathtaking. Oh, and the cocktails are tasty too. If you want to grab a drink, get a small bite to eat and see the Manhattan skyline, this place has you covered.
MUSEUM
On the last day of my New York trip, I visited The Frick Collection, a museum that previously served as the former home of millionaire industrialist, Henry Clay Frick. Although the museum is not large, in my opinion, it’s well worth going to. The cost is fair: $22 for General Admission and $12 for students. I got the student price and you can too. Pro tip: don’t throw away your student ID once you graduate, haha. The collection is great and the atmosphere is relaxing – not too overwhelming or crowded. The history behind each intricate piece is really interesting as well. Overall, I’d say it’s a hidden gem. Beautiful spot to check out if you’re in the city and like Western European art!
I hope this guide was helpful. Next time you’re in the city, you might want to add these attractions to your itinerary. I promise, you won’t regret it. I still consider myself new-ish to LA, but I do plan to make some LA guides (ie. recommendations for workout studios, brunch spots, coffee shops, bars, etc.) once I feel like I’ve gathered a substantial list of places. I’m often asked about the cultural differences between the East vs. West coast, and how that compares to the South…so I can definitely make a separate blog post about that as well. Leave a comment and let me know if you’d be interested in that! Feel free to leave your own NY recommendations as well. I’m always looking for new spots to explore. Until next time.
-Kaamilah
