36 Hours Below 59th Street
In Manhattan New York
By: Karen Alarcon
Starting from the west side from Columbus Circle to the Battery, any visitor will be greeted by endless restaurants, malls, hotels, clubs and many forms of entertainment. Although it is true that the city is well known for its pricey lifestyle, one is not limited to anything. Once you arrive, take the time to experience the hustling New Yorker life by exploring and getting to know more about the city’s culture.
Photo Credit: Summer Garden Bar, Rockefeller Center Café
Friday
3PM to 6PM
Upon arrival, there’s no better place to start than Times Square. The place was formerly known as Longacre Square, but was renamed in 1904 after the New York Times moved its headquarters to the Times Building. Today, Times Square is known for its buildings that are brightly adorned with billboards and advertisements making it a breathtaking view for everyone. Times Square has a lot of exciting events like New Year’s, which is one popular event that started on the last day of 1907, Valentine’s Day, Food and menu festival and so on. But if your focus is on fashion, look at The Museum at FIT to experience the exhibitions that they offer for free. There are three gallery exhibitions that you can experience from history of fashion to student and faculty exhibitions. The exhibitions change every six months, so you may have a chance to experience another perspective of fashion if you plan to come back to the city again.
Photo Credit: Exhibitions FIT NYC
8PM
If you’re a fan of fried chicken, but want another variation from the classics, head to Turntable Chicken Jazz for Korean style chicken, side dishes beer towers and a vintage DJ spinning vinyl as entertainment. Hidden but visible by the amount of people and a blue lit stairway in 5th Avenue. You can get the soy garlic or hot spicy chicken wings starting at $9.95, Kimchi fried rice at $11.95 and many more Korean food fix at a great price.
10PM
Don’t let the name fool you, Death & Company is known for being one of the best cocktail bars located in Manhattan East Village. Fortunately, reservations aren’t needed since the staff members make sure every customer is accommodated as soon as they come in. The place is perfect to end the day as a fun nigh out with friends or alone.
Saturday
11AM
Trying to decide what to eat for brunch? then come to Cook Shop. Located in 156 tenth avenue at 20th street, Cook Shop focus on seasonal products. Go for the frittata (butternut squash, spinach, goat cheese and walnuts) for $18. Oven baked sunny side-up eggs (three sunny side up eggs, bacon, walnut-raising toast) for $14. Depending on your own liking, give it a try.
2PM to 7PM
The holidays are coming, while you’re trying to search for a small gift for yourself or a loved one, Brookfield Place can mesmerize you with its crystal clear and colorful appearance. While its getting dark, make sure to go to the Rockefeller Center where you get to see the gigantic Christmas decorations during the holidays and skate in the iconic skating ring. To finish your trip in the cold weather, head to Blue Bottle Coffee near Rockefeller Center for warm food and drinks.
Photo Credit: Architectural Lighting
Sunday
9AM to 11PM
On our last day in the city, we all expect the day to as planned. So why not start with a Middle Eastern, Moroccan influenced café in the East village. Cafe Mogador offers healthy, simple and cheap dishes to start your day right. Also, if you are into vintage clothing and other nostalgic memorabilia, go to Star Struck Vintage Clothing to update your closet to an unique, vintage style from the 1930’s to the 1980’s that will take you back in time.
Lodging
Manhattan has too many attractions for you to be locked in your hotel room. Located at 768, 5th avenue with the central park view and $701 a night, The Plaza includes a big, cozy room with great staff. Plus, classic movies like The Front, Eloise and Home Alone 2 were filmed and you even have a chance to stay in an Eloise themed suite, if you don’t mind a pink room. But if you are looking for a cheaper option, Park Central Hotel cost approximately $143 per night and includes free Wi-Fi, paid parking and air conditioned or heated.
References:
Times Square (2016) Retrieved from
http://www.timessquarenyc.org/visitor-tips/history/index.aspx#.WETYNuYrLb0
Museum at FIT (2016) Retrieved from
http://www.fitnyc.edu/museum/about/
Turntable Chicken Jazz (n.d) Retrieved from
http://www.turntablenyc.com/
Death & Company. (2016)
Retrieved from
http://www.deathandcompany.com/
Cook Shop (n.d) Retrieved from
http://cookshopny.com/about/
Brookfield Place (2016) Retrieved from
https://brookfieldplaceny.com/
Rockefeller Center (2016) Retrieved from
https://www.rockefellercenter.com/attractions/
Blue Bottle Coffee (2016). Retrieved from
https://bluebottlecoffee.com/
Café Mogador (n.d) Retrieved from
http://www.cafemogador.com/
Star struck Vintage clothing (n.d) Retrieved from
http://www.starstruckvintage.com/
Photo credits
Summer Garden Bar. Rockefeller Center Café (n.d) Retrieved from
https://www.patinagroup.com/summer-garden-bar
Yves Saint Laurent + Halton (February 6, 2015) Retrieved from
http://exhibitions.fitnyc.edu/blog-ysl-halston/
Elizabeth Donoff. Luminaries Lights Up Lower Manhattan (December 22, 2015) Retrieved from
http://www.archlighting.com/projects/luminaries-lights-up-lower-manhattan_o
Google Maps
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1a68jOUJ0H_CG6UOunv8bXgOwVss&usp=sharing
