Author Archives: Alejandra Aragón

Alejandra Aragon 36 Hour under 59th Street

Alejandra Aragon                                                                                                                                    November 17, 2016

36 Hours under 59th Street

2016 Election Wall

2016 Election Wall

  • Union Square Park

Saturday

8 AM

Firstly arriving at 14th Street Union Square that can be reached by the MTA 4, 5, 6, L, R, N, Q & W trains. Union Square Park is very historically important, nowadays it is known as a place where strangers gather together to protest, hang out, play a game of chess, skateboard, watch street performers and much more. Union Square Park is known for intersecting, Broadway and Fourth Ave. The Union was placed right in the intersection instead of celebrating the U.S federal or labor union. Existing the Subway Station, you cannot miss the protest wall based on the 2016 Presidential Election. Since 14th Street is widely known for its protests and gathering of people, New Yorkers express their feelings about the Election’s results. Walls full of sticky notes can be found all over the stations nearby exits, so why not bring a sticky note and express your feelings. Union Square has a very strong diverse community and why not be part of it? There are many breakfast spots are available around Union Square, An open 23 Hour Diner called “The Coffee Shop” to enjoy a wonderful friendly breakfast varying from griddles to omelets. Super fluffy affordable pancakes to the well-known International House of Pancakes also known as I-HOP. An on-the-go right outside the train station across “Mighty Pie” with a great selection of muffins. Union Square is the place to shop, with a great selection of things.

Union Square Holiday Market

Union Square Holiday Market

  • Union Square’s Green & Holiday Market:

10AM

Surrounding the park, Union Square’s Green Market is open Saturday mornings from 8 am to 6pm. The market varies from fresh Lavender, Lilac, Chamomile, soaps, baggies, flowers, candles and more. The Lavender scented items are smell very fresh and can make a great house décor or gift. The green market sells many fresh cheese, meat, and much more. The green market located in Union Square sells one of the best dried flowers. The flowers are formed as a bouquet, wall décor, heart shaped and more. The benefit of these flowers are that they’re last longing since their dried, and smell very good. These flowers range from 15$-$40 depending on your selection. Another market that is available is the Holiday market! Great time to travel to Union Square. There are many things to enjoy, see and buy, such as artwork, cool inventions, plants, cider, winter accessories, home décor, the list goes on and on.

  • Museum of Sex:

12PM

The Museum is about sex. Prices range from 16-18$ with an additional fee of 3$ to enjoy the Jump for Joy exhibit. There are many exhibits to enjoy and see, from photographs, to artifacts, imagery and sex lives of animals. All visitors must be over the age of 18.

Forbidden Planet

Forbidden Planet

  • Comics, Books and more

3PM

Anime or Comic fanatic? Or maybe a Book worm? Forbidden Planet, and The Strand are great places to check out. It is absolutely impossible to walk out without buying an item in these stores.  Forbidden Planet has a great variety of Comics, Manga’s, Graphic novels, accessories, collectables, and so much more. This store is very much affordable and can get expensive with their exclusive items. A regular product such as an accessory or book can range from 10$ to 20$. The Strand, has a great variety of books, vinyl’s, Audio books, music and cd’s. The Strand has a very vintage warm feeling, making you comfortable as if your home. Other nearby stores for makeup addicts, pastry lovers, athletes, fashion fanatics, pet lovers and even babies!, are Nordstrom Rack, Sephora, MAC, ELF, Zumiez, Barnes & Nobles, Petco, Babies R Us, Forever 21, Reebok, Crumbs, Baked by Melissa and more. Union Square has almost everything you can imagine. All stores are nearby and it is impossible to get lost without finding the park located right at the center or all these stores.

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  • Saint Marks Place

5 PM

Heading towards Saint Marks. Saint Marks is full of cool creepy things. There are book shops nearby, Tattoos and piercing shops, and many Asian restaurants. Before enjoying an amazing lunch at Hakata Hot Pot, visit a nearby store called Search and Destroy. This store can be really creepy from the outside and as well in the inside. Many stores like this can’t be found and is a very great experience. This store is a vintage, metal and punk store selling items, such as used clothing, accessories for both men and woman. If you’re an edgy and rocker person this is the store for you. This store is great overall for the experience, if it’s out of your league. Going onto Hakata Hot Pot offering Ramen Burgers, Ramen, Sushi and much more. This restaurant is very cozy and the service is great.

 

  • NoHo Pearl Mart

6:30PM

Pearl Market is a Chinese Apparel, House-ware and accessories market. They sell a variety of things from geisha’s to postcards, office supplies, clothing, snacks, and kitchen supplies. Buying an item from Pearl Mart is a must due to its very affordable pricing, wide variety of products and its authentic Chinese products. The Mart is 3 floors, take your time to enjoy the cute little items to the amazing furniture and clothing.

Little Italy's Ferris Wheel

Little Italy’s Ferris Wheel

Sunday

  • Little Italy

12PM

Can this vacation be any more diverse? Welcome to Italy, Little Italy. Full of great Italian pastry, pizzas, pastas, and items! In Little Italy, one can absolutely not buy cannoli’s and fried Oreos. Little Italy holds street fairs where many food are sold at the streets. Some foods are pizza, shish kebabs, gelato and more. The streets are usually closed for people to walk by. Nothing is more welcoming than their lit up signs welcoming outsiders into Little Italy. Little Italy has many shops nearby, many of them you can buy scarfs, watches, clothing and much more on a budget. Many of the items go around 10$ to 25$. Little Italy offers games to play, and even a Ferris wheel in the middle of the street. Therefore Little Italy is a very diverse place just a few blocks long, and so much to do and see.

ChaTime

ChaTime

  • Chinatown Bubble Tea and Markets

4 PM

Have not tasted Bubble Tea ever? ChaTime is the BEST Bubble Tea anyone could have ever tasted! Bubble Tea is absolutely amazing and very addicting. Lemon Juice, Lemon Black Tea, Lemon Chamomile Tea, Grape, and Strawberry Slush are highly recommended for starters. Bubble Tea is very affordable ranging from 4 to 6 $ and is worth the buy. Going onto the markets nearby, there are many hidden underground stores that sell Korean, Chinese, Japanese, beauty products, skin care products, office supplies, school supplies, home décor, kitchen supplies and so much more. The items in these stores are very much affordable ranging from 1$ ! yes, ONE dollar to 20$. With just 20$ you can get a great deal. These stores are Elizabeth Center and Kam Man Supermarket 2nd floor.

 

  • Karaoke: K-One Karaoke Bar

7PM

Ending the night at K One Karaoke Bar open till 4am. A great place to spend time with a group of people, with a casual ambiance. The bar offers a full bar and karaoke is provided as well. If you’re not a singer, they also provide ways to entertain yourself such as dices and cards. The karaoke bar also sells a wide variety of food and beverages.

 

Lodging:

City Rooms NYC SoHo:  4 Star Hotel

120 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10013

99$ per night

Wi-Fi & Air Conditioner

 

Wyndham Garden China Town: 4 Star Hotel

93 Bowery, New York, NY 10002

116$ per night

Wi-Fi, Air Conditioner, Laundry service, Business center and Paid parking.

Sources:

http://www.wyndhamgardenchinatownnyc.com/

http://www.mightypienyc.com/

http://www.strandbooks.com/books

http://thecoffeeshopnyc.com/menus/breakfast

Union Square Holiday Market

http://www.museumofsex.com/museum/about/exhibitions/

http://www.ichatime.com/

http://www.konektv.com/modern-karaoke/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60763-d674743-Reviews-CITY_ROOMS_NYC_Soho-New_York_City_New_York.html

 

Thursday – The HighLine Park

I will be visiting the Highline Park as part of my concierge assignment. I think that the High Line Park is very unique and different from a lot of parks in NYC. High Line Park has a great amount of history behind it and most visitors can hint at it with its old railroads. Most people dont really know its full on history, but just its old railroads. This is where the park becomes significantly unique, High Line is a very innovative park. To be able to preserve its history and combine it with the new futuristic architectual designs, is what makes this park a go to. Therefore i will be visiting High Line Park as part of my assignment.