Author Archives: Jessica Balatucan

36 Hours in Manhattan, 59th Street and Below

By Jessica Balatucan

New York City, the city that never sleeps, is one of the most busiest city in the world. There are so many significant landmarks that tourist from around the world would come to visit. Manhattan is culturally diverse ranging from the different types of food to the high quality fashion. It is a fast paced city full of hustling people of many different backgrounds. With a cluster of cultural integration; including arts, food, etc.

Photo Credit: Jessica Balatucan

Photo Credit: Jessica Balatucan

Friday 

  1. Time Square 9 p.m.

Time Square is known for its bright advertisement, big billboards and we can’t forget about the lights. So what other time to experience Time Square other than the night. There are so many attractions in Times Square that you can spend the rest of the night exploring. Lets head over to the Hard Rock Cafe NYC and get some grub. It’s a cafe that displays many musical relics from famous musicians where you can learn about the history of some of the greatest artists and eat while you’re surrounded with the original rock music. Getting hungry? Why not try the Original Legendary Burger, for $12.55.

Get your geek on and head on south to hit Midtown Comics Time Square. It’s where comic book lovers and anime lovers come to buy different types of merchandise as well as checking out the different types of comics that are rare. It is a place to relax and pick up a comic or a book from your favorite fictional characters and stories. If you’re a sweet lover, theres also a M&M world and a Hershey world.

 

Saturday

2. Grand Central 7 a.m.

Not a morning person? Lets head to Joe Coffee at Grand Central and get yourself a Ethiopia coffee. Grand Central is one of the most famous landmarks in Manhattan. It displays art, statues, and even has some stores and restaurants inside. Theres a huge amount of commuters that travels in and out of the terminal everyday.

3. Bryant Park 8 a.m.

Start walking west and you’d hit Bryant Park. Bryant Park is one of the many park that manhattan has to offer and holds a lot of events such as food events, game events, and art events. The park also contains a garden, monuments and the New York Public Library – Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. They have a reading room that allows people to freely read books without spending money there. The creation of the library was inspired by the depression era, where people had no money and sought out forms of entertainment.

4. Brooklyn Bridge 10 a.m.

Take the train to the Brooklyn Bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge is symbolic to the world. It is the first complex bridge in the city. There is so much history so why not walk across the bridge and enjoy the view. After all that walking, stop by the Potbelly Sandwich Shop and have yourself a scrumptious sandwich, $9, with a freshly baked cookie, $1.50, and a refreshing beverage of your choice. Our next stop is the Brooklyn Cat Cafe where you can pet cute and furry kittens for just $5 per half hour per person. Your heart will melt by spending time with these adorable fur-balls.

Brooklyn Bridge Photo Credit: Jessica Balatucan

Brooklyn Bridge
Photo Credit: Jessica Balatucan

5. Brooklyn Bridge Park 12 p.m.

The Brooklyn Bridge Park isn’t a far walk but if you’re tired of walking, you can also take the train. The park has so much to offer. You can talk a walk, relax at the gardens, play some sports at Pier 2, take a ride at Jane’s Carousel, or even admire the beach at Pier 4.  Try a scoop of ice cream at Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory

View from Brooklyn Bridge Park Photo Credit: Jessica Balatucan

View from Brooklyn Bridge Park
Photo Credit: Jessica Balatucan

6. Rockefeller Center 3 p.m.

Rockefeller Center is a big tourist spot because during December, they put up a christmas tree and tourist form around the world would come just to watch the lighting of the tree. There is also so many amazing dishes to try and stores to check out such as Radio City, Nintendo NY, and the LEGO Store. A gamer fan? Check out Nintendo NY and check out the history of the game counsel. Theres also merchandise, plushies, and you can even try out some games that they offer for free. The LEGO Store also offers some extraordinary lego displays as well as being able to build your own lego toy. Rockefeller Center also has an outdoor ice skating rink thats $35 for adults and $12 for children and seniors.

Photo Credit: Jessica Balatucan

Photo Credit: Jessica Balatucan

7. M.O.M.A. 5 p.m.

M.O.M.A., the Museum Of Modern Art, displays various types of art pieces that may have been influenced through modern society or technology. Art pieces including photograpghs, illustrations, abstract, statues, paintings, etc. General Admission is $25, $18 for seniors, and free for children.

8. Soho Noho 6 p.m.

Head over to Soho and take a stroll around Broadway. It may be a bit too pricey but a little bit of window shopping won’t hurt anyone. Soho holds some of the highest rent in Manhattan. There are various luxurious apartments, restaurants, and shopping areas. There are a lot of famous people living in Soho and it is known to have a lot of artists living there. Start walking north and you’d hit the Evolution Store. The evolution store is a place with collections of exotic specimens and arts in regarding organisms.

9. Union Square 8 p.m.

Keep heading north, and you’d see Ippudo, where they sell ramen, for $15 per bowl. Not too far is Union Square. Union Square is a park with gardens, monuments, and a dog park. The park is surrounded by organic supermarkets, like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, shopping outlets, and book stores such as the huge Barnes and Noble, the Strand Bookstore, and Forbidden Planet. People can play chess and there is always a street performance to keep you entertained. There is also the holiday market, where they sell many festive items relating to the upcoming holiday. Union Square is a nice place to get yourself a book from any of the book stores it offers and relax at the park during the day, and party at night at Webster Hall. If partying or concerts isn’t your thing, you can also watch a movie at AMC Village 7 or at Regal Union Square Stadium 14.

Ramen from Ipuddo Photo Credit: Jessica Balatucan

Ramen from Ipuddo
Photo Credit: Jessica Balatucan

Sunday 

10. Battery Park 7 a.m.

Relax and enjoy the view at Battery Park. The park has many things to offer. Theres an urban farm where they educate the public about sustainable farming. Theres a SeaGlass Carousel in which people sit in and float around. Theres also a Labyrinth which is a garden with a stone pathway that visitors come to enjoy the scenery. Also the Peter Minuit Plaza is within battery park and hosts weekly green markets, flea markets, and other events.

Lodging

Modern Condo in Midtown

$150 per night

 

Resources:

http://www.hardrock.com/cafes/new-york/menu.aspx

http://www.thebattery.org/things-to-do/food/

http://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/park

http://www.joenewyork.com

http://www.hardrock.com/cafes/new-york/

http://www.history.com/topics/brooklyn-bridge

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/205043?s=W6_HaHlD

http://www.bryantpark.org/things-to-do/grounds.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8451853/10-facts-about-Times-Square.html

http://www.nyctourist.com/grandcentral1.htm

Ellis Island – Jessica Balatucan

Ellis Island is significant to the culture because the island was a federal immigration station that received thousands of immigrants that hoped to settle in New York City. Although the island was seen by immigrants as a new opportunity to begin a better life, families were separated due to unmet health standards. It started as an “Island of Hope” to an “Island of Tears”. Tourist are attracted to the island because it is a place where they can trace their family history to at least one person who passed through the Port of New York.

 

Reference: The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc.   http://www.libertyellisfoundation.org/ellis-island-history

The Carlyle Site Visit Reflection – Jessica Balatucan

What did you like/dislike about our site visit to The Carlyle?

What I liked during the visit to the Carlyle Hotel was having a tour to each room and getting to see the back of the house because I was interested to see how it looks and operates.  I also really liked the view and the story of how the directors got to where they were. What i disliked was that there wasnt enough time to see and veiw the rooms that they had planed to show us.
What was the most significant information you learned while on the site visit?

The most significant information that I learned while visiting the Carlyle Hotel was that even though you dont end up where you strive or hope to be, you can still be succesful and content. I believe that this is important because most people stress that they need to be excactly what they want to be otherwise they wont be succesful. Their story was also very inspiring and made me want strive and work hard for my dreams.