Author Archives: Erika

36 Hours in Union Square

36 Hours In Union Square

By: Erika Michaca

New York City a city that is known worldwide, but when you hear New York what mainly comes to mind is Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Grand Central. Which are all wonderful places to see when in the city, but New York is much more then that. New York has so much to offer considering its wide diversity among its people and places to go and see. Places such as Union Square. Union Square is located in lower Manhattan. Accessible by the trains N,Q,W,R,4,5,6,L, There’s a variety of things to do such as shopping ,taking a nice walk in the park, and also enjoy fine dining.

Friday

1) 2:30pm Shopping
There are many places around union square for one to shop. Stores that are available are such as American Eagle Studio, Reebok, Dr.Martens. Also on 5th ave and E17th st you can also find store such as J.Crew Zara, Lululemon and much more.

5th ave and E17th st

Photot Credit:Erika Michaca

2) 8:00pm Dinner at Irvington

Irvington located at the heart of Union Square offers a variety of food from Mediterranean influence American dishes to handmade pasta, rotisserie meats, and pizzas are cooked in a brick oven.

Photot Credit: Erika Michaca

Saturday

3) 8:00am Breads Bakery

Start your morning right by walking down to Breads Bakery where you can find one of New York City’s best Chocolate Babka, baked fresh every day. Babka is a Jewish yeast bread that is filled with chocolate which is then twisted and baked. But if your not in the mood for babka, Breads bakery has many other options for you such as different types of Challah bread, Burke’s, and fruit salads. One Babka is $14.95 or you can buy two for $24.50.

Photo Credit: Erika Michaca

4)  9:30 Flatiron Building 

The FLatiron Building is iconic to New York City built in 1902 by a Chicago architect named Daniel Burnham. It is a triangular building, was made specifically in a way to fill the edge shaped property in which it stands today. The building itself was made known mainly by the public since it was amusing to see how dramatic it appeared, attracting many photographers and artists alike.

Photo Credit: Erika Michaca

5) 10:30am Chole’s Soft Serve

Walking back to 25 E 17 st you can find Chole’s Soft Serve Fruit Co. This is a small shop in which there fruit pops are made with just three simple ingredients, fruit, water, and cane sugar. With no additives, no stabilizers and it being non artificial. It’s a great frozen treat. A soft serve with topping will cost you $5.50, and a popsicle would be $3.00. They also offer smoothies that would range from $6.25-$7.25.

Photo Credit: Erika Michaca

6) 11:00am Union Square Park

When you buy your soft serve take a stroll in Union Square Park. It’s a nice little park at the heart of Union Square. Pass by the Greenmarket that is open year-round. Started in 1976 since then the market has grown to having around 140 regional farmers, bakers, and fishers, that come to sell there product to the public. And if by any chance you are around here during the holiday season the park plays hosted to a vibrant Holiday Market, this market is up from November 21- December 24.

Photo Credit: Erika Michaca

Photo Credit: Erika Michaca

7) 6:30pm Dinner at Casa Mono

A great place for dinner is Casa Mono, a Spanish restaurant inspired mainly from Spains Costa Brava. Casa Mono has earned a Michelin Star back in 2009 and has been earning a star every year since. A small restaurant that comfortably holds 13 tables and 15 bar seats. It is also next door neighbors with its sister restaurant Bar JamĂłn, together having a selection of nearly 600 wines, recognized by many Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectators. The amazing aspect of this restaurant is that they are committed to be as environmentally conscious as possible, doing everything that they can to preserve the environment.

Photo Credit: Erika Michaca

Sunday 

8) 11:00 am Brunch at Lillies Victorian Establishment 

Go back in time and end the weekend with brunch at Lillies Victorian Establishment. This establishment was created to honor the late British actress Lillie Langtry. This restaurant comes with influences from Northern Ireland and England. Walking into the restaurant you feel like you are being taken back into time, since what you will see is wooden carvings, and antiques that have been stored from a 1800’s ballroom from Northern Ireland. They have what they describe an electric but yet traditional menu. With the option of over fifty imported beers, and also provide a fine selection of wines and whiskeys.

Photo Credit: Erika Michaca

Lodging 

There are various lodging options by Union square such as W New York- Union Square. With rooms that range $200-$400 a night. There is also the option of an indoor lodging at Seafarers & International House. With rooms ranging from $86-$150 a night.

APA

Home made pasta, farm to table comfort food, seasonal specialty cocktail offerings in New York, NY. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.irvingtonnyc.com/.

Breads Bakery: New York Bakery: Union Square. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.breadsbakery.com/.

The Cool Way to Eat Fruit™. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.chloesfruit.com/.

Union Square Park. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/union-square-park.

Union Square Greenmarket Monday. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.grownyc.org/greenmarket/manhattan-union-square-m.

Union Square Holiday Market. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.urbanspacenyc.com/union-square-holiday-market/.

Casa Mono & Bar JamĂłn. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://casamononyc.com/.

LIllie’s Victorian Establishment. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.lilliesnyc.com/.

W New York – Union Square. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/nycnu-w-new-york-union-square/?scid=bb1a189a-fec3-4d19-a255-54ba596febe2.

Seafarers International House. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.sihnyc.org/.

Knickerbocker Hotel

What did you like/dislike about the site visit to The 1 Hotel?

What I liked about the visit to the hotel was that we were able to learn about the different departments within the hotel from housekeeping to the food and beverage. Also that we went through the employee entrance since it gave it a bit more of a feel of how a worker would start there day and what would be their daily “walk” I guess you can say. 

How did you feel about going to The 1 Hotel? .

I felt a bit awkward because I have never really went into a hotel so I didn’t really know what to expect from it. But afterwards I felt good about it since I did something new and I got to see the way in which a hotel runs. 

Concierge Choice

Grand Central Terminal

It was first opened in 1913, the terminal was the start in transforming regional travel, this helped develop the city as we know it today. The Grand Central Terminal is the second most visited places in New York City, the first being Times Square. The terminal consist of many transportation options, great architecture, a fascinating history and iconic shops and restaurants.

About. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.grandcentralterminal.com/about/.

Erika Michaca

As a student I always strive to do my best in all my classes. One major problem that I have is that I am good at procrastinating, but little by little I am trying my best to change that.

As a child I remember sitting down in front of the TV with my brother and watching the Food Network channel. I know it’s weird, children watching the food network, but this was before we discovered Disney Channel.  Besides the point this is when I first got introduced to the culinary scene.  The one thing that fascinated me most was desserts, anything having to do with pastries, baking, all of that I loved watching.  As I got older I started helping my mom out in the kitchen. My favorite part was making the dessert, which wasn’t so often since in my family no ones has a big sweet tooth but on occasions I would make cookies, and cakes.

Academically I wasn’t always the best student my grades were around 70 to 80’s. This is something I hope to change, because I know that I am capable of much more. I wasn’t so sure that I even wanted to go to college, but after much thinking and talking to my teachers I realize that I should at least try it out. I was always  interested in culinary mainly pastries this is what led me to find the hospitality management program here at City Tech. Now that I am enrolled in college I hope to reach and possibly exceed my expectations that I have for myself academically.

Career experience related to this major I don’t have. The only job experience I really have was working as a tutor in Kumon but that only lasted for a year since my school schedule conflict too much with my work schedule.I do hope in the near future to find a job, either it be in a bakery or anything involving culinary or pastries. My long term career goal is to open up my own bakery.

My personal strengths would be, able to work in groups, being a social person, and being a problem solver. This I believe will become professional attributes since in this industry. Being able to network will help me to move further along in my career because it will present me to new opportunities and I will be presented to new people who can help me move further along in my career.