New York City - 2019
"Start spreadin' the news, I'm leavin' today
I want to be a part of it
New York, New York
These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it
New York, New York"
- Frank Sinatra, New York New York
I think Frank said it best in New York, New York, "I want to be a part of it", and everytime I go I feel like I am more and more a part of the City.
My Husband Phil and I love exploring Cities together and we are actually really good at getting things done, without rushing through them. I want others to be able to hear from a couple what it's like traveling to NYC on a budget and realistically how you get everything done. Here is our 2019 trip to NYC!
**Must haves**
- 7 day unlimited metro card $30 a person, but it makes traveling around the city so easy and with each trip being about $3 it definitely pays for itself. Also, google maps has the train routes which takes all the guess out of taking the subway.
- Decent shoes - you will walk around 40-50 miles depending on how long you are there.
NYC 2019: Second time - Hamilton Trip (eating/drinking our way through the city) For this trip my Husband Phil gave me tickets to see Hamilton in NYC for Christmas, the play was May 4th so I looped my birthday into it.
Train: Round Trip Lynchburg VA - NYC $300 - Booked 6 mo. in advanced
Hotel: Citzen M Times Square - $1,330
Dates: May 2nd - May 6
Day 1. Thursday
- Train from Lynchburg was supposed to leave at 5:40am putting us in New York about 1:40pm, unfortunately the train was delayed 2 hours so we didn't leave Lynchburg until 7:30am. Putting us in NYC right at rush hour. This is typical with Amtrack even if you get on your train at the right time expect to be delayed on route and arrive later than you planned. The train really is the best way to travel though. No checking bags or going through security and you can pack your own food, which I highly recommend. - We arrived at Penn Station around 5pm and had dinner reservations at 6pm, with the line for cabs super long and no time to call an uber we hopped on a rickshaw with our two giant bags to go a mile to the hotel. This saved us time but did end up costing us $60 so I never recommend doing that unless you are desperate. Fun experience though, and a unique, albiet terrifying way to see the city. Thanks to this guys skills at dodging traffic though we were able to check into the hotel and still make dinner.
- Citizen M was awesome! Centrally located right off of Time's Square alough small, it was all we needed. You don't really spend a lot of time in your hotel when in NYC. Everything in the room was controlled by an iPad and bed was up against the window which made for great views when going to bed and getting up.
- Then it was on to House of Yes for their 90's night! I dressed all out 90's it was great! The DJ not so great, didn't play any classic 90's songs but we still had a great time. If you go be prepared to dance and see people wearing next to nothing. House of Yes is in Brooklyn, we took the subway there, and Ubered back. When in NYC just be smart, taking the subway at 2am probably isn't the best idea. 
Day 2. Friday
- Ellen's Stardust Diner is a must. Soley for the entertainment. Even at 8am the performers are amazing. The food however is just okay, not bad, but just okay.
- Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island were definitely worth visiting. I recommend taking advantage of the audio tour that comes with your ticket, I learned a lot. One thing I would like to do but couldn't this time is go up in the Crown. They don't always have tickets available for that. Ellis Island was very informative and again the audio tour was a good idea. You can search a database for your ancestors, but I recommend having names of great great grandparents first. It cost $7 and my husband and I made the mistake of each paying $7 only to be at separate computers doing the same thing. You can share computers.
- Eating and Drinking is how we spent the rest of the day and in NYC you really can't go wrong.
After the statue tour we headed to Dead Rabbit which is definitely a place the locals like to drink after work. There were a lot of reserved cards on some of the bar areas, but all you had to do was ask a server and they would let you sit there. It was very crowded but I felt like a local.
Fraunces Tavern was next being this was a Hamilton trip. Apparently the Son's of the Revolution used to drink there although the bar doesn't take advantage of that fact at all. I was cool to think we were in the place that historic figures shared an ale but beyond that it wasn't anything special, just a bar.
Then it was to Chinatown for Soup Dumplings. This is one of my Husband Phil's musts everytime we go to NYC. The great part about it is that pretty much anywhere in Chinatown has soup dumplings so I can't even tell you the name of this place, but the dumplings were great!
Then we went to a hidden bar called, Apotheke which is a bar with cocktails written like prescriptions. If you don't know what you are looking for you will miss it, we almost did and we knew where it was supposed to be, so I posted a picture of the outside for you. It was crowded so you have to be okay making friends otherwise you will end up standing everywhere. Also, being patient is key, you are on vacation so waiting for a drink shouldn't be a chore.
Then was my absolute favorite place to drink in NYC, McSorley's Old Ale House. You have to have cash, you can only order dark or light, and you get two pints at a time. It is cheap, the beer is great, and the sawdust is still on the floor from when it was built! In my opinion you can't beat it, but Friday night it too is packed. We were in and out in 10 minutes because it was standing room only.
- Stopped by the Flatiron building after McSorley's they are only a few blocks a part and this was a landmark we missed.
- Then we decided spur of the moment to check out The Museum of Sex. It was interesting to say the least. I will let you make your own opinions of it, but hey when in NYC.
Day 3. Saturday
- SNL Tickets! Once I found out ADAM SANDLER was hosting SNL we had to try and get tickets. The process however is tricky and unpredictable. Having talked to people in line that have gotten them before it seems to really be all chance. We got in line by Rockefeller Center by 5am, to wait for standby tickets. Some people camp out for days and after going through the whole process I understand why. At 7:30am they hand out standby tickets for the rehersal or the live show, we picked live and then had to report to the NBC Merchandise store at 10:30pm that night to see if we would get in. We were 12 people away from making it. In hindsight I would try to get tickets through the lottery. It was fun to try, but I was pretty sad we got that close and missed it.
- One unique thing we did on Saturday was experience Roosevelt Island. We took the Tram that parallels the Queensboro Bridge, and it was the same as a normal metro swipe! It is so quite on Roosevelt Island, you almost forget that you are in NYC. We saw the abandon Small Pox Hospital, and the park.
- Made a quick stop by FAO Schwarz to dance on the piano, because you just have to.
- Then the highlight of the trip HAMILTON! Obviously the most expensive part of the trip, but also the best part. My Husband and I have been singing Hamilton for the past 2 years now so being about to go see it in NYC was the most amazing experience. It exceeded all my expectations. Thanks Phil for the best Christmas present!
- Dinner that night was Phil's idea and I was impressed. When he said Ramen I rolled my eyes, but it was amazing. We went to Ichiran and it was yummy and a unique experience. Line was long but worth it.
Day 4. Sunday - Brooklyn / Cinco De Mayo
- Definitely had to get a famous Rainbow Bagel so we started the day at the home of the Rainbow Bagel, The Bagel Store. We found out that the colored bagels don't actually taste different and the real magic is in the Birthday Cake cream cheese! Also, always add sprinkles.
- Then we went to The Whiskey Brooklyn. Highly recommend. Ash is great and introduced me to my first pickle back shot which I loved. It's my new go to shot! And we got to play Pop-A-Shot, we won't talk about who won.
- Then to the Brooklyn Brewery! Had a flight tried some great beer and had a wonderful tour. Not to mention our tour guide Sean Carroll is actually a singer!
- Then we headed for Girmaldi's under the Brooklyn Bridge. NYC is known for great pizza, but I kid you not this was the best pizza I have ever eaten in my life!
- Finally another thing we didn't get to do the last time, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. One of my favorite experiences, even in the rain.
- Then it was time to get our TACOS on since it was Cinco De Mayo after all. Phil's cousin Kevin lives in NYC so he took us to this awesome taco place, Tacombi on Bleecker Street. I had the tostada, which was unique. The normal people were smart and got tacos.
- Then we went to Big Gay Ice Cream for dessert and Up & Up for drinks! Thanks Kevin!
- Then it was Sunday Night which means GAME OF THRONES! No better place in the city to watch it than at Wicked Willy's. They had huge projectors and surround sound and everyone in the bar was into it. Too bad it's finally over and it ended so poorly. At least the episode we watched there was a good one.
- Finally before the night was completely through we stumbeled into Black Tap in SOHO and had a shake that was just added to the menu, their Churro Choco Taco.
Day 5. Monday
This was our travel day home, but having eaten Amtrak food on the way to NYC we were determined to get as much NYC food for the train as we could.
- First stop was breakfast at Black Seed Bagel, recommended to us by Ash from Whiskey Brooklyn, he was right they were good!
- Then we stopped at KATZ for their famous Pastrami sandwich and homemade pickles. This would be our dinner on the train!
- Finally we stopped at Russ & Daughters Bagels to get Lox for me for lunch on the train, Phil got Pizza at the train station.
We had a great trip and really the key is deciding what you want to do, finding out what's close to each other, then just map it out. We did a lot in 4 days and it's only because we had a plan. We also left room for spontaneity because you're in NYC so give yourself some wiggle room to explore places!
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