New York, New York — it’s a wonderful city, and I have loved it since I stepped foot off the Vamoose bus right outside of Penn Station in 2015. The bright lights and bustling crowds enamored me, and I felt at home somewhere in the chaos of it all. I visited four more times before committing to Fordham, and every time it felt more like home.
Over time, I grew more accustomed to Manhattan — my favorite borough, though I love the Bronx too. As I took classes at Lincoln Center, started memorizing the subway routes and figured out which coffee shop has the best chai latte — the answer is Charlotte Cafe on 96th Street and Broadway, by the way — the city became much less alluring for me. Times Square became overstimulating, tourists frustrating and Manhattan more of a commute than a luxury.
My little sister, Brooke, came up from Maryland to visit at the start of spring break. She hadn’t been to downtown Manhattan in a few years, primarily staying on our campus when she visited for a family weekend. Her visit helped me embrace being a tourist again.
In an almost perfectly full-circle moment, I met my younger sister, who is 17, at the bus stop right outside of Penn Station, telling her how great of a weekend we were going to have. She had the same wide-eyed wonder that I did, and it was at that moment that I admitted to myself that I had let the stress of daily life change my perspective on the city that had once felt so electrifying. For the next few days, I decided to try to experience the city the way I once had, as if everything was new again.
Our first stop was the “Alice In Wonderland”-themed Alice’s Tea Cup Chapter I, at 102 West 73rd Street, where we met our cousin. We shared “The Mad Hatter” tea-for-three, enjoying scones, sandwiches and sweets. The food and drinks were great, but the atmosphere was even better, showcasing an environment of whimsy and nostalgic, child-like joy.
After eating, my sister and I walked through Central Park to the “BarbieⓇ: A Cultural Icon” exhibit at the Museum of Arts and Design in Columbus Circle. The exhibit, which closed on March 16, showcased 65 years of Barbie’s cultural influence with over 250 vintage dolls, life-size fashion and other staples.
Brooke and I took advantage of the five unique photo opportunities at the exhibit, including a replica of Barbie’s Corvette, and then headed to Lady Gaga’s parents’ Italian restaurant, Joanne Trattoria, on 70 W 68th Street for dinner. They have a cabaret show every Friday night, with former Mean Girls National Tour cast member Grace Romanello performing at ours. During her performance, Joe Germanotta, Lady Gaga’s father, humbly asked us what we thought, defying any stereotypes about the entitlement of A-list celebrities and their families.
As tired as we were, after dinner, we went to Top of the Rock, one of New York’s five observation decks, an attraction I always wanted to visit. Even through the mist, the city’s panoramic views — the Empire State Building, Hudson River, Statue of Liberty, etc. — were unmatched.
Still infatuated with the incredible view, Brooke and I took the Ram Van back to Rose Hill to sleep and prepare for the next day. We had a more relaxing morning grabbing lunch at the Carnegie Diner & Cafe in Times Square, which had the fanciest milkshakes I have ever seen, and we went to the Vessel in Hudson Yards, a 150-foot walk-through art installation. The Vessel had incredible views of the West Side that sparked a mini photoshoot for us.
In the evening, we went to see “The Book of Mormon” on Broadway, which we won lottery tickets for. Not surprisingly, it was one of the funniest shows I have ever seen, written by “South Park” creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker along with composer Robert Lopez.
The following day, Brooke and I got breakfast at Liberty Bagels, a place I visited one of the first times I came to New York. It symbolized my newfound embrace of being a tourist again. I did not get my usual safe-choice cinnamon raisin bagel with walnut raisin cream cheese, but instead, I got a rainbow bagel with birthday cake cream cheese, like the first time I went to the shop.
Returning to Penn Station at the end of the trip to go back to Maryland for break, I felt a profound sense of gratitude for a city whose allure is eternal, even with the drawbacks of repetitive routines. And, I learned it’s okay to be a tourist.
