I spent May 2011 to January 2012 in New York City, going to baking school. Here is my original list of top sights, tastes and experiences that I wanted to have before heading home. Trouble was, I kept adding to it. So here it remains, until I finally reach the last thing on my list.
Have a picnic in Central ParkBrowse the stacks of The StrandTry every possible variety of doughnut at the Doughnut PlantSpend a hot summer night in the Astoria Beer Garden (cards optional)Coney Island Mermaid Parade- Dim sum in Chinatown
A cocktail at the Carlyle Hotel with Lucy (red lipstick not optional)- Buy some fabric at Mood
Stand in line at the Shake Shack(and find out if their burgers really are the best) *- Visit the Cloisters on a Sunday afternoon
Ride the sky tram to Roosevelt Island- Watch a taping of The Daily Show
- Read a book in the New York Public Library's Rose Main Reading Room
- Ride the Staten Island Ferry
Walk past the Ghostbusters firehouse in TribecaWalk across the Brooklyn BridgeVisit Baked in Red HookCelebrate the engagement of dear friends with dinner at M. WellsPizza–find my favorite slice**Walk the High Line in Chelsea
Go to a reading at theKGB Bar***- Have a drink at Employees Only (creator of the excellent book Speakeasy)
Visit the Union Square GreenmarketWalk from Gramercy Park down Irving Place to Pete's Tavern- Have Indian Food on Curry Hill
Visit theTenement Museum- Finish Robert A. Caro's phonebook-thick The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York
Visit the Sullivan Street BakeryWalk through Strawberry Fields- Visit the
MoMAand MoMA PS1 Buy a book at the Greenlight Bookstore- Soup dumplings at Joe's Shanghai
- Crack Pie at the Momofuku Milk Bar
- Visit the Hester Street Fair
- Pirogis and vodka shots at Brighton Beach
- Red Velvet doughnuts at Peter Pan in Greenpoint
Buy a book at WORD and say hi to Jenn and Stephanie- Visit the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum
Gawk at the expensive epicurean delights at the original Dean & DeLucaTry the famous Swingle at Steve's Original Key Lime Pie- Have pizza at Roberta's in Brooklyn
- Visit the Noguchi Museum in Long Island City
- Go to the top of the Empire State Building at sunset
Ice skate with Pete at Bryant Park
This list is a work in progress. Suggestions are most welcome! junita-at-gmail-dot-com
*It was delicious!
**So far, it's John's on Bleecker. Hands down.
***Had a drink on Halloween night.
