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There is truly no other place like it! I lived there for four years, experienced all four seasons multiple times over and fell in love with every passing year. Thank you for allowing me to reminiscence on some of the most amazing years of my life!

SPRING 

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Spring time in New York City is the happiest season! Everyone is SO excited to come outside and play! Embrace it! Breathe in the warm air! Soak in ALL the happiness around you!

1. Stop and smell the flowers. They’re the first glimpse of new beginnings!
2. Watch the street performances. Quick and fun entertainment!
3. Grab a lobster roll at The Plaza Hotel (on the lower level) or a ‘to-go’ meal from Whole Foods under Columbus Circle. I recommend  eating it in the grass in Central Park.
4. Go for a bike ride in Central Park.
5. The Macy’s Flower Show exhibit. (March 24 – April 7)
6. Enjoy outdoor eating! It’s the best! The people watching never gets old!
7. Rooftop Bar hop (A list of these can be found below)
8. Visit the Zoo: Central Park or The Bronx.
9. Walk everywhere! Embrace the warmth on your skin because New Yorkers can’t remember the last time they felt that.
10. Celebrate the happy people around you! It truly is so exhilarating when everyone comes out of hibernation in the Spring. Such a happy time to visit!

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SUMMER

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Summer time in the city is the most fun! The options of outdoor activities are endless! I love this time of year, because the beach is just a short train ride away! Tid-bit If you’re on the Hudson River in the summer at night time you can look up at all the top-floor high rises and notice all the floors without their lights on. Those people are in the Hamptons….every weekend. Options! I love it!

1. Attend a Mets or Yankees game.
2. Run, walk or ride a Citi Bike along the Hudson river.
3. Run or walk around the Jaqueline Kennedy Reservoir.
4. Grab a hot dog or ice cream and stroll through Central Park:
   1. The Mall
   2. Hop on the Ferris Wheel at the Victorian Gardens Amusement Park at Wollman Rink.
   3. Walk across the bridge that overlooks the boats like in the Little Mermaid
   4. Get lost in the hidden trails.
   5. Listen to the street music.
   6. People watch at The Great Lawn.
5. Venture to China Town for all the handbags, jewelry, watches, etc. you could possibly want. Be prepared to barter but travel in groups and be confident in the price your willing to pay.
6. Double-Decker Bus tours. Great time of year for this! The hop-on/hop-off option is ideal because you can truly see so much of the city this way with transportation already provided.
7. Sunset drinks/dinner at:
   1. The 79^th   Boat Basin, upper west side.
   2. Grand Banks, TribeCa.
   3. Frying Pan (The Sangria is delicious), Chelsea.
   4. Loopy Doopy Bar (popsicles in your drink), TribeCa.
   5. Battery Gardens (Sangria), Battery Park.
8. Fun dinner spots:
   1. Gelso and Grand, Little Italy.
   2. Mermaid Oyster Bar, Upper West Side & West Village.
   3. David Burke Treehouse Bar, TribeCa.
9. Catch a ride on the Ferry to the Statue of Liberty. 
10. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and grab a slice of pizza on the other side.

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FALL

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There’s nothing more romantic than New York City in the fall! The crisp air, the leaves changing in the Park, the cozy streets in the Village, the pumpkin cupcakes at the corner cafes. I could go on and on! So, If you’re looking for a sweet, romantic getaway this is the time of year for you!

1. Grab your hot coffee/tea and Stroll Central park. It truly is so romantic. Make sure to go to “The Mall” in Central Park on your stroll.
2. Get lost in West Village. The brownstones are even cozier looking when the air starts to get cold, like right out of Sex and the City.
   1. Also, in the West Village there are great little brunch spots and shops. Perfect morning outing.
3. Magnolia Bakery for the Banana pudding. It’s to die for, West Village.
4. Mollys Cupcake for a pumpkin muffin, West Village.
5. Huge college fan? Look up your college team and there is a bar to go watch the game! The energy makes you feel like youre there. Ladies….great way to get your man there this time of year. It’s a win-win 😉
6. Again, insert coffee in hand and peruse the art galleries in SoHo.
   1. Peter Lik, amazing artist
7. Brunch:
   1. Tavern on the Green, Central Park
   2. Bubbys (Great for celebrity sightings), TribeCa
8. Dinner:
   1. The Boathouse, Central Park
9. Macy Thanksgiving Day Parade. Don’t forget check out the Balloon inflation on the Upper West Side the night before. Really neat!
10. Feeling adventurous? Hop on a train at Grand Central Station to the also romantic Greenwich, CT. It’s only a 45-minute train ride away and you will not regret it!

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WINTER

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There is only one word to describe New York City at Christmas time and that is magical! It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! Every neighborhood showcases something beautiful and you can’t help but wish it were that way year-round.

Christmas specific list of things to do and see:

1. Serendipity for the frozen hot chocolate, Upper East Side.
2. Mace. It’s a pop-up holiday bar! Adorable!
3. Walking along 5th Avenue from Central Park South towards Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park. At night time, be on the look out for the show projected on the building across from the Rockefeller Tree.
4. The Christmas shops at Columbus Circle and Bryant Park! PERFECT for unique Christmas gifts!
5. ROLFS to have dinner and see how amazing it is decorated.
6. Walking around Macy’s listening to Frank Sinatra makes you feel like you’re in your favorite Christmas movie.
7. The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center.
8. The Lighting of the Rockefeller Tree, get there early! (November 28th)
9. The Rockettes Christmas Spectacular is an amazing performance!
10. Ice skating of course! You can do this in Central Park, Bryant Park or Rockefeller center!

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Everyday 

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There are so many amazing things in New York that I couldn’t stop at my favorite seasonal places. So I also wanted to share some great places to go and things to do for whenever you find yourself in the city of dreams!

EATS:

1. Breakfast
   1. The Bagel Store for a rainbow bagel w/ Canoli cream cheese
   2. Le Pain Quitidien
2. Coffee:
   1. Grey Dog
   2. Toby’s Estate Brooklyn
   3. Blue Dog Kitchen Bar
   4. Hamiltons Soda Fountain & Luncheonette
3.  Brunch
   1. Tavern on the Green, Central Park
   2. Tea at The Plaza
   3. Agave, West Village
   4. Garage Restauarunt & cafe, West Village
   5. Distilled, Chicken and Waffles, TribeCa
   6. Hundred Acres, The bread pudding dish is to die for! (my fav), West Village
   7. Sarabeth’s, multiple locations through the city
4. Lunch
   1. Katz Deli
   2. Plaza Hotel, lobster roll, bottom level
5. Dinner
   1. View of Times Square:
      1. Broadway Lounge
      2. R Lounge Times Square 
   2. Broadway Actors as your waiter who sing and dance while you eat, Stardust Diner 
   3. Stone Street, Financial District
   4. Beauty and Essex, speak easy. They serve Champagne in the bathroom so, if you are of age, be sure to check that out.
   5. Seamores
   6. Sushi: TAO
   7. Pizza: 2 bros and a pizza (best for late night)
   8. Trendy: Greenwich Project
   9. Rooftop: Eataly, Flat Iron
   10. Budakon
   11. Wine bar: Adelle
   12. Fancy w/ Central Park View: Robert
   13. ABC Kitchen
   14. David Burke Kitchen Treehouse, donut holes
   15. Dos Caminos, Meatpacking District
   16. Fig & Olive
   17. Pretty outdoor garden patio: I Tre Merli, Meatpacking District

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Tourist Attractions:

1. Top of the Rock,
   1. Top of the Empire State Building (one of the two at night time).
2. Freedom tower
3. Statue of Liberty 
4. Double decker bus tours, I recommend in the warmer months. The wind can be tough to handle
5. Grand Central Station
6. Brooklyn Bridge, walk over one way, you can either walk back, grab pizza on the other side and catch the taxi ferri to get back to the city
7. The Bull
8. New York Stock Exchange
9. DUMBO
10. 9/11 museum
11. 9/11 observatory deck
12. The New York Public Library
13. Tours:
    1. Rockefeller Art tour
    2. TV/Movie ‘on-site’ tours
14. Museums:
    1. Guggenheim
    2. National History Museum
    3. The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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Broadway Shows + Other Shows 

1. How to get cheap Broadway tickets: **Do NOT stand in line at TKS**
   1. Go to the box office of the show you want to see 1.5-2 hours before showtime.
   2. Ask if the show you want to see is sold out.
   3. Ask for a student discount (if you have your student ID), rush ticket or Standing room only, by this time they’ll know you mean business!
   4. With these easy steps I always paid any where from $25-$85 for a show.
   5. My favorites:
      1. Jersey boys, Motown, Mamamia, Newsies, Wicked, Lion King, Beautiful the Carole King, Get on your Feet…well everyone I’ve seen is my favorite.
2. Morning Shows:
   1. Good Morning America
   2. Good Afternoon America
   3. The Today Show
   4. Live with Kelly and Ryan
      1. Best to sign up for tickets online months is advance and or showup around 6:30/7 am for first come first serve.

*** The earlier you get there the better! Smile big! You may get on camera! ***

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Night Life:

1.  The Jane, Greenwich Village
2. Avenue, Chelsea
3. The Standard Biergarten, Meatpacking District
4. Le Bain, Meatpacking District

Rooftops:

1. 230 fifth
2. Loopy doopy bar (posicles in your drink)
3. Rare bar and grill
4. The Skylark
5. STK

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Hidden Gems:

1. Beauty and Essex, speak easy
2. Rooftop on top of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
3. The Tipler, speak easy under Chelsea Market
4. Apotheke, speak easy that requires a password
5. Alta-Tapas Greenwich village
6. Freemans
7. Barber Shop, speak easy bar

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Dessert

1. Magnolia Bakery, bread pudding
2. Serendipity, Frozen Hot Chocolate, make sure you make a reservation
3. Black Tap NYC, candy milk shakes, expect to wait in line a while but totally worth it
4. Flour  Shop
5. Momofuku Milk bar
6. Molly’s Cup cakes, pumpkin cupcake

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Shopping:

1. Tory Burch, mimosas while you shop
2. Chelsea Market
3. Underneath Columbus circle in the subway  “Turnstyle Under ground Market”
4. West Village
5. Soho
6. China Town
7. 5th Avenue

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Fun for the Kids:

1. M&M’s world
2. The Lego store
3. Wax Museum
4. Barbie Store
5. Hershey Chocolate World
6. FAO Schwartz
7. Central Park Zoo

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Tips, Tricks, and Advice

1. The Subway is the  quickest way to get around
2. Trying to get cross town (East to West and vice versa is the slowest)
3. Make reservations for dinner if you can
4. Don’t go to TKS in Times Square for Broadway show tickets (See above for tricks)
5. Whistle for your cab (only the ones with their yellow light on at their roof)
6. Walk fast on the sidewalks
7. Pack umbrellas
8. At night, When the Empire State Buiding is lit up, notice the Colors. Many times theres a signigicane behind it, you can find it by googling Empire state building colors and look for the today calendar.

The End.

p.s. New York City, I love you.