A Summer Weekend in NYC

It’s been almost ten years since I was last in New York City. My only remaining memories of the city are of crowded streets, honking cars sandwiched between impossibly tall skyscrapers, dirty subway stations, the fluorescent lights of Time Square billboards, and the kicklines of the Radio City Rockettes.

After several years of canceled trips and the luck of being friends with someone interning in the city for the summer, I finally returned to NYC for a weekend full of vegan eats, tens of thousands of steps, people watching, and very little sleep.

DAY ONE

I arrived in New York City on a Friday evening and was greeted by a gloomy grey sky and the insanity of trying to locate anybody in a crowded NYC train station…but eventually, I did find my friend, and so began the first sleepless night.

DINNER AT BEYOND SUSHI:

The first stop of what I considered a weekend of vegan indulgence was Beyond Sushi, an all-vegan restaurant that offers more than just avocado and cucumber rolls. I am a huge sushi fan, and I have never tasted sushi so delicious or been confronted with the dilemma of having so many choices! We ordered the spicy “tuna” and charred avocado rolls. While both were delicious, I preferred the spicy “tuna”!

ANITA GELATO:

After wandering around and admiring the city lights against a black, starless sky, we ended up at Anita Gelato and joined the growing line of 30 people waiting for “the best gelato”. All the people chattering in line about how the gelato was “worth the hype” and that they had been “four times in the past month” were correct; the gelato was amazing! The vegan chocolate cookie flavor was creamy, decadent, and incredibly rich. Hands down the best gelato I have ever had!

CATCH NYC:

The night ended with drinks at Catch NYC in what felt like a very “you’re only going to be a 21-year-old in NYC once” moment.

DAY TWO

Honestly, I felt like I was sleepwalking for most of Saturday, thankfully we spent the day doing very relaxing activities.

BAGELS IN WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK:

I had two requests for my trip to NYC: go to Central Park, and get a real New York bagel. As promised, my friend took me to Brooklyn Bagel and Coffee Company for a face-sized everything bagel stuffed with vegan tofu cream cheese (I promise it tastes much better than it sounds)!

After acquiring breakfast, we walked to the nearby Washington Square Park for some people-watching…, and this city certainly offers a lot to look at. While the flashiness associated with wealth undoubtedly exists, NYC feels more genuine and unapologetic than other cities I’ve been to. From my place on the park bench, the city lacked false pretenses; people were dancing, some were playing odd instruments, and others in outfits rarely seen in Rhode Island – overall, just a population embracing their quirks and indulging their interests.

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART:

The first Monday in May is a day I look forward to every year because it's the evening of the Met Gala (one of the biggest nights in fashion). While the event is known for the outrageous, exquisite, and at times, confusing fashion ensembles, it's an important fundraising event for the museum's Costume Institute, which, usually in collaboration with another department, creates an exhibition.

Like many people, I had no idea what this year's exhibition, In America: An Anthology of Fashion, would entail..., and I was even more confused after the chaotic assortment of interpretations represented at the Met Gala. Beyond cowboys and the wild west, what is American fashion? Well, the exhibition portrayed it as a complex patchwork of different influences that have shaped the American identity.

The exhibition was more captivating than I had anticipated and reminiscent of the Dior museum, which stands as my favorite fashion museum. Displayed in a freeze-frame, cinematic manner, mannequins adorned in the most elegant gowns depict domestic life from 1670 to 1915. In many rooms, voices echoed, music played, lights dimmed, and the couture-clad mannequins "chatted" amongst themselves. It was one of the most unique, comprehensive exhibits, and I would recommend seeing it even to those who aren't interested in fashion.

ANITA GELATO...AGAIN:

We loved Anita's Gelato so much the first time we had to go a second. I’ll spare the details of what ended up being a two-hour effort to get their soft serve açaí, but eventually, we were able to enjoy it. The açaí was creamy, flavorful, and well worth the wait! Compared to most smoothie places, the price is very reasonable, especially considering the generous portion and the free and unlimited toppings!

DINNER IN CHINA TOWN - BUDDHA BODHI VEGETARIAN KOSHER

My friend has talked about this vegetarian Chinese restaurant since we discovered we were both vegans. Now I can see why. I can’t remember the last time I had Chinese food, and I'm positive I've never had a vegan version that tastes so much like the real thing. I highly recommend their veggie "chicken" lo mein!

DAY THREE

CENTRAL PARK:

A walk through Central Park was my second request on the short list of must-do activities in NYC. I can't recall if I have ever been to Central Park before, but, in any case, I was not expecting it to be so vast. It is sprawling, and in a city crowded with skyscrapers, people, and cars, it’s a wonder that a park as huge and green could ever exist. If I lived in NYC, I would spend hours walking, reading, and picnicking in Central Park. It's just one of those places where romanticizing your life is a lot easier.

I especially loved the view of the skyscrapers peeking from the tops of the trees and the romantic scenes of couples rowing boats in the pond. I also may or not have gotten very excited when I spotted the location of Chuck and Blair's wedding scene – Gossip Girl, anyone?

GRAND CENTRAL:

Another Gossip Girl moment. Grand Central was as I remember it: bustling with people, breathtakingly beautiful, and incredibly large. I am very grateful that I was only there to take pictures because it’s the kind of place I know I would most definitely get lost in and surely miss my train.

READING AT PLANTSHED CAFE:

After a busy couple of days and another long night ahead, I walked to a nearby coffee shop (Plantshed) for an afternoon recharge. At some point during my hour of sipping coffee and reading, two tourists sat next to me and started conversing in French. Ironically I happened to be reading a book based in Paris, so for a few moments, I was transported back to my much-missed quiet moments sitting at Parisian cafes.

WALKING TO THE HUDSON RIVER:

Our last daylight activity was a walk to the Hudson River, where we sat on the pier and admired the Manhattan skyline, which, on this night, unfortunately, was illuminated only by a cloudy sky. I wish I could have seen the skyline at sunset, but regardless, it was a peaceful atmosphere and one of my favorite moments of the trip.

A RAINY NIGHT IN NYC: When asked what my favorite thing I did in NYC was, my answer has consistently been, “getting caught in the rain my last night in the city." Sometimes the best moments are the ones that are unplanned, fueled entirely by adrenaline, and free of inhibition.

I couldn’t have asked for a better end to the weekend than twirling, running, and laughing with my friend on a rainy New York night.

A video recap of my weekend:

Truthfully, the whole weekend is a bit of a blur. Especially for someone who has been living a quiet coastal existence, the intensity of New York City is exhausting. That said, the busyness and chaos awakened an excitement and appreciation for spontaneity that I've been missing since Paris. So, I am very grateful to my friend for giving me a trip that will no doubt put a smile on my face when I’m old, sitting in my rocking chair, reminiscing about the fun times of my youth.