New York in a Day

Looking to spend a full day in New York City? Check out what my family and I did this past summer, in search of fun and only mildly touristy activities… and great food:

Morning … We began our day at Chelsea Piers for an architectural boat tour. Through Classic Harbor Line, the AIANY Around Manhattan Architecture tour is a 2 hour 45 minute boat tour around the entire Manhattan island, with a special trip to the Statue of Liberty. The tour is narrated, but should you wish to relax and enjoy the view, you can certainly do so! I thought the tour might feel a little long, but time flew by! If you are looking for something out-of-the-ordinary (but still informational and interesting) to do while in New York, I’d highly recommend this.

Lunch … After the tour, we took a taxi over to the Upper East Side, where we headed straight to lunch at Serafina, one of our favorites. We got salads and split some delicious focaccia.

Afternoon … We then walked north to the Guggenheim Museum. The museum’s layout (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright) makes seeing the entire museum in one visit feasible. We loved the featured exhibit – Basquiat’s “Defacement”: The Untold Story.

Next, We headed into Central Park for a relaxing afternoon walk. We saw the John Lennon Memorial on the west side of the park, then walked down Central Park West (the street on the park’s left, home to the famous Dakota Building) and Central Park South (where you’ll find the Plaza, among other landmarks) toward our dinner restaurant.

Dinner … We dined at a restaurant specially picked out by my father, Felidia. We had a four-course tasting menu, and it was delicious! I started with the tuscan kale salad, then the Tajarin Tartufo (homemade pasta using 30 egg yolks, topped with parmesan and truffles), the pear and pecorino ravioli, and finally a dessert sampler. The pasta dishes, especially, were to die for.

Evening … We then walked to Dizzy’s Club for Jazz at Lincoln Center, where we saw the Ben Wolfe Quintet perform. The music was amazing, and better yet, the venue overlooks Columbus Circle and Central Park!