MYtinerary: A Creator in New York
The city that never sleeps.
My first few visits to New York were completely overwhelming. The over-populated city (with people who have no regard for personal space) and the endless possibilities of things to do was a lot to digest. However, once I’d begun to incorporate activities that fed my creative appetite, I fell in love with its energy. Here are a few activities from my recent trip.
Genius Level
Tucked away on a side road in a quiet neighborhood in Brooklyn sits a warehouse. Easily passable during the day however this place comes alive at night as it houses various exclusive pop up events. This particular one hour live interview session featured T-Pain; the musical genius and auto tune influencer. This wasn’t your typical boring interview. You know…where they ask those standard “Who were your musical influences growing up?” questions. This was a progression through T-Pain’s career; a showcase of his easygoing personality paired with hidden gems & not commonly known facts. If you have the opportunity to attend a Genius Level session with any artist...GO.
The Vessel
We all gravitate towards a spectacle, right? Recently opened on March 15th, The Vessel is a photographer’s playground. This 15-story honeycomb shaped structure is adorned in a reflective bronze finishing. Every angle is aesthetically pleasing with amazing views of Hudson Yards; which makes for a great photo opp. Fair warning, if you aren’t into this kind of thing, you probably won’t share the same excitement. I realized this after unsuccessfully explaining to my grandmother the purpose of this gorgeous structure. After ten minutes of flipping through my photos while raving about its beauty, she asked her original question, “…but, what does it do?”…that’s the [two] million dollar question.
Minton Tiles at Bethesda Arcade
You know those late 2000s romance films that open with the single woman running though Central Park with her dog? It really is like that. I’ll be honest, I never saw the appeal of Central Park until I took a stroll last summer. It was absolutely gorgeous. However, this time wasn’t about sitting in the park. I heard about a somewhat hidden treasure, Minton Tiles at Bethesda Arcade; an underpass decorated with encaustic tiles and sculpted arches. This place is literally art; an intimately lit gallery with bursts of color on the ceiling above.
Hell’s Kitchen
New York is a foodie’s paradise and I deserved every pound I gained. If you know anything about me, you know I build food into my itinerary and I refuse to dine at places that are available in my hometown. Needless to say, I tried to eat my way through NY. A few memorable places:
Harlem Public. A cozy restaurant/bar located in Harlem. Ask for the (not on the menu) Hot Chicken Sandwich. It is life changing.
Woodland. If you are looking for a fusion of good food, potent drinks and music, this is the place to go. It’s moreso a lounge with food than being a restaurant with music. That statement will make more sense after you visit.
BoBo. Located in West Village, this posh atmosphere is coupled with unique menu items and carefully crafted drinks. This is a perfect place to catch up with a friend for happy hour.
Junior’s. This one is mandatory every time I visit New York. There isn’t an equivalent back home that makes me feel the way Junior’s does. With the perfect weather and comfortable shoes, I probably would walk the Brooklyn Bridge for this too. (Some of you may not get that reference).
Don’t be a tourist.
...that’s the best advice I can give about visiting New York. Of course, if it’s your first time; see the Statue of Liberty, reflect at Ground Zero and walk through Times Square. Check all of those off of your list. Then, really experience the concrete jungle.