NOT DOWNTOWN; NOT MIDTOWN; NOMAD.
Take the F Train to West 4th Street and visit Historic Greenwich Village. If you’re feeling adventurous, make a pit stop at one of New York’s famous speakeasys, The Little Owl before heading over to the hip shops at Bleecker Street. Grab a cup of coffee at Tartine and head over to MacDougal Street to visit Cafe Wha, an old haunt of Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin and Village staple. If you get hungry, grab a sandwich at Olive Tree Cafe and take a peek at some historic rock n roll photography in SoHo at Prince Street’s Morrison Hotel Gallery. From there make your way into NoLita and Little Italy and stop by the original St Patrick’s basilica. The 6 train is located on Spring Street and will bring you back to HGU when your wanderlust has been fulfilled.
Take the L train to Williamsburg for an out-of-borough experience. Make sure to get off at the Bedford stop, walk down to Sweet Water and enjoy a meal on the river. Once you’re tired of walking, take the water taxi to 34th street and get back to HGU for a foot massage and a drink.
Aside from a lovely walk, in Central Park there are loads of attractions to choose from: Central Park Zoo, Rumsey Playfield, Delacorte Theatre, John Lennon’s iconic memorial at Strawberry Fields and let’s not forget the street performers along the way. If you get hungry, you can view the park from a stunning different perspective at Robert, situated 9 stories above the park at Columbus Circle. If you’re not in the mood for wayfaring outdoors, you could always cruise down Museum Mile and pay a visit to the Guggenheim, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Jewish Museum, or the Museum of The City of New York– your choice. If you’re up for more adventure, continue back towards the 6 train so you to trek up to Gavin Brown’s Enterprise Gallery. Get off at 125th street and make your way towards Lenox Avenue. To return to HGU, remember to take the local 6 train to get off at 33rd street. This doesn’t mean you have to take the local line the whole way through– feel free to get take the express 4 or 5 trains and get off at Grand Central Station to take a moment to bask in one of New York City’s best buildings (don’t forget to look up!) and walk your way back to HGU, where you can kick back and relax with a cocktail.
Take the 6 train towards Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall to head to Seaport Studios for a little retail therapy. Of course you aren’t going to head straight there without making a couple of pit stops along the way. You can check out the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Maiden Lane, get some reading done in Midtown Comics between Gold and Cliff streets, or taste test at Fulton Stall Market around the corner from Seaport Studios. Don’t forget to get your sea legs on, jump on the Circle Line Downtown at Pier 16 to stop by and say hi to Lady Liberty. When you return, take the 6 train uptown, to head back to HGU. It won’t take long- only 7 stops away from your hotel bed.
Shopping on 5th Avenue, anyone? Thought so. Head for the 6 train towards Parkchester and jump out at any stop to walk over two blocks over to 5th avenue to browse or shop. You can drop into Bergdorf Goodman or Saks Fifth Avenue– according to Michael Namer, HGU’s hotelier, Saks is the best store in the entire world. Pop into Sprinkles for a cupcake on 3rd avenue, take a look at Rockefeller Center and maybe the shops within NBC’s studio. Have a peak at MoMA’s latest exhibition on 53rd and 5th, depending on where you end up between 5th and 3rd avenue, you’ll want to walk back to the 6 train on third avenue uptown back to HGU (which is probably your fastest route). But don’t let us tell you what to do. Feel free to take the N or R trains down to 34th street and walk your way over if you want to take in more sight seeing.
Spend a night under the stars and visit the Rose Center for Earth and Space planetarium. Head northwest on E 32nd St toward Madison Avenue to catch the B train to 81st street and Museum of Natural History. Try Magnolia Bakery on west 49th street and Avenue of Americas for some of the best baked goods in New York, catch tickets to see a show at Radio City Music Hall on 51st and Avenue of Americas to see one of the coolest music venues on the west side, grab a luxurious bite at the Capital Grille on 50th street and 7th avenue, or take in the view at Columbus Circle on 59th street before you head for the planetarium. You can take a cab back if it’s been a late night and you’re ready to crash. Otherwise, take the B train 5 stops downtown and get off at 34th street and Herald Square to walk back to HGU.