A Weekend in New York City

Pretty soon, I’ll be spending every weekend in New York City. That’s right – I’ve finally made the big move back across the pond, leaving my beloved Dublin behind for New York City. While I’m looking for an apartment, I planned a weekend in the city to start getting reacquainted with my new home. Keep your eye out for an upcoming article from Luxury Travel Magazine about my weekend in New York City, but for now, here’s a sneak preview.

It all started in classic American style: at the new Yankee Stadium. Friends had generously offered tickets to an afternoon game and it was the perfect summer day to play ball. The warm temperatures and direct sunlight just begged for a cold beer, and although they were $10, they tasted damn good. The day started out with a picnic in Bryant Park (just love their tables and chairs in the shade of tall trees) before boarding an express train at 42nd street for Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The day was full of home runs, a special performance from a rookie, and a generous dose of patriotism. Exactly what I needed to welcome me back to the States.

I also returned at the perfect time because it’s currently Restaurant Week in New York. What was supposed to be a 2-week affair has recently been extended through Labor Day (that’s the first weekend in September for you international readers) so there’s still time to get online and make a reservation at some of the best restaurants across the city. At $24.07 for lunch and $35 for dinner, there’s real value in this offer, just watch how much you drink if you want to keep the bill down. For our first Restaurant Week experience of the year, we hit Matsuri, a Japanese restaurant in Chelsea. Matsuri translates as festival in Japanese, and each plate was indeed a celebration. Try the sushi combination – it is satisfying and bursting with flavor.

View towards the Empire State Building from the High Line Park

We had a few minutes before our reservation, and decided to enjoy a sunset stroll. Chelsea is home to a new city park – the High Line Park – that is built on a former elevated train track. Views extend to the Empire State Building, the Hudson River, and beyond. It’s a perfect place for a picnic if you’re traveling on a budget, or a great place to work up an appetite before dining at some of the fantastic options in the area.

T-Rex at the Museum of Natural History, New York City

The following day we strolled through Central Park to reach the Museum of Natural History. I was told that I had visited as a child, but had no memory of the building, the incredible dinosaurs, and the sheer variety of exhibits. Only with age is it possible to really appreciate a skeleton of a T-Rex, or to understand just how rare these fossils and skeletons are. To see something on display that is literally 65 million years old (not a cast or reproduction of bones that are 65 million years old) is almost difficult to comprehend. Word of advice: it’s even more difficult to comprehend with screaming children all around. Don’t repeat my mistake and visit in the summer when kids are out of school – the museum was literally a zoo.

New York City is full of exhibits, restaurants, parks, traditions and more that make you reevaluate things you know, desire to learn more, and appreciate your surroundings. I’m looking forward to continuing to discover this incredible city.