Bite Size Big Apple

So as I mentioned in my last blog I've decided to break down all the amazing places in New York that you must all add to your bucket lists! I'm not really much of a city girl. My home town is a very small city nestled in amongst the Wiltshire countryside and so I have the best of both worlds. Whenever I've gone to New York or London, or even having spent numerous weekends in Leicester last year with my boyfriend Nick, it made me realise how I could never live in a busy, bustling city. It's too claustrophobic. Which is why I always surprise myself when I tell people how much I love New York city. In my first trip to the city this year I wasn't at all that impressed. In fact reading back over my first blog it makes me laugh how much my opinion has changed. I again went in October, and November and it's only now that I think I truly appreciate it. The city is big; it's crowded, it's smelly and it's very, very dirty. On first impressions I think it's really scary, overwhelming and intimidating; your view of the sky is often really limited and so you do feel like you can easily get lost and forgotten about. But, having become more familiar with New York, I can now appreciate the hidden beauty beneath all the grime and the wonderful sights. Here are just a few of my favourite things...

• The Best Donuts in the City! When I went to Grand Central Station back in November, I bought a Donut from a little Mexican place called Zocalo's in the Grand Central food court. It was amazing. 'Nuf said.
• Brooklyn Bridge and Brooklyn: I can't believe this was the first time that I'd made it over to Broolyn. Asides from the absolutely stunning view that you get of the city skyline, just wandering around the streets of Brooklyn Heights is incredible. Many of the houses are still the old 18th Century buildings and are absolutely beautiful. After just a half hour walk or so out of the hustle and bustle you enter an entirely different atmosphere. We also ate at Caffe Buon Gusto on Montague street which was amazing. Freshly cooked pasta, amazing fish dishes and amazing staff! Definitely worth a trip across the water for lunch. 
• The Tenement Museum: For a little bit of culture, we headed to the corner of Orchard and Delancey in the Lower East Side. Here we watched a brief film about the vibrant history of the area and picked up tickets to have a look around one of the restored tenement buildings. The tour includes pictures and histories of the families who lived in the rooms of the building we saw as well as the social and cultural world in which they lived. It was fascinating! We followed this by a trip to The Merchant's House Museum on East 4th Street: a preserved 19th century home of a rich New York city merchant. Although lacking in money and slightly dilapidated, it's still quite interesting to see the stark differences between the two buildings when they're only a few blocks apart. 

• Bleecker Street: Just walk along it. There are great bars, restaurants, quirky shops and, walking West,  it takes you right into the beautiful districts of Chelsea and the West Village, what I think are the most beautiful areas of New York. While you're there grab a Cannoli from Rocco's
• The High Line: Quite literally a park in the sky, the High Line is yet another fantastic way to escape the city. Starting just below 14th Street on the very West side of the city and ending (at the moment) at 30th Street, the park is made up of the old railway line which carried goods into the meatpacking district - another area of the city well worth a wander through. 

• Central Park: I had to include it of course. Central Park is amazing and is almost a city in itself as there is so much to do there. Flanked by museum mile and containing numerous ice skating rinks, lakes and even a castle, it's well worth a day trip. We bought some food from the Whole Foods Market which is located on the south floor of the Columbus Circle Mall in the very South West corner of the park. It's like a buffet and you can fill up your tub with as much yummy food as you want, pay by the weight, and then sit and eat it in the park. Yum. To see more of the park you MUST rent a horse and carriage OR a bike... I did both.

• Ellis Island: Yes 'that place in Hitch'! New York's history as a gateway to the New World is fascinating. Grab a ferry from down in Battery Park and don't stop at Liberty Island. The Statue of Liberty is great but you see it better from further away not on the actual island. At Ellis Island get an audio tour and start off in the exhibition on the ground floor "Journey's: The Peopling of America" which gives you the insight and background you need for the rest of the tour. We didn't do this so learn from our mistake! Follow the rest of the tour through the Immigrant Experience. 
• Broome Street Bar: On the corner of West Broadway and Broome Street, this bar was just round the corner from our hotel. Great food, great atmosphere, great nights. Well worth a visit if you're in the neighbourhood. Which you should be because SOHO is beautiful! If you want a nicer meal (or a very scrummy breakfast) then head to The Cupping Rooms which is next door. They had live Jazz on Saturday which was just amazing and it has a great atmosphere, completely the opposite to Broome Bar. 

So I think I'll leave it there, although I could easily go on for days. I have no doubt forgotten some brilliant things but there is just too much. Feel free to comment with some of your favourite places and memories in the Big Apple...