New York is a city in constant motion, one that has crumbled and reinvented itself over again and again over the last few centuries. Today, it’s a shining vision of steel, glass and lights, stretching higher and higher upwards, while still holding onto its gritty foundation.
While the Big Apple is a world of possibilities, rich with sights and sounds, stories and cultures, this article is a small log detailing the experiences of a few architecture students, and hopefully the starting point for many more. We share the things across the five boroughs that made their mark on us and offer some observations about our time living the nitty gritty details of life in the city. Though no two experiences of New York are the same, yours will hopefully be equally as great.
To Do + See
For one, New York is a city best experienced by walking given the sheer density of things to experience on every block. Whether it’s a tree-lined boulevard of architecturally-significant brownstones or a thoroughfare with every brand-name store you can imagine, come prepared with a good set of shoes and the willingness to walk a lot. When you’re out and about the city, every day is leg day.
Museums
Noguchi Museum
Astoria, Queens
Sparsh: The problem many architects face when designing a museum is how to best showcase another artist or designers work in the way they would have wanted. However, for Isamu Noguchi, he had the opportunity to design the building that would showcase his own work!
Dia:
Beacon, Hudson Valley, NY
Dani: If you make this a whole day trip, I promise you won’t regret it. Taking a train out of NYC is an experience in itself. You’ll see the skyline slowly shrink from skyscrapers to nothing but greenery. The train stop is located right along the water so you can pack yourself a lunch and eat at the picnic tables. I went around Halloween and there was a display of jack-o-lanterns along a hill (see pic of tiny pumpkins everywhere). Dia is by far my favourite museum I’ve ever been to. The building is a work of art designed by Rice+Lipka Architects. The way that natural light enters the building, streams through large industrial windows, and reflects off of the saw-tooth ceilings and white walls, beautifully highlights the artwork. Not to mention, explains to you just how the light is perfect in the Loft @UWSA. The works are all contemporary, dating back to the 1960s. You’ll see artists you may recognize, some of which I came across in school for precedents like Richard Serra and Michael Heizer. Like the Guggenheim, buildings and artworks are much better appreciated and understood when you see them in person.
Experiences
The Strand
Midtown, Manhattan
Christa: You might’ve heard of this one. A New York landmark. If you’re just looking around, feel free to make a visit. Hold on to your wallets though if you’re a bibliophile – they mean business when it comes to books. What your average Chapter Indigo or Barnes & Noble is to the letter of the law, the Strand is the spirit of the law. Three floors jam-packed with books and reading paraphernalia make up roughly 18 miles of shelves according to the owners of The Strand – you could lose a child in here. It’s kind of like the TARDIS in that it feels bigger on the inside. Often busy, inside and out – in warmer weather they have shelves, trolleys and crates of second-hand and old books at rock-bottom prices lined up outside the store. Staff are very friendly. Try not to drool over the books.
Syndicated Bar Theatre Kitchen
Bushwick, Brooklyn
Christa: This is probably the most hipster place I’ve stepped foot into. Not in a bad way, but it’s a movie theater that screens recent classic movies, with a restaurant and bar, all decorated in a style as if industrial chic and mid-century modern had a baby, with little hipster and retro touches. Can get a little pricey for movies and food, but if it’s your scene, it’s a pretty fun one. I was introduced to this lovely little place by the way of a six-hour John Wick movie marathon. Walked in with no knowledge of the franchise, walked out with no memory of its plot, only gunshots and Keanu Reeves in a suit. Also located close to some other well-known Bushwick restaurants, like Roberta’s Pizza and Bakery (a whole experience), Arepera Guacuco (Venezuelan) or Bunna Cafe (Ethiopian).
Staten Island Ferry
Financial District, Manhattan
Christa: A free ferry serving Staten Island residents commuting to the island. This ride, timed right, is relaxing and provides beautiful views of the surrounding borough’s skylines. It’s truly a different view of New York, a wide shot of life on land and sea with cars streaming through distant streets and boats of all sizes sweeping past in a white wake. When you’re let onto the ferry, head straight out to the other end of the ferry to the outdoor deck to snag a spot to enjoy the views. I timed my trip for sunset and was treated to a lovely, windswept ride across the bay.
Activities
Cliffs at DUMBO
Dumbo, Brooklyn
Dani: This is the cheapest climbing spot by far, $12 day pass, which includes shoe rental. Cliffs is an outdoor gym located directly under the Brooklyn Bridge, so every couple minutes your voices get muffled by the sound of the subway trains running above your head. It gets pretty busy in the evening as all the young adults get off work and go to climb, but for the price, it’s definitely the best place to invite first-time climbers! And, as you’re right along the water, you get to watch NY’s beautiful sunset every time.
Brooklyn Boulders
Gowanus, Brooklyn
Sparsh: Brooklyn Boulders was our go-to indoor climbing gym, with a crazy variety of walls, and an extremely friendly community for new climbers! You can find passes of 10 visits on Groupon to make it more budget-friendly, but it’s definitely worth the money for what you’ll get. You’ll see people of all ages climbing with friends as well as dogs around the gym having a good time. Almost every time we visited we met new people we could talk to in between climbs!
The Nuyorican Poetry Cafe
Lower East Side, Manhattan
Sparsh: If you’re interested in word wizardry, rap, current issues, or music slam, poetry nights at the Nuyorican are a must! Buy your tickets for the night online because walk-ins are limited! The show begins with each poet performing a few poems while the audience judges them! Each poet brings something new to the stage with passion enough to inspire and invoke the same feelings in the audience. It will leave you thinking for days and makes for a perfect Friday evening for anyone looking for a show!
Dani: The Nuyorican gave us such an authentic view into the culture of NYC itself. Honestly, I’ve never experienced anything like it before and it definitely made me value supporting local artists for all that they do in bringing communities together. Tickets were only about $10 so it was well worth it. We must have gone every other week! The show runs pretty late, often past 12am, so be sure to go with friends and get home safe.
Halloween Parade (and others)
Various locations, Manhattan
Dani: DON’T GO. JUST. DONT. YOU WILL EXPERIENCE BEING SQUISHED LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
Sparsh: IT WAS ONE WAY TO BE SCARED ON HALLOWEEN. Very traumatic. 0 dollar pizza slices out of 10.
Christa: Pro-tip – make note of big parades/events in the city if you’re not attending and make sure to avoid them like hell. It is impossible to travel through these areas that entire day due to set up, event, and tear down. It’s not worth it. If you are visiting, Godspeed.
Eat + Drink
An essential consideration when traveling is fueling up for your exploration while out. We all understand the universality and reliability of Starbucks, but take the opportunity of being in New York for what it is – a dense landscape of delicious food and drink from around the world. So skip the chains to check out that little hole in the wall place near your house, the neighbourhood coffee shop, or even splurge on a fancy night out on the town if it suits you. You’re in New York, after all. Just remember to tip your service people well, especially if they go the extra mile for you.
Coffee
Starbucks Roastery
Chelsea, Manhattan
Sparsh: This is the mothership of all of the New York Starbucks on every street! With incredible interior design to enhance the experience of roasted coffee flowing through pneumatic tubes across the entire roastery, and so many different coffee roasts to try and coffee products to buy, this flagship store is a great stop on any coffee pilgrimage.
Bird and Branch
Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan
Dani: This is a small boutique coffee shop I went to in Manhattan near all the Broadway theatres. There are few seats, but have a cushioned bay window. Cute branding; the whole store is pastel pink, white, and navy blue. They have interesting flavours, I tried a blackberry flavoured coffee and believe it or not, it was great!
Proof Coffee Roasters
Financial District, Manhattan
Sparsh: Within the area of less than a walk-in closet, this literal hole-in-the-wall take-out coffee place was between Fulton Station (where I got off) and my office. Speaking to the witty barista Carlos was a surefire way to wake me up before work. Though it may not be en route for all commutes, the beauty of New York is the abundance and diversity of coffee shops. I recommend visiting the smaller community coffee shops for locally roasted and brewed coffee and good company.
Food
Smorgasburg
South Williamsburg, Brooklyn // Prospect Park, Brooklyn // Financial District, Manhattan
Christa: When in New York, eat your heart out. Bring cash and friends – we recommend sharing dishes to try as it can get expensive otherwise. There were discounts at certain places for using Apple Pay, though we’re unsure if the discount is permanent. There are several locations that operate on different days of the week; the one in Prospect Park is good for hanging out/picnic-style affairs (if you can find a free patch of grass), while the one in Williamsburg is has great views of Midtown’s skyline and is close to a number of flea markets, restaurants, and mix of shops. We found it pretty fun to eat and then go wander around town.
Klong
NOHO, Manhattan
Dani: I went out for Thai food a lot in NYC and Klong was my favourite. It’s located on an awesome street called St Marks Place. Literally, you can step foot into any restaurant on this street and have a good time. There are Thai, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese food, bars, karaoke, bubble tea, and even a Ben & Jerry’s! But, I highly recommend going to Klong and ordering their Crispy Mango Fish! Huge meal portions. I ended up three-way splitting three dishes with friends because there were so many great options. The drinks are also pretty cheap, if you’re over 21 😉 Some of the restaurants are cash only! (s/o to Boka) so come prepared.
Enoteca Maria
St. George, Staten Island
Christa: A nice Italian restaurant and wine bar that also features grandmas from around the world cooking dishes from their culture alongside the Italian fare. Call ahead – I was lucky to grab a spot because I went alone. Enoteca’s has a living room-esque ambience – the space is illuminated by a mixture of string lights, lanterns, and candles. The exposed brick walls are covered in photos, artwork, and knicknacks. All of the staff were very friendly – the manager/owner was a very cool guy. The food was filling, comforting, and delicious. If I lived there I would visit dangerously often but I’m sad that I don’t.
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