I grew up on Long Island, just an hour by train from the heart of New York City. When I was old enough, I went to The City (as we called it) as often as time and money allowed. So not all the time, but occasionally.
One thing I never did was stay in The City. I always went in for the day and then went home. Later, living farther away, I still only went into The City on day trips when I was back east to visit family.
So in 2015 I decided to make up for lost time and spend a week in The City. I centered my activities around the theatre. I got tickets for some shows both on and off Broadway. But I also did museums, galleries, sightseeing, live music in Greenwich Village, and plenty of good food.
I don’t know what took me so long to be a real New York tourist. And I can’t wait to get back and do it again!
Photos from my week in New York (271 photos)
Where do you stay in The City? (7/11/2015) - I should first make clear that New York, or more specifically Manhattan, is “The City.” This is not a statement of arrogance or superiority. It is simply tradition. I grew up in one of the communities that sprang up on… more…
Which show to see? (9/25/2015) - I’ve got tickets for five Broadway shows during my upcoming visit to New York. I have one evening still to fill, plus a Wednesday matinee. For the matinee, my mom is going to meet me in the city and we… more…
A day in New York (11/26/2015) - What is it about New York that I get a great thrill when I step out of the Port Authority bus terminal into the chaos and throngs and traffic of the city? I think it’s the chaos and the throngs… more…
A Week in New York: Day 1 (11/30/2015) - I have arrived in the greatest city in the world, and I’m not leaving for a week! Even though I grew up on Long Island and lived for four years in the Bronx while I was teaching in New Rochelle,… more…
A Week in New York: Day 2 (12/1/2015) - A few observations about New York after my first full day: The city is more user-friendly than it used to be. Subways have live infographics displaying upcoming stops and showing how long your ride will be. They also have instructions… more…
A Week in New York: Day 3 (12/2/2015) - Lin-Manuel Miranda signed my program. Before that, there was Hamilton. Hamilton Some folks say it’s one of the best shows to hit Broadway in a while, but I think they may be selling it short. I went in to the… more…
A Week in New York: Day 4 (12/3/2015) - Today was a two-show day, and it was on-and-off drizzly all day, so I took it easy in the morning and just took a short walk from the hotel to Union Square, where the Christmas Market is underway. I enjoyed… more…
A Week in New York: Day 5 (12/4/2015) - I did a lot of different things yesterday. Uptown I went up to the Bronx to go to Wave Hill. I remember friends on the New Rochelle High School faculty talking about it when I was teaching there just after… more…
A Week in New York: Day 6 (12/5/2015) - In most of my travels, I don’t think I’ve stayed longer than three or four nights in one place. And that has always suited me well. Three nights has sometimes left me wishing for one more, but I remember feeling,… more…