my new york weekend

crossing streets and crossing words

To enjoy my New York City weekend, perhaps you’re a teenage girl just like me. Or maybe you aren’t. That’s okay too. I must recommend doing this all with your best friend. That made it a lot better.

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Meet Me At the Met

For a few hours, explore the Met. You can’t miss it, the building is positively colossal and stunning. Depending on how early you arrive, you unfortunately won’t be able to see every exhibit. However, highlights included the American paintings, European artwork, and a walk through the Egyptian collection. My personal favorite was the several rooms of Monet’s works. If uninterested in artwork, there are enough famous things to point out and say “hey, that was in my history textbook” to keep yourself occupied. Watch out for the inevitable amount of people taking Instagram photos (guilty). And please note, the gift shop is woefully expensive.

Wrapped Up In Books

The New York Public Library is another feat of architecture, so plan ahead if you would like aesthetic photos on the front steps. Besides that, the inside is grand, and you are invited to tour around some selected rooms. The library has morphed into more of a temporary museum exhibit for Arctic findings, plus an expansive and expensive gift shop. Main study rooms, including the Rose Main Reading Hall, are closed to the public for private studying. I’m glad a library can be this famous, but I do wonder how anyone gets work done in there with all the tourists.

Come to Broadway, Old Sport

The Great Gatsby on Broadway was nothing short of a spectacle, proudly advertising Jeremy Jordan as their Gatsby and Eva Noblezada as Daisy Buchanan. The ensemble bounds across the stage in some impressive feats, costumes, and incredibly stylized movements. On the stage, sparklers explode, colorful vintage cars roll across the stage, and sparkly flapper dresses twirl. If a fan of the novel, you may find the plot sacrificed for an emphasis on romance. But if going for a good time, you’ll find it here.

The Steak Frites Bistro

In the appropriately named Steak Frites Bistro, a friendly hostess takes diners to their table in the dimly-lit restaurant. Adults and children are served heaping plates of chicken, salmon, and beef, for a moderately expensive price tag. Near the front, a hearty steak and frites plate was eaten for just over forty dollars, shared by two teenagers. It’s cooked to a perfect medium rare (but to the diner’s discretion), and topped with a maître d’hôtel butter. Juices cover the bottom layer of frites, creating a flavorful but soggy eating experience.

Find Your Next Read

Bibliophiles will rejoice at The Strand bookstore in the East Village, but fans of Netflix’s holiday show Dash and Lily may be equally excited. I personally, was there for both. Take your time perusing the many shelves, and feeling terribly small next to the towering bookshelves. With seemingly endless content on the four floors, there is truly something for everyone. One is welcome to genuinely buy a book, or indulge in the wide selection of merchandise labeled with the store’s name.

photos all by myself