Two Day New York Itinerary – Arts and Shopping
Day 1 – West Village and Chelsea
The West Village is one of the most charming areas of New York and the ideal place for strolling in the sunshine and spotting some celebrities. Start your day at one of the neighbourhood’s fabulous bakeries – the Magnolia Bakery or Amy’s Bread – and sample a genuine NYC cupcake or blueberry muffin with your morning coffee. Take a walk past some of the area’s best loved attractions and landmarks – ‘Carrie Bradshaw’s’ brownstone at 64 Perry Street, the contemporary art space Gavin Brown’s Enterprise and the boutiques, gallery shops and vintage stores located down the picturesque roads.
To leave the West Village head north up Ninth Avenue and keep walking until you reach 15th Street and the Chelsea Market. This is the perfect place to stop for lunch, whether you’re in the mood for raw food at One Lucky Duck or Asian fusion at Buddakan. Return to Ninth Avenue and when you get to 22nd Street cross one block left to Tenth Avenue and you’re in prime Chelsea gallery space. Spend an afternoon browsing galleries, such as Gagosian Gallery, Gladstone Gallery and Haunch of Venison (to see what’s on check out One Art World) and then head to Raines Law Room for an Old Cuban once the sun is over the yard arm. When you’re ready to eat, the Breslin Bar & Dining Room has a great buzzy, New York vibe and innovative dishes such as fried sweetbreads and vinegared poussin, and if you’ve still got some energy you’re in the right spot for an evening at the Atlantic Theater Company (tickets from $30).
Day 2 – Upper East Side
After an artsy day yesterday, today it’s time to hit the shops – but first fuel up on lobster cakes benedict or red velvet pancakes at the legendary EJ’s Luncheonette on 3rd Avenue. Stroll down 3rd, turn right onto 65th and then left onto Madison Avenue and you will come to Barneys, probably one of the best known stores in New York offering a great mix of cutting edge fashion and well known designer brands. Nearby, at the intersection of 59th Street and Lexington Avenue is Bloomingdales, another major New York shopaholic haven that opened in 1860 to sell hooped skirts to the ladies of New York. After a morning of browsing for fashion, gems and of course the famous Little Brown Bag why not stop off for one of the celebrated sandwiches at David Burke at Bloomingdales and wash it down with a warm apple turnover. After lunch it’s time to spend the afternoon exploring Central Park – visit the 71 foot Cleopatra’s Needle, relax by the fountain on Bethesda Terrace overlooking the lake, or sign up for a guided tour, such as the Central Park and the Greenway Tour (adults $50, children $35).
In the evening, the Upper East Side is full of great options for dining, as well as sampling a few of those legendary Manhattan cocktails. Café Boulud serves classic dishes inspired by the changing seasons and local farmers markets and has a tasty wine cellar. For an evening of hilarity after dinner head to the infamous Dangerfield’s where you can see comedians from shows like Late Night with Conan O’Brien and The Late Show with David Letterman, as well as a roster of rib-tickling regulars.
Photo credit: Bosc d’Anjou
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