New York : Hillel Style

I should preface this article, because when it comes to traveling I’m a bit of a princess. Not a four seasons, first-class only princess but more of an up scale Hiltons and Embassy Suites princess. So when I found out we were staying at a Quality Inn I had horrible flashbacks of a Travelodge in San Diego and I prepared myself for the utter worst.

So when I arrived at the Quality Inn in New Jersey I was actually a bit impressed. For its budget motel status, it was in neither an extremely shady area of town nor a total dump. Granted if you are using it for a jumping off point for a Manhattan vacation I would chose somewhere in the city and save yourself the car rental that you will need to get there, as there is no public transport anywhere in sight. However if you happen to be in New Jersey for business or something I would recommend this hotel. The beds are nice, it’s clean, it has indoor hallways (critical in the winter!), even name brand toiletries. So for NJ on the cheep I recommend the Quality Inn.

I was entirely unimpressed with my first meal at J2. The make-your-own salads were so greasy they left my jet lagged tummy very unhappy. However, then I discovered the one menu item that made this place stand out, no not the New York pizza that you can get on every single street corner, but its kosher sushi! I couldn’t get enough of the California roll! The fake crab was so flavorful and the cucumbers and avocados tasted like they had just been picked. It was a wonderful change from most of the kosher food I experienced which seemed to live by the motto; the more grease the better! So my advice would be to skip the pizza and salads and go straight for the sushi at J2 on Broadway, a perfect meal any hour of the day.

Something about a Broadway musical is always exciting! The crowds, the glamour, the lights! So I was thrilled when we got to see one of the longest running shows on Broadway. I was less thrilled when I found out my group had purchased tickets in the last row, of the last balcony of the theater. I was even less thrilled with the actual show. Maybe it’s because I’m not fond of opera. Or it could be that, just like Cats Andrew Lloyd Webber's other monstrosity, it just really isn’t that good. Certain songs, like music of the night are spectacular and effects like the crashing chandelier are amazing. But these pieces alone cannot save a ho–hum play. Save your money and go see something else.

The statue of liberty. An absolute classic piece of New York and an absolute must see for tourists. Once you get to the island it is all about taking pictures, of the skyline, of others in your group, and of the fine lady of freedom herself. Once you’ve taken pictures to your hearts content, it is actually time to enter the statue

The first thing I would recommend is don’t overlook the museum; it contains a really well put together exhibit on the creation and history of the statue. After walking around the museum (I’d allow 30 minutes, but then again I am a museum geek), you then proceed up a few stairs to the base of the statue. Here you get to look inside the statue but don’t expect to go any further. In a post 9/11 world, going up to the crown has been deemed unsafe. That’s not to say that the view isn’t amazing. Spend some time up here taking photos too. And bear in mind that once you leave an area you will not be allowed to re-enter it. After you exit the statue there isn’t a whole lot else to do, other than take a trip to the gift shop and hop back on the ferry.

It’s a given that as a tourist/traveler you will visit this statue, just give in to temptation. It’s worth it.

Unless you saw the twin towers when they were standing, I wouldn’t recommend a trip to ground zero, because to the untrained eye it just looks like a huge hole in the ground. I, however, had very strong memories of the building from my trip to the city the summer before 9/11. The gaping emptiness of it all is striking. Gone is the beautiful courtyard in which my family stood in awe of the towering towers. Gone is the professional New York lobby, lined with flags. Gone is the TKS booth where we bought our amazing tickets to my first Broadway show, Beauty and the Beast. And gone is that magnificent and terrifying (I’m afraid of heights) view of New York from the top platform. It wont take long a lot of time, 15 to 20 minutes just to look down and mourn for the greatness lost, and the memories that will forever live in our hearts.

Somehow I just didn’t find the Empire State Building impressive. Granted, the view from the top is very pretty, though, overall it just didn’t live up to my expectations. The classy art deco atmosphere ended in tiled décor of the front lobby. The whole process of actually getting up to the top wreaked of hurried commercialism, with the mandatory group pictures, fading and crinkled Broadway posters, and the insistent "suggestions" to buy the audio commentary (from a "real live New York Cab driver"), or take a ride in a simulator that would "fly" you over New York. I wasn’t hoping for the 1920s age of glamour (well I was but I’m a tiny bit of a realist), but I would have at least settled for letting the building and its views speak for its self. Then again, this is why no one would ever put me in charge of something like this; it would never make any money. Overall, the Empire State Building does seem to have the tall building market cornered, so if that’s your thing, go. Otherwise, I’d spend my time and money somewhere else.

Boro Park, never heard of it? I hadn’t either until I found it located squarely in the middle of my itinerary. Boro Park is a Hasidic Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn. So this means if you do decide to visit this little enclave be sure to cover up.

So why go to Boro Park? First, it is fascinating to immerse yourself entirely in another culture without leaving the country. Expect to see signs in English, Yiddish, and Hebrew. Every dining establishment is labeled kosher. Though just a word of warning...mixed groups (male and female) of young adults are looked at a little bit funny. It is definitely an experience, but unless you have a Jewish background or strong interest in Judaism, I wouldn’t bother with it. Keep in mind the entire area shuts down from Friday night until Saturday night for Shabbat.