I'm in a New York State of Mind….

May 1, 2006
7 day trip to New York

This year we decided to go to New York in May. The spring is in the air, it’s not too warm, just perfect! After our flight from Amsterdam to Newark, we took a cab to our hotel, the New York Hilton. This hotel has a perfect location. It’s close to 5th Avenue, Times Square, Central Park, and Rockefeller Center.

This is not our first visit to New York; we’ve been here several times. So, we wanted to do something new this time. The plan was Top of the Rock (we’ve already did ESB and WTC in the past) and Liberty State Park. Looking back to our stay in New York, I can say that we did it all. The boroughs (like Meatpacking District), Central Park, Liberty State Park, Top of the Rock, see a concert at B.B. King Blues Club, and of course shopping.

Everything was perfect; the hotel, the weather and of course the city itself!

In this journal you'll find tips, experiences, and photos of our latest trip to New York.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

After the Milford Plaza, Helmsley Park Lane, and Park Central, we decided to stay in the Hilton New York. We were very positive after reading some reviews on the Internet. So we were happy with our choice. We stayed in the Hilton New York from Monday May 1st until Monday May 8th.

I must say it was a pleasant stay. The hotel is located at West 53rd Street and Avenue of the Americas (Sixth Avenue). It’s close to Central Park, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, 5th Avenue, and more. It is a large hotel with many guests, but with the enormous lobby it never looked crowded. There’s a special check-in reception for HHonors Gold members. It’s located across the main reception. It was nice that we didn’t have to wait at the check–in desk. The lobby also has a piano bar.

The room:
We didn’t have a renovated room, but it didn’t bother us (I don’t care if I have a flat screen TV or not). The beds and pillows where very comfortable; beautiful white linens, it was all so clean. The room was quite large, not bad at all for New York. The view was not spectacular, just another tall building. Only on the higher floors you’ll have Central Park views.

Breakfast:
Because we’re HHonors Gold members our breakfast was complimentary. We had breakfast every morning in New York Marketplace. We could choose from the cold buffet. If we wanted the all American Breakfast Buffet (warm and cold) we had to pay extra. For us, the continental breakfast was enough. There was plenty of choice of pastries, Ciabatta bread, different kinds of cheese, ham, fresh fruit, coffee, and fresh squeezed orange juice. During the week it wasn’t crowded in the restaurant; the weekends were busier.

Beside the New York Marketplace, the Hilton also has the upscale Etrusca for fine dining and two bars; Lobby Lounge and Bridges Bar.

Overall:
We really enjoyed our stay. The location was perfect! The premiere of Mission Impossible took place in a movie theater called the Ziegfeld Theatre next door. The red carpet was already strolling out, people were waiting. The view from our hotel on the red carpet was perfect (see picture). We decided to go back to our room to wait for a few hours. I never saw Tom Cruise and his co actors, because I fell asleep (thanks to the heavenly beds)… aaahh!! When I woke up he was already gone!

The only negative thing was that I found this hotel very expensive. Maybe it was the wrong time of year, because it wasn’t only expensive in the Hilton but also in other hotels like Park Central.

Chelsea Market:

In 1890 the National Biscuit Company started their business in this warehouse. Today, the old bakery is a industrial-chic hotspot. Chelsea Market is full of shops. It’s a nice place to eat food, drink some wine or to buy food products. Chelsea Market opened in 1997 and is one city block long. It has a walkway through the market. Along the way you can watch the stores; they have glass windows so you can see what they’re making.

While walking through the market I noticed many old details from the past. It’s good that the new owner left the old details intact. The architecture inside is keeping the original design of the factory. It gives the Chelsea Market a special atmosphere. You’ll find many stores and they all provide a high quality of food, flowers and wines. Not only you can buy food, you can also have lunch or do some wine tasting. If you like international cuisine, then this is the right place for you.

Chelsea Market is worth a visit, even if you don’t like food stores. The architecture of the building is also very interesting to see.

Hours:
Monday – Friday 8am-8pm
Saturday – Sunday 10am-8pm

After the WTC and Empire State Building we wanted to see the view from the Top of the Rock. It was around 11 o'clock when we arrived at the Top of the Rock. It was very quiet at that time. No waiting lines for tickets. We even didn't have to wait at the elevator. In about 10 minutes we were at top of Rockefeller Center.

The first elevator brings you to an exhibition of the history of Rockefeller Center. There’s a timeline with pictures and sounds. There is also a girder to walk over. You can look down and see what the workers saw when they built it. There is perplex floor on either side.

The second elevator brings you to the observation deck. These elevators have a see-through glass roof, it’s an attraction itself. When the elevator is in motion the elevator shaft lights up. It’s fantastic to see. So heads up in the elevator!

First you come at a lower observation deck that’s surrounded by panels of non-reflective safety glass. The view is amazing; especially the view of Central Park. This is something you won’t see when you’re at top of the Empire State Building. You can’t get enough of the view. Wherever you look it’s just beautiful! The second and higher level has no safety glass. The view is getting better and better. I just can’t get enough of the views; it is breathtaking! I highly recommend a visit to Top of the Rock. You won’t be sorry!

For $2 you can buy a brochure that tells you which buildings you are seeing when you’re at the top.

We didn’t buy our tickets through the Internet. If you have tickets in front you must go on the date you selected, whether the weather is good or not. So I prefer to buy my tickets minutes before visiting the Top of the Rock.

We've been on all three observation decks; World Trade Centre, Empire State Building and Top of the Rock. Every building has its unique views. The one I like the most is Top of the Rock, because you have great views of Central Park. Experience it yourself!

HOURS:
8am to midnight
365 days a year
The last elevator is going up at 11pm.

B.B. King’s Blues Club is located in the heart of Times Square. We saw a concert of Edwin McCain on May the second this year (2006). I ordered the tickets at TicketMaster.com earlier this year. We picked up the tickets at the office box of B.B. King’s Blues Club. This place is perfect. It has an intimate setting. About 1,000 people are allowed in the Showcase Room. The concert was great! It’s a small space, so you’ll get up close and personal views of all performances. I recommend everybody to see a show here. The ambiance is fantastic. We love Edwin McCain, so it was great to see him in New York at B.B. King’s Blues Club. It was a unique experience.

Many famous musicians has performed at B.B. King’s like (of course) B.B. King himself, Erykah Badu, Macy Gray, Robert Cray, James Brown, Little Richard, the Neville Brothers, the Wailers, the Beach Boys, and many more. From Rock, Soul, Funk, R&B, Rap, even Punk; many artists get a change to perform at B.B. King’s and they all love it!

It’s a great place to see live music!

After a long period of restoration the park reopened in 2001. It looks the same as it was in the 19th century. Madison Square Park is located at Manhattan's Flatiron District, and is one of the oldest parks of New York.

Madison Square Garden is a small park, but nevertheless a park with a serene atmosphere. There’s a playground, picnic tables, lush lawns, and flowering plants everywhere you look. If you’re hungry you can buy burgers, hot dogs, and cold drinks at a food stand called Shake Shack.

There are benches everywhere shaded by large trees and that’s a great treat after a long walk. People come here to meet friends, have something to eat during there lunch break. I saw people reading a book or newspaper. And I? I was watching the people who walked by and enjoying the great ambiance of Madison Square Park.

While you’re sitting in the park, you can see parts of the surrounding landmarks like the Flatiron Building. It’s a very enjoyable park to spend some time.

Directions:
Take the subway, the R, W or 6 train to 23rd Street.

This year we’ve visited the Meatpacking District and we liked it!

The Meatpacking District is a very popular and trendy neighbourhood. It’s located at the Lower West Side (between Ninth Avenue and West Side Highway. The Meatpacking District was in the early days a center of New York City's meatpacking industry. Many warehouses where the butchers and meat-cutters did their job.

Today, the Meatpacking District is the place to be. Fashion designers like Stella McCartney and many others have opened their shops in this trendy area.

Some meatpacking houses still exist. Not so many as it used to be, but if you came in the morning like we did, you’ll see them at work. That’s what I like about the Meatpacking District; in the same block you’ll find the butchers finishing their job, and next door sells a trendy restaurant its first cup of coffee. The one is the opposite from the other.

Trendy restaurants like Pastis, located next to a garage. Pastis is a French restaurant. The restaurant has a small terrace. Hotel Gansevoort (very trendy and popular) is across the street.

Many celebrities find their way to the Meatpacking District.

The Subway; the easiest way to explore New York!

You don’t need your car in New York or better you don’t want to have your car with you in New York. Parking costs are very high and the city has a good working subway system. If you want to explore New York, take a subway to where you want to go and walk from there back. For example: we traveled with the subway to Battery Park, and from there we walked back to our hotel.

I love to watch people in the subway. Some are reading, some are listening to music, and some (just like me) are only sitting waiting to get off. Every entrance is different. You’ll notice that the entrance change in some neighborhoods. The entrance at Central Park is elegant, while a subway entrance at Times Square is full of lights.

About the fares:

The fare for a subway (or local bus) costs $2.

You can also buy a Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard
With this card you can buy as many rides you want. For example buy 12 trips for the price of 10. You get free transfer between subway and bus.

Than there is the 7-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard
You can buy the card for $24. The card is good for unlimited subway and bus rides, 7 days from the first day of use.

After some walking through Greenwich Village we stopped at Washington Square for a while. In the heart of Greenwich Village is Washington Square Park. It’s a popular square and also a crowded square. I love it when it’s crowded. You’ll see many people; some are reading, some are talking to each other. Washington Square lives! Washington Square Park attracts students, locals, and tourists. When the weather is good, there’s always someone playing on his/her guitar, making some music. Here and there are vendors selling their wares.

In the center of the park is a fountain. They created some space around the fountain for people to sit, see, and be seen. Washington Square Park Arch is a real eye-catcher. You can’t miss this one. Cars were allowed to drive through until 1971. I think it's better that there are no cars driving through anymore.

Website:
http://washingtonsquarepark.org/

Adres:
Fifth Ave at Waverly Pl., New York, NY 10003
West 4th St. at MacDougal St

While we were walking through the West Village, we saw this “wall with Tiles”. Looking further I noticed that this was a ‘Tiles for America” monument. It’s located at the corner of 7th Avenue and 11th Street.

Why here? Tiles for America began on September 12, 2001. In the aftermath of the attack at the World Trade Center, people gathered at Saint Vincent’s Hospital. This hospital was waiting for the survivors of the attack. Lorrie Veasey began to create an inspiration to recovering victims; Tiles for America.

The tiles tell us about the heroes, courage, unity, poetry, and other positive themes. Every tile has its own story. You can read the feelings and thoughts of the people's response to 9/11. Looking at the tiles it gave me goose bumps. It was very impressive.

There are approximately 6000 tiles hanging on the fence.

We visited the World Trade Center before 9/11. I found it very impressive. We went up to the observation deck of the WTC and enjoyed the amazing view. Today, I’m standing here at Ground Zero, now a building site. We always take a visit to Ground Zero when we are in New York. When I’m standing there, I always go back in my mind to where I was when it happened, what I felt, how it was before 9/11.

There is not much to see at Ground Zero. The area where the twin towers once stood is now a big building site. On the fence is a timeline of that horrible day on September 11th. Across the construction site is St. Paul’s Chapel. This church was home to the volunteers who helped after the terrorist attack. There’s an exhibit called “Unwavering Spirit–Hope and Healing at Ground Zero.” It gives you a good impression what was going on after the attack. I only can have an enormous respect for all the volunteers!

Ground Zero; a place where you can remember!

After all the years of visiting New York City, we’ve never been to Liberty State Park. Until this holiday in May; we decided to do something new. For example Liberty State Park. I don’t know why we waited so long to visit Liberty Park. Wow, what a view! From here you can see the skyline of Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island.

Liberty State Park is a state park in Jersey City. The park opened in 1976. The historic Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal was built in 1889. From 1892 through 1954, the CRRNJ Terminal was with the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island an important factor of the immigration of thousands of people into the United States. After a long emotional way through the Statue of Liberty and processed at Ellis Island, the immigrants purchased tickets and boarded trains at the Terminal. The train brought these immigrants to their new world; The USA.

The park has picnic tables (with magnificent views), pool, a public boat launch, playgrounds, fishing spots, several monuments (for example ‘Liberation Monument’), Liberty Walk promenade, tennis courts, Millennium Park, and much more. The Liberty Walk promenade is 1.3 mile long. We walked over the promenade along the Hudson River, with the amazing skyline at the background.

Liberty State Park is also the only location in New Jersey with a Ferry service to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Instead of going to Battery Park and taking the ferry there, you can also take the ferry from Liberty State Park. So you can enjoy it all; Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Liberty State Park.

We spent some time here. My eyes didn't get enough of the view of the skyline. You just have to look every minute. It's worth a visit!

Directions
From Manhattan:
We did take the subway to Penn Station, from there you can take PATH subway to either Pavonia/Newport or Hoboken. A shuttle will bring you to the park.


From there, take the Light Rail to Liberty State Park.