The Perfect Long Weekend in NYC: 4 Days of Adventure, Culture, and Cuisine
The New York City skyline
New York has always held a special place in my heart. My father grew up there, and as a child, he would regale me with tales from his years spent in the city. Compared to our quaint, sleepy town, New York seemed almost otherworldly – a place where seemingly anything was possible. Even now, as a thirtysomething woman, I still find myself awed by the city and seize every opportunity to visit it. Most recently, I traveled there with my husband for four days, and we spent our time in the Big Apple as follows.
Day 1, Thursday: Train It
As seems to be the case with us more often than not, we got a later-than-intended start, setting off from our apartment ten minutes behind schedule at 9:30am. Thankfully, the traffic gods were smiling down upon us that day, and we arrived at South Station in Boston 20 minutes before our train’s scheduled departure time. That gave us just enough time to grab a couple of breakfast sandwiches and coffees from the Au Bon Pain stall within the station, and once we had procured those, we headed down the platform to board our train.
The train proved to be quite packed, but we managed to find two unoccupied seats next to one another in one of the cars near the front. A few minutes later, the train departed, and we were on our way to New York City.
All aboard! View from our train seats’ window.
This was the first time that we had been on a train since returning from Amsterdam and Paris, and compared to the Thalys train we rode between those two cities, this one was noticeably bumpier. Still, it was preferable to driving and contending with Jersey drivers and their eponymous slide.
Our train pulled into New York’s Penn Station a few minutes before 2:30pm, and owing to the rather poor design decision to have only one escalator leading from the platform up to the main level, exiting the platform was an excruciatingly slow process. Eventually, though, we shuffled our way up to the main floor and headed to the subway station. We stayed on the subway for a few stops before hopping off and making our way to our hotel, the Washington Square Hotel.
Our room at the Washington Square was fairly basic and compact: a queen bed and an adjoining bathroom. As we were not planning on spending that much time in our room, I was fine with the somewhat Spartan accommodations.
Our no-frills hotel room
Once we had checked in and dropped off our luggage, our first order of business was to find somewhere to eat. I had eaten a quinoa salad bowl on the train, but with a composition of 95% greens and 5% quinoa, it was not exactly filling. A quick Google search yielded a nearby vegan restaurant called The Organic Grill. It had a casual, modern interior and a well-curated menu featuring plenty of enticing-sounding items. I settled on the Green Earth Bowl, which consisted of a brown rice base topped with pesto, greens, broccoli, avocado, tofu scramble, and a lemon-tahini dressing. In addition to providing me with my daily intake of fiber (and then some), it was delicious (my husband kept trying to sneak forkfuls of it). The one downside to our lunch at The Organic Grill was that the service was quite slow. Despite being the only people in the restaurant, we had to wait half an hour for our food – I was borderline hangry by the time it arrived.
Interior of The Organic Grill
After lunch, we set out on foot to explore the neighborhood and surrounding area. We walked through Washington Square Park and seemingly stepped back in time by ambling down the cobblestone-paved Washington Mews.
The Washington Mews
Upon looking at a map and realizing that we were within walking distance of the Flatiron Building, we decided to check it out, as neither of us had ever seen it in person. About halfway there, with sweat rolling down our backs from the humid air and 90° weather, we began to regret our decision to walk there. We, however, persevered, and we made it there only to experience a letdown reminiscent of the ending of National Lampoon’s Vacation – the Flatiron Building was covered in scaffolding.
The Flatiron Building covered in scaffolding
We snapped a few photos of the underwhelming site and began the long walk back to our hotel. Along the way, we passed by the Harry Potter store, and equal parts curious to see the interior and desperate for a reprieve from the intense July heat, we stepped inside. The sprawling store spanned two levels and featured every clothing item and knickknack that a Potterhead could ever desire. That said, I can’t envision myself ever returning to the store unless I were visiting New York with my two young nieces who are just discovering (and are currently obsessed with) the Harry Potter films.
Inside the Harry Potter store
The Harry Potter store was our one and only pitstop, and once back in the air-conditioned sanctuary of our hotel room, we relaxed for a spell before heading back out to grab some dinner at Claudette, a cozy, French eatery. It proved to be quite the popular spot; the only available seating was at the bar or outside. As we did not feel like dining alfresco in the stifling heat, we opted for the former and were seated next to the world’s most loquacious barmate. The food more than made up for Mr. Chatty Cathy – everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The dessert, a lemon parfait comprising lemon sauce, granola, and ice cream, was the highlight of the meal.
Oh-so-delicious dessert from Claudette
Stuffed to the brim, we headed back “home,” cutting through Washington Square Park, which is quite a different place at night. My favorite nighttime addition was a guy with a microphone and speaker who was providing a running commentary on all of the passersby in the park (thankfully, I evaded his notice 😆).
The Washington Square Arch at night
Once back at the hotel, we watched Sweet Home Alabama on TV before calling it a night and heading to bed.
Day 2, Friday: Old Subway Cars, Books, and Broadway
We woke up at a quarter past nine, and after our morning ablutions, we walked to Joseph Leonard, where we had a 10:00am reservation. The restaurant was quite small, but instead of detracting from its appeal, its diminutive size imbued the space with a feeling of homeyness. Further bolstering its coziness was its casual, relaxed atmosphere and rustic décor.
Interior of Joseph Leonard
We both ordered the avocado toast with a poached egg, and while good, the portions were comically small. The coffee, a Stumptown blend, however, was beyond repute.
Our tasty-but-not-very-filling breakfast from Joseph Leonard
Mostly satiated and looking to escape the heat until our next activity, we headed back to our hotel and watched the tail end of the day’s Tour de France stage. At around 11:30am, we left our air-conditioned room and ventured back outside to make our way to the New York Transit Museum.
Located in a defunct subway station in Brooklyn, the museum houses twenty vintage subway and elevated cars dating back to the turn of the 20th century. You can go inside, walk around, and even sit down in these antique cars. It is a truly unique and immersive experience that feels akin to stepping back in time.
Inside one of the vintage subway cars
The museum also features a well-organized, informative display on the construction of the New York subway system, as well as a collection of vintage turnstiles that you can walk through. Other items available for your perusal include an array of photographs, signs, and subway paraphernalia, including antique tokens and ticket booths. Our visit to the New York Transition Museum was a highlight of our trip, and I highly recommend checking it out if you are planning a trip to the Big Apple.
Helpful tidbit — The New York Transit Museum is only open Thursday through Sunday 10:00am to 4:00pm, and advanced ticket purchase is recommended. Also, apart from the museum’s store, the space is not air-conditioned, so if you visit on a hot day, it is also going to be hot inside the museum.
After a little over an hour, we left the museum and walked to Boutros, a restaurant that serves up delicious Middle Eastern fare. We split the fried cauliflower shawarma sandwich, as well as an order of pita and baba ganoush – both were to die for.
Exterior of Boutros
In need of a pick-me-up, we walked from Boutros to a nearby location of Devoción Coffee, a New York coffee roaster that boasts farm-fresh coffee from Colombia. We grabbed a couple of cold brews, as well as a bag of coffee to take back home. The coffees were good, but as it was sweltering outside, we ended up ditching them for a couple of waters after just a few sips.
Recaffeinated, we got back on the subway and headed into Manhattan. Our destination was the New York Public Library, where we had 3:30pm timed-entry tickets to the Polonsky Exhibition, the library’s first-ever permanent collection. The exhibition showcases highlights from the library’s extensive collection, including a copy of the Declaration of Independence, Charles Dickens’ writing desk, a broadsheet of the Bill of Rights, a handwritten verse from Jane Austen, and countless other priceless treasures. Admission is free, so there is no reason not to check it out if you are in the area (for visitor information, please consult the exhibition’s website).
Charles Dickens’ desk, chair, and lamp
After perusing the exhibition, we walked upstairs to explore a tad more of the library, including the McGraw Rotunda and Rose Main Reading Room. We were unable to go inside the Reading Room (it is off-limits to tourists), but we were able to sneak a peek of it through the doorway.
Mural on the ceiling of the McGraw Rotunda
A little more than an hour after stepping foot inside the library, we left, facing the extreme heat once again. We subwayed back to our hotel, and as we were feeling lazy and wanting to minimize our time outside in the sauna that was New York City, we ordered takeout from HipCityVeg. We had eaten at a HipCityVeg during our trip to DC and were excited to be able to enjoy some of their scrumptious vegan food once more. I got the HipCity Ranch with a side of sweet potato fries, and everything was as good as I remembered.
Shortly after 7:00pm, we set out for the Eugene O’Neil Theatre for our 8:00pm performance of The Book of Mormon. We had somehow managed to finagle box seats, which in addition to boasting easy access and proximity to the stage, made us feel quite posh. The only drawback to our seats was that they had a partially obscured view (we could not see the far right of the stage).
View of the stage from our seats
As for the play, it was entertaining and featured an incredibly talented cast. I, however, would advise against bringing children to it, as it contains content intended for mature audiences.
After the show wrapped up, we extricated ourselves from the mass exodus of people and returned to the vicinity of our hotel. Before calling it a night, we ducked into Van Leeuwen Ice Cream for a couple of scoops of their oh-so-creamy ice cream. We had previously had their ice cream in pint form, but this fresh-from-the-scoopery version blew that supermarket varietal out of the water.
Blissfully satiated, we headed back to our hotel for the night.
Day 3, Saturday: Bagels and Books
After a sleepless night (our across-the-hall neighbors insisted upon slamming their door throughout the evening and early morning), we stumbled bleary-eyed out of bed and walked to Brooklyn Bagel and Coffee Company for some brekkie. There was a fairly long queue of people inside, but fortunately, the line moved quickly. I ordered an egg, cheddar, avocado, and tomato sandwich on a sesame bagel, and aside from the meager avocado portions, it was divine. I washed the eggwich down with coffee from a nearby Stumptown.
Breakfast sandwich from Brooklyn Bagel and Coffee Company
Bellies full, we braved the heat once more and ventured outside. We had originally planned on touring the Merchant House that morning, but owing to the extreme heat, our tour had been canceled. Thankfully, there is never a shortage of things to do in New York, so we adjusted our plans and settled on another historic site – The Morgan Library and Museum.
This place is a bibliophile’s dream, with a lavishly decorated library spanning three glass-bottomed levels. Although visitors are not permitted on any of the upper levels, you can still appreciate the elegance of the space, as well as view some of the collection’s highlights, from the ground floor.
Books, books, books
While the library might be the museum’s crown jewel, it is not its sole component. Indeed, the museum boasts a few galleries, as well as Pierpont Morgan’s study, complete with the banking tycoon’s ornate desk.
After seeing all that the museum had to offer, we headed back to the area around our hotel and popped into Joe Coffee for a midday pick-me-up. I ordered an iced matcha latte and a blueberry muffin, and both were quite tasty. The coffee shop itself had a relaxed, cozy vibe to it, and the staff was super friendly.
Afternoon snack at Joe Coffee
As it was still oppressively hot outside, we returned to our hotel after our coffee break and relaxed in our air-conditioned room for a little while before heading back out to meet a couple of friends for dinner at Jajaja Mexicana, a vegan Mexican restaurant. The food there was phenomenal, and the space had a modern, inviting air about it. Jajaja, however, did have one shortcoming: airflow. As the restaurant filled up, it became quite stuffy inside. Granted, it was in the mid-90s outside, so perhaps the airflow is better on cooler days.
Inside Jajaja Mexicana
For dessert, we walked to a nearby location of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream (What can I say? I know what I like.) I decided to try one of their vegan flavors – vegan chocolate chip cookie dough – and it was good, albeit a tad skimpy on the cookie dough. We ate our ice cream while catching up with our friends, and afterward, we called it a night and walked back to our hotel, parting ways with our friends until our next, yet-to-be-planned New York trip.
Day 4, Sunday: Head Home
Waking up bright and early, we used Revel, an all-electric rideshare, to catch a ride to Penn Station for our 9:00am train back to Boston. Once at Penn Station, we grabbed a couple of egg sandwiches before boarding our train, and a few hours later, we were unlocking the door to our Boston apartment, already planning our next trip to New York.
Summing it up: The 3 Wheres
Where We Went
Washington Square Park
Washington Mews
Flatiron Building*
Harry Potter store
New York Transit Museum
New York Public Library
Eugene O’Neil Theatre (to see The Book of Mormon)
The Morgan Library and Museum
*Saw from the outside; did not go inside
Where We Stayed
Washington Square Hotel
Where We Ate
Breakfast
Joseph Leonard
Brooklyn Bagel and Coffee Company
Lunch
The Organic Grill
Boutros
Dinner
Claudette
HipCityVeg
Jajaja Mexicana
Dessert/Coffee
Devoción Coffee
Stumptown Coffee
Joe Coffee
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
I hope that you found this post useful and that it inspires your next trip to NYC, and as always, if you have any questions, feel free to post them in the comments section below!
-Julia
P.S. Need some more NYC trip inspiration? Check out these other posts.
