“One belongs to New York instantly. One belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years.”
Friendship and travel often go hand in hand. Most of us are fortunate to have been blessed to be surrounded with a special group of friends that add so much wealth to our lives. We may have been brought together by shared hobbies, interests, values and/or so much laughter that creates such an unbreakable bond.
I just returned from a girls trip to New York City with this very exact group of women. My tribe is one that I truly would not want to live without. Through good times and bad, laughter and tears, these are the girls I want through my life, to embark on many adventures and make lasting memories.
Our trip was to celebrate my upcoming 50th birthday and… OH DID WE CELEBRATE! We took in all the Big Apple has to offer. There is so much planning that goes into just four days of a vacation. Many guides and itineraries are offered that we could have followed through our short trip; however my love for planning took a hold of this trip. My great friends and I put together one that will always hold a special place in my heart.
DAY 1
The Plaza Hotel 768 Fifth Avenue
Manhattan, NY
As a child, I can remember constantly reading my Eloise book by Kay Thompson. I loved reading about her escapades living in the Plaza Hotel, so it was quite fitting that we started right there. Situated in Midtown Manhattan, this landmark hotel was a wonderful setting for a champagne toast and lots of people watching. Eloise always liked people when they were not boring, and it was definitely not boring. Several brides and grooms walked through and the amazing floral arrangements were a delight to see.
We continued on and walked the streets taking in all the sights, smells and sounds of this wonderful city as we made our way to Sarabeth’s for Brunch. We were definitely not disappointed! There are several locations around the city and each as wonderful as the next. Their menu has so many wonderful choices that it was hard to make a decision. I settled on the seafood cobb salad that was absolutely delicious. The ambiance is delightful as well.
The beautifully dressed department store windows were so much fun to see and alluring for all of us. Exploring filled our afternoon and landed us back with just enough time to get ready for dinner and our evening at the theatre. We had a magnificent dinner at the warm and sophisticated Lattanzi restaurant which is located in the heart of New York’s famed Theatre District at 361 West 46th Street… baby artichokes, lamb chops, pastas and more adorned our plates and filled our stomachs. I have made several stops here on previous trips and once again, it did not disappoint.
We made our way after dinner to the August Wilson Theatre on 52nd Street for Tina Fey’s hysterical production of Mean Girls. Her wicked sense of humor shined through. This is a charming theatre without a bad seat in the house. Seeing a Broadway show in NYC is a must!
DAY 2
Our day started in the most wonderful coffee shop called Joe & The Juice. There are so many coffees and pressed juice selections to choose from and there’s something for everyone! After officially waking up and having the nicest New York City construction worker hail a cab for us Midwestern girls, we made our way to Brooklyn. We meandered around the Dumbo (short for Down Under the Bridge Overpass) neighborhood. Lots of quaint shops and restaurants lie along the water in this area.
We lunched at Cecconi’s at 55 Water Street and took a carousel ride at Janes Carousel at the Brooklyn Bridge Park that was located near by. Jane’s Carousel is a classic with carved horses that was made by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. Riding up and down on the carousel brought back so many childhood memories. I’ve always been enamored with carousels.
STK Midtown 1114 Avenue of the Americas (at 43rd st.)
With our tennis shoes on, we headed for a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Even a light drizzle could not put a damper on our fun. Laughter and silliness accompanied us the entire time. A personal caricature aided in the laughter and a wonderful souvenir as well.
Onward we went to One World Trade Center for a ride up the elevator to the top for spectacular views! After our ears stopped popping from the elevator and we had soaked in the reels of history before us, doors opened to the observation deck which surrounded us with the most incredible 360 degree views that stretch from Westchester and Rockland counties of New Jersey, Brooklyn, Long Island and New York Harbor. Drinks at the bar and the breathtaking views added to our wonderful memory making!
Our day culminated with dinner at STK. This modern steakhouse setting was perfect for our amazing dinner of steaks and seafood.
DAY 3
Our last and very packed day consisted of time in Soho as well as the Meat Packing District. We began at Bite Beauties Lip Lab. We were all so excited to sit down and experience the art of making our very own personalized lipstick. After our artist talked to us about preferences, she started mixing and we started trying on. ‘Too coral’, ‘not enough pink’, ‘‘more red’ were heard all around us until the perfect one was found. We each made two lipsticks for $80. All of this creativity made us hungry and ready for lunch at Balthazar, a bustling, romantic French brasserie restaurant located at 80 Spring Street. The Pomme Frites are a must!
We were in and out of so many wonderful shops in Soho after lunch. Among my favorites included Alo, Splendid, Golden Goose, Lulu Lemon, Louis Vuitton and Olive & Bette to name a few!
Rooftop bars and their spectacular views are all the rage right not and New York’s Meat Packing District, and they did not disappoint. For our last stops of the day, we concluded with specialty cocktails and wonderful views at the top of the Standard Hotel, and music and dancing at PHD.
The most wonderful memories were made on this trip, ones that will last a lifetime! I have read that according to the Harvard Health Publications, friendships have many health benefits, including helping to relieve harmful levels of stress that can harm many organs in our bodies, and can strengthen our immune systems and motivate us. My tribe of women definitely help me in all of these ways and I know this trip added so much love and laughter to my life, and that is the best health benefit ever!
Here’s to more trips just like this!
