The Food of Buffalo! It’s more than just wings
Discover the food of Buffalo beyond the chicken wing.
If you ask someone what Buffalo is known for most likely they will say Buffalo wings, Niagara Falls, or the Bills. As this blog is on the food of Buffalo, we’ll go with the first answer. There is debate over where Buffalo wings originated, Anchor Bar or Duffs. Regardless of which side you’re on, people love them. However delicious they are, there are many more regional Buffalo foods that people should know about. And I’m going to share my favorites with you.
New York City isn’t the only place in the state with good pizza. I love this pizza place so much that I bring a cooler so I can take one home. This, after already eating it while in town. Bocce Club Pizza (go to the one on Hopkins Rd.) has one size. You can get less, but it’s either half the size of the pizza or a quarter. Friends and family also enjoy their wings. As I am in the small group of people who do not like Buffalo wings, you’ll have to take their word for it. My favorite toppings at Bocce Club are artichokes, spinach, and garlic.
Named after a park down the street, this restaurant has another Buffalo specialty - Beef on Weck. This sandwich is thinly sliced, juicy roast beef on a kummelweck roll served with jus. Kummelweck is a hard roll with caraway seeds and coarse salt on top. At Glen Park Tavern you should also order the sweet potato fries. They come with honey butter and are the best sweet potato fries I’ve ever had.
Sweet Jenny’s is my favorite ice cream place, ever. I’ve been getting ice cream there for decades. The shop has moved around Williamsville a few times but is now in the neatest location - the old water mill.
Sweet Jenny’s
Constructed in 1811, this building was converted to house Sweet Jenny’s production, shop, and a comic book store upstairs. Besides delicious ice cream (double dark chocolate is my favorite), Sweet Jenny’s has chocolates and confections including another Buffalo specialty, Sponge Candy. This confection is an airy toffee that looks a bit like a sponge, hence the name, covered in chocolate.
Travel Tip - Buy extra sponge candy
Get some ice cream to eat and while you’re there buy some sponge candy for a snack later or, if there is any left, a gift for someone back home.
Chef’s has been operating in Buffalo for over 100 years. The walls are covered in photos of people, quite a few you might recognize, who have made a stop to sample Chef’s Italian cuisine. They are known for their spaghetti parm. Spaghetti Parm is a plate of spaghetti topped with butter and cheese and broiled. It is then served with a side of their sauce. That is what I get every time because it is that good. You can get a smaller side of spaghetti parm to go with a different entree if you like. Their eggplant parm is also very good. And don’t worry about getting sauce on your clothes, they provide a cloth bib to spare you having to do laundry.
There are new food experiences popping up all the time. And while I have my favorites I like to revisit, I also try to find new ones. This trip I came across Five Points Bakery. When my mom saw the menu she wasn’t so sure, as besides the pastries at the counter, it is mostly different toasts. She soon changed her mind and was convinced that Five Points Bakery knows what they’re doing.
They have unique combinations of different toasts and toppings. I got Chocolate Cherry Toast with mascarpone cheese and cherry jam. The French Toast is different from anything you’ve had before. It has the custard soft inside, but the outside is crisp and you are able to pick it up and eat it like toast. It came with mascarpone and fig maple jam.
A butter block is what is used in patisserie to get flaky layers like in a croissant. It is the perfect name for this bakery and their patisserie. Right down the block from Five Points Bakery, we picked up a selection to have for dessert that night and for breakfast the next day. You will have a hard time deciding what to get, as you will want to try everything. Our box had 2 chocolate hazelnut croissants, an apple white cheddar danish and a chocolate bouchon. I would eat them all again, but the hazelnut croissant just edges the others out.
I hope this has inspired you to seek out the variety of foods that Buffalo has to offer. The wings are delicious, but there is so much more to discover.
“The Queen City” Buffalo, NY
I love Buffalo, NY! I might be a bit biased as my grandparents lived there and we would visit about once a year. However, its a special place with great food, wonderful sights and fun activities that I still enjoy going back to, even though my loved ones are no longer there.
Growing up, when someone would ask where we were going on vacation and I said New York, they always thought NYC. When I said, no Buffalo, often the next question was will you also go to NYC. I have gone to Buffalo for decades, but until recently had never been to New York City because there are 400 miles between them. So unless you really like driving I wouldn’t plan on combining a trip to Buffalo and NYC. You could make a vacation out of visiting Buffalo and Toronto, but Buffalo is capable of standing on its own for a vacation destination.
The City of Buffalo is located in Western NY. It was the terminus of the Erie Canal, is 30 minutes from Niagara Falls, and 2 1/2 hours from Toronto. Her most well known nickname is “The Queen City” so called because Buffalo is the second largest city in New York state. She is also the second largest city located on the Great Lakes.
Travel Tip - It’s okay to stay near the airport here
Buffalo is one of the few places that I will say its okay to stay near the airport. This is because the airport is on the smaller size and located in one of the towns close to downtown. Buffalo has quite a few neighborhoods and villages surrounding that would be nice to stay in. They have their own spots to visit and are close to other things you’ll want to do or eat at.
Elmwood Village is very popular. It has lots of local shops and artisans. Along with coffeeshops ,pubs and restaurants. It has been names of of the 10 best neighborhoods in the US by the American Planning Association.
Downtown itself has many historical buildings, as well as being close to Canalside, if history is more your thing than shopping. Canalside has some museums, a beautiful waterfront and the terminus of the Erie Canal.
I’m partial to the Village of Williamsville, northeast of downtown. Williamsville has its own Main St with shops, restaurants, 2 different parks and its where my grandparents lived. There are several hotels right on Main St. and others nearby.
On my most recent trip to Buffalo I was joined by my mom and aunt. We thought that an Airbnb would be better for the 3 of us. I found the cutest little house 5 minutes south of Williamsville in Cheektowaga.
“No Place Like Home” was in a nice neighborhood with plenty of sidewalks. It’s close to main roads and highways to get places easily, but was very peaceful. The hosts were very responsive and left us some snacks to welcome us to this very cozy Airbnb!
It was so nice to come back at the end of the day and have a space to relax, eat diner if we hadn’t gone out. And sit and talk in the living room with the fireplace on. There were some games in the cabinets if you wanted something else to do besides the tv. This was such a good base for visiting in Buffalo, the space and the location. It didn’t hurt that my favorite ice cream place was 6 min away. If you would like to see if it is available for your stay I’ve put the link here.
Don’t miss The Food of Buffalo! It’s more than just wings.
A Day in Disney Springs
I was down in Orlando for work and while I love Disney World, I had other trips to use my travel money on this year. So no Disney World for me. However, that didn’t mean I couldn’t get a little bit of Disney Magic schedules into this trip. Work stuff ended Friday night, so instead of leaving on an early flight, I chose to fly out Saturday night and spend the day at Disney Springs.
Saturday morning I left my luggage with the front desk and hopped into my Lyft. Next stop Disney Springs!
Travel Tip - Check both Uber and Lyft.
I have found that in certain cities one or the other is consistently cheaper than the other. I have both apps on my phone and I check to see the price and pick up time and chose the best one.
I love Raglan Road’s Ger’s Bread and Butter Pudding. Having had it the first time I was at Disney, I make sure to get it every time I’m in Orlando. However, on this trip, I wasn’t going to be able to have a table service meal for dinner because of needing to leave for my flight. When I was looking at my options I saw that Raglan Road has a brunch on the weekends and on that brunch menu is a dish called “Its OK to Drool”.
This dish is a french toast made with Ger’s Bread and Butter Pudding. I had found a way to get my favorite dessert as an entrée! Let me tell you, it is just as delicious in french toast form. They add berries, vanilla marscapone, and a hazelnut crunch for texture. I am in the small percentage of people who do not like bacon, so I order an Irish banger (sausage) instead. To round out my brunch I also ordered a Strawberry Fields Mimosa.
Right across from Raglan Road is Gideon’s Bakehouse, who are known for their ginormous and scrumptious cookies. There can be a long line at times. However, it was shorter that day than I expected on a Saturday. I waited about 45 mins, 10 of which were inside.
Travel Tip - Take an umbrella for the lines.
Umbrellas are not just for the ever present pop up Florida rains. They are also helpful for keeping a bit cooler while waiting in line for cookies. Try opening your umbrella while in a sunny line, for a bit of self provided shade.
I purchased several cookies, which came in a nice rectangular box that was just right to slide into my backpack for the flight home. I bought the original chocolate chip, pistachio toffee chocolate chip, and the coconut caramel chocolate chip (hmm, there seems to be a theme). They were a delicious, but my favorite was the pistachio toffee. There are very thick cookies and I liked the bit of saltiness the pistachio provided.
After the cookie stop, I walked around Disney Springs stopping at different stores that looked interesting and to get into some air conditioning. I just window shopped, cookies were my souvenir this trip.
Since I had brunch I was ready for an early dinner before leaving for the airport. I choose D-Luxe burger. I ordered the Barbequed Burger with Fresh-Cut fries. I got the curry ketchup for dipping the fires. I liked the fries more than the burger. The burger was good and I’d eat it again, but I’ve had better. The fries were well seasoned with a little crunch and soft pillowy insides.
Disney is expensive, but you can still add a little Disney magic when in Orlando without breaking the bank.
Packing: No Wrong Way
There are a lot of different ways to pack for a trip. And sometimes the way you pack changes based on length, destination, and mode of transport. You have to find what works for you. Tips are helpful if they make your like easier, but if they cause you to be more anxious about travelling, then leave them behind. I’ll be sharing how I pack and tips I’ve picked up and incorporated.
Travel Tip - Do not underestimate packing cubes.
I wasn’t so sure when packing cubes first started making the rounds. It was another step to add to my packing routine. Then I went to a AAA Travel Day and they had The Packing Lady give a presentation. She said she always packed her underwear in a see through bag or packing cubes when flying, because if TSA has to go through your bag and they are loose that’s someone handling them with gloves that are not changed with every bag they go through. That image convinced me to give them a try.
Now I don’t pack without them. If you are going to a few different places over the course of your trip, they make it easier to find things in your bag. If you are staying in one place, they make it easy to settle into your hotel closet and dresser. I don’t put everything in them. Sometimes jackets and bulkier clothing don’t fit well with your other clothes. I leave them out on their own since they don’t get buried in the bottom of your suitcase as easily.
There are two schools of thought on how to use packing cubes. Packing by type or by outfit. I do a little of both. Anything that is not a main piece of clothing, tights, socks, etc. gets packed together. Then I try to back outfits or groups of outfits together. Pants or skirt with the tops I’ve packed for them. Dresses together with a sweater. If something doesn’t fit rolled up in the cube I fold it on top and see if that works.
Travel Tip - Pack similar color palette clothes
Most of us gravitate to certain colors. We just find them more pleasing than others and/or feel they look better on us. So packing clothes that you can mix and match from the clothes in our closets might not be to difficult. I do admit, thinking about what I’m packing for a trip makes me want to buy something to fill in what I perceive as a whole, even when I probably have something. But that can be part of the fun and anticipation of travelling. Looking forward to wearing our new item in a new place. If you’re packing a pair of pants and a skirt that a new top goes with, there is two wears of your new item already.
I gravitate to wearing dress and jumpsuits over pants. And while it is true that you can pack less if you make your outfits based on pants and skirts, don’t think that you can’t pack efficiently if you’d rather wear more dresses. To do this, I try to take a neutral pair of tights or leggings that will go with each dress I am taking, as well as a coat or sweater that goes. Even if I’m going to be in warm weather, I take a sweater and leggings because sometimes your accommodations are chilly and its more comfortable to have them.
Travel Tip - You don’t have to wear the shirt more than once
When you have a top that goes with the pair of pants you brought and also with your skirt, you don’t have to wear it with each. Sometimes we thought we would like to wear the top with both, but on that day we just aren’t feeling it. You want to be comfortable in what you wear when traveling. I think that is why some people overpack. They want options on the day and are uncertain that they will be comfortable. Packing tops that go with multiple bottoms gives you those multiple options, but that doesn’t mean you have to wear everything the way you thought you would. If its because you don’t want to wear a skirt wear the pants again. Sometimes I turn one of my dresses into a skirt by wearing a shirt over it instead of wearing the skirt I brought.
If these tips were helpful - Great! If not, as long as you aren’t struggling to get your luggage from place to place or running out of room for the souvenirs you want, maybe the way you pack works for you already.
Black and White Cookies
Black and White Cookies Recipe - the NYC classic
I knew that one of the classic New York City foods I had to have was a Black and White cookie. I have eaten them before, but never in NYC. So I added it to the must have list. I ended up getting a huge Black and White cookie at Katz’s Deli. The pastrami sandwich there is amazing! The cookie, not so much. It wasn’t bad, I just knew there were better places to get it. Since I wasn’t able to get a another one while in NYC I decided to make my own.
Black and White Cookies, also known as Half Moon cookies, are thought to have come into existence around the time of the turn of the 20th century with German bakery origins. One popular opinion is that they came from Glaser’s Bake Shop, that opened in 1902 by Bavarian immigrants in Manhattan. Another opinion is that the Hemstrought’s Bakery in Utica, NY created them. No matter who is the original baker, we can all agree they are delicious.
Of cake like consistency, these “cookies” have a soft texture with hints of lemon and vanilla. Each frosting adds its own unique enhancement to the flavor. I adapted this recipe from Joy of Baking.
As you can see in the picture above, these cookie’s ingredients form more of a batter than a dough. It is still thick enough to hold its shape, but is not able to be portioned with just your hands. What helps make this cookie so cake like is cake flour. Cake flour has less gluten than all-purpose and gives the cookies a more tender bite.
Baking Tip - You can make your own cake flour
For 1 cup of homemade cake flour, sift together 14 Tbps. (110g) of all purpose flour and 2 Tbps. (16g) cornstarch. Then sift again.
Shaping the cookies
If you don’t have parchment paper to draw your circles on, use the right size cookie/biscuit cutter to smooth out the batter to the right size and shape.
If you don’t have the right size cookie cutter for tracing or shaping, use a glass or lid that is about the correct size.
Don’t forget to turn the cookies over to frost them. First, that’s the way its been done. Second, it makes it much easier for the frosting to stay and not run off. If the frosting seems too thin and not coating the cookie in an opaque way, add more powdered sugar. If its too thick and you have to work to spread it, add a few drops of hot water.
Eating in NYC: Oh the Decisions!
Brooklyn Bridge Pizza from Grimaldi’s Pizzeria
There are so many good places to eat in New York City that its overwhelming. You can find anything you’re looking for. There are the New York classics, places that bring memories of other places, and entirely new dishes to discover. I’ll share what we ate and why. This shouldn’t be the only place you research NYC food. I’m sure I missed something amazing or a new place has opened. I’ll just have to discover them next time. So here are some of the places I ate in New York City and why.
Secret Food Tours
I had been on a Secret Food Tour in a different city and really enjoyed it. So we went on the Greenwich Village Food tour through them. Food tours are good because you get a little bit of a lot of classics and in the case of Secret Food Tours they are are places you probably wouldn’t find on your own. Its enough food for a meal and you get some history of the area as well. We had falafel, bagels, pizza, donuts, and a few other tasty treats. Would recommend, do again and go on other tours with them.
Grand Central Station
The hotel we stayed at was a few blocks from Grand Central Station. Not only was this convenient, for getting places, but it also has a dining concourse. We ate there for lunch our first day and most breakfasts. Tartinery was where we ate the most, their patisserie is very good. The nice thing about the dining concourse is the option to get it to go from different places and eat at one of the communal tables. Doughnut Plant had a nice variety of doughnuts from classics to new and interseting flavors. I especially enjoyed the peanut butter and blackberry jam.
Travel Tip - Get Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding at Grand Station instead of making a special trip to their flagship.
Scarpetta
As avid watchers of Food Network, we wanted to try one Food Network person’s restaurant. Since there was also a budget on this trip we decided on one very nice restaurant. Scarpetta, filled both these tasks, kind of. It, at one time, was owned by a Food Network star, but not at the time we ate there. We decided it still fit. Sarpetta had a lovely atmosphere, with darker tones, but still light filled. The food was very good. The one dish that blew me out of the water was my dessert. A marscapone panna cotta with macerated cherries, crispy milk, yogurt sorbet, and rose gelee. I don’t usually like floral tastes, but the rose gelee balanced with the milky flavors. The pop of cherry added a nice bit of tartness along with the yogurt sorbet.
The Markets
Chelsea Market - This being New York City I assumed Chelsea Market would be open later than it was. When we got there a little before 7 and had a look around we found that when we circled back to something it was closed. I would recommend coming here for lunch or an early dinner. Even though the building is open until 10pm, most places close by 7pm. We did have delicious halvah and korean fried chicken, but there were some other thing we missed out on.
Time Out Market - For a dinner in Brooklyn we went to the Time Out Market, specifically for their rooftop bar, but it started to rain. It got very crowed because of the rain, but we eventually found a place to sit. In spite of the rain, we had a nice drink and then went downstairs to pick which food stalls to eat from. I got the macaroni and cheese from Jacob’s Pickle., I was feeling childhood comfort food on a rainy evening. It was amazing!
Bao by Kaya
Pork Belly Bao and Popcorn Chicken
I love bao and since NYC has every cuisine imaginable I knew that I could find some good Taiwanese bao. Bao by Kaya did not disappoint. Their Taiwanese popcorn chicken was also delicious. The 2 baos and popcorn chicken combo is a pretty good deal. Added a milk tea, for a wonderful Taiwanese lunch.
Angelina
I first went to Angelina when I was in college. I was in Paris for a cross cultural class and my Aunt said her friend had been and it was delicious. She was right. Best hot chocolate I’ve ever had. So when I learned that Angelina had a restaurant in NYC, I had to go. The hot chocolate (which you stir whipped cream into to thin it out) was just as delicious as I remembered. I got a little excited when pouring my cup and forgot about adding the whipped cream. A dessert to go with the hot chocolate is a must. However, I would steer toward a non chocolate dessert. I love chocolate, but the first time I had Angelina’s hot chocolate I also had a chocolate tart. It was too much even for me. I love the Mont Blanc with it. Layers of light meringue, chantilly cream and chesnut cream. This is an especially fun place to go if you are on a girls trip.
Fraunces Tavern
Established in 1762, Fraunces Tavern is New York City’s oldest bar and restaurant. George Washington used it as a headquarters and famously said Farewell to a group of officers after the last British soldiers left America in December 1783. There is a nice little museum upstairs that is well worth it if you are interested in Revolutionary War history. Great historical atmosphere, topped off with scrumptious food. We had a wonderful cheese board with accompaniments and I had the fish and chips with mushy peas. It was pretty surreal to think about the fact I was eating in the same place George Washington had done the same over 200 years ago.
Worth Mentioning
Nom Wah Tea Parlor - Great Dim Sum, I especially enjoyed the scallion pancakes, roast pork bun and rice roll with fried dough.
Dominque Ansel Workshop - Dominque Ansel is known for the cronut. I didn’t want to stand in line early in the morning and would rather try the Kouign Amann anyway. So we went to the Dominque Ansel Workshop. Much less crowed with many choices for pastry, just not the cronut. I couldn’t get just one thing and ordered a cannele as well.
Tiger Sugar - Boba, but instead of having it with milk tea its just milk and a brown sugar syrup. It made a wonderful dessert.
Juniors - New York Cheesecake - enough said
Come Along to a Museum: 9/11 Museum
Come Along to a Museum: 9/11 Museum and Memorial
On September 11, 2001, I was 14, and while I emptied the dishwasher before school I listened to the radio. That’s my memory of learning about what was happening that day. Millions of people have their own stories and memories. So many personal experiences and others farther removed. That is part of what makes the job of the 9/11 Museum and Memorial so big. A spectrum of creating a memorial and safe space for the family and friends that lost loved ones as well as those who lived through it. To educating people from around the world who weren’t even alive when it happened. And as someone who has work in museum and even got a degree in them, I think they’ve done a fantastic job. The museum is very well done, giving different experiences for visitors with different levels of memory and knowledge.
9/11 Memorial in NYC
First - the Logistics. If you are not using a New York Pass or something similar, buy your tickets online. The museum has timed entrances and getting you tickets beforehand saves you time and gives you more time for experiencing the museum or other things. For those with a New York Pass, admission is included, but you have to go in person to get your ticket entry time. There will be a line. My advice, go early and then pick an entry time for early afternoon. Then go get brunch or plan to visit a different nearby attraction. This way you have plenty of time in the museum (I wouldn’t plan anything after except dinner. Its a great museum with a heavy subject and you’ll need to decompress.). Already planning to have a later time to enter the museum means you won’t have an awkward space between getting your ticket and entry.
You will not be able to see everything. Pick what is important to you. There is an app you can download that has “tours” on it. If you are feeling overwhelmed you can start there. They can give you a framework for going through the museum. If you see something that isn’t on the audio tour that catches your interest, you can pause and return to the tour when you are ready.
Travel Tip - Download the museum app for different audio tour options.
Everyone walking into the 9/11 Museum has a different perspective. For those of us who were alive and old enough to remember we have a shared event that ties us together. Yet based on who we are and where we were, we have very different memories and responses. It hits differently for those you lived through it in New York City or Washington, D.C., than for someone in Indiana. Its different for a U.S. citizen that for a citizen of Italy. The museum allows all of us to process, honor and grieve from our own perspectives and experiences. And for those that weren’t born yet or too young to remember, to learn and honor those who lost their lives and those who are still dealing with it everyday.
From the outside the museum doesn’t look very big and that’s because most of it is underground. They’ve turned the sight itself into the museum. So you’ll see walls , pilings, and stairs and the outside of the reflection memorial pools. It will take longer than you think to visit because you don’t realize how big it is. There are objects and history to see on the way down to the main areas. There is an exhibit focused on those that lost their lives, in the space where one of the towers stood and where the other tower stood is an exhibit on what happened, when and the emergency response. I would suggest visit the memorials above, both before and after. Before, to help you get in the right frame of mind for what you are going to see and learn. After, to reflect with a deeper understanding and knowledge of the names on the memorials.
A few quick things -
There are people of all different ages and places who come to this museum. It is a heavy subject matter. They will not all respond and process the way you would. Example - if a group of teens is quietly giggling in a corner, they are not necessarily trying to be disrespectful. They haven’t processed what they’re seeing, don’t want to cry in front of their friends and that’s the way their brains can handle it. Let the museum employees handle those sitiuations.
If you , for a variety of reasons, cannot visit New York City and the 9/11 Museum, I would still recommend downloading the app. The audio tours have a photo of what each clip is talking about. The building history is especially interesting on how and why the museum was built the way it was.
Sightseeing in NYC: The Itinerary
Brooklyn Bridge
There is so much to see in a city as big and old as New York City fitting everything in, even over multiple trips, is impossible. That is why it is good to have a plan going into it. I am a planner and for me that is very important when travelling. But I also know (from experience) that the plan needs to have some flexibility to it. Some times places are closed unexpectedly or something took much longer than you thought. It can help to have a list of must sees, really want to see and would be nice to see. That way you know in advance what your priorities are.
Travel Tip - Group sights together to maximize time.
Statue of Liberty
New York City, with its 5 boroughs, takes a while to get around. It’s public transportation is good, but it can still take a while to get between places. To make the most of your time try to plan your day at places that are near each other. Sometimes, because of opening hours, this is not possible, or a place might not be near anything else you want to see. In that case you could start or end at the sight that isn’t close to other places. The key is to try and plan it so you have the least amount of travel time.
1 Week NYC Itinerary
Travel Tip - Look into City Cards
Whenever I travel to a bigger city, I look into what city/sightseeing cards or passes are available. These “cards” (most are also an app now) are usually sold in day increments and include a variety of popular attractions and discounts with purchase. Often you can save quite a bit buying the card vs. paying for things individually. The more days, the better the savings. 5-7 day cards are usually worth it. 2-3 days sometimes aren’t unless you cram a lot into your itinerary.
Some of the attractions have fast pass on them and you get to skip the ticket line because you already purchased the card. Pay attention to the possibility that you need to book a time beforehand. Almost all attractions allow you to book this online if it is required. These cards don’t start until you use them, so if you are in a place for longer than the length of your pass you can wait the extra time and do things that aren’t included.
Cities like NYC have multiple pass options. We went with the New York Pass. It included most of the attractions we wanted and some things we hadn’t thought about. Like renting bikes and riding them in Central Park. The New York Pass (or the one you choose) lets you add an attraction if you have unexpected extra time without having to check your budget.
NYC: 1st Stop - Times Square
NYC: 1st Stop - Times Square and Broadway
George M Cohan Statue - Times Square
Overwhelming and underwhelming all at the same time.
The name Times “Square” is a bit misleading. It’s less square and more long skinny triangle. It was the first place I went after dropping off my luggage. Not because I was so eager to see it, but to get tickets for a show. Walking into Times Square you need sunglasses even on a cloudy day. There are bright flashing ads, tons of tourists and lots of people selling things. This is why, for me, Times Square was overwhelming and underwhelming all at the same time. All of the bright lights, crowds and noises were sensory overload. And there wasn’t a lot to see because most of the stores and restaurants are chains you can find back home.
My favorite thing in Times Square was a statue of George M. Cohan, composer in the early 20th century. The movie about him, Yankee Doodle Dandy, with an Oscar winning performance by James Cagney, is worth a watch. You can see the New Year’s Eve ball, as it’s up all year (its a lot smaller in person).
You’ve probably heard this before, but as a reminder, don’t take pictures with the characters in Times Square, unless you are willing to pay for it.
Lion King at the Minskoff Theater
Travel Tip - If you want to see more than 1 Broadway show, buy tickets “day of” for less.
A lot of Broadway theaters are near Times Square, so its a central place for the TKTS booth. They sell discounted “day of” tickets. This is a great way to stretch your budget to see multiple shows. Tickets through TKTS are only sold in person, but there is any app that tells you what shows are available. I downloaded the app a few weeks before to see what shows were regularly on there. We wanted to make sure to see the Lion King and the app said that they rarely ever had discount tickets. So we bought them beforehand. If there is a specific show you want to see, buy the tickets beforehand. It might cost you a bit more, but that way you aren’t disappointed.
One of the reasons we decided to see a show the first night is time. You have to stand in line for the tickets and you don’t know how long that will take. We didn’t plan a lot our first day just in case planes were delayed. Since my plane got in first I went to stand in line. It took about an hour to get to the front. We had a few shows on the possibility list so if one wasn’t available, we didn’t have to look up others while standing at the TKTS window and hold up the line. Make sure the morning you plan to get “day of” tickets is flexible.
The Broadway shows I saw while in New York City were Lion King and Aladdin. As a kid that grew up in the ‘90s it was my childhood all over again. Both were amazing! My favorite part about Aladdin was the magic carpet ride. The mechanics and craftmanship that went into are spectacular! For the Lion King, it was the costumes and puppetry, specifically the giraffes. The movements really convey each animal.
Travel Tip - If seeing the Lion King, or a show right in Times Square, get cheesecake after the show.
Junior’s Cheesecake
After seeing the Lion King, we weren’t quite ready to go back to the hotel, still wide awake thinking and talking about the show. In NYC you shouldn’t leave without having a piece of New York cheesecake. One of the best places is Junior’s, literally next store to the Minskoff Theater, where Lion King is performed. The sit down restaurant is there, as is a takeout cheesecake option. If you don’t want to wait for a table (we didn’t) get in line at the takeout place. There are a few tables outside to sit at. I got in line and my roommate saved a table. If there aren’t any tables available, you could take your cheesecake and find a spot to sit in Times Square or go back to your hotel to eat. The cheesecake travels well and we both found it to be delicious!
Going to New York City Not Just the State
Going to New York City, not just the State - my first visit to the Big Apple
View from One World Observatory
“New York, New York, a wonderful town. The Bronx is up and the Battery’s down. The people ride in a whole in the ground. New York, New York, it's a wonderful town!”
I have been fortunate to travel to quite a few places in this country and the world. I’ve been to New York state more times than I can count, courtesy of visiting grandparents. But as many times as I’ve been to Buffalo, never have I made it to New York City. Over the years this fact has boggled the minds of more than a few friends. However, when you’ve already driven 500 miles to get to Buffalo from Indianapolis, the 400 it takes to get from Buffalo to New York City is not appealing. This was the year, for the first time I would be in the State of New York and in New York City.
New York City here I come…
Flying Delta
One of the most interesting stories about the trip to NYC comes from before I even got on the plane. I went on this trip with my roommate and when we first started looking into flights, realized that we both had enough miles for an award trip…. on different airlines, landing at different airports. Most importantly, this saved money, but in close second was the delight telling people gave us. The confusion and “really?” we got from most people was amazing.
Travel Tip - NYC is a great place for a meet up with friends. Most people can find a reasonable direct flight.
One of the easiest things about NYC is flying to it. Many US airlines have hubs there and so a lot of people can get a direct flight. With multiple public transportation options, whichever of the three NYC airports you fly into, it will be easy to get into the city and to your hotel. Most of the airports have several options and depending on where in NYC you are staying, one might be better over another.
Newark Airport
Bus - Newark Express, stops at Port Authority, Bryant Park, and Grand Central, easy subway connections from those
AirTran - AirTran to NYC Penn Station, then subway if necessary
JFK Airport
Subway - AirTran to either Jamaica or Howard Beach Stations, depending on where in the city you are going
LIRR - AirTran to Jamaica Station to take the Long Island Railroad to Penn Station
LaGuardia Airport
LIRR - Q70 bus to LIRR Woodside, which takes you to Penn Station
Subway - Q70 bus to Jackson Heights- Roosevelt Ave station, lots of line options
Bus - M60 bus for Upper Manhattan
If you are not comfortable yet with public transportation I would choose flying into Newark or JFK over LaGuardia, if that’s a option. Their options cost a bit more, but are more direct and have less changes between types of public transportation. Using Google to get public transportation directions will help you find the best way to get to your hotel. And if you want to experience different airports, you can do what I did and fly into one and out of another one. Or, like me, because the flight times worked better that way.
View of the Empire State Building from our small hotel window.
Travel Tip - Don't stay at hotels near the airport.
Yes, hotels near airports are often cheaper. However, airports in big cities are usually farther outside of town. The money you save will be spent on transportation getting to what you want to do. And Your Time is Worth Something! The time you spend getting to and from your hotel near the airport could be better spent people watching in Central Park or a little more sleep before going to that special breakfast place. And often when you look for them, there are hotels in the city that are priced similarly to the hotels near the airport.
Everyone has their own idea and preferences of what is most important on a vacation. For me, the hotel is not high on the list. I want a place that is safe, comfortable, as centrally located as possible to public transportation or things I want to do. It is a place I sleep and get ready, but don't spend a lot of time in. Because of this amenities aren't high on my list. Other people want to spend time at their hotel and take advantage of what it has to offer. We all have different ways to travel and what is important to us.
When I looked for hotels in NYC I started with guidebooks, both from the library and their online versions. Ones like Fodor’s and Lonely Planet. Then I looked at blogs and started saving things to Pintrest.
I landed on Pod39. There are several Pod Hotels in New York City and this one is a few blocks from Grand Central, which was great for getting to where we wanted to go. You might think by the name that this hotel has big rooms with individual pods. It does not. The rooms are small, but they are their own rooms with their own bathrooms. The unique part about the room we stayed in is it had bunkbeds! It was a good location and fit our needs of a comfortable, central place, and wasn't in a noisy area.
We also thought about staying at Yotel Times Square. Which I think would also be a good place to stay. Pod39 just had a better location for what we wanted to do.
There are so many options in New York City it can be overwhelming. Start with guides that have already narrowed options down. Don't worry about missing out. When you have 2-3 good options stop looking and decide from there.