A Weekend in NYC for Girlfriends
Boston is where I grew up. It feels comfortable and familiar. It’s home. But, New York feels like a soulmate. I spent 5 years living in Westchester and working in the Bronx and Manhattan and still go back a few times a year to keep my NY attitude sharp. I’ve experienced New York the way true NYers do - I’ve danced until dawn downtown, played cards all afternoon in Central Park, cried on the subway, fallen asleep to the sound of clanging radiators, spent far too long at happy hour, and rushed to catch the last express train out of the city. Using my experience as a former honorary New Yorker and frequent visitor, here’s how I think you’d have a great weekend in NYC with your girlfriends!
A note — I’ve skipped all of the toursity sites like the MET, or the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, the High Line, etc. Those are wonderful places to visit and I highly recommend doing them! But, this New York guide focuses on my two favorite things - walking and shopping in the city!
Saturday
The last time I visited New York, my friend and I stayed at Le Meridian New York Central Park on W57th. I didn’t hate it! It was clean, quiet, and updated. My only criticism is the size but just about every hotel in New York is tiny. They also have a GREAT rooftop bar. The views are amazing.
Start your Saturday on the Upper West Side at Zabars. Walk through the gourmet grocery, buy some merch, and then head to their cafe on the corner for coffee and some breakfast (or a black and white cookie, that totally counts as breakfast.)
Walk to the 79th St station and take the subway downtown for some shopping. I usually start in Soho. I always love to pop into Sezane and Polene but be sure to visit the few unique, local stores that are left in Manhattan. Go to New York or Nowhere (on Lafayette) and get some merch to commemorate your weekend in the city!
Ok, so I need to eat every couple hours or I start to get fussy so at this point I’m usually ready for lunch. There’s a great Mexican spot across the street from Sezane. It’s called Tacombi and I always wander into it, forgetting that I’ve “just wandered into it” a million times before. It’s got a very cool but casual vibe for lunch. Treat yourself to a spicy margarita!
Whenever I’m in NYC I spend a lot of time just wandering around Soho and the West Village. I’m as basic as they come so, yes, I like to channel Sarah Jessica Parker and catwalk between the brownstones that line the streets. If you’ve read either of Andy Cohen’s diaries you’ll recognize many of the restaurants and parks he mentions in the West Village (Zazzy’s, Cafe Cluny, NYC AIDs Memorial Park, etc). So, channel your favorite celebrity and relive their version of the neighborhood. It’s cringe but you’ll love it. You can even visit the Carrie Bradshaw brownstone on Perry St. then walk over to Cornelia St. and wave hello to Taylor Swift’s former apartment. Or visit the Friend’s apartment facade on Bedford St. & Grove St.
At this point, you may need a time out so head back to your hotel for a nap or relax while people-watching on a bench in a park.
The last time I was in New York I tried Olio e Piu on Greenwich Ave, sort of wedged between Christopher St. and 6th Ave. It was great. The atmosphere is cozy but chic and the food was really yummy. I went for lunch but I’d love to know how dinner is so someone please go and tell me how fun and delicious it was!
Last May, we celebrated my friend’s last ever weekend in the city. She was moving after 10+ years of living in NYC and we wanted to go out and dance and drink a little too much. If you’re in the mood to do the same, we had a great time at Blind Barber in the East Village. It gets really young and really clubby around 1:00 am but that was sort of fun for an hour or so! It’s been around forever so if you want to feel like a true 20-something NYer, go to a sexy speakeasy.
Sunday
There’s no better place to enjoy a coffee and a bagel than Central Park, especially when you’re hungover. I’ve spent a few mornings in Central Park nursing a hangover with a coffee and BEC (“saltpepperketchup” IYKYK). Staying at Le Meridien New York Central Park on W57th made revisiting Alan’s for a bagel and coffee really convenient. I used to go to Alan’s all the time when working at Fordham, right across the street on 60th & Columbus. I love entering the park through the west side so after you grab your bagel, enter the park on any of the entrances on Central Park West. Columbus Circle can feel a bit hectic but just keep walking north and you’ll find the park filled with residents enjoying a peaceful Sunday in the park.
Spend as much time as possible in the park. Bring a blanket, a deck of cards, and your coffee. I hope you get a beautiful weather day and you hang in the park for hours on a patch of grass in Sheep Meadow. If you have the energy, walk the Bridle Path around the reservoir. It’s a great way to end the weekend and savor your last few New York minutes.
