by Diane Brady

henever I think of New York City I remember that old song by Norrie Paramor in the 1950s.

Every Street’s a Boulevard in Old New York
Every street’s a highway of your dreams
Why, it’s a thrill to shop on 34th street
Or down in Union Square…

It’s still that special, exciting place for me, as it was when my husband and I lived there after our marriage and we both worked in downtown Manhatten.

You can’t see everything on just one visit.
The easiest way to get around is by subway.
There’s no traffic to fight as there is if you take
a bus or cab. There’s a website, hopstop.com, traveling on the subway. Make sure you have
comfortable shoes — no matter where you go
you’ll do a lot of walking.

Ride the Staten Island ferry
to see the Statue of Liberty.

Being able to layer your clothing is best, as no matter the season, the weather is changeable. If you’re there in winter check out the Radio City Music Hall Christmas show—in spring it’s the Easter show. They are both fantastic. Don’t miss them. In winter there’s also outdoor ice skating at Rockefeller Plaza.

For 15 days in June/July there is dancing, including lessons, at Lincoln Center. Check the website for exact dates and dances. You can learn real Argentine Tango and even the Lindy Hop (which was created just uptown in Harlem in the 1920s).

If you like stage shows, this is the place. Book well in advance, but if you’re adventurous, try the TKTS ticket booth (twitter.com/tktd) the day of the show. Many tickets are half price.

Ride the Staten Island ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. (Still the greatest bargain in the transportation world—it’s free.) You do have to get off the boat and get on another one for the return trip.

Central Park is great for walking, when the weather permits. The museums in New York are some of the biggest and best in the country. At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, on Friday and Saturday evenings in the Great Hall Balcony Bar, you can enjoy music and conversation while sipping wine. A visit to the Cloisters museum at Fort Tryon Park in upper Manhattan is like going back to Medieval times.

I think New York has the best Italian restaurants anywhere.The food is delicious and reasonably priced.

As for where to stay, the choices, and prices, range from upscale hotels to rental apartments to the YMCA. Make sure you pick somewhere that’s
close to the subway for ease of traveling.

The “Big Apple” is definitely the city that never sleeps.

New York City: www.newyork.com.
Lincoln Center: www.lincolncenter.org.
Metropolitan Museum of Art:
     www.metmuseum.org.

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