We left Chicago/ORD on Wednesday, August 28, 2021, on a Delta flight to LaGuardia (LGA) for our first visit to New York City. The main reason for this trip was to see Springsteen on Broadway.
Bruce Springsteen holds a very special place in our hearts. Our brother-in-law, Timmy, who passed away from cancer in 2011 was a HUGE fan of Bruce.
My sister, mom, Bob, and I went to see Bruce at Wrigley Field in 2012 to honor Timmy. Bob and I fell in love with Bruce and have been wanting to see him again.
When it was announced that Springsteen on Broadway would be one of the first shows to open after the pandemic, we jumped at the chance to purchase tickets.
Since we were going to be in New York City for the show we decided to add a few days and see the city.
I hope you enjoy reading all about our time in New York City.
Day 1: August 28, 2021 - Travel Day and Williamsburg
We flew Delta to LGA and took a taxi to our hotel, Marriott Marquis.
Our hotel was located on Times Square and our room had a nice view. We could see the New Year's Eve ball outside the window. That was very cool! It was fun watching the people on Times Square when we were in our room.
The room was clean and larger than I expected for NYC. I didn’t love being on Times Square. It is a very busy & crazy area, which is not my scene. We selected it because it was a block away from St James Theater and we wanted to be very close to our hotel after Springsteen on Broadway. I was concerned it would be hard to find a taxi or Uber after the show. I would not stay in this area in the future but it worked well for this trip.
The hotel had limited dining options due to COVID. We dined at Junior's across the street several times. It has a nice outdoor patio, good food, and fast service. It worked well for breakfast.
After checking in, we freshened up and headed to Williamsburg/Brooklyn. We had reservations at Juliette and wanted to experience Brooklyn. Juliette had a nice rooftop and we enjoyed a cool breeze and yummy food while people watching. After dinner, we walked to Martha’s Country Bakery. OMG, the number of options. I picked the Berry Napoleon and apple pie. I add the Napoleon that night and saved the apple pie for another time. I highly recommend a stop at one of the Martha’s locations.
It was a great and full first day.
August 29, 2021: Day 2 - Central Park, Tavern on the Green, Cloisters Museum and Ayza
Our first full day in New York City started with walking down 5th Ave to Central Park.
5th Ave reminded me of Michigan Ave in Chicago but bigger. We had a lovely time strolling down 5th Ave on a mostly empty street. As we walked near St. Patrick's Cathedral we could see a large group that was filming. It will be interesting to see this scene on TV or on the big screen someday. I will be on the lookout for it.
Once we reached Central Park we walked along the paths to Tavern on the Green for our brunch reservation. So many people were out walking their dogs and running along the scenic paths.
Tavern on the Green is located on the West side of Central Park near 67th St. It's in a lovely area and we were lucky to be seated in the garden area. Brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday. During the check-in process, we were asked to show our Vaccine Cards.
By the time we arrived, we were hungry and thirsty. We started with hot coffee for my husband, a nice cold Coca-cola for me, and the Homemade Pastry Basket. If you don't know I'm not a coffee drinker but love a morning coke. For our main meal, we decided to share the Smoked Bacon & Scrambled Egg Pizza and the Brioche French Toast. We made excellent choices. Both were delicious and beautifully presented.
After our delicious lunch, we walked past the Live with Kelly & Ryan studio which is about a block down 67th. I don't watch the show now but always watched it while Regis was a host. He told the best stories. Regis and his wife Joy lived across the street from the studio so I was able to see that building as well. It was interesting seeing that area.
Our next destination was The Met Cloisters, which we had arranged transportation to pick us up in the area.
The Met Cloisters is part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and features medieval art in a French monastery with views of the Hudson. Tickets can be purchased online.
We spent several hours viewing the art and architecture. My favorite part of the museum was the beautiful gardens and terrace overlooking the Hudson.
After our time at the museum, we headed to Rockefeller Center to explore the area. Coastal Beach Party was the current theme of the Channel Gardens. FAO Schwarz was larger than I imagined and super fun to see. The NBC studios and Christie's is all in the same plaza. I added a Christmastime visit to New York City to my bucket list. I would love to see the tree and skate at Rockefeller Cente someday.
Rockefeller Center was a short walk from our hotel and we went back to change before dinner.
Ayza Wine & Chocolate Bar was the perfect spot for outdoor dining. We had made a reservation before our trip and were seated on the outdoor patio. All we had to do was scan the QR code, order, pay and our drinks & food were delivered to our table. I really liked this method of ordering as it cut down on person-to-person interaction. The food was good and we enjoyed the evening watching the people walk past and discussing our trip so far.
August 30, 2021: Day 3 - The Met, The Boathouse, and Los Tacos
We started our morning at Juniors for breakfast. It's a solid place for breakfast and is located directly across the street from our hotel. After our yummy and filling breakfast, we walked to The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met).
Since we were one of the first people to enter the museum we were in front of the crowds during our visit, which was great.
The museum is huge with several floors of incredible art from around the world. Our main reason to visit this museum was to see the Tiffany Autumn Landscape window which was stunning.
We spent a couple of hours walking around the museum and visited the Arms & Armor, The American Wing, Egyptian Art, European Sculpture & Decorative Arts, and Greek & Roman Art. My favorite part was walking out on the terrace to see the views of New York City.
After our time seeing the art we walked through the large store.
A few hours provided a great overview of the museum but there was definitely a lot we missed.
Next up we walked, through Central Park, to The Boathouse for a late lunch. Reservations are recommended. We were seated along the walk. As we ate we watched the rowboats on the water.
Since we had walked from to the museum and then to The Boathouse we were thirsty and each ordered a large iced tea with a lot of ice. Bread and butter were brought to our table as we reviewed the menu. We placed our order of a salad for me and sliders with fries for my husband. Both were good but the atmosphere was what makes The Boathouse special.
We spent the afternoon exploring more of Central Park. Did you know there are 58 miles of paths? I would love to come back to see more of Central Park.
We picked up Los Tacos, located very near our hotel, for dinner and ate in the room. The tacos were good, I just wish they had mobile ordering.
Another fun and full day!
August 31, 2021: Day 4 - Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise, Edge, Chelsea Market, Bryant Garden, and Springsteen on Broadway
The big day had arrived...Springsteen on Broadway. The concert wasn't until 8 pm so we had the entire day free.
One thing I wanted to see during our visit was the Statue of Liberty. Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise offers an hour-long narrated cruise that takes you close to Lady Liberty. I booked the 10:30 am cruise before our trip. We always try to do some type of cruise when we visit cities on the water. I just love being on the water and taking in the views and seeing the city from a different perceptive.
We took a taxi to Pier 83 and arrived with enough time to walk past USS Intrepid (it's the ship from the movie National Treasure). I wish we had time to do the tour, maybe next time.
Once on board the ship, we headed to the top floor for the best views. It wasn't very crowded so we were able to move around to get pictures.
The cruise narration was informative and gave just enough information.
The weather was great and the sky was so blue when we were around her.
For under $45 for the two of us, it was a great value. If you want to see the NYC city skyline from the water and get up close to the Statue of Liberty this is a great option.
Next up we walked along the Hudson to Edge, the new outdoor sky deck.
It is the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere and has amazing views. The observation deck is suspended mid-air.
I purchased tickets online before our trip. All guests must be vaccinated and show their vaccine cards on arrival. Our general admission tickets provided access to the indoor observation deck, outdoor observation deck, access to the glass floor, and angled glass walls. If you want to visit at sunset it's an extra charge. A sunset visit would be super cool!
Also, you can add a glass of champagne and a photo book to tickets.
The check-in process was very quick and organized. They checked our photo ID and vaccine cards. Masks are required inside.
The elevator ride was fun as the walls change as you go up. As you get off the elevator you see the most amazing views of New York City from 100 stories high. It is truly incredible.
There is a bar to get drinks and a small seating area.
We walked around inside and then headed to the outdoor area. This is where the views are the best. If you are afraid of heights I don't recommend it.
The walls are all glass so you can see in all directions. There is a small section of the floor that is glass. Many people were on the glass laying down or posing for pictures. I wasn't up for that so I settled for a few pictures along the glass walls.
There is no time limit and we stayed about an hour.
After our time at Edge, we walked along The High Line (walking path on an old railroad line) to Chelsea Market. We grabbed pizza for lunch and sat outside enjoying the area.
We took a taxi back to our hotel, changed clothes, packed, and then walked to Bryant Park for a quick dinner before the show.
We had a nice dinner, people watched and enjoyed the lovely park.
I was sad to leave the park but excited to see Springsteen on Broadway at St. James Theater. We arrived early and there was already a line. Once the line started moving it went fast. They checked our vaccine cards and photo ID cards.
The show was great! Not your usually Bruce Springsteen concert but more of his life story with songs. His wife, Patti, came out to sing two songs with Bruce. As a fan of Bruce, I enjoyed this intimate setting and storytelling evening.
The walk back to the hotel took 2 minutes which is the reason we wanted to stay at Marriott New Your Marquis.
Springsteen on Broadway was the perfect way to end our first trip to New York City!
September 1, 2021: Day 5 - Back to Illinois
We took a taxi back to LaGuardia and boarded our plane. We were lucky to get out before Hurricane Ida hit the area. We watched the coverage on TV and send our thoughts and prays to all who were impacted.
I'm a Travel Agent and Blogger that specializes in Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Universal, SeaWorld, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, and properties I showcase on my blog. It is my passion to use my travel knowledge and love of travel in a way that inspires people to travel more. If you are thinking about planning a trip please contact me. I love talking about Disney & Travel!!! My planning services are complimentary when you book with me! Want a quote, email me at debbie@polkadotsnwishestravel.com (my travel agent email). Happy Travels! Travel with Debbie D
