craig’s trip to NYC

October 29th, 2009

New York was to be my final destination, and it was essential that I would finish the summer in style and I certainly did by choosing to fly with American Airlines. Access to the Admirals Lounge at Heathrow Airport was like escaping to a quiet haven away from the hustle and bustle of the main terminal building. Complimentary everything… a wide selection of snacks, every drink imaginable and an abundance of warmth from the staff.

Onto the plane and the ‘American Airlines Flagship experience for business’ was like no other. The lie-flat seats (combined with super snuggable duvets) would certainly compete with some of the beds I’ve slept in over the last 3 months. A four course lunch and wine list to die for made this an in-flight experience like no other!

Staying at the Affinia Shelburne we really couldn’t have picked a better location. Out of the side windows the towering Empire State building was casting a shadow. The front windows played host to a magnificent skyline including the beautiful Chrysler building. A truly impeccable modern New York City boutique hotel, and only a stones throw from Times Square.

Having started the weekend off as a celebrity on American Airlines I thought I would continue with the theme and visit the famous locations. What a day! Starting by looking for Lois Lane in the News Building, visiting the Friends’ apartment building indulging in an infamous ‘cupcake’ in the ever so cute ‘Sex and the City Magnolia Bakery’ hangout and even knocking on for the Huxtables.

The Metro is so easy to use, and extremely fast that we opted for this mode other than the usual sightseeing bus. New York is such a huge city but is so easy to navigate once you realise the avenues go down in number order with the streets going across. A great way to see the skyline of New York (as well as some of the sights) was to take the ferry over to Staten Island. A great way to take in the city’s skyline.

On to shopping, and the department stores made famous in the films certainly left me lost and confused (11 floors of shopping – not even I can manage that). Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s wore me out and I never even made it to Saks.

Passing through Times Square in the evening is like nothing you would imagine before. It really is the city that never sleeps. Everywhere I look up puts me in a state of dizziness as I try to capture the buildings as they never seem to end. Each building appears to be in competition with the next in terms of style and grandeur. The advertising signs are bigger than buildings back in England.

As you can probably guess over the last few months I am a huge theatre fan. From seeing the musicals of Le Cage, Priscilla, The Jersey boys and We Will Rock You, the adaptation that is ‘Breakfast at Tiffanys’ and even the infamous ‘Moulin Rouge’ I was left wondering what New York would hold. Many of the shows on Broadway I have already seen (and the seats left were not the best) so I chose an off Broadway number. ‘Altar Boyz’ is a spoof on boybands at the New World Stages. The musical left me crying with laughter based on a group of choir boys who form a boyband.

It really did give me one heck of a good end to one heck of a summer!