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One of the best ways to see Central Park is on two wheels. A
paved 6.1-mile loop winds through the park, passing familiar land-
marks like Sheep Meadow and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, along
with less familiar attractions including the Conservatory Garden and the
Harlem Meer lake. The summer is a particularly action-packed time to
visit the park, with special events including the film festival in August,
Shakespeare in the Park, and outdoor concerts.
The vibrant neighborhood of Harlem begins at the northern
stretch of Central Park, on 110th Street. During Sunday morning
brunch hours, restaurants come to life with live music and drink
specials. When out-of-towners make their way to the Big Apple,
I let them choose between a few favorites: classic soul food at
Sylvia’s Restaurant, Somali fare at Safari for a taste of the local
African cuisine, or Neapolitan pizza at Sottocasa Pizzeria.
If the sun is shining and I’m not in Central Park, odds are I’m on
the banks of the Hudson along the Hudson River Valley Greenway.
This waterside path continues all the way north along the waterfront
in Manhattan to the George Washington Bridge and beyond. One
of my favorite views of the Manhattan skyline is from the pedestrian
walkway (cyclists are welcome, too) on the top level of the crossing.
Upper Manhattan is also home to the Met Cloisters, a branch of
The Metropolitan Museum of Art focused on medieval art that’s set
in a former monastery. After wandering through the galleries, I always
bring visitors to Fort Tryon Park. Perched above the Hudson, it offers
wide river views and a garden complete with more than 500 varieties
of plants and trees.
EXPLORING BROOKLYN
Around the world, Brooklyn has become an adjective — it’s a substi-
tute for cool. The constantly changing borough is actually a collection
of neighborhoods (if separate from the rest of New York, it would still
be the fourth largest city in the U.S.) that all have their own character.
Brooklyn is known for its maker culture, and in Williamsburg,
this is evidenced by the many choices for food and drink. The dis-
trict is home to staples like the Brooklyn Brewery (stop in to taste
beer brewed at the source) and Smorgasburg (an outdoor food mar-
ket with skyline views, open Saturdays from April through October;
the Prospect Park location is open Sundays), as well as destination
restaurants such as Lilia for pasta, Maison Premiere for oysters and
cocktails, and Diner for one of New York’s best burgers.
For some exercise after a Williamsburg feast, the Ocean Parkway
Bike Path offers a 5-mile trail from Prospect Park out to Coney Island
(dating to 1894, it’s actually the country’s oldest bike path). Located
on a sandy beach, Coney Island’s amusement rides, boardwalk, and
aquarium feel worlds away from the bustling city streets.
Exploring Brooklyn is also a reminder that New York City is a
metropolis surrounded by water. From the tip of lower Manhattan,
you can board the Ikea Express ferry for a journey to the Red Hook
quarter. As the boat crosses the East River and hugs the Brooklyn
coastline, you gain a different perspective on the skyscrapers of the
Financial District. Once you disembark in Red Hook, follow the hungry
crowds to Hometown Bar-B-Que, an unfussy smokehouse known for
its finger-licking brisket, pulled pork, and ribs.
Of all the vantage points look-
ing back at the Manhattan skyline,
my favorite may be the view from
the Brooklyn Heights Promenade,
a nearly 2,000-foot walkway
perched above the East River.
The esplanade flanks charm-
ing Brooklyn Heights, a historic
neighborhood with cobbled streets and envy-inducing brownstones.
Especially around sunset, there’s no place in New York I’d rather be.
THE MANY SIDES OF QUEENS
Brooklyn may get all the love in movies and TV shows set in New
York today, but Queens is a worthy destination for art, books, food,
events, and more. Long Island City, located across the East River from
midtown Manhattan, is a common entry point to the borough. Many
people climb aboard the 7 local train with MoMA PS1, a contemporary
art museum, in mind (The Noguchi Museum, dedicated to the work
of sculptor Isamu Noguchi, is also in the neighborhood). In addition to
exhibitions by emerging artists, the gallery is known for its weekend
summer Warm Up series, an afternoon of outdoor music and dancing.
Formerly an industrial neighborhood, Long Island City has recently
experienced an explosion in its food scene. People now line up for a
bowl of noodles at Mu Ramen, pack into communal picnic tables to
eat brisket and burnt ends at John Brown Smokehouse, and endure
growling stomachs to wait for a table at Casa Enrique (independent
bookstore Book Culture, located about a mile up the road, is a nice
place to kill some time). For me, a Long Island City visit isn’t complete
without a cocktail at Dutch Kills, a dark and cozy den where bartend-
ers mix creative drinks in a relaxed environment.
INTERVAL WORLD ■ Issue 1, 2018 59
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Channel Your Inner
New Yorker.
at
Getaways start
at $1,299.
The Getaway price is valid for travel between
Aug. 1, 2018, and Dec. 31, 2019.
42 INTERVAL WORLD n Issue 2, 2018
1 . Named after the
legendary Harlem
speakeasy that attracted
the likes of Nat King Cole,
James Baldwin, and other
prominent figures of the
20th century, Red Rooster
is a favorite neighborhood
joint where cocktails pay
homage to its past.
2 . A Coney Island staple,
Paul’s Daughter has been
serving frankfurters,
corndogs, and other
carnival-food essentials to
hungry parkgoers for more
than 50 years.
3 . Set on 4 acres
overlooking the Hudson
River, the Met Cloisters
hold a collection of more
than 2,000 pieces of art and
architectural elements from
medieval Europe.
4 . With penguin feedings,
seasonal camel rides, and
cheetah encounters, the
Bronx Zoo is an exciting
must-see for the entire
family.
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