Everything I Did in New York City

This summer, we took a trip to New York. Not having been since the summer between third and fourth grade, it’s safe to say I was excited to explore the Big Apple. After weeks of getting recommendations from friends, researching things online, and planning, we loaded our personal item-sized bags and boarded our cheap flight to the Empire State.

I took a lot of photographs while we were in New York, but this was a trip of experiences, not simply for the sake of making images. I’ve compiled a list of everything we did in New York City and sprinkled my photographs here and there!

Where’d we stay?

We broke our trip up into two parts: one in Queens and the other in Manhattan. We’re typically neighborhood people, even back home in Detroit, but we felt we couldn’t do New York without spending a few nights in the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle.

The view from our hotel in Long Island City.

While in Queens, we stayed in Long Island City, which wasn’t our favorite neighborhood. However, we were right by the train, which gave us quick access to the other boroughs. Most of our time in Queens was spent in Astoria and near the water in green spaces like Rainey and Queensbridge Parks. More on that later, though! We stayed at the Hotel Boro, which offered lovely Manhattan skyline views.

While in Manhattan, we stayed in Murray Hill. This wasn’t our first choice, but the price was right, and it was near a few things that we wanted to do. We stayed at Pod 39, which had small rooms but fair pricing.

What to do in Queens?

Queensbridge Park

We loved the view from this park, and it wasn’t very crowded. It’s a nice spot to eat a morning bagel or drink a coffee. There were many friendly people around and some softball games over the weekend.

The view from Queensbridge Park.

Nas Mural

If you’re into rap, this was a must-see. It’s right down the street from the projects where Nas grew up, which are worth walking through, especially if you don’t live somewhere with things like that.

Welling Court Mural Project

There are a ton of murals here, and they were constantly being added or changed. You aren’t going to spend a ton of time here, but it’s worth walking through.

Museum of the Moving Image

We absolutely loved this place! The museum features artifacts and exhibits on the history of communication, including television, radio, movies, and other vital parts of America’s modern history. It’s an excellent shout for people of all ages.

QED Astoria

You aren’t going to see big names at QED, but it’s still worth a stop. The entrance fee is cheap, and they do a ton of work in the community, which is fantastic to see. The room is intimate, so be prepared to get called out!

What to do in Manhattan?

Museum of the City of New York

This is one of the places we weren’t certain we would go to, but I’m incredibly happy we did. I learned a ton about New York City, its origins, and the crime-ridden eras that I’ve always been curious about. Parts of the museum feel like a puff piece; however, I’d recommend this museum to anyone interested in laying the groundwork for understanding New York City before they leave.

The Comedy Cellar

The Comedy Cellar is the best comedy club that I’ve been to. I haven’t been to many, but the interior is homey, and the acts were well-known and on fire. It’s worth looking ahead to see who is performing, but you can’t go wrong here any night of the week.

The Brandt Foundation

While we were in town, the Brandt Foundation had a phenomenal collection of Andy Warhol’s work. The structure is unique, and they seem to have unique shows year-round. Sometimes, certain days of the week are cheaper to get in, too.

Museum of the American Indian

This museum isn’t huge, but it’s well worth visiting. The museum sprawls several rooms in the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House. It has thousands of artifacts and displays to learn more about indigenous peoples in New York, America, and the Western Hemisphere.

Coffee In New York City

*Disclaimer: I don’t drink coffee. My partner does, and she can recommend these spots. I can vouch for the baked goods!

Astoria Coffee

This cute little coffee shop in Astoria has tasty baked goods and a modern vibe.

Black Fox Coffee

We found this to be a little pricey, but the coffee was good, and there are numerous locations around the city to get your caffeine fix.

Perk Coffee

They have good coffee and even better donuts. Seriously, try the blueberry if they have it!

Thrifting in New York City

Brooklyn Flea

This flea market is located right underneath the historic Manhattan Bridge. Some of the prices seemed high (hence why I didn’t return to Detroit with a new camera or lens), but there were some rad deals to be had here. It was pretty crowded when we went.

Beacon’s Closet

Most resale shops I’ve been to have ridiculous prices, but Beacon’s Closet didn’t. The neighborhood was cool, too, so this one is worth heading to if you’re in the area on foot. They have a few locations, too.

Le Point Value

This thrift store was more our style, at least compared to what we’re used to in Detroit. There was some unique stuff on the racks, and they also have a couple of locations.

Food & Drinks in New York City

We didn’t go to The Corner Deli, but looked cool.

The Wolfhound - Astoria

They had an excellent Happy Hour deal on a burger when we went. We chatted with the manager for an hour; he was a super nice guy and gave us some recommendations for things to do in the neighborhood.

Bohemia Hall & Beer Garden - Astoria

We went here to watch the U.S. Women’s National Team play in the Women’s World Cup, and it was a great time. There are indoor and outdoor areas, and the Queens American Outlaws group meets here sometimes for matches.

Hot Bagels Deli - Queens

An older couple owns this bagel shop and has cheap, fresh bagels. Close walk to the Nas mural and Queensbridge.

Bread & Spread - Brooklyn

This spot has absolutely delicious sandwiches with healthy options available. Super friendly staff, too.

Freehold Rooftop - Murray Hill

The prices weren’t cheap, but it was on top of Pod 39 (the hotel we stayed at), so we figured we had to give it a go. There’s a lovely view up there!

Champion Pizza - SoHo

It was not the cheapest slice around, but there were many options, and it was tasty. The owner has a YouTube channel and photos of himself with loads of celebrities; you know the type.

Figo Gelato - Little Italy

 Some of the best gelato I’ve had, including when visiting Italy. Very tasty.

7th Street Burger - Greenwich Village

A good, old-fashioned, greasy burger joint in Greenwich Village. It’s right next to the Comedy Cellar.

Tasty Dumpling - Chinatown

Some of the cheapest and best-tasting dumplings that I’ve ever had. Seating is limited, so you might have to take it to go.

Royal Pizza - Queens

This low-key pizza spot has a scrumptious BBQ chicken slice. It’s nothing to write home about, but it gets the job done.

Semkeh - Brooklyn

This joint has Lebanese food at fair prices. There’s no indoor seating, but they have a structure built on the sidewalk, so you can eat it there if you want to.

The rest of the photos;

I hope we can take another trip to New York City sometime soon so I can add to this list, make a YouTube video shooting more photographs, and eat more amazing food!

Until then, I’ll continue adding to my Historically Significant Map, researching and documenting buildings in Detroit, Michigan, and elsewhere.