Monday, 31 May 2010

Adele's heading for NYC

Amidst all the BEA excitement I have been getting quite pumped.
No, I didn't attend.

And no, I didn't work myself into such a pit of despair for not attending that I caused a psychotic break thereby imaging that I was there.

You see, I am heading to New York City in two months time myself. I have two weeks off for the rest of the year and I have decided that NYC is the place I most want to be. Hearing about people's adventures there and seeing pictures has really whetted my appetite.

This trip has been on the back burner for months now. I earn very little here in Japan which is okay I don't need much. But I have been tucking away money for a ticket in August and now I have it in my hot little hands. Going will be a really precious adventure. From July 31st to August 11th I be in the US for the first time in my life. It is a mite surreal. I have grown up with American television, music, fashion and spelling but this will be my first time directly in contact with any of these things.

I have no real plans at the moment. I have a number of people I want to meet. I have a few ideas of places I would like to go and things I would like to see. But I thought I would open it up to people that have been there themselves and those that like to dream...what would you do?

At the moment I am thinking of a Yankees game, a Broadway show (suggestions?), FAO Schwartz (this was a given since I was a kid seeing Big for the first time), the MoMA, Statue of Liberty and a handful of other things.

So I am putting it out there BEA-ers and New Yorkers...what should make Adele's hit list? Are you on that list? I have only ever met two bloggers - the lovely Rhiannon and Steph Bowe. We are only a few in Australia so I would definitely like to meet more of you in the flesh.

What kind of booky things should I be doing? I have already arranged to meet some authors (which means there will be interviews) but what else should I be on the look out for in terms of bookstores etc? Who should I try and catch up with? What foods should I experience? Anything. Hit me with your knowledge people.

This Aussie requires help.

19 comments:

Khy said...

Go see next to normal! It's completely depressing but amazing xD

Suzanne Yester said...

How exciting! What a wonderful adventure! I know when I go to NYC I feel that thrill each time and I only live 1 1/2 hours away! I would definitely plan on Broadway, and I would take a camera and stroll central park, maybe Washington Square! I can't wait to see what all those NY Bloggers will suggest, because I will be taking notes myself!

Thanks for sharing!

MySharonAnne said...

Well first of all you should skip the Yankees and go to a Mets game. The Met, Bronx Zoo, Museum of Natural History, Central Park, Strand Books, Housing Works Books, Little Italy, Chinatown.

Food: eat in Chinatown and Little Italy. Buy roasted peanut from a street vendor. Must try NYC pizza which is the best in the world.

MySharonAnne said...

oh I forgot South St. Seaport.

Amy said...

Yay Adele! I'm so happy that you'll get a chance to go! ;)

I don't really have any recommendations, but I can't wait to hear all about your time.

Bianca said...

Pfttt. Skip the Yankees game. Although, if you want to see the Red Sox they will be playing them when you'll be there! Yeah, I'm a huge Red Sox (and Royals) fan. Haha.

Go see a Broadway musical! If you want suggestions feel free to contact me! I love baseball and Broadway.

Also, I hear Strand Books is wicked good! Would love to go there one day.

Anonymous said...

Have fun in New York. Take lots of pictures.

Carla said...

I'm throwing this out there, because you may or may not like this author, but I know Cassie Clare is doing a signing at Barnes and Noble whilst your there.

Chachic said...

Oh what fun! I have never been to NYC myself but I hope to go in the future. I was in California last year and I was able to watch a couple of musicals. I've talked it over with some of my friends who also enjoy musicals and we've all decided that the best one out there is Wicked. So I highly recommend that you watch that in Broadway. :)

Angiegirl said...

Bookish places: You want to go to Books of Wonder and The Strand. You will not be disappointed. And you will not want to leave.

Wish we could have crossed paths there. :) You'll have a wonderful time.

Ruby said...

Hey Adele... exciting much! :)

I've never been to NYC, but I can recommend Wicked as mentioned by Chachic... saw it in Sydney at Capitol Theatre last year and loved it :)

Look forward to reading about your trip, I am thinking of going on exchange to Canada next year and, if so, will definitely visit NYC :P

AnabelM_Es倫音 said...

要愛你的仇敵,為那些逼迫你的人禱告........................................

Anonymous said...

I've never been to NYC but I have heard enough to know that Magnolia Bakery sells the best cupcakes! I think Central Park is a must visit too and of course Strand Books.

Rhiannon said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rhiannon said...

Check out shake shack in madison square park. It's busy but uber worth any wait in line. Their website is here: http://www.shakeshacknyc.com/
and you can check the web cam before you go to see how big the lineup is.
I was there in April and my three blogs about where and what i loved are here:http://www.thediaryofabookworm.com/search/label/NYC%20public%20library
and here:
http://www.thediaryofabookworm.com/2010/04/oddities-discovered-in-new-york.html
and here:
http://www.thediaryofabookworm.com/2010/04/new-york-new-york.html

ENJOY!!

lili said...

Ellis Island. You MUST go to Ellis Island. It's the second stop on the ferry that goes to the Statue of Liberty. Go to Ellis Island first, and do the audio tour (it contains actual stories of immigration told by the real people). THEN the Statue of Liberty. It will mean so much more.

On the ferry on the way there, we passed the Statue and I was all "oh yeah, big lady, Ghostbusters etc etc". On the way back I burst into tears.

I love the East Village for food and shopping. If you're a music theatre fan you can eat at the Life Cafe (from Rent), or if you're a Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist fan you can eat at Veselka on Second Avenue.

IS76 said...

Bring your walking shoes because you will do lots of walking. It's really the best way to see NY. Free but fun things to do are walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, stroll through Central Park, and NY Public Library (and Bryant Park). For Central Park, be sure to walk down the Mall, the south end of which is the Literary Walk (there's statutes of Shakespeare, Sir Walter Scott, etc.) There's a a good interactive map on this website: www.centralpark.com/pages/map-it/maps.html

Veselka is good. Katz's for the pastrami and Totonno's or Patsy's (on University or 74th) for pizza.

Do you have a place to stay yet? If you stay at a hotel the rooms will be tiny. The better deal is to get a vacation/apartment rental, B&Bs or craigslist. I've gotten great deals on craislist where people sublet out their apartments when they are out of town.

NYC is a great city and I hope you have lots of fun. I lived there for 3 years and miss it terribly.

Alley Of Books said...

Wow, some great suggestions people!

A, pick whatever you want and I will take you there + to get FROZEN YOGURT.

Best.Place.In.Town.

-Mitali

Anonymous said...

Very interesting, at the end I might save all those comments for my next trip to NYC.
My Advise:
* to not miss the East Village, I think it was one of my favorite places together with Nolita;
* I recommend trying something weird and eccentric: I went for dinner with some friends in a vegan restaurant named "pure food and wine" (awful food but we could not stop snickering);
* I am not really into musicals but NCY has the best gigs in the world!

Warning: you will want to move there