NYC for NYE
- Danny D
- Dec 30, 2016
- 3 min read
For Christmas I decided to spend money on making memories rather than gifts. While thinking of where to go I ended up messaging Rays brother-in-law Robin in hopes of going to visit for New Years since Ray hasn't spent NYE with his sister in forever! Robin made all the plans and we actually kept it a secret until Christmas morning somehow? I gave Ray a hand made book saying that I thought we should do something a little different and exciting to start off the new year, followed by plane tickets and a rough plan of where we were going. As he is reading the book I handed his sister Cassie a card saying that I hope we get to see them more in the new year and that I thought we'd start with NYE! Let's just say our surprise worked better then anticipated as it resulted in tears of joy from Laura (Ray's mom) and Cassie. along with a very confused Ray. That is until someone explained that it wasn't a dream and that we were leaving in three days.
Our adventure started by taking a plane ride to Toronto Airport where we stayed for two nights at Cassie and Robin's house. On the 30th of December we were off, and on our way the "The Big Apple". We arrived late at night, so we checked into our hotel and got some beauty rest for the long day ahead, touring around as much of the city as we could in a day.
During our drive from Toronto to NYC, we stopped for food in Syracuse, NY. We ended up going to what looked like a small strip mall, parked, then walked around back to an alley way looking for a neat little place called "Funk n' Waffles". This place was unreal, stairs from the alley way leading to an under ground restaurant serving all things waffles! Ray and I split Chicken and Waffles, I was to die for! If ever driving through that area again we will definitely be going back! highly recommend.
Address: 313 S Clinton St, Syracuse, NY 13202
On December 31st, 2016 we took the train into the big city, we started by heading to Time Square first knowing that it gets crazy busy on new years eve. Unfortunately Ray did not get to experience it to its fullest due to all the barricades and staging prep for the nights festivities, but just gives us an excuse to go back!
From then on we toured around ....
Found a massive Christmas tree, with bulbs the size of my head!
Time for lunch! A good find from my first time in New York! This place is called "Cafe Metro", has huge salads, pasta (both of which you pick everything you want it in or on it), pizza, sandwiches, etc. Cheap and quick :) (Many throughout city)
Address: 42nd Street by Grand Central Station
A must do at least during one visit to NYC is walking the Brooklyn Bridge, there is a beautiful view and insanely talented artist along the way!
This crazy looking whale tale thing is actually a mall! Right in front of the new tower.
Little sneak peak of The Statue of Liberty, if your able to the boat tours around the harbor, under the bridges and directly under the statue is so worth it! Gives you a different view of NYC. If not you can get a decent view from Battery Park, along with getting a picture with the famous Bull. I mean you can't not get a picture with the bull balls!
Time for a drink! We found this little place called "Shorty's" super cool environment! Great place near Battery Park for pitchers of beer! also decently priced! We will be back ..
Next up was time for some supper and another bar for drinks! (two different places)
Then we continued our walk back up near Time Square too go to Central Park. Along the way we took our time to see the crazy decorations lit up and the light shows! NYC around Christmas is a must at least open light everywhere, its so pretty!
We watched the fire works an helicopters fly around Central Park.
After that made our way back to the train to go back to our hotel to get our rest and prep for adventure the following day,
-- Happy New Year --