Every year near Christmas I travel to NYC for some holiday shopping! I wrote about my last few trips here and here, and this year was a little different because I spent the night.
My first time in New York I was there for about a week and did everything on the tourist bucket list. I’ve seen Times Square, Rockafeller Centre, the Empire State Building, and everything on those “must see” lists that you see over and over again on the Internet.
Each year that I go back I tend to choose the Christmas season because it’s so beautiful in the city, and I have shopping to do!
This year instead of flying in and out the same day, I stayed overnight to get more shopping time in. There were a few extra things I wanted to do this year as well.
As usual I flew Porter which I LOVE, but this year I used the new underground tunnel instead of the ferry. It was beyond fast and easy! I also tried their pre-booked parking as well which I really liked. I paid in advance to park, and a free shuttle took me to the airport in under 5 minutes. Porter really does think of everything!
One of the highlights of my trip was heading to Soho for some shopping, and to have lunch at Ladurée. I can’t believe I’d never been to Soho before! Especially since it’s right beside Little Italy which I have been to before.
There were so many great stores, from the fabulous and luxe Chanel and Louis Vuitton, to boutiques and shops that had independent designer wear and handcrafted goods that couldn’t be found anywhere else.
Ladurée was beautiful. There was a back terrace, along with a bake shop in the front selling their famous macarons. The restaurant was intimate, and very chic. The staff spoke French, and the menu was French as well. On my way out I obviously had to buy a box of macarons, and a few extra to eat as I shopped.
I had the Salade Soho, and I could hardly finish it, and I also had their Chocolat Ladurée. It was their famous version of hot chocolate, but it was more like a drinkable chocolate sauce. It was pretty amazing, and a must try if you visit!
After spending the rest of my day on 5th Avenue I made a quick stop at Sprinkles Cupcakes. There were many cupcake stops on my trip including to Magnolia and the bake shops at The Plaza Hotel Food Hall. Sprinkles was fun because they had a cupcake ATM! The inside of the shop was cute, but pretty ordinary. The cupcake ATM was a must-visit because hello, it’s a cupcake ATM! Oh yes, and the cupcakes were good too!
My day of marathon shopping ended with a reservation at Bergdorf Goodman’s famous BG Restaurant. I made a reservation well in advance, and requested a view of Central Park.
I arrived for a rather early dinner at 5:00pm, and the place was completely packed! I was so glad I had a reservation because the restaurant was full of women just like me, completely exhausted and ready for a glass of champagne!
I had the Lobster Macaroni and Cheese which was actually the best I’d ever had (and that’s saying a lot since I order it any place that offers it) and a glass of champagne. It was the perfect location, and a great restaurant for a girl who needed a shopping break.
Before I left on my trip I booked a visit to the 9/11 Memorial Museum. Last year I didn’t realize how busy it was, and I couldn’t get in because so many people had pre-booked tickets. This year I knew I wanted to see it so I booked my entry time online.
Even at 9:30am there was a line up just with people who had pre-booked tickets. It didn’t take long to get in, but when I left a couple hours later the line up was massive.
The museum was incredible. I realized after walking for a few minutes that it was a very different museum experience because there were no children, and everyone was very quiet.
Photos could only be taken in certain areas of the museum, and in most sections they were prohibited. It’s hard to describe the whole experience. I thought it was beautifully done, but I had a hard time seeing some of the photos and footage. It was amazing to see things that were recovered (such as seat belts from one of the planes) and things recovered from the buildings, but it was very emotional. I couldn’t get through some of the museum, and it still took me two hours from start to finish. I absolutely recommend seeing it for yourself – it was very powerful. I did need a bit of time once I left to get my head straight again as it was based on such tragic events.
On my way to Starwberry Fields in Central Park I happened to pass Tavern on the Green, and they had a beautiful patio that people were enjoying because of the amazing weather. I only wore a sweater while on my trip because it was so warm in the city, and I couldn’t help but stop for a mimosa on the patio.
I’d never been inside Tavern on the Green before, but it was gorgeous. It was packed on a Saturday afternoon, but the patio had lots of room so I took a breather. I can’t wait to head back one day to have lunch or dinner there. In this case I had no time, but it was the perfect spot for a mimosa!
If you are looking for a weekend getaway you should consider flying with Porter to NYC! The trip is quick and easy from Toronto, and I can’t wait to get back there.
