I heart NY (Part II)

I could write one post for each day I was in New York, but I'll try to squeeze the rest of my trip into one post...

Here's a few more pics of the neighborhood I stayed in from The Bronx.

On the second day we went to the Rockefeller center, which was awesome!  We were told to go there rather then the Empire State Building because it is cheaper and has a better view.

I can't believe how many buldings there are. They were never ending, but made for a gorgeous view that's for sure!

Ice skating rink at the Rockefeller center (minus the ice)

...Basically sums up how I felt after going to the Museum of Modern Art.

We went to 5th Avenue which was AMAZING! I just wish I could have enough money to go crazy in those stores. Afterwards, we crossed through Central Park over to the Met.

On the steps of the Met, right where Blair and her friends sit on GG!

There was an Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Met we had a chance to go to (after waiting in line for two hours).  Definitely worth the wait! It was amazing! The most beautiful and creative designs I have ever seen.  It was quite the experience getting to see them up close.

Infront of the Met

Later on our trip we went to lower Manhattan and visited Ground Zero, saw the new Freedom Tower being built, then walked down Wall Street to South Ferry where we took the Staten Island ferry across to see the Statue of Liberty.

Freedom Tower

All I could see of Ground Zero. It was all blocked off for construction

And then my camera decided to die right before we got on the ferry, but the rest of our vacation was just as awesome.  We went shopping in South Hampton, ate at Shake Shack (best burgers I've ever had!), ate at Pink Berry, more $4 margaritas at Benny's Burritos, Empire Hotel (owned by Chuck Bass in GG), chocolate martinis at P.J. Clarke's, etc. etc. 

I'm really glad I got to visit New York, I think that everyone needs to go at least once in their life.  And not just Manhattan, but the surrounding cities as well.  There is so much important history filled in the city, and so much to do and see in general.  I'm also really thankful that Kallie invited me.  I am lucky to have her as my best friend! 

I heart NY (Part I)

So my best friend Kallie is awesome and happened to win two round-trip tickets to anywhere in the continental US.  Being her awesome self, and me being her best friend, she decided to take me!! And we thought it would be fun to go to New York City. We stayed for six days and had a blast!

Creepy Italian cab driver from airport to The Bronx. $50 ride! Ridiculous.

The Met

On top of lucking out with free round-trip plane tickets, we were able to stay with one of Kallie's friends who lives in The Bronx (yes, us two white girls survived six whole days of staying in The Bronx).  It actually was a pretty cute area.

The view from our balcony

To avoid having more expensive taxi rides, we took the Met everywhere. 

It was fun, but got old real quick in the 102 degree-plus-humidity weather.  I'd also hate to have to take it every day!

225th Street subway station, Bronx, NY

Pretty city line in background

View of our station in daytime

Another view of our station in daytime

View of the Harlem River from our station

View of the Harlem River on the North side of the station

Our first day out we strolled through West Village, the Meatpacking District, Chelsea, Hell's Kitchen, and finally ended up in Times Square.

Loved the name of this store!  Such a fitting term.

Outside Chelsea Market

Inside Chelsea Market.  It reminded me a lot of Trolley Square

Chelsea Market 

Real housewives of New York
  

Manhattan has this awesome "elevated" park called the High Line.  It was originally built to lift dangerous trains off of the streets but is now open as a public park that runs through the west side.

View from the High Line.

My favorite part was the water running under the benches (for cooling off feet?)

So pretty to walk through, and right in the middle of the city!

A look-out area over the road on the High Line.

View from the High Line

Driving range over the river I wish I would've had time to go to

Where Chase Crawford and Ed Westwick supposedly live

Times Square station

So bright, and so many people!

Express fashion show going on

And of course, the New Year's Eve ball

I feel like we covered so much on only our first day.  Stay tuned to see what NYC still had to offer us the rest of our trip!