(Part I here, Part II here, Part III here)

14. Be spoilt for choice at Chelsea Market

Here’s an industrial-chic place for food lovers, which we really should have frequented during our stay in Manhattan. There’s just SO! MUCH! IT! HAS! TO! OFFER! It’s not a huge complex but there’s more than enough to whet any appetite. Chelsea Market took over the former National Biscuit Company (Nabisco) factory complex which explains the industrial fittings, complete with ultra-heavy steel doors. And for foodies like my travel buddy, you’ll be excited to learn that the Food Network does its tapings of Iron Chef America in the same building. I’m still kicking myself for never letting the place register in my mind, even though I read about it several times during my research… At least I now have a sure stop for the next time I’m back in NYC. ;)

15. Get a different view of Manhattan from The High Line

My favourite go-to travel site had The High Line pretty, well, high, on the list of things-to-do in NYC. A park built on a freight rail line above the streets of Manhattan? Guys? It was gorgeous. Personally, it was one of my favourite things about Manhattan and I would completely appreciate having a park looking exactly like this in Singy. It’s the perfect place to get away from the busy streets and soak in the beauty of Manhattan – to be precise, the west side of Manhattan. The park takes you from the Meatpacking District right through Chelsea, and even runs through buildings. There are plenty of picture-perfect moments too, with the city and the Hudson River as your backdrop. A good portion of the park is still under construction but what we saw was enough to make us fall even more in love with a city that is already that magical.

16. Pay tribute to the heroes and the fallen at the Ground Zero Museum Workshop

Touted as the “biggest little museum in New York”, the Ground Zero Museum Workshop truly lived up to its name. Don’t expect a workshop in that sense of the word, or even a proper museum for that matter. This one here was no larger than 60 sqm at the most? But it has enough photographs and artifacts to let you comprehend the devastation and impact of the 9/11 attacks. It was a real bonus to be able to touch some of the artifacts and see them upclose. Particularly chilling were the Crosses and Stars of David that were created by a fireman, out of the leftover steel from the WTC. Also, to see actual glass fragments from the WTC windows, and a clock that will forever reflect the time when the first tower went down, was emotionally unsettling to say the least.

The museum was inspired by the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam, and while it’s not quite laid out in the same manner, it certainly does capture its heart. Many of the stories provided by the audio guide were heart-wrenching but you’ll leave feeling inspired and hopeful. Be prepared to shed some tears. I did, and so did many others.

. . . . .

Song of the Day

Moody’s Mood For Love, by Brian McKnight

(Part I here, Part II here)

9. Have breakfast/brunch at the gorgeously quaint Elephant & Castle

I was slightly hesitant about putting this place on the list, but it was only because I didn’t want to go back next time and find it flooding with tourists (look at me talking as if I’m a New Yorker! Heh.) Elephant & Castle (named after the major road intersection in London) is incredibly cosy with an appetising breakfast and brunch menu, and is perfect for a lazy morning. The food was good too, and judging from the number of locals and seemingly regular patrons, we figured it’s quite well-loved by the community. We really lucked out with this place, because it didn’t pop up in any of our research and I’ll admit, I only picked it because (a) it was near the Village, (b) it had pretty good reviews on Yelp, and (c) it sounded cute. Service here is a little slow unrushed though, so only come if you have time to spare. ;) There’s a sister restaurant in Dublin (yes, Ireland!) too.

The coffee is served in a huge bowl

My Santa Fe Breakfast Sandwich - Sunnyside Eggs, Cheddar Cheese, Bacon, Tomato, Guacamole, Crisp Tortilla

Dia's California Sunrise - Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, French Toast, Hash Browns

10. Discover the beauty and charm of Bleecker Street

If you’re a pop culture junkie like yours truly, you’ll certainly find Bleecker Street familiar. It has been featured in many films, TV shows and songs. But all that aside, this neighbourhood street was one of our favourites because it has so much to offer! With plenty of cafes, restaurants, specialty stores and boutiques, be prepared to spend a whole afternoon here. Be sure to check out Bookmarc (a book & gift store by Marc Jacobs) and Bleecker Street Records (for its huuuuuge vinyl collection). And for kicks, pretend (like I did) you’re one of the Sex and the City characters and drop by Magnolia Bakery. Just don’t expect earth-shattering cupcakes.

11. Bask in a leisurely walk through the Village

We loved the Village so much we went back twice. And I think we would’ve hung out there a lot more if we hadn’t already had our itinerary all packed. The beatniks and bohemians of yore may have vacated the place, but they’ve certainly left an indelible mark on the Village, making it the very attractive and eclectic residential neighbourhood that it is today. Be warned though, the streets here are all named (rather than the numbered, grid system that Manhattan is known for) and can get a little confusing to navigate, so keep your map close. It is also home to NYU – which is sprawled all over the Village – and the Washington Square Arch – which we forgot to visit!

See? SPRAWLING.

12. Unless you only want upscale shopping, hit SoHo

Save the last two days when we were in SoHo for a mere couple of hours each time, we really didn’t shop here much (which also explains the lack of photos), and we have never stopped wondering why. It has all the shops anyone would want, with probably a third of the tourist crowd in Midtown. (Yes, yes… I am aware that I’m also a tourist, but you know what I mean!) Also, anywhere with cobbled streets automatically gets 100 brownie points in my book. :p

13. Be part of the madding crowd at Chinatown & Little Italy

We went there on a Saturday. Big Mistake. Then we got used to the crowd and realised that it was quite delightful after all. I mean, all these people make up part of the charm of these two hugely popular neighbourhoods, right?

It was definitely somewhat comforting for us to be part of the majority for the first time in so many days, although I still felt oddly alien when we stepped into the Oriental Garden Seafood Restaurant. I guess people automatically assume that you speak Cantonese if you look Asian and choose to have dim sum for lunch. Little do they realise there are Peranakans like me who fumble over every other Chinese word. Thankfully, Dia is highly fluent in the language so she felt right at home. The food was good and super affordable, but there’s plenty of other fare in Chinatown which also attracted long lines, so go crazy. ;) After we were done walking off our lunch, we headed to Columbus Park to savour our cold treats from the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. The park was happening, filled with plenty of old Asians playing card games and whatnot; the ice cream wasn’t. It’s not atrocious, we simply have much better “Asian-flavoured” ice cream here in Singy. The Black Sesame was quite a winner, though.

Little Italy, just across the street from Chinatown, seemed a lot more boisterous. Perhaps the Italians are louder than the Chinese? We did a very quick walk-through but the cannoli carts and packed restaurants are telling me that I need to go back there next time I’m in NYC.

. . . . .

Song of the Day

My Eyes Adored You, by the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Jersey Boys