A Weekend in New York

Written & Photographed by Alyse Messmer | Designed by Camille Grochowski and Koichi Furusawa

New York City is known for iconic locations such as Times Square, The Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and more, but this is only the beginning of what tourists should see in this major city. When spending a weekend, or any amount of time, there are staples around the area that are worth the visit, especially for college students. From the majestic skyline to truly being the city that never sleeps, there is always something happening in New York City. This city has people from all over the world, talking the subway together but from totally different walks of life, experiencing the skyscraper-lined roads and feelings of being free. With New York pizza shops, globally iconic stops, and famous museums and attractions, The Big Apple has something for everyone.

THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY

The Staten Island Ferry is a free attraction for visitors and locals alike. The ferry travels between St. George on Staten Island and Whitehall Street in lower Manhattan: a 5-mile, 25-minute ride. The ride offers beautiful views of the city and The Statue of Liberty by day or night, as ferries run 24/7, 365 days a year. The famous ferry makes more than 40,000 trips annually and has been running since 1905. It is an easy activity as ferries leave both ports every 30 minutes, except on holidays. The ferry departs from Manhattan at 4 Whitehall St., New York, NY 10006.

The Staten Island Ferry provides locals and tourists a free ride from the bottom of Manhattan to Staten Island.

SIENA PIZZA AND CANNOLI

Siena Pizza and Cannoli is a family-owned pizza shop in lower Manhattan and has more than 10 varieties of pizza. Sold by the slice or whole pies, this stop is perfect for college students at just $3 a slice. The restaurant also is known for its cannoli that comes in five different flavors: limoncello, tiramisu, classic, Nutella and a rotating seasonal flavor. Besides these two staples, Siena Pizza and Cannoli also serves salads, meatballs and calzones, chicken wings, chicken parmigiana sandwiches, and famous NYC Egg Cream in strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate flavors. The “Buy Me a Slice and Call Me Pretty” neon sign also makes the perfect photo op for visitors wanting to share their perfect New York-style pizza. The restaurant is located at 14 Rector St., New York, NY 10006.

TIMES SQUARE

Times Square is another iconic NYC destination where many movies and TV shows, and famous visitors have stepped. Home to Broadway and the famous neon billboards, Times Square is a major tourist stop in the city. Times Square is full of chain stores and restaurants such as Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., The Disney Store, M&M Store, Olive Garden, Taco Bell Cantina and a Hershey’s Chocolate World. The iconic neon billboards trace the streets and invite you into the shops, restaurants and attractions in the square. Street performers dressed as beloved Marvel and Disney characters offer photo ops and a chance to say hi, as others perform dances and songs on the famous red steps in the center of the square. The banner of Good Morning America wraps around its corner building, flashing the latest news and insights in competition with the colorful ads surrounding it. Closing your eyes you can hear cars honking, music playing, people laughing and the busyness of the city as it roars on--this is New York City.

CENTRAL PARK

Central Park is a world-famous destination that includes the Belvedere Castle, Central Park Zoo, Bethesda Fountain and Terrace, a conservatory garden and more. The park has more than 58 miles of hiking trails and bike and running lanes throughout. According to the park’s website, the “original purpose was to offer urban dwellers an experience of the countryside, a place to escape from the stresses of urban life and to commune with nature and fellow New Yorkers.” The 843 acres also include two skating rinks, baseball and soccer fields, a carousel, monuments and concert and theater venues. Central Park is located in the middle of Manhattan between the Upper West and Upper East Sides, and it has entrances all around its edges.

GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL

Grand Central Terminal (also known incorrectly as Grand Central Station, which is actually a post office down the street), opened in 1913 and is known for its beautiful interior. New York visitors often make a stop at this icon to snap a photo in the Main Concourse, but the station is also home to train, subway and bus stations. There are also 35 restaurants, 60 shops, and events such as markets and art exhibits. Grand Central Terminal is located at 89 East 42nd St., New York, NY 10017.

Grand Central Terminal has a variety of shops for commuters and tourists.

CENTRAL PARK ZOO

The Central Park Zoo is one of the most famous zoos in the world. The 6.5-acre zoo opened in 1861 and is home to a variety of animals including penguins, snow leopards, red pandas, lemurs, sea lions, puffins and more. According to the zoo’s website, its mission has been “to engage future generations of conservationists and create wildlife champions.” The beautiful location also has a 4-D movie experience and a children’s zoo. Tickets cost $19.95 per adult and the zoo is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., and weekends and holidays from 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. The zoo is located at 64th Street & 5th Ave., New York, NY 10065.

The Central Zoo is home to more than 130 species that visitors can see.

THE VESSEL

The Vessel is one of the newest NYC staples -- a unique architectural art piece located in Hudson Yards. Visited by thousands, the building offers beautiful views of the city and Hudson River. Visitors make a grueling climb of around 154 interconnecting flights of stairs, with 2,500 steps and 80 landings. The building is currently closed for visitors to walk, but many tourists still travel to the site to take photos of the intricate building from the outside. When the attraction is open, tickets cost $10 per person, and the Vessel is open Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Vessel is located at 20 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001.

9/11 Memorial & Museum

The 9/11 Memorial is located at Ground Zero, where the Twin Towers collapsed during the terrorist attack in 2001. The memorial is at the original locations of both towers that collapsed, now hollowed out gravesites of the buildings, fountains flowing down the sides and surrounded by the names of all the victims who lost their lives in the attack. Next to the memorial is the 9/11 Memorial Museum, which features various exhibits and audio tours to educate visitors about the horrific event.

The 9/11 Memorial Museum was dedicated on May 15, 2014, and opened to the public a few days later. The 9/11 Memorial site is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the museum is open Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The memorial site is free to visit, and students receive a discount for museum tickets, costing $20 per person instead of $26. The Memorial and Museum are located at 180 Greenwich St., New York, NY 10007.

REFINERY ROOFTOP RESTAURANT

The Refinery Rooftop Restaurant presents NYC in all its glory from hundreds of feet in the sky, and could save visitors $30-$40 in entrance fees to similar locations. Other sightseeing attractions such as the Empire State Building, the Edge and more can offer great rooftop views, but The Refinery Rooftop offers great views of the Empire State Building as well as great food and drinks. The rooftop is on top of the well-known 1912 Refinery Hotel, a four-star destination for visitors. This rooftop restaurant is only for visitors 21 and up, and is open seven days a week, and offers a weekend brunch. For a perfect bite to eat, the menu features veggie sliders, truffle or yucca fries, lobster rolls, salads, flatbreads, tacos, French toast and more. The Refinery Hotel is located at 63 W 38th St, New York, NY 10018.

The Refinery Rooftop Restaurant offers a view of the Empire State Building.

BAGELWORKS

An employee at Bagelworks scoops bagels out of the fryer.

When looking for the perfect New York bagel, Bagelworks provides bagel flavors, sandwiches and spreads for everyone, even if you are gluten free. This bagel shop is a favorite for tourists and locals alike as the line usually wraps around the block. Visitors can watch the bagels being made right behind the counter, as well as croissants, muffins, biscuits, pound cake and more. Specialties also include bagel dogs, chicken pesto melts, seafood sandwiches, and Downtown Manhattan Sandwiches which include turkey, mozzarella, and bacon on a fresh bagel. Bagelworks has more than 20 different bagel options, and 25 different spread flavors including birthday cake, garlic poppy, bacon cheddar, and strawberry. Bagels start at only $1.50 and specialty sandwiches go to $12.95. Bagelworks is located at 1229 1st Ave., New York, NY 10065 and is open seven days a week, 6a.m.--7p.m. ➤

Bagel works offers a variety of bagels including a bacon, egg and avocado breakfast sandwich.

THE MET

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the most well-known museums in the world, and it is full of art from more than 5,000 years around the world. The MET has two locations: 5th Avenue and The MET Cloisters, but the 5th Avenue location is the main destination. The 22.2 square mile museum takes hours to see everything, and it is made up of various wings: Modern and Contemporary Art, Medieval Art, The American Wing, Egyptian Art, Greek and Roman Art, European Sculptures and Decorative Arts and more. According to the museum’s website, the mission of the MET has been upheld since its founding in 1870: “The Metropolitan Museum of Art collects, studies, conserves, and presents significant works of art across all times and cultures in order to connect people to creativity, knowledge, and ideas.” Tyler Doench, Senior Marketing major, visited the MET during a recent trip to NYC, and said it was one of his favorite places to visit.

“One of my favorite parts of New York City has to be the Met. Going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art has always been a dream of mine and to finally go in and see all of the art on display was incredible. Two of my favorite parts that I got to see was the Egyptian exhibit because I remember it from the movie “Oceans 8” and loved that movie series growing up. And then to be able to see the fashion exhibit was also amazing because I love getting to see how fashion has evolved over the years. Seeing some of what is considered the best designers displayed was truly wonderful,” Doench said.

The Met 5th Avenue location is open Sunday–Tuesday and Thursday from 10 am to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and it is closed Wednesdays. It is located at 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028. The Met Cloisters is open Thursday through Tuesday from 10am–5pm and closed Wednesdays, and is located at 99 Margaret Corbin Dr., New York, NY 10040. ◆

The Metropolitan Museum of Art , located on 5th Avenue in New York, is home to a collection of different exhibits, art and artifacts from around the world.