CITY OF ILLUSIONS: THE REAL AND FAKE FACES OF NEW YORK

NEW YORK is the kind of place you need to visit multiple times – it is that big!  Within the space of a week, we had visited twice, as we had a few days visiting Vermont in between, and we packed in as much as we could.  Prior to that, we were last in New York City in summer 2017, and we are sure to return at some point in the future.  There is that much to see and do!

Times Square was as crazy as it always has been and weirdly it seemed to smell a lot better than when we last visited!  The place was heaving with tourists and crawling with costumed characters, wanting gratuities in exchange for a selfie.  We laughed at ‘Mucky Mouse’, a kind of off-brand Mickey, as we had seen him last summer on Hollywood Blvd.  Despite their questionable likeness to the characters they were meant to be, visitors were lapping them up and it was great for us to people watch as we came and went over the course of our time in Midtown Manhattan. 

On our night of arrival (Sat Jul 27 2024), there was a bit of commotion: a group of Trump supporters were waving flags and placards in a barriered corner.  NYPD cops were in attendance, presumably ensuring the group remained in their designated area.  

Elsewhere, early in the morning, we saw that a section of Times Square had been cordoned off for ABC’s Good Morning America show to broadcast live from.  The ABC studio, of course, looks down on Times Square. 

On another occasion, apparent NYPD civilian workers were double-lining 7^th Ave. with crowd control barriers, creating a sizeable void between the road and the sidewalks.  It made us wonder if an event was due to take place?

 Always something going on in Times Square!

The streets of New York seemed to be awash with vendors selling counterfeit Gucci and Louis Vuitton bags and accessories.  In the past, they were few and far between, with their goods laid out on big sheets, ropes attached, ready to be cleverly bundled up in an instant should the need arise; this time, their displays were more elaborate and brazen.  We saw one tourist hand over $100 for a small bag!

We walked many miles around the city and didn’t use the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Subway as much as during our first visit to New York, but we found the system just as easy to use this time, if not easier, for we were able to tap and go with our cell phones thanks to the contactless fare payment system at the turnstiles.

Our journey down to Tribeca from Times Square and back again cost us:

17:30 = MTA NYCT Paygo = $4.25

17:31 = MTA NYCT Paygo = $2.90

19:45 = MTA NYCT Paygo = $2.90

The subway is typically as hot underground as it is on the surface.  On the way back to our hotel, we spent a while waiting on a platform at Rector St. station for the next train and the heat was torturous.  Worse still, when we boarded, a group of Italian teenagers surrounded us, chattering loudly in Italiano and talking over us.  I couldn’t tell them to shut up or ask them to show some consideration, as I was unwell and had lost my voice.  That journey felt like an age!  Other than that, we found the Subway to be efficient and safe – we thankfully encountered no indigenous crazies or smellies this time!

Up until this visit, the words ‘New York’ conjured up the iconic cityscape images of skyscrapers and crowds, seen in all the marketing, but as we left Manhattan by Amtrak for a couple of days in Vermont, we got to see Upstate New York and how green it was!  Graffitied concrete faded away to be replaced with river scenes, woodlands with wild turkeys, a castle and mountains.  Yes, a castle and mountains: a great view of the Catskill Mountains across the Hudson River, and Bannerman Castle sat on Pollepel Island, an abandoned military surplus warehouse!  

We rolled through places with unusual names such Poughkeepsie, Rhinecliff (population: 425 in 2010) and Schenectady.  On the way back, we noticed that the railroad even cut through the center of the infamous Sing Sing Correctional Facility!  Only in New York.

 New York has many faces - the good, the bad and the beautiful – and we felt like we’d seen them all during our all too brief visit!

 

 

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TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR TIME IN NEW YORK CITY, SEE THESE SPECIFIC BLOGS OF THE PLACES WE VISITED:

 

SAT JUL 27 2024

JFK International Airport

The Long Island Rail Road

Grand Central Terminus & the Chrysler Building

Hard Rock Hotel New York City

Hook & Ladder Firehouse (Ghostbusters)

Edward’s Bar (Tribeca)

National September 11^th Memorial

O’Hara’s Pub & Restaurant

 

SUN JUL 28 2024

The Empire State Building

5^th Ave., New York Public Library & Bryant Park

Rockefeller Center

Amtrak, Penn Station & the Moynihan Train Hall

 

TUE JUL 30 2024

Hard Rock Cafe New York

Sean’s Bar & Kitchen

The Port Authority Bus Terminal & Peter Pan Bus Lines

HARD ROCK HOTEL (NEW YORK CITY)

We stayed at the HARD ROCK HOTEL NEW YORK on two separate occasions in July 2024: for one night upon our arrival to New York City then again for another night after we’d had a couple of days away in Vermont. 

The Hard Rock Hotel is a 4 1/2 star hotel and we chose it as a treat. Rooms ranged from $359 to $404 a night. The additional resort fee we had to pay upon checkout was $45 per room per night. 

The hotel is centrally located and is close to Times Square and around 10 minutes walk away from the more famous Hard Rock Cafe. we were pleased to see it had secure elevators - you scan your room key before being able to select the floor you want to go to. 

We had rooms on the 6th and 26th floors, both offering good views of Times Square. The rooms were compact, clean and modern. The king sized bed had loads of room and was very comfortable. 

We had no complaints whatsoever, but a couple of small quibbles: the mood lighting in the rooms was great but we could have done with some additional lights for those times when you need them all on. There was also no iron or ironing board: you are provided with a hand steamer which was powerful but became the bane of our lives as if you weren’t careful it was easier to add creases to your clothes than get them out. 

We didn’t have time to visit the restaurant and bar in the hotel, but as we passed through the lobby we heard some of the live music being performed there. 

The hotel has a Rock Shop and we popped in to purchase a magnet to join our growing collection of Hard Rock Cafe and Hotel magnets, which are based on the chain’s famous logo. The Hotel versions are purple but sadly (and unusually) they didn’t stock them, so we left empty handed. 

This is a welcoming hotel; all the staff we encountered were friendly and helpful. The Hard Rock Hotel opened in New York in April 2022 and its newness is still there. We highly recommend a visit if you’re ever staying in New York City and the hotel is within your budget. 

ROOM FACILITIES 

Amazon Echo Show with Alexa

Coffee machine

Bottled water

Refrigerator (not the coldest)

AC

Table and chairs

Hand steamer

Room safe

Shower (rainfall and handheld)

THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR

Upon check-in we were told we’d been credited with $20 for food and beverages. This made it sound like you were getting twenty dollars for free but was actually part of the $45 Destination Fee. 

Like many hotels across America, the Hard Rock Hotel charges a “resort fee” or as they are now being called, a Deatination Fee. Hotels can claim this is for the WiFi you use, the coffee in your room, access to the gym facilities etc. Really it is just another tourist tax, an up charge to increase the cost of your visit, without it being quoted in the room price. We try to avoid hotels with these fees and while it can be a challenge, they do exist and often promote themselves as such. 

SEAN'S BAR: BREWS THAT DON'T BREAK THE BANK

SEAN’S BAR & KITCHEN is at 42 W. 48th St., not far from Times Square, in New York City.  We can’t say too much about it, other than we wish we’d found it sooner!  After a day of travelling 6 hours by train from Vermont, we were exhausted so didn’t stay as long as we would have liked as our beds were calling.

Earlier, we had had a late dinner at the nearby Hard Rock Cafe and while we usually enjoy our visits there, we were disappointed with the quality of service and the drinks.  We therefore ditched the Hard Rock Cafe and sought out Sean’s.

In the Hard Rock Cafe, they were charging draft beer prices then surreptitiously pouring the drinks out of smaller bottles but still charging the draft fee of $9.00 a drink!

Meanwhile in Sean’s Bar, we were swiftly served real draft drinks at only $8.00 each, plus more beer for our money.  

No short measures here!

It just shows that you can never go wrong with an Irish bar, and the next time we are in New York City we will be making a beeline for Sean’s!

HARD ROCK CAFE NEW YORK: THE PRICEY SIP THAT COMES UP SHORT!

A disappointing visit to the HARD ROCK CAFE NEW YORK. This was our 8th Hard Rock Cafe in the U.S. and we did our usual thing of not reserving a table and asking to be sat at the bar. We’ve found at the many other Hard Rocks we’ve visited that this helps get you faster service, a better view of all the comings and goings with access to the same full menu. 

Service was indeed super fast and our food - classic nachos with chicken, to share - arrived within 10 minutes. The bartender, however, was a bit of a grump. Maybe it was a New York thing?!

We ordered two Blue Moons at a reasonable $9 each. We were surprised though to see a member of staff take a crate of 12 oz bottles out the refrigerator and open them at the back of the bar out of sight. Our drinks were served in the regular 16 oz glasses with a noticeable gap at the top of the glass. The beer pumps were all on full display and there were no signs to say that draft beers were off. 

What a con!

Consequently we decided to not order any more drinks, finished our tasty food and headed off to a nearby Irish bar (Sean's Bar & Kitchen) where they served real draft beers. 

WHAT IT COST

🥗 Nacho chicken = $25.99

🍻 Blue Moon x 2 = $18.00

😢 Tax = $3.91

💰 Total = $47.90

We left $55.00, being a $7.00 gratuity to reflect the poor service. 

P&K RATING

Drinks 🇺🇸 (1/5)

Food 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (5/5)

Service 🇺🇸🇺🇸 (2/5)

Overall 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (2.6/5)

LUNCH ON 5TH AVE. WITH PATIENCE AND FORTITUDE

As we were coming down, literally and emotionally, from our visit to the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building, it was fast approaching lunchtime and as we had a long journey to Vermont ahead of us that afternoon, we realised we should grab a light lunch. We decided to have LUNCH ON FIFTH AVENUE (Sunday July 28 2024). That sounds swish, but it was anything but!

There’s a CVS Pharmacy on the corner of 5th Ave., opposite the famous building, and we grabbed snacks, juices and tasty-looking pre-packed turkey and cheese sandwiches from there. CVS stores seem to be everywhere, and we’ve found them to be very useful when travelling across the U.S., as they sell literally everything from beer, medication, souvenir magnets and more. 

As we (unexpectedly) reached the New York Public Library, we thought it would be a good idea to sit in the surrounding Bryant Park and enjoy our lunch in the sunshine. 

The sandwiches were awful - dry and flavorless. The snack, an aptly named ‘5th Avenue’ candy bar, wasn’t to our taste. It was peanut butter crunch, which when you bite into it is like eating peanut flavored glass. It did make us smile, however, to be eating a 5th Avenue on Fifth Ave.!

Bryant Park is a pretty oasis amidst all the skyscrapers and we took advantage of the little tables and chairs they had dotted around. Despite the crappy food, we enjoyed just sitting taking in the city. 

All of a sudden we heard a loud commotion and it didn’t seem to want to end! We dashed up the library steps for a better view and it seemed to be a cavalcade of motorcycles riding noisily along 42nd St. We had no idea what the occasion was but it drew a crowd, with people flocking to see what was going on. NYPD were there too, on motorbikes, ensuring the traffic on Fifth paused to let the bikers through. Exciting!

The day before, we had visited the Hook & Ladder #8 firehouse in Tribeca, exterior filming location of the Ghostbusters headquarters. As we were next to the New York Public Library, which featured in the first Ghostbusters movie and more recently in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, we took the opportunity to look at the famous stone lions, Patience and Fortitude, the former of which had a starring role in the latest movie when it got possessed by a spook and came alive!

No ghosts reared their heads when we were there, and in any case, we couldn’t linger at the Library too long, as we had Amtrak tickets and our train was due to depart for Vermont in only 2 hours time. 

We continued on our way up Fifth Avenue, had a quick glance at the Rockefeller Center, getting back to the Hard Rock Hotel with ample time for packing.