Story and photos by Scott Kendall (unless otherwise indicated)
3 Fun Days in New York City
Among other things, New York City is known for great museums, Asian restaurants like HanGawi and ICHIRAN, and new developments like Hudson Yards with Edge and The Vessel.
New York City is gradually returning to its pre-pandemic life and activity. Other than wearing masks and being checked for vaccinations, our recent visit was not much different than earlier visits to New York City. After attending two days of TravMedia events at the Javits Center, we enjoyed several fun-filled days of Broadway plays, museums, wonderful restaurants, and The Edge for spectacular panoramic views of the city.
New York CityPASS
To make the best use of our time and money, we used the New York CityPASS to help us plan our schedule. We were graciously hosted by CityPASS, and used the New York CityPASS C3 ticket option (there’s also the original New York CityPASS for longer-stay visitors). With our C3 tickets, we visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Guggenheim, and Edge at Hudson Yards. We had the convenience of having our tickets on our phones and did not need to make timed reservations for any of these attractions.
(Note: Many New York City attractions now require advance reservations to ensure social distancing. Be sure to check in advance of your visit.)
New York City is Recovering from the Pandemic
On Sunday morning, my wife and I had breakfast at the cozy Bluestone Lane Café, located in the vestry of The Church of the Heavenly Rest in the Upper East Side across from Central Park. She enjoyed her avocado toast and yogurt with fresh berries, and I happily devoured my egg, avocado, and bacon burrito.
Following breakfast at Bluestone Lane, we visited the Guggenheim and Metropolitan Museums of Art. After hours of exploring the fascinating works of artistic geniuses from around the world, we then hiked west across Central Park, surrounded by hundreds of ecstatic kids and adults enjoying the snowy slopes of Central Park. We heard the joyful laughter of children sliding down the slick hills. Everywhere we looked, we saw a festive scene of people sledding, skiing, building snowmen, and having snowball fights.
Yes, New York City is alive and well.
Fabulous Asian Food in New York City
On this trip, we were lucky to find two fantastic Asian restaurants in Midtown. The first was HanGawi, a wonderful Korean vegetarian restaurant on 32nd Street in Midtown East. The other was the Times Square location for Ichiran, one of the best known purveyors of Ramen in the world.
HanGawi Korean Vegetarian Restaurant on 32nd
HanGawi is more than a restaurant. HanGawi is a combination of healthy, tasty food, spirituality, music, and the um and the yang of Asian traditions. We entered the nondescript entrance at 12 E 32nd Street, just a few blocks from the Empire State Building. The smiling host took our coats, we respectfully removed our shoes, and we were escorted to our seats on the floor. In the tradition of the East, we sat on mats at ground level at a low table, our legs comfortably placed in an opening in the floor.
Festive red chopstick sleeves brightened each place setting. Over my right shoulder was a fantastic display of tea pots, mugs, and tea accoutrements. Among other things, HanGawi is known for its wide variety of exotic tea flavors. The ambience was elegant, but cozy, friendly, and comfortable.
Healthy, Tasty, and Nutritious Vegetarian Menu at HanGawi
We started with a glass of Black Raspberry Wine. This sweet wine had a deep fruity flavor, the perfect start to the evening. Then our outstanding server, Jason, brought us an assortment of tasty appetizers. Some of my favorites included the crispy vegetables, the kimchi vermicelli rolls, and the delicious pancakes. Pancake flavors included kimchi mushroom, leek, and kabocha pumpkin. Delicious sauces, like the scallions and ginger, added just the right spice.
After our delicious appetizers, our main courses came. I was amazed at the flavor and the heartiness of these vegetarian dishes. The crispy fried mushrooms in a flavorful sweet and sour sauce were the perfect complement to the stone bowl of rice and vegetables. And the red sauce was incredible – a red curry chili sauce with just the right amount of heat.
HanGawi is an authentic representation of the strong Asian belief regarding the harmony and balance embodied by the principles of yin and yang, also known as um and yang in Korean. As they emphasize at this unique Korean vegetarian restaurant, “At HanGawi, we provide our guests with balanced vegetarian meals that are nourishing and most ideal in achieving a healthy diet.” I heartily agree.
ICHIRAN Ramen in Times Square
Say Ramen in Japan, and ICHIRAN immediately comes to mind. The top-rated Ramen chain in the world has over 80 locations in Japan and is expanding outside the country, including new locations in NYC Times Square, Midtown, and Brooklyn. Known for its Original Spicy Red Sauce made with over 30 spices and its flavorful tonkotsu bone broth, ICHIRAN has been named best tasting Ramen in the world by Goo Ranking.
Ramen Focus Booth Enhances the Experience at ICHIRAN
On this cold January night, we arrived at ICHIRAN just before five o’clock. A line was already forming, as eager diners patiently waited their turn. The unique serving system at ICHIRAN highlights the fresh, hot qualities of the flavorful Ramen broth, noodles, tender pork, and toppings of mushrooms, scallions, and seaweed blend to make a completely satisfying meal.
I love that you can easily and quickly customize your order. Upon arriving at ICHIRAN, the hostess gave us an order form on a clipboard for us to fill out. First, diners choose whether they want traditional tonkotsu bone broth or the vegetarian option. Then each diner indicates the level of spiciness, saltiness, and noodle doneness. Next comes the choice of optional ingredients – dried mushrooms, scallions, seaweed, pork, and a soft-boiled egg. Finally, diners can choose the optional dessert, Matcha, a Japanese style pudding with a sweetened green tea base.
Each diner has their own private eating area – the Ramen Focus Booth. After placing your order, a window opens up as the server slides your meal to you, fresh and hot from the kitchen. Anytime you need anything, the server meets your every need within minutes – or even seconds. And, if you decide you need more noodles, you can use the Kae-Dama ordering system to quickly add a half portion, or even another full portion, to your order to satisfy your appetite. One serving of the delicious ICHIRAN Ramen was just right for me.
CityPASS Helps Make NYC More Affordable and Convenient
CityPASS always adds to the enjoyment of a visit to any of the many locations they serve. Whether you are visiting New York City, Dallas, Tampa, Houston, or other wonderful cities, CityPASS is a great investment. We were fortunate to be hosted by CityPASS on this trip, and experienced the many advantages they offer visitors. Visitors can save money and enjoy the convenience of seeing some of the top attractions of these great cities, like the 911 Museum or Top of the Rock in NYC.
The New York CityPASS is good for five attractions, and the C3 ticket is good for your selection of three attractions. Since our free time was limited on this trip, we chose to use the C3 ticket. On a Sunday, we took the number 6 subway from Hudson Yards up to the 86th street stop. From there we used our CityPASS to tour the Guggenheim Museum. This Frank Lloyd Wright designed spiral structure features a wide variety of exhibitions, including excellent presentations of works by Wassily Kandinsky and Gillian Wearing.
Guggenheim Museum with Kandinsky and Wearing
Metropolitan Museum of Art on Central Park
After the Guggenheim, we made our way south a few blocks to the amazing Metropolitan Museum of Art. We scanned our CityPASS on one of the convenient kiosks in the main lobby, and took in some of the most incredible art on the planet. The Met is the largest art museum in the western hemisphere, and in our half day at this museum our senses were flooded with artists from throughout the world.
We spent the majority of our time enjoying the European masters. One of our favorite art forms has always been the Impressionists. From Van Gogh to Monet and Cezanne and more, these talented artists never fail to amaze and entertain. I especially enjoyed the various lilies, sunflowers, and scenes from Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny.
The Edge in Hudson Yards
With a few hours to explore on our last day in New York, we headed over to Hudson Yards and Edge at Husdon Yards. Part of the newly developed Hudson Yards in Midtown West, Edge is the highest outdoor observatory in the Western Hemisphere. With its central location, visitors can view the Hudson River to the west and the Statue of Liberty and One Tower to the south. Gazing East, visitors are treated with great views of The Empire State Building and on over to Brooklyn.
One of the unique features of the outdoor viewing area is a triangle of clear glass forming part of the floor. It is a strange feeling to stand on top of this transparent part of the platform, looking straight down over 1,000 feet to the ground. Although logic tells you it is totally safe, the mind warns you to be cautious as you gingerly tiptoe over the glass and peer directly beneath you.
CityPASS New York City Attractions
CityPASS offers your choice of several attractions for one special price. The New York CityPASS, the five-attraction option costs $129, and the three attraction option costs $87. You can choose from these New York CityPASS partner attractions (see website for details) and save 38 to 40 percent on the regular price of attractions.
Empire State Building
American Museum of Natural History
Top of the Rock Observation Deck
Guggenheim Museum
Ferry Access to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
9/11 Memorial & Museum
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) (available only with C3 tickets)
City Cruises (available only with C3 tickets)
Edge at Hudson Yards (available only with C3 tickets)
Always Something Fun To Do in the City That Never Sleeps
Planning a visit to New York City can be overwhelming. On your next trip, make the most of your time and money by using CityPASS New York. You will save time and money, and have the convenience of tickets on your phone for easy admission. Check out our suggestions at PlayStayEat.com, and enjoy your time in the Big Apple!
