10 things we did in New York
MANILA, Philippines - 1. Say a prayer, light a candle at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This beautiful 135-year-old Neo-Gothic cathedral on Fifth Avenue was described by Pope Benedict XVI as “the most loved house of prayer for all people, more than any other church in the US.” Ria Domingo says it is her first stop every time she visits New York because it is a sanctuary you can go to in the middle of this sleepless, restless city. Renovation, which started in 2012, is still ongoing, but you can now pour out your heart here before its many beautiful altars. I did light a candle before the altar of St. Jude. New York does put me in a hopeful state of mind.
2. Watch Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. I felt the earth move under my feet when I saw the life of one of my fave singers acted out on Broadway, along with most of the songs she wrote with Gerry Goffin. I cried a little and died a little at the broken-hearted part of her life. But it was great listening to her hits like So Far Away, Will You Love Me Tomorrow, You’ve Got a Friend and It’s Too Late. She didn’t sing Tapestry. But I hope she does when Sony produces the film version of this musical through Tom Hanks’ production company. As we told Bambi Verzo of Concertus, who gave us our good seats, Beautiful was beautiful! For a Broadway show with a bit of history, try The Audience starring Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II.
3. Eat, eat, eat! Philippine Airlines brought us to interesting restos, notably Stardust (on Broadway corner 51st) with entertainment provided by talents waiting for their break onstage. It is a breeding ground for fresh actors who eventually land roles in productions like Avenue Q, Jersey Boys, The Lion King, South Pacific and Wicked. Stardust was featured on American Idol when one of its performers Devyn Rush became a contestant. It was also a setting for Sarah Jessica Parker’s character in the movie New Year’s Eve. For other must-try restos, New York-based Filipino chef Noel de la Rama recommends Betony for clean, crisp, non-fussy American food; Narcissa for farm-to-table food that is both simple and sophisticated by chef John Fraser; and Gotham West Market, a well-curated selection of nine vendors including Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop, Blue Bottle Coffee and Genuine Roadside. “This is my kind of food hall,” says Noel.
4. Visit the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. This is where you wipe a tear for the nearly 3,000 victims of the horrific 9/11 tragedy of 2001, from ages two to 85, including 10 pregnant women. The former location of the Twin Towers is now a serene forest of trees with two square pools in the center, each with waterfalls, around which are inscribed the names of the victims on parapets. There you will see a Survivor Tree — which grew from a badly burnt pear tree branch picked from the rubble — a symbol of hope and rebirth. “It represents all of us,” we are told. It reminded me that we can all survive hurts and wounds inflicted on us.
5. Go skyscraper-watching. You cannot help but look up in this city of skyscrapers. Our bus tour took us around New York’s most iconic buildings such as Chrysler (my fave Art Deco structure), Empire State (which you remember in movies like An Affair to Remember, Sleepless in Seattle and King Kong), and the Flatiron (that Beaux Arts-styled building on a thin triangular block). Our guide pointed out the building where Jackie Kennedy Onassis lived and the one where John Lennon died; the ones that Donald Trump built when he was not busy threatening Americans that he would run for president; and buildings that have been recently bought by super-rich Russians. Not as towering but certainly gigantic is the Guggenheim Museum, which Noel de la Rama reminds us is Frank Lloyd Wright’s last major work, this avant-garde building which set the tone for other Guggenheim Museums in Venice, Bilbao and Abu Dhabi.
6. Watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. After seeing handsome Irish guys wearing plaids and playing bagpipes, grown men dressed as leprechauns, and women as well in their greenest attire marching down Fifth Avenue for a whole afternoon, I now believe our tour guide when she said there are more Irish people in New York than in Dublin. This cultural and religious tradition which started in 1762 in New York usually ends up with people murdering Danny Boy as they drink Irish beer and whisky. I secretly wished for the surprise appearances of Gerard Butler, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Farrell and Liam Neeson, but the patriotic Liam declares that on St. Patrick’s Day, “the best place to be is in Ireland.”
7. Enjoy the Museum of Modern Art. How nice was it that right across our New York Hilton hotel was the MoMA! My faves are the towering sculptures of Thomas Schutte entitled “United Enemies.” Currently featured is the mid-career retrospective of Icelandic singer Bjork, who is turning 49. Cool and full of interesting details, including the Bell Dress designed by Alexander McQueen which she wore in 2004 for her music video Who Is It. Greeting you at the lobby are the Gravity Harps by Andrew Cavatorta which were used on Bjork’s “Biophilia.”
8. Enjoy street food. The New York experience is never complete without a bite of the Big Apple’s sidewalk offerings. Right across our hotel (6th Ave and W53rd Street) was a never-ending queue for The Halal Guys, whose piping-hot, generous servings of gyro on rice, $7 per plate, were enjoyed by my media colleagues Tessa Mauricio-Arriola and Dinah Ventura. Chef Noel de la Rama recommends three food trucks: Waffles and Dinges with its authentic Belgian, Brussels and Liege waffles served with an assortment of toppings; Van Leeuwin Artisan Ice Cream for organic and hormone-free ice cream using natural ingredients; and Gorilla Cheese NYC for assorted grilled sandwiches.
9. Take Instagram selfies with artworks everywhere. New York City is one big outdoor museum! Pop art “LOVE” and “HOPE” sculptures by Robert Indiana popped out as we strolled from our hotel, ready for picture-pretty shots. There were also the Atlas sculpture by Lee Lawrie right in front of Rockefeller Center; the famous red cube by Isamu Noguchi on Broadways St.; and the Wall Street Bull by Arturo Di Modica in the financial district, to name a few. For more outdoor art, there is the High Line in the Meatpacking District, which is a public park, a garden, an event space, and a place to enjoy sunset on the Hudson River.
10. Feel New York’s heart and soul in Times Square. Open and very much alive 24/7, Times Square is where the city does its famous New Year’s Eve countdown. It is also the hub of the Broadway entertainment district. It reminds you of home with all its billboards and advertisements. Its all-American shops like Gap and American Eagle, and that huge, brightly-lit American flag, remind you that it is the heart of the Great White Way, the center of the American universe. Take a seat on the pedestrian plaza with its bright red chairs and go people-watching even for a New York minute.
