I <3 NY

My love for New York knows no bounds. I’m a Colorado native who lived there from 1976 to 1985, surviving The Plague Years of AIDS. Saying, writing, reading, or hearing “New York” brings back indescribable memories. I’d move back in a New York minute (about 15 seconds), but instead, I visit almost annually, and love sharing my city with others.

“Fuhgeddaboudit!” is Brooklyn-ese meaning literally “forget about it,” “let it go,” or “meh.” Hate filth, noise, crowds, expensive everything? Fuhgeddaboudit! You’re in New York!

New Yorkers are rude? Nah. They’re just busy people on personal missions and don’t have time for bullshit. Intimidated that English there is a second language? Bask in the musical polyglot wafting within earshot; it puts the cosmo in cosmopolitan.

Before You Go:

Study a New York Times or search online for upcoming art exhibits, shows, operas, symphonies, dancers, performers, sports events, and conventions. Plan your trip around your favorite.

Avoid LaGuardia. Trust me. Fly into JFK, take the Long Island Railroad into Penn Station, and in thirty minutes, you’re biting into the Big Apple. Also arriving at Penn is AirTrain from Newark’s airport. Both are faster and cheaper than taxis or car services.

Purchase a billfold that fits in your front pocket to mitigate pickpocketing, a painful (and very expensive) lesson learned.

Exercise! You will walk miles and miles — and then you’ll walk some more.

Take comfortable shoes. (See above.)

See a Broadway musical, a big, splashy one! There’s nothing like it! Purchase advance tickets, splurge on orchestra seats, or join Playbill.com for great bargains. Check the TKTS booth for day-of price cuts. If you hate it, have fun being a critic — everyone does.

STRONG RECOMMENDATION: Twenty things on your list? Rookie mistake. Group your destinations by location and pick TWO (maybe three) things per day in order to avoid frustration and misery. Reserve evenings for shows or nightlife. Relax and enjoy! If you fall in love with the city, you’ll return.

Arriving In The Greatest City On Earth!

First, get what I call your street legs. Stand out of the way of the dashing hordes, take a deep breath, and soak in the overwhelming New York energy. Proceed with a New York state of mind (it’s real).

Don’t fear the subway, fast and cheap. I like taxis. Uber is super. Drivers usually love to talk your best opener: “Where are you from?” You will learn more about the world than in the news and get recommendations on good eateries.

My favorite restaurant? Reservations at Joe Allen’s for after theater dinner. If 10:30pm is too late to eat, you’re thinking like a tourist and might be surprised how suddenly, New York invigorates you with its palpable energy.

Fun + Free (Or Cheap)

The Staten Island Ferry is a short ride to the borough. See the breathtaking skyline and Lady Liberty while breathing the wind and salty air of the sea.

The World Trade Center Museum is open, but avoid it if you’re unsure of your emotional response. The two fountains built upon the twin towers’ footprints are breathtaking.

No matter the season, stroll through magical Central Park.

Museums abound for any type of collection you can imagine including the Museum of Sex, a total rip-off. Visit their interesting gift shop, and you’ll have a great New York yarn. I’d describe what I saw, but I can’t quite wrap my head around it, and not the one on my shoulders. (See what I mean?) Not all museums are open everyday; check their schedules.

Walk the High Line between 34th and 14th Streets on Tenth Avenue. The repurposed park built atop an abandoned elevated railroad surprises with whimsy and welcome greenery.

Walk through Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Station or by the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings. Window shop, people watch. Experience Times Square at night, weirder than Mardi Gras, brighter than Las Vegas, and safer than either.

View Manhattan from any number of observatories, and be amazed!

New York will leave its mark on you; you’ll hate it or love it. In either case, you’ll have an UN-FUHGEDDABLE experience.