When my younger brother, Worth, called and said “Hey! I’m thinking about coming to visit you in New York this weekend. Is that cool?” Of course, I said….YES! I have barely seen Worth this past year with him studying abroad in Africa and this was a perfect weekend for me to host him.
My excitement soon turned into a sense of nervousness because I can show a girl around this city for days…but a guy? Shopping? Hmm…that probably won’t fly. This was new territory.
Here are my proven tips to show your next 21+ age guest (who has been to the city before!) to a successful time around the city for a weekend:
Friday night:
–Dell’ Anima for dinner (order a mix of bruchettes to start with the beets appetizer–both are so filling that splitting the tagliatelle alla bolognese pasta is plenty for two!). This low-key west village Italian spot is always packed so make the reservation early, but it’s a great place to allow your guest to slowly adjust to the high-speed lifestyle of New York.
–Dell’ Anima is walking distance from one of my favorite places, The Jane Hotel. Imagine a speak-easy transformed into a club…with oldies / current music hits. It’s phenomenal.
Saturday:
-Sleep in for a little, but not too late! Get a workout in! Head over to Equinox and use one of your guest passes or rent a bike and go for a nice stroll on the Hudson. A little sweat never hurt anyone!
-Saturday morning in NYC is the perfect time to head over to the Union Square Green Market…grab some fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil to make the perfect afternoon snack. Plan to add a little Chardonnay and the gorgeous sunset into the mix and you will have yourself a lovely break before the evening plans begin.
-Walk down to Greenwich Village, observe the almost movie-like quiet streets, people sitting outside eating at restaurants, and eclectic shops. Head west towards the Hudson and make your way up to the Meatpacking District.
-Go snag a table or a seat at the bar for a big lunch at The Standard Grill (start with the shrimp cocktail and enjoy the best BLT sandwich of your life or the chicken paillard!). Fabulous people watching.
-If you’re a day drinker head next door to their beer garden, but if you’re like me who will be asleep by 5pm if I partake in that then head up the stairs next to The Standard and a nice walk along the High Line, which was just recently expanded by the way!
-Make your guest have a memorable trip by getting a group together and going to The Darby down in Meatpacking. It’s fun, upbeat, and has a stage of live singers chanting Aretha’s best hits…the last time Beyonce and Jay-Z stopped in they got on stage! Start with group-sharing the crabcakes, tuna tartare, and caesar salad to make everyone happy, and then move onto the ravioli, salmon, shrimp pesto, or the branzino! Add a side of Brussels sprouts and macaroni & cheese to that for a well-rounded meal. If you have room for dessert, snag the baked alaska! Head to their bar downstairs for a drink before jumping to the next venue!
-An upbeat, preppy place we like to flock to frequently is a club called Southside in Soho. The music is always great, and the guys and girls are always oh so cute! If your guest isn’t a consistent “clubber,” the Jane hotel and Southside are the perfect spots to take them…you don’t want to overwhelm them with models and bottles quite yet!
-If you’re out until the wee hours after Southside, a great place to hit up that’s open late is The Meatball Shop in the East Village. It’s always crowded and delicious…especially at that hour!
Sunday:
-Sleep in, rest up, and get walking towards Soho. Pick up some Baked by Melissa cupcakes for the long stroll, and go towards the East Village for lunch at B Bar or Gemma at the Bowery Hotel where you can sit outside.
-Subway it up to the MoMA or The Met to see their latest exhibits!
-Allow your guest time to pack up for their flight, and decide on a quick spot to grab a farewell dinner. Our Sunday night choice? The Little Owl of course! It’s always consistent, and just plain good. Start with the meatball sliders and lobster risotto, and move onto the halibut (new season creation and better than ever!) and the chicken with a side of spicy fries and asparagus.
Don’t forget to sign The Little Owl’s book when you get your check!
Say your goodbyes, which I cannot stand to do, and walk away with the satisfaction that you showed your guest one heck of a good time in the big city.
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