I visit New York City several times a year, staying at one of the four wonderful HGV locations there. We’ve seen so many places, but I’m still always encountering something unexpected and fun.
On one trip, my eldest daughter and I stumbled across the Museum of Chinese in America. We’d been looking for a public restroom, as she was seven months pregnant. That, we found. But we also discovered a wonderful free museum and stayed a while, enjoying a free classical music concert with a live string quartet.
A Personal Tribute In Central Park
This past June, I stayed at The Quin, a Hilton Club for three nights with my youngest daughter (27) to celebrate her birthday. She’s autistic but loves traveling. Her first objective was to place a rose on the Central Park bench of Rachel Lillis, an accomplished anime voice actress whom my daughter loved for her work on Pokémon.
The bench is located just past the 106th Avenue west side entrance to Central Park, on a lovely, quiet path. My daughter placed her rose and said a prayer of thanks. That prompted the woman sitting quietly on the other side of the bench to ask about Rachel Lillis. We explained she was a voice actor who passed before her time, and the dedicated bench was in her memory.
That turned into a lovely conversation with the woman, who’d just moved to Manhattan to find work as a yoga instructor. And, in an interesting turn of fate, she was just beginning to work as a voice actress. We wished her luck and hope and parted well. It made my daughter’s day.
Exploring A Unique Bookstore Experience
The next day, we planned a trip to Pillow Cat Books, an animal-themed bookshop on the Lower East Side. I’d been following them on Instagram for a while and was intrigued. The store features new, vintage and antique books about art, photography, design, fashion and literature. What makes this bookstore unique is that all of the books feature animals, with topics separated by creature, plus it’s inhabited by a bookstore cat. We took the subway, walked and found the store easily, petted the cat, and made some purchases.
Following Curiosity To A Historic New York Landmark
It was time for lunch. I spotted Veselka, a venerable Ukrainian restaurant that looked wonderful, but the daughter is not as fond of pierogies as I am. A quick look at the map app and, lo and behold, McSorley’s Old Ale House showed up, only a short walk away.
McSorley’s lives up to the “old ale house” part of its name. It’s the oldest continually operating bar in Manhattan, having been open since 1854. Everyone from Abraham Lincoln, Woody Guthrie and John Lennon has walked through its doors, though women weren’t allowed until 1970. I’ve been wanting to have a pint there for ages, but the timing never seemed to work out.
We walked over, found it lightly occupied on a weekday at midday, and enjoyed a great pub lunch of beer, burgers, hot dogs and fries. I, of course, opted for McSorley’s own beer on tap. I received two pints because “everyone gets two.” McSorley’s is a place where they still put sawdust on the floor to absorb the spilled beer.
As we were finishing, the bartender came and sat down with us, and we chatted for a while about New York. He was a city native and had worked at McSorley’s for 50 years, so he had some stories, including about the pandemic. It was unplanned, unexpected and one of the best conversations I’ve had in New York. As we left, he recommended a Lower East Side eatery, Veniero’s Pasticceria & Caffe, an Italian bakery established in 1894 and continuously operated by the same family since its founding.
Discovering A Neighborhood Favorite
Off we went to Veniero’s, drawn by the promise of the best cannoli in Manhattan. After a ten-minute walk and a long gawk at the enormous bakery cases, we sat down to enjoy dessert. The bartender did not lie. My daughter raved about her chocolate mousse cake.
It was a day well spent. I was curious about the Lower East Side neighborhood and open to new experiences, and so found a great lunch, a friendly bartender, and dessert.
Finding Unexpected New York Icons
We had one other surprise that trip, when we found our way to Sesame Street, the official name of the corner of West 63rd and Broadway. (FYI: it’s over near Lincoln Center, a short walk from The Quin and Hilton Club West 57th Street New York.)
Happy accidents like these are why we keep coming back to New York City.
Key Takeaways
Unexpected Discoveries Enriched the Trip: Several memorable experiences began with unplanned stops and spontaneous decisions throughout New York City.
Meaningful Personal Moments Shaped the Journey: A visit to a memorial bench in Central Park created a memorable interaction and lasting family memories.
Curiosity Led to Hidden Gems: Exploring bookstores, restaurants and neighborhood landmarks uncovered experiences that were not originally on the itinerary.
Local Conversations Added Value: Encounters with residents and staff created some of the most memorable moments of the trip.
New York City Rewards Exploration: The story illustrates how remaining open to unexpected opportunities can transform a visit into a richer experience.
FAQs
Q: Where is the Museum of Chinese in America located?
A: The Museum of Chinese in America is located in Manhattan and offers exhibits that explore Chinese American history, culture and community contributions.
Q: Where can visitors find the Rachel Lillis memorial bench in Central Park?
A: The bench is located near the West 106th Street entrance to Central Park along a quieter section of the park, making it a meaningful stop for fans wishing to pay their respects.
Q: What makes Pillow Cat Books unique?
A: Pillow Cat Books specializes in animal-themed books organized by species and features a resident bookstore cat, creating a distinctive experience for animal lovers and book enthusiasts.
Q: Why is McSorley’s Old Ale House a notable New York City destination?
A: McSorley’s Old Ale House is one of New York City's most historic bars, operating continuously since 1854 and known for its rich history, traditional atmosphere and classic pub fare.
Q: What is Veniero’s known for?
A: Veniero’s is a longtime Lower East Side bakery famous for Italian pastries, cakes and cannoli, making it a popular stop for visitors seeking classic New York desserts.
Q: How can travelers discover hidden gems in New York City?
A: Exploring on foot, talking with locals, and remaining open to unexpected detours can often lead to memorable experiences beyond the typical tourist attractions.
