So I recently went on a little solo trip to New York City. Simply because I’ve never been and I’ve always wanted to go, especially around the holidays. And the thing about me is I don’t really just think about doing shit, more often than not— I actually end up doing it. It’s one of my more redeeming traits for sure. But anyway, I thought it would make a good blog post to share my experience navigating and exploring the city alone. So here’s how I spent my time for 5 solo days in the city:
Day 1
On day one, I flew into LaGuardia airport around 10:30 am, which basically gave me the entire day to explore the city and fuck around. It rained this day, which kinda sucked, but other than that, no trouble. I’ll also say navigating the public transit from LaGuardia into Manhattan was super simple as someone who’s never been to NYC before. I think my biggest fear going into this trip was navigating the public transportation, but if I do say so myself, I killed that shit. I only got on the wrong subway once. And that was an easy fix.
I stayed at the Little Charlie Hotel on 2nd Avenue. It was a really convenient location and fairly affordable in comparison to some other hotels in the area. They also let you keep your bags there before your check-in time, so that way if you get there early (like I did), you don’t have to lug around a giant ass suitcase with you while you do some exploring.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
The first place I went to was St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The inner Catholic in me really appreciated this place. I’m also a slut for some Roman Catholic architecture, so walking around here was really neat.
Shopping on 5th Avenue
After the Cathedral, I shopped around on 5th Avenue. I went to Nike, which was way cooler than the one on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. And all the workers here were hot as shit. I also went to Skims, Zara, and Urban Outfitters. Did a little Christmas shopping and whatnot. And I usually don’t love shopping, but the shits just different in NYC. I actually had a blast hopping around the stores and dropping cash that I honestly didn’t need to spend.
7th Street Burger
I went to 7th Street Burger because all that shopping had me famished. I got a jalapeño smash burger and a crisp ass Diet Coke to wash that shit down. That, my friend, is a 10/10 meal. The worker was also fairly attractive and had me stuttering as I ordered, so bonus points for that experience. I guess.
Times Square
After 7th Street Burger, I hopped and skipped around Times Square, which was cool. I looked actually insane because of the fog and rain. My only regret was not packing an umbrella, though.
Bryant Park Winter Village
I ended the day at Bryant Park Winter Village, where I dropped $160 on rings and $20 on food. Gotta love NYC. For real, though, I got three rings, all from different vendors, but I love them all so much. Two are sterling silver, which is why they were a little steep. My favorite ring I bought, though, was the Sagittarius one. So fucking cute! I also got some hot chocolate from No Chewing Allowed, which was divine, and the Banana Crème Pie cookie from the Last Crumb, which was one of the best things I’ve ever put in my goddamn mouth. Shit was fire.
Day 2
Culture Espresso
Day 2 started the best way possible—with a latte and a baked good. I tried the chocolate chip cookie from Culture Espresso because I heard it was the best in NYC. While it was good, best might be a stretch, considering the one I had from Levain was better. Riddle me that. Still was solid though, don’t get me wrong. Super gooey in the middle.
Empire State Observatory
Next, I went to look at the city from 100 stories in the fucking air. Standing at the very bottom and looking up at the building is mind-boggling. How do you make a building that fucking tall without it collapsing? That’s beside the point. The Empire State Observatory was actually really neat, and I’d recommend it for any first-time NYC goers like myself. Seeing the city from that view was unmatched.
Morgan Library and Museum
This place was cool. Not sure it was worth $35 though. I think my family would’ve hated it, but I liked meandering around the place. I don’t think I’d go back, though.
New York Public Library Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
This place was awesome, not only because it was free but because the architecture was beautiful. It was all decorated for Christmas, too, which was so beautiful. It was also huge; it would take like 2 hours to explore the whole thing. But I’d certainly recommend it for anyone who loves museums and shit like that. Cause this place was gorgeous.
Shake Shack Madison Square Park
Why was this one of my favorite things I did the entire time in NYC? Seriously. Also, if you want to feel like a million bucks, go here for sure. The workers be calling you shit like “my love” and “beautiful”. Being called beautiful by the Shake Shack workers was not on my 2025 bingo card. But no complaints. Anyway— sitting on a bench in Madison Square Park eating a French Onion Shroom Burger, and sipping a Diet Coke, truly felt like girlhood. It was an incredible moment I had there. Life was simple. Life was easy.
Pier 57
Next, I walked over to Pier 57 and stopped at a little Flea Market on the way there. Here I walked around the different shops and lounges they had and then went to the rooftop to look out at the water. It was such a beautiful and peaceful little spot.
Magnolia Bakery
After that, I went over to Grand Central Station for a sweet treat. I’d been wanting to try Magnolia Bakery for an eternity because the flavors of banana pudding they have always looked phenomenal. I got the Red Velvet Cake Banana Pudding, and that shit did not disappoint. Super sweet, much-needed girl dinner.
Day 3
Blank Street Coffee
I grabbed a pistachio latte from Blank Street, and honestly, this might be the best coffee I’ve had in my life. This place had me in a choke hold so much so that I had to come back two other times before leaving NYC.
PopUp Bagels
For breakfast, I went to PopUp Bagels. My favorite combo I tried was the Salted Butter bagel with the jalapeño schmear. That might be one of my favorite meals of this trip. It’s hard to choose, though. Everything was so good. But it was definitely my favorite breakfast spot I hit up.
The Edge in Hudson Yards/ Shopping
Next, I went to the Edge, which is another outlook to view the city. It’s located at a mall, so I shopped around for a bit as well. The Edge itself had some really neat views, but if you’re gonna pay for a view, I’d recommend The Empire State Observatory over this one, even though it’s a bit more expensive. Not by too much, though. The only advantage the Edge has is being attached to a mall. It was nice that I could shop around afterwards. Very convenient.
Golf Wang Store in SoHo
Next was my least favorite experience of the trip. I knew I had to go to the Golf Wang store once I remembered there was one in NYC. And I’d had my eye on one of their rings for some time. So I thought, yes, perfect. I’ll go get the ring and shop around. However, I didn’t realize the stupid cunt working was gonna be such a feral skank. She was so rude. And that’s slightly an exaggeration of the situation, but still, why wasn’t she nice? Nothing irks me more. I just wanted to buy the damn ring, and when I asked what color options and sizes they had, she acted like I’d just set her child on fire and threw it in a dumpster. Bitch this is what you’re getting paid to do. You work here. And she made me feel so uneasy that I ended up buying a ring I didn’t love and didn’t fit me that well. And as I was leaving, I thought to myself- this isn’t right. I don’t want this fucking ring, I’m gonna return it. Because when I tried on the one I bought, it literally didn’t fit the same as the other one I tried on. So I returned it for store credit and got a hoodie instead. But man, that bitch just pissed me off. I was the kind of mad where you start talking aloud to yourself in public, saying shit like “fuck that stupid bitch”. Anyways, rant over.
Summit One Vanderbilt
This was another tower where you can view the city. This one was super neat, but again, if you’re gonna pay for a view, I recommend the Empire State Observatory. The wait line for this was also way longer than the Edge and the Empire State Building, even though I bought a ticket in advance. Overall, really neat, I just probably wouldn’t go again.
Blank Street Matcha
Catch my ass at Blank Street again, getting the best matcha I’ve ever had in my life. Banana Bread Matcha Latte will make your earfquake. For real this time.
NYC Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes
Okay, this may be my favorite activity of the entire trip. Radio City Music Hall is fucking gorgeous, and the Rockettes’ performance was indeed spectacular. It was also the 100th anniversary of the Rockettes this year, which made it that much more special. The talent these women have is unmatched. These women are the real athletes. NFL players could never.
Anyway, the show was incredible. I liked how it incorporated so many elements of Christmas, both secular and religious. They did numbers ranging from the 12 Days of Christmas to The Nutcracker to Silent Night. When they did the number with the 3 wiseman and the nativity scene, it was unreal. I was gagged when they brought two live ass camels across the stage. And a donkey. How the hell did they get a camel into Radio City Music Hall? And although I’d argue this aspect of the show was ethically questionable, it was neat nonetheless.
Rockefeller Christmas Tree
After the Rockettes Show, I went to look at the Christmas Tree. It was dark out, and it looked gorgeous as hell all lit up like that. Shit was crowded though, so be prepared for that if you decide to go.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
After the Rockettes, I needed a girl dinner. And I turned the corner, and Van Leeuwen was right there. God speaks to us. I had it once because they had a truck at Camp Flog Gnaw, and I remember loving it. This time, though, I thought it was mid. I got a peanut butter brownie flavor and the berry cheesecake with sprinkles. So a good order— I think it was just too damn cold for ice cream to hit like it usually does.
Day 4
Levain Bakery
Day 4 started yet again with a chocolate chip cookie and a latte. And honestly, every day should. I got the walnut chocolate chip cookie and a caramel latte. All really good, not life-changing, however. Levain gets so much hype, and I just didn’t think it surpassed or even lived up to it. No hard feelings, though.
Central Park
Next, I walked to Central Park. Very beautiful place, but it was a little too cold to be fucking around outside like that.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Next stop- the MET. This place was really neat. I spent a long time walking around looking at shit here. I’d definitely recommend it to first-time NYC travelers. Tickets are only $30, and there’s so much to see here.
Brooklyn Bridge
Next, I took the metro to Brooklyn and walked the whole Brooklyn Bridge. This was definitely my favorite activity of the day. The view was insanely beautiful. Brooklyn is gorgeous, and walking around there was so girl-coded. I had a blast.
Cloudy Donut Co.
This is a little vegan donut shop in Brooklyn that I went to. They even gave me a free donut because it was my first time there. And I don’t understand how they make vegan shit taste that good. Seriously. Usually, when you eat something vegan, you can tell it’s vegan even if it’s not necessarily bad. It just has that way too healthy taste to it. But these donuts were some of the best I’ve ever had. I got the maple pecan donuts, and this flavor was to die for.
Pier 6 & 7
After I chowed down my 5th and 6th pastries of the day, I moseyed over to Pier 6/7 and walked around just looking at the water and pretending I was in a movie or some shit. So fun.
Dyker Heights
Before bussing over to Dyker Heights, I got a hot chocolate and popped into some shops and a bookstore. Then managed to somehow figure out the public transportation side of things. I didn’t stay in Dyker long because it was cold as fuck and I wanted a French Onion Shroom, a shower, and my bed real bad. So I hopped on the metro, where I got incredibly lucky and ended up right next to dipshits 1-4 for my 20-minute ride to Grand Central. Four white, drunk corporate men in their late 20s from Chicago, I guess, blessed me with their company. We did get to chatting, and one of them went to Mizzou and graduated in 2022. Then tweedle dipshit number 2 starts calling me Miss Mizzou and asks if I’ll take their picture at Grand Central Station. No, I won’t take your picture. Go to hell. This was also the metro ride where the pole dancers brought their boombox and started swinging and hanging upside down in shit right in the middle of the goddamn subway bus. Such an eventful trip to Grand Central. At least I got my second French Onion Shroom Burger of the trip with a Diet Coke. Girls get it.
Day 5
Blank Street
The only thing I really did this day was go to Blank Street again to get a latte and a blueberry muffin. Shit was incredible. I did make a small mistake, though. Never get a fucking latte with oat milk. Give me the real shit. What’d you fucking do, milk the oat? If the shit doesn’t make logical sense, don’t put it in my goddamn latte. Anyway, since then, I’ve been at the airport writing two different blog posts for you bastards. So enjoy.
Thats’s that.
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