One of the most special parts about my childhood has been my birthday. Each year my parents set out to make my day more special than the last. It is tradition for my mom and I to spend the day grabbing brunch, enjoying a massage and getting our nails done. Now for my spectacular 18th, they stunned me with a fabulous weekend getaway to what some say is the greatest city in the world. Even as a child, my dream has always been to experience the energy of this place. Now, at The Original Pancake House on the corner of Kiwanis and 41st, I sat in a booth opening my birthday gifts from each member of my family, completely unaware of what was in store for me in the following week. 

After enjoying an exceptional brunch with the people I love most, my dad slyly handed me a small box. It was black with white stripes and held a large golden bow on top. I sat confused as I was under the assumption that all of my birthday presents had been opened. However, my dad has been known to give a gag gift or two throughout the years, so I wasn’t too shocked when I lifted the top of the box to find a small plastic red apple. My exact thought process went: 

1. 1. Wow, a red apple.
   2. He is so funny.
   3. Wait, what could this mean?
   4. Oh my goodness.
   5. A red apple.
   6. The red apple.
   7. The Big Apple!

And then I knew. Soon everyone around me was cheering and I was crying, it was quite the moment. Of course I had a million questions. When would we be leaving? Where were we staying? How long were we staying for? What were we doing when we got there? They were all answered within a few seconds as I began spitting these concerns one by one. We left that Friday for the Baccarat hotel to spend the weekend eating at fabulous restaurants, ice skating in Central Park, watching The Lion King on Broadway and falling in love with the most amazing city to ever exist. 

After tackling some travel concerns because of the weather, we had finally made it. Entering the hotel was like entering an alternate universe where everything was perfect, just perfect. The elevator, the lobby and restrooms, the restaurant and check in desk and even the room key were beyond beautiful. I think it was a combination of the detailing, presentation and the phenomenal people working that made the entire experience unforgettable. With each step I took, it became more elegant, more sophisticated, more unbelievable. 

The first night consisted of getting settled in, finding our delightful dinner reservations and enjoying a horse carriage ride through Central Park, A.K.A. the best introduction to the city. After ordering an array of dishes at The Milling Room including the Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup, the Buratta and Heirloom Beet Salad and the Beef Bolognese for our appetizers, it was obvious that we had a long night of food tasting ahead of us, eager to collect as much out of the experience as possible. We went to bed later that night after our carriage ride through the heart of the city, impatiently waiting for what the city had to offer in our days to come.

Saturday morning was breakfast at the hotel. Maybe the most fancy breakfast I have ever had. After consuming an elegant meal in my jeans, bottom up and sweater, it was time to hit the town. My main goal in the city was to experience as much as I could. I didn’t put too much effort into seeing the sights like the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building. That being said, those aspects are hard to miss and easy to come by. I mean that in the way that you could take a subway down to the financial district and be walking along the harbor and there she is in all her glory directly to your right, Ms. Liberty herself. Therefore, as seeing the sights wasn’t at the top of my list, they did happen to be some happy accidents. Dinner was reserved at La Grande Boucherie, an Italian restaurant off of 53rd. 

Sunday consisted of East Village boutique and vintage shopping and brunch at Casa Limone. East Village was a really amazing experience since it holds many more residential buildings rather than tourist traps and hotels. Getting to see how the city functions real time in a more realistic, everyday New Yorker setting was completely different than I had expected. That night, we set off to go see The Lion King on Broadway. This show had me on my feet wailing by the end. Never had I experienced more raw human energy in one room. It was phenomenal. 

Monday was our travel day back home. However, we were able to get a raw New York breakfast in at the Carnegie Diner and even travel through the Subway system a few more times to go and ice skate in Central Park. Saying goodbye to this city was a real heartbreak. Even though some may say my three-and-a-half-day journey through the city was far from the reality of everyday life, the New York energy showed its colors bright and true. Don’t get me wrong, it was dirty, the homeless population is astounding and there is most definitely no midwestern niceness, but there is truly no place like New York.