#manhattanny

I spent most of my day in the Bronx!

I arrived on 7th Ave and I took the 1,2,3 to the 7 to the 4,5,6 and then took the 4line all the way into the Bronx.

I visited the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage ($5), where the guide had lots of cool information about Poe but also about the Bronx and the surrounding neighborhood.

Then I wandered over to Fordham University, and found lunch ($6) at a deli in the Little Italy neighborhood. They had lots of welcoming signs to the students, and I’m not a student but the cashier gave me a discount anyway!

I took the BD line to Grand Concourse where I got off at 169th St and then took my time walking down to around 161st St. All sorts of cool architecture, museums (I just looked at the outside), Joyce Kilmer Park, and then Yankee Stadium.

At Yankee Stadium, I picked up the subway to head back into Manhattan. I took the BD line to 125th St in Harlem, and then walked along 125th St to see what the main street in Harlem was about. Then I hopped on the 4-5-6 line going south/downtown and got out at 110 St, where I passed the statue of Duke Ellington and his piano. The northeast corner of Central Park was gorgeous at this time of year, and even though it was cold out, I took a little walk through the park.

I got back on the 4-5-6 line and took the subway to Grand Central Station where I saw the Christmas markets in the train station. Then I popped into Muji (so much cute stationery and writing supplies!). At Bryant Park, they also have Christmas markets, a giant Christmas tree, and a lovely ice skating rink!

It was still a little early in the evening, so I bought some roasted peanuts from a street stand ($2), and wandered north on 6th Ave to see the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Plaza, the light show on facade of the building of Sak’s Fifth Ave, and a quick visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

I did a little shopping ($$ for me to know how much lol) on my way walking up 5th Ave, then watched the ice skaters in Central Park at the Wollman rink from outside the rink. I passed the carriage horses along Central Park South, then went over to 8th Ave to find some bubble tea ($6).

I was tuckered out after all the walking, so I hung out in Penn Station and had a smoothie at a Jamba juice ($6), before catching the megabus back home.

Megabus ticket: $20 (random Thursday at the end of November, after Thanksgiving but before Christmas!)

In-city transportation: $19.25

Lunch: $6

Dinner: (I ended up just snacking for dinner instead)

Coffee/snacks: $20

Museums: $5

I went with some friends to see the Harry Potter exhibit at the NY Historical Society!

My friends & I arrived on 7th Ave, and we took a break for coffee/hot chocolate/croissants at a Prêt À Manger ($6).

Then we bought our subway cards, and made our way up to 72nd Street to walk a little in the area near the New York Historical Society museum. We got lunch at Shake Shack ($8), then went into the museum to see the “Harry Potter: A History of Magic” exhibit. Very cool display and information that I didn’t know about when Harry Potter was first gaining popularity- I really enjoyed the exhibit!

Giftstore purchases $$ (you don’t need to know heheh)

Decided to visit Columbia University, so we went up to 182nd street, and explored the area a little. We found a Joe’s Coffee on the northwestern corner of the campus ($3, hot chocolate).

Then we got back on the subway to get closer to where the bus would pick us up, and to find dinner! There’s a delicious pizza place called Don Antonio’s Starita on West 50th St (Neapolitan pizzas, $17 + $19 shared among 4 ppl).

We popped into a CVS for some snacks ($4) for the bus ride home, and then got in line to wait for the megabus in the chilly darkness on the streets of New York.

Megabus ticket: $43 (a Saturday in November just before the holiday rush)

In-city transportation: $8.25

Lunch: $8

Dinner: $9

Coffee/snacks: 13

Museum: $21

I spent the day exploring Queens.

The megabus dropped me off at the Fashion Institute at 7th Ave and 28th St in Manhattan.

I put money on my subway card, then took the 1-2-3 line to the 7 line. I took the 7 line all the way to the end, where I got off at Main Street in Flushing, Queens.

Lunch at the cafeteria area in the New World Mall, dumplings & bubble tea ($8).

Then I took the subway to 103rd St- Corona Plaza where I got out and made my way over to the Louis Armstrong House Museum ($12).

From there I walked over to the Flushing Meadows Corona Park, where I saw the globe from the World Fair. I also visited the Queens Art Museum ($8).

I hopped back on the subway, and took it all the way until Vernon Blvd/Jackson Ave at Long Island City Landing, where I tried a cute & community/environmentally friendly/conscious coffee shop called COFFEED ($10, hot chocolate & muffin) with a wonderful view of Manhattan across the East River.

Then I topped off my subway card, got back on the 7 line, exited at 34th St/Hudson Yards, and I met up with a friend for dinner. We went to the West Gotham Market, where we had oysters ($1/oyster during happy hour) and ramen ($14). Then I got back on the megabus to head home!

Megabus round-trip ticket for a Tuesday in the middle of October: $22.50

In-city transportation: $11

Museums/attractions: $20

Lunch: $8

Dinner: $19

Coffee/snacks: $10

Total: $90.50