HC x GGG Take on NYC
At 40 years young, Portia and I had both never experienced the vibrant city life of New York City. Fortunately, the universe heard us discuss taking a NYC trip and gifted us the opportunity to partner with Alaska Airlines and the Marriott Marquis New York Times Square for a very memorable whirlwind trip!
I’ll just let the photos speak for themselves (all photos by the lovely Turkan Najar)
Alaska Airlines flew us first class from Seattle to JFK. Before take off, we enjoyed relaxing in the Alaska Airlines Lounge, sipping on fresh coffee and dining on a hearty breakfast. It was such a breezy flight, just under 5 hours. We were able to pre-order our in-flight meal via the Alaska Airlines app and were served the moment we hit the clouds. Personally, Alaska is the only airline I will fly if they offer the route for my destination. With over 115 destinations and roughly 1,200 daily flights, I rarely have to search elsewhere.
Marriott Marquis Times Square
The New York Marriott Marquis hotel stands proudly in the heart of Times Square. Newly renovated, it features a revolving dining room, Broadway Lounge, with floor to ceiling windows overlooking Times Square, 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting spaces, a 24-hour fitness center with city views, gorgeous and spacious accommodations, a beautiful and spacious Bonvoy member lounge, and wonderful, knowledgeable staff. We were blown away by how kind and helpful the staff at the Marriott Marquis were. We looked forward to interacting with them each morning while grabbing coffee and breakfast and planning our day of adventure!
Summit One Vanderbilt
A brand new site to NYC is the Summit One Vanderbilt experience where you will be immersed in a truly unique space that places you on top of the Manhattan skyline. Take an elevator up over 1,000 feet to glass floors, windows to infinity, and air that feels clear as though there’s no end. Each floor offers something different from the other and leaves you breathless.
Central Park
TAKE THE SUBWAY TO BROOKLYN - One of our favorite days was venturing to Brooklyn, Dumbo, and Chelsea. The most beautiful views of Manhattan can be seen and there’s excellent food, chic shops, and charming markets.
Juliana’s - Old Fulton Street, Brooklyn
DUMBO - Best view of the Manhattan Bridge is at the busy cross streets of Washington and Water. Worth the crowd dodging to get a few shots and take in the beautiful view of this marvelous structure!
Nordstrom NYC - As Pacific Northwesterners, Portia and I were thrilled to visit the Nordstrom flagship location in NYC. Starting as a shoe store in Seattle over 100 years ago, Nordstrom now serves customers all over, from the U.S. to Canada. The seven floor, 320,000 square foot flagship store occupies the base level of the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere! It houses over 7 dining locations, including a swanky “Shoe Bar” located in the center of your shoe shopping experience.
SEX AND THE CITY - What’s a girls trip to NYC without a stop at Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment in West Village? 66 Perry Street is occupied by actual home owners, so to respect their privacy we popped a few doors down to capture some shots in front of an identical brownstone.
HOTEL: New York Marriott Marquis Times Square
DINING AND DRINKS: Ellen’s Stardust in Times Square / Juliana’s / Broadway Lounge in Marriott Marquis Times Square / Bistro Verde or the Shoe Bar on the footwear floor in the Nordstrom Flagship / Playwright Tavern / Serafina / The Long Room Irish Pub / Nathan’s Hot Dogs in Central Park / Ralph’s Coffee across from St. Patrick’s Cathedral / Aubi & Ramsa in Chelsea
EXPERIENCES AND SHOPPING: Summit One Vanderbilt / St. Patrick’s Cathedral / Ellen’s Stardust Singing Staff Diner / Chelsea Market / Dumbo / Brooklyn Bridge / Walk the Highline in Brooklyn / Shop in Greenwich Village and Chelsea / Neighborhood Goods (they have a bar lounge at the rear of the shop) / Central Park / Carrie Bradshaw’s Apartment / Midnight Moment in Times Square / Grand Central Station
