With a 30 percent market share, New York City remains America’s most popular urban destination with overseas travellers (via skift.com).
But while the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and Times Square remain as prevalent with tourists as ever, we thought it might be interesting to pick out five brand-new* things to do in the Big Apple.
* Bryant Park didn’t meet the exact criteria but, as you will soon see, going to NYC and not visiting there would be a travesty.
1. The Edition Hotel/Clocktower Restaurant
After successful launches in London, Istanbul and Miami, legendary boutique hotelier Ian Schrager and industry behemoths Marriot open their fourth ‘Edition’ hotel. Overlooking Madison Square Park, it is set in a listed clock tower that dates back to 1909.
But even more so than the hotel, it is the Clocktower restaurant that has had New York heads talking. Executive chef Jason Atherton has three London restaurants and each has a Michelin star... nice to see someone flying the British food flag with such distinction.
2. Andrea Pirlo.
It is widely agreed that Andrea Pirlo is the coolest (and one of the most talented) footballers of the last 30 years. New York Red Bulls ‘soccer’ fans now have the pleasure of being able to watch him every week after he joined from European powerhouses, Juventus.
Alongside Frank Lampard, the Italian playmaker will form one of the strongest midfield pairings Major League Soccer has ever seen. "I had several opportunities to play outside of Italy, but I never had a doubt in picking New York", he said.
Although Central and Maddison are the city’s best known, Bryant remains New York’s most intriguing park. The quirks are endless but all will now been revealed…
Short on space above ground, the New York Library accommodate 3.2 million books below Bryant Park.
Before the books there were bodies! Until 1840, the Potter’s Field was a burial ground for New York’s poorer locals.
Daily attendance counts exceed 1k per square acre making it the most densely populated urban park in the world.
The wishing well accrues up to $4,000 a year, the money is scrubbed clean by the park’s staff, counted, and put towards maintenance.
4. One World Observatory, One World Trade Centre.
Built on the same site as the former World Trade Centre, there is a real sense of poignancy as soon as you arrive at One World Trade Centre. Whilst this building has been open for business since 2014, the One World Observatory only opened its doors this spring.
The 12,000 square-foot observation deck takes up the whole of the 100th, 101st and 102nd floors and at 1,250ft tall is the highest viewing point in New York’s 'Western Hemisphere'. In fact, this is the tallest building in lower Manhattan (and the fourth tallest sky scrapper in the world) so you are literally getting unparalleled views of New York City.
Okay so number 5 isn’t a tourist attraction but it is a new thing in New York…
5. The World’s Newest, Oldest Person.
116-year-old Susannah Mushatt Jones lives in New York City, she recently became the world’s newest oldest person. Mrs Jones was born in 1899 which also means she’s the only human-being on Earth to be born in the 19th century! She was the third of 11 children born to sharecroppers and her grandparents were slaves.
She has never smoked or drank or had any children (although she does have over 100 nieces and nephews). Retired in 1965 (wow), she also has magical the ability to make almost anyone feel young.
--
The world according to WeSwap, the clever new way to get travel money that’s up to 10 times cheaper than banks, bureaux or airports. Get five friends signed up this summer, get free currency exchange for life.
