A Perfect Weekend in Manhattan
No hype, no duds, no skips
This is my take on a perfect weekend in Manhattan, with a psychotic, possibly concerning level of detail.
Requisite disclaimers:
You can, and maybe should, do most of this alone. If you sometimes find yourself alone in New York City and love to read, this one’s for you.
This is not a carefully-curated, alternative list of places in Manhattan no one goes to in an effort to make myself seem cool. This is where I actually go. None of these places opened in the last year, and you won’t see them on TikTok (I hope).
I hope it gives you a sense of what living in Manhattan is like, or exposes you to some new things to try if you already live here.
Also, I definitely don’t eat out for every meal, but I wanted this guide to be complete for visitors too.
Friday Afternoon
Manhattan weekends begin on Friday afternoon, and the correct Friday afternoon mindset is doing nothing while still doing something.
Odds are, if you’re working an office job, you are not getting anything done by 3 or 4pm on a Friday. You’re also probably exhausted, and kind of don’t feel like going out after the work week. Maybe you’re visiting NYC for the weekend, and you’re dragging a bit from the flight. If so, perfect, because we’re not doing much on Friday afternoon. We’re easing into our perfect weekend. Friday night is about rest and recovery, while still feeling like we’re a part of the action and not hiding in our apartments or hotel rooms. Having FOMO in NYC is particularly tough; everyone is doing so much. But you don’t have to. You’re going to do nothing while still doing something.
This is the correct Friday afternoon mindset. Don’t go too hard out the gate, or you won’t have anything left in the tank for Saturday and Sunday.
Select a Book Friend™ for the weekend.
(A proprietary concept. Like your best friend, but a book.)
Throw a fake meeting on your calendar, leave the office for a vague “appointment,” whatever it is you have to do, because the first stop we’re making on Friday afternoon is to a bookstore.
There is lots of down time on the weekends, and if you select a Book Friend on Friday afternoon, you will have a friend (the book) with you all weekend, and you won’t waste time scrolling on your phone during your precious days off.
Here’s the beauty of having a Book Friend: if you’re bored, you’re going to read the book. If you’re waiting in line, you’re going to read the book. If your friend bails on you and you still want to go to one of these restaurants, you’re going to go alone, and you’re going to read the book. Taking the subway? You’re going to read the book. If you take this concept seriously, you could very easily finish an entire novel in a weekend. You’ll be shocked how much time you actually have to read if you put down your phone.
For weekend reading, I would definitely recommend reading fiction, and preferably a novel. It will help you relax and unwind in a way that non-fiction will not. It’s also fun to read something that’s popular right now, so don’t feel that you need to be particularly high-minded in your choice. You should enjoy the books you read.
So, with all that said, we’re headed to one of two bookstores in Manhattan: McNally Jackson (143 Prince) or The Strand (828 Broadway). If you hit up McNally Jackson, I always take a minute to browse through the magazines and literary journals off to the left, stare longingly at the pens and pencils, and then work my way over to the books. They have a really wonderful selection of fiction here. The new stuff is in the front, and lots of other classics are in the back. I also love browsing the fiction sections by country—American, French, Russian, British/Irish, etc.
The Strand also has everything, and probably for less money. But I always end up spending more money here because all the books are so reasonably priced that I end up buying like five of them. The Strand has a bunch of weird sections, and you find the most random out-of-print books here. You really could get lost for a while, which is super nice on a Friday afternoon. Also, there’s no cell reception downstairs which is a welcome reprieve from any final Teams/Slack/Outlook notifications. They’ll definitely have whatever novel it is you’re looking for.
Allow yourself to really relax by getting into the rhythm of reading.
Now that you’ve selected your Book Friend, it’s time to find a place to start the book with a delicious beverage. Reading uninterrupted for an hour will put you into the right weekend vibe, which is totally relaxed and present.
Head to a coffee shop or cocktail bar. I try not to be too picky about this one. Try a new spot. Anywhere with an outdoor patio area or a cozy place to sit can be a nice place away from the action to people watch and read. If it’s a nice day, Madison Square Park can be great. I’ve literally never been to Tompkins to read and not been harassed, so I’m not going to recommend it, lol.
This will bring us to...
Friday Night
While you could of course invite a friend with you to dinner, I am a big fan of solo dinners on Fridays. Honestly, I’m spent by the end of the week, I’m usually feeling tapped on socializing, and this is a nice way to recharge, reflect on the week, people watch, and still have a nice evening without feeling like you’re missing out on “Friday Night.”
A solo dinner with free champagne in Soho.
For a solo dinner, Balthazar (80 Spring) is one of my favorite spots. It’s a classic, and I love the vibe inside. Some people may think it’s too obvious, but to me, that’s the appeal. It feels like “old New York.” Terrific people watching. It’s probably worth waiting for a table indoors in the main area (you can read your book while you wait), but recently on Friday nights I haven’t had much trouble walking right in, especially on the later side. You can also sit at the bar, which is first-come, first-serve, though people tend to be a little chatty and you’re usually party to a post-work-happy-hour thing. Pretty much the exact crowd I’m trying to avoid at this point in the week. I would wait for a table.
All solo diners at Balthazar get a glass of free champagne, which really makes hanging out with your Book Friend a downright glamorous experience. A few tips: if you’re on a budget, and it’s cold out, get the onion soup and ask for bread and butter (free). The soup is so good, like $20, and very filling with the bread and butter. So, for like $30 (tip a little extra if you can because you’re low-key gaming the system) you can have a delicious and decadent meal. The oysters are fresh, the fries are great (they need extra salt), and always served with ketchup and mayo, as it should be. If I’m going big, I’ll get a steak. There are a few options depending on your appetite or budget. I also really like the duck. If you’re feeling dessert, I recommend the caramelized banana ricotta tart or the crème brûlée. I was brought the banana ricotta tart once by mistake, told I could keep it, and I’ve never looked back.
After dinner, go home, take a nice, long shower, read your book until bed. Sleep for eight hours minimum. By now you’re probably like 50+ pages into this book and you either love it or hate it. I don’t force myself to read books I dislike, so feel free to substitute with a new Book Friend from your bookshelf. Sometimes we try new things, we put our hard-earned cash down, and we still dislike them. It’s a good lesson to learn. Life is full of disappointments. Goodnight <3
Saturday Morning
Resist the urge to go on your phone first thing on Saturday morning. Trust me, the quality of your day depends on it. It’s the difference between feeling like you’re behind on life and feeling like you’re in control.
Start your day in the East Village with a nice album, an iced piccolo latte, and a slice of olive oil cake.
Get up early-ish and get properly ready for the day, whatever that means to you. For me, that’s hair, makeup, and real clothes (i.e., nothing with a elastic waistband, no sneakers). For a morning album, all my recommendations are from the 1960s: Sérgio Mendes, The Swinger From Rio (1966), the Bill Evans Trio, either Moon Beams (1962) or At The Village Vanguard (1961), and if you wake up in a bad mood, Celia Cruz, La Tierna, Conmovedora, Bamboleadora (1962).
Start it from the beginning and turn off shuffle.
Head to Abraço (81 E 7th) in the East Village. Do not forget your Book Friend. Abraço is still one of my favorite spots in the city, and probably the place I’ve spent the most time outside of my own apartment. (I almost didn’t want to mention it, because I go there a lot, but you guys get the real deal.) The coffee and baked goods are great, the music is usually good, and there are lots of tables for reading and hanging out. They do not have any alternative milks, which, frankly, I respect. (I’ve never been that sympathetic to those who complain about this—just get a black coffee or an espresso.) I recommend the iced piccolo latte for hot days (it’s the perfect size), and the drip coffee or regular latte when its cold. Getting a piece of the olive oil cake is a must. They also have not one, but two bathrooms. I feel like this is a good thing to know. Best to get there on the earlier side, as it will be absolutely packed after 10am and the vibe won’t be as good.
Browse, don’t buy.
Once you’ve spent a little time there enjoying your coffee and cake, hopefully reading more of your book, I would take a minute to check out Tokio7, a consignment shop, which is right next door to Abraço. I don’t buy stuff here, as it’s pretty pricey, but I’ve sold a lot here over the years and they’re pretty generous with the commissions in my opinion (because they’re pricey, so I really can’t complain). The store is discerning, which again, I respect. It’s all designer stuff, but nothing is gimmicky. Probably one of the only stores in New York where you can find Comme des Garçons, Raf Simons, vintage Helmut Lang, and Prada in one place.
Some other East Village spots worth browsing are Manhattan 45 (220 E 10th, for electronic/techno records—it was a fun surprise to find they stocked my husband’s music here on a recent visit), A1 Records (439 E 6th, for classic post-disco, Prelude Records, West End Records, the stuff Larry Levan used to play at Paradise Garage), and Mast Books (72 Ave A, for that weirder literary/art type of thing; I swear every time I open a book here it’s like a picture of a guy’s dick in a flower pot lol).
No need to buy anything, just take your time, browse, take pictures of the stuff that interests or inspires you, and you can always go back and buy it later if you’re really thinking about it. Better to keep your hands free so that you can enjoy your trip Uptown unencumbered.
Saturday Afternoon
Recharge your soul in the beauty of art and nature.
The city can be exhausting. We need to take our eyes to some art and nature, to experience real beauty. After your morning in the East Village, take the 6 Train Uptown from Astor Place to 77th Street and walk to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is right next to Central Park. It will probably be a pretty crowded on a Saturday afternoon, but that’s okay. (I love going during off-hours, but we’re trying to squeeze in a lot here.) The Met can also be a very fun date night spot. You can get some prosecco and other cocktails near the American Wing. I don’t know what it is, but there’s something really fun about being tipsy in a museum. If you choose to do a little midday drinking, who am I to judge.
Once you arrive at The Met, you’re going to enter through the main hall, and then take a left into Greek and Roman Art, paying particular attention to the marble and bronze sculpture. (I studied this stuff, so I always go here first and pay a tribute of sorts.) Then you’re going to make your way back across the main hall and head through the Egyptian Art wing, making special note of the mummy portraits on your way to the Temple of Dendur. This room is honestly just really sick. Definitely get close enough to read all the graffiti on the temple from the 1800s.
After that, head upstairs to the American Wing, specifically to Gallery 771, Portraiture in the Grand Manner. Here, you will find several works by John Singer Sargent, one of my all-time favorite painters, particularly The Wyndham Sisters (1899). It’s Pride and Prejudice, heaving bodices, etc. Stand there, close your eyes, and imagine what it is like to wear a dress like that to a party. Intoxicating.
Other than that, go where your heart takes you. There are over 5,000 years of art in this single museum, so you will probably never run out of interesting things to see.
Once you’re tired of walking around the museum, we’re going to do some more walking, but this time, through Central Park. Here, I don’t have many directions. Stop and read if you want, stroll through the grass, listen to some music in your headphones. You’re vaguely heading southwest, and you’ll be walking for 40 mins (you can Uber if you need to), but it’s good to work up an appetite.
Reward yourself with Thai food.
Your walk through the park will eventually spit you out near Columbus Circle, and from there you will walk to Pure Thai Cookhouse in Hell’s Kitchen (766 9th Ave). This place really blew up since I discovered it eight years ago, but I still make a point of coming here whenever I’m in the area, which, admittedly, is not often enough. I highly recommend the Ratchaburi crab and pork dry noodles, but anything you order will be great, including the classic pad thai and pad see ew. It might be wise to make a reservation, but if you’re going in the middle of the afternoon/off hours you’ll probably be okay. Don’t quote me on that.
Contemplate life with a late afternoon coffee back in the East Village.
After enjoying your Thai feast, make your way back to the East Village for a sunset coffee at Mud (307 E 9th). You can get a coffee here at any time of day, which I really appreciated during my corporate days but also when I’m gearing up for a night out. I like the drip with half-and-half, because they froth the half-and-half and it’s very nice. I recommend getting the coffee to-go, and standing on E 9th Street thinking about your life. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a glimpse of what the East Village used to be like.
Saturday Night
Get ready to go out—one of the best parts of the night.
Getting ready to go out is honestly one of my favorite activities. A peak female experience. Pour yourself a little drink, whatever you have on hand, and listen to another great album from start to finish. I recommend CHIC, C’est Chic (1978) for a night out with the girls, Jeremih Late Nights: Europe (2016, such an underrated album) for date night, and a techno mix for raging. Take a shower, do your makeup, pick out your outfit. Document the outfit with a mix of tasteful and/or tasteless mirror selfies. Depends on what kind of night you’re trying to have lol.
For Saturday night, I have two possible plans, and both are in the same neighborhood.
To read the rest, please consider upgrading your subscription. It costs less than a latte in Manhattan (too expensive for the latte, but hopefully reasonable for the writing).
Behind the paywall:
Several plans for Saturday night—drinks, dinner, movies, shows, dancing
Five (5) bagel and/or croissant options
Where to window shop in Soho
The meal I honestly get once or twice a week
The only reasonable plans for a Sunday night dinner
Thank you for supporting my work. It really means a lot to me.