A Day in New York
“We hope our short and quick guide can be helpful to teens who don't really know good, fun places to visit in the city. We hope you have fun and experience an awesome time with friends. Safe travels!”
Do you ever plan a hangout with friends and think, Where should we go? Of course, there are the usual spots around the Bronx, like Bay Plaza or Starlight Park, but what about the city? The culture shines in a different light there—there’s more diversity, whether in music, food, style, or art. Overall, it can be a tough place to navigate, especially if you’re not familiar with every aspect of the city. The blinding lights, the loud cars, and the overwhelming smells scattered throughout the streets can make it difficult to find a spot to relax and have a good time. The city’s energy is constant, which can feel a bit overwhelming. Luckily, there are spots where you can step back and enjoy time with friends, or even yourself!
We wanted to bring a small circle of friends we share connections with from Comp Sci High and see if that would help us stay connected and find enjoyment while also looking for new hangout spots in the city. Our plan was to also provide spots for everyone – so that not only us, but others, can have a fulfilling time with their friends or on their own. Our plan was to have a day full of many activities, such as visiting a food spot, or a place where we can be mesmerized by the things around us that we’re not used to. We wanted to make a memorable moment between all of us.
The small group consisted of 4 seniors: AK, Janiel, Sophia, and Miriam. When we all decided to group together at 14 Union Street, it was pretty tense and awkward, since we all aren't as familiar with one another. As time went on, we got more comfortable, bringing up topics and small jokes to lighten the mood which eventually started working! We all were clueless on where to go, which was perfect for our memo of finding new spots in the city.
K-Town (Korea Town)
Initially we wanted to find a good spot to settle in and eat. Everyone agreed on K-Town – on 33rd street between 5th and 6th Ave. Established in the 80s, K-Town consists of multiple Korean owned businesses and stores.
As we explored this area deeper, we encountered a scenario that made all of us have a bonding moment. As we walked into the warm welcoming restaurant, our mouths watered. We got a table for 6 and sat. Looking at the menus, we noticed it was quite pricey. As we discussed our initiative to escape, the waiter had started to serve us drinks, which sparked panic in all 6 of us, as we felt pressured to order the overpriced food. We all started joking around, saying we were going to be held hostage, and started to plan on ways to escape. We rushed to gather our belongings and left in a hurry to avoid contact with the employees.
As we walked back, we spotted a ramen place which had reasonable pricing and pleasing food: Koku Ramen. We sat down and began to spark conversation. In this bonding moment, the waiter came and offered us a menu, and we all ordered as quickly as possible since our stomachs were vastly empty from all the walking. We came up with an idea of putting our phones down while we waited so we could talk and interact with each other more which worked out perfectly. We joked around, laughed and ate. We finally finished and gathered our belongings and headed towards the next destination. We quickly stopped at a boba place, TeaMakers. Three of us ordered. It was pretty tasty!
NYPL - Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
As the final destination, we decided to go to a more well known landmark of the city. Located on 5th Ave, it is as the NYPL - Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. It is a combination of two libraries that were built and opened to the public on May 23rd 1911, and the building contains around 2.5 million items!
As we entered, the comforting smell of books and warm environment really set the mood for all of us. The first room we entered was a room containing a 3D model of the building and a pretty cool finger tracking pad. We all put our hands together and started fidgeting with the screen. Afterwards, we exited and started to capture the scenery around us.
One of us made jokes that we owned the place and that we were super rich. Hallways contained very beautiful architecture, such as fancy ceilings with carved designs, as well as golden, lion-shaped fountains and vintage phone booths. We made it all the way to the 3rd floor, which was everyone’s favorite as it had a breathtaking view of paintings, a barrel-vault style ceiling, and marble benches with huge pillars and murals. One painting in particular was showcased on the ceiling. It was a painting of the Greek god, Prometheus, as he casted fire on the people below him. The warm, lit candles really set a rich and comfortable atmosphere for all of us!
We hope our short and quick guide can be helpful to teens who don't really know good, fun places to visit in the city. We hope you have fun and experience an awesome time with friends. Safe travels!