John’s Perfect Day in New York’s West Village

The best part about living in New York City is the sheer number of amazing things to do in each of the incredibly diverse neighborhoods – from uptown to downtown, east to west – the possibilities are endless.  But an even cooler thing about New York is that you sometimes don’t need to leave your own neighborhood to have a completely perfect day.  I live in the West Village – a quiet pocket of New York with it’s own unique vibe – tree-lined streets, world class restaurants and bars, stunning architecture, and a beautiful waterfront running along it’s edge.  There are times when it doesn’t even feel like the rest of the city, with its small-town community mentality in the middle of a bustling metropolis.  My perfect day starts and ends here.

There’s no better way to start a morning than a trip to the Roasting Plant coffee shop.  It puts Starbucks to shame.  There are about a dozen different beans you can choose from, each with varying difficulties of pronunciation – from Ethiopian Yirgacheffe to Sumatra Mandheling.  The coolest thing is that they roast all the beans in-house, and as you order your drink, the beans shoot through these huge tubes along the wall and ceiling into the brewer.  It’s all very futuristic, and adds a bit of excitement to buying a cup of coffee.   Plus, the workers are the friendliest out of any other coffee shop I’ve been to in NYC.

Abingdon Square is one of my most favorite places in New York.  It’s a well-kept West Village garden/park lined with benches, which are always filled with friendly locals and interesting characters.  Something about the way the metal fence is designed makes you forget about the busy streets and frantic cars on the other side.  On Saturdays, a small Green Market sets up here with fresh produce, flowers, pastries, meats, and cheeses.  I usually take my Roasting Plant coffee, buy a pastry, and sit in the morning sun reading the news on my iPhone.

When most people think of New York in the summer, they think of a scorching concrete jungle – tall, claustrophobic buildings towering over hot asphalt with no relief in sight.  But Manhattan is an island – and actually has a breathtaking and wide-open waterfront along its perimeter.  I like to walk as far west as possible and end up at the Hudson River Park – long stretches of manicured lawn alongside a spacious boardwalk. It’s the perfect place to take a deep breath of fresh air and do something that can be hard for New Yorkers… relax.

From the river, I like to take advantage of the New York Water Taxi – it’s exactly what the name says.  Not only can you hop on this boat to take you uptown, downtown, or around to the East side of Manhattan, you can also hang out on the top deck for a stunning view of the city from a perspective you don’t usually get. On my Perfect Day, I’ll take a quick trip from Christopher Street up to 27th Street, just a few blocks from my next destination

I’m definitely not a golfer – in fact, I’ve never even stepped foot on a golf course.  But, I love driving ranges, and the one at Chelsea Piers is an unforgettable experience.  It’s a four-level multi-tiered range set right up against the river- so you’re basically hitting the balls straight towards the water.   There’s something so unique and exhilarating to see a huge sailboat float past while slamming golf balls as hard as you can towards it.

After the driving range, it’s time to meet some friends for Brunch at Extra Virgin on West 4th St. back in the West Village right around the corner from my apartment.  It can get crowded with tourists on the weekends, but the food is unbeatable (especially the Eggs Benedict and the Strawberry Vodka cocktail).  My favorite spot is by the bar along the window – people-watching at its finest.

There are street fairs in New York every weekend in the summer. Most of them are filled with the standard and familiar attractions – cheap sunglasses, fried food, and tacky souvenirs.  But a few of the West Village fairs stand out from the rest of the pack and shouldn’t be missed.  “Perry-phernalia” happens on Perry Street – all the residents come out to the street, setup tables, and sell their relics from an easier time:  old records, vintage jewelry, classic toys – it’s like walking through a time capsule.  Then there’s the B.B.C Festival – which takes place on Bedford, Barrow, and Commerce Streets.  Alongside high-quality arts, crafts, and food, there are live music performances throughout the entire day which make this fair seem like a good old fashioned dancing-in-the-streets block party.

Inviting friends to my roof terrace to watch the sunset over the city is a perfect way to wind down from a long day, but it’s even better when we’re drinking one of my favorite inventions.  It’s called the “Summer Chiller” – it’s 2 shots of Elderflower liqueur, 2 shots of vodka, a splash of sparkling water, a squeeze of lemon, and topped with a scoop of lemon sorbet.  Wow.

For dinner, La Focaccia is a tiny Italian restaurant on the corner of West 4th St. and Bank St.  It’s loaded with charming character and unbelievable food.  From the fresh straight-from-the-brick-oven Foccacia to the delicious Pansotti Al Tocco Di Noci (a cheese and spinach ravioli with creamy walnut sauce, a specialty of the Italian Riviera), eating here always seems like a reward.  I’ve even taken two discerning critics here several times – my 100 percent Italian Mom and Grandma – and it easily gets their stamp of approval.

Little Branch is the perfect spot to end the night with friends.  You’d hardly know it from the nondescript door on the corner of 7th Ave and Leroy St, but down the steep staircase is a speakeasy loaded with charm and spectacular drinks.  The bartenders have a knack for making drinks based on what you crave.  So instead of ordering off the menu, you can say something like “I want a drink with Vodka – sweet but not too fruity”.  They’ll ask you if you want to be adventurous, and depending on your answer, they’ll return with a creation that’s out of this world, most likely using exotic ingredients you’ve never heard of.  The place has cozy booths, great lighting, and live music.

It’s been a long and Perfect Day in the Big Apple, filled with tasty food and lots (and lots) of delicious drinks.  Hopefully, tomorrow I won’t have the Perfect Hangover.

John has lived in NYC since 2000 – while he’s obsessed with traveling around the world, nothing beats flying home and seeing the Manhattan skyline as your plane lands.  He recently started playing piano again after a 13-year hiatus, and he has an imaginary and perfectly behaved dog named Frankie.

{My Perfect Day is a weekly Tidepooler series that reveals the most wonderful and interesting places in cities and towns around the world, as shared by the people who live there}