An AD in NYC

I am, as the song goes, just a small town girl. Well, small city girl, technically. Making the big move from Winnipeg to Toronto not so many years ago was quite the shift, and ever since I’ve become more and more obsessed with big cities. And after visiting New York for the first time a couple weeks ago, Toronto no longer feels that big to me. It feels more like Diet NYC, or NYC Zero: real big city taste, but less of the sugary pep NYC Classic has to offer. Which is all fine and well, but sometimes you just need that jolt of energy that comes with a weekend getaway to the Big Apple. It was a whirlwind 3-day trip; we spent 8-10 hours each day exploring and sightseeing, trying to absorb anything and everything that could be used as inspiration for my work at Dashboard — the subway tile signage, the Jessica Hische posters spotted near Times Square, and the majority of MoMA, to name a few things. And I still feel like we barely scratched the surface of all there is to see and do. Here are some highlights from losing my NYC virginity.

EAT: At Momofuku Noodle Bar

Maybe the best ramen I’ve ever had. Avoid the dinner rush and go for lunch instead, it gets pretty happening. Runners up for best eats: John’s “No Slices” Pizza and Shake Shack for some tasty burgers.

VISIT: MoMA

We whizzed through The Museum of Modern Art in 2 hours on our last day in NYC, but you could easily spend half a day here. It’s a spectacular museum. Definitely check out the new typography exhibit if you’re a design geek like me.

WALK: Across the Brooklyn Bridge

A NYC must. The view is pretty spectacular and you’ll get some killer shots. Make sure to stay in the walking lane; cyclists tend to be pretty intolerant of tourists getting in their way.

SHOP: At Uniqlo

Uniqlo is all about the basics, but they do it well. I bought a blazer that is probably the comfiest piece of clothing I own. The size of the store can be intimidating, but it’s worth your time to poke around.

DO: Get to know the MTA.

Probably the best tip I can offer. Subways are everywhere and super convenient, but all the different lines can be pretty intimidating for newcomers (especially when said newcomer accidentally boards an express train that blows right by her stop). I recommend using a map that labels the subway stops so you can easily reference where you’re going, or if you have a smart phone, just Google map it.

DO: Travel by foot as much as possible.

The best way to experience New York is to wander around the different neighbourhoods by foot. Hands down, this was my favourite part of our trip. So wear some comfy shoes, because if you’ve done it right those dogs are going to be barking.

Bring on NYC Part 2: May two-four edition!