I ❤ NY (New York City, NY)

I do love New York. The people were surprisingly really nice. I don't remember specifics but during the trip I just thought, wow everyone here is so nice (unlike Boston). Actually, I got quite a few compliments... on my sleeve tattoo, on my shirt (Anti Pickleball Pickleball Club) and one guy on the subway went out of his way to tap me and said, "You look fly as hell." 😎

We spent five days in New York City, just Lynn and I. The main reason was to catch the US Open, a bucket list item. I actually bought two pairs of tickets (round 2 and round 3) but sold a pair of (round 2) tickets for triple the price so we essentially went to the US Open for free. And we made the most of it. We stayed at the tennis center for nearly 12 hours but had to call it a night (after Sabalenka won her first set) and there was still more tennis to be played (Taylor Fritz was playing after that match).

We arrived at Grand Central Terminal, just a few blocks away from our hotel.

Our first stop, L’Industrie Pizzeria for a slice of fig jam and bacon pizza and burrata pizza (not pictured).

Got another slice of pizza down the street at Mama's Too!

Next stop, Magnolia Bakery.

For their famous banana pudding.

Starbucks Reserve, roasting beans from Vietnam.

Browsing the shops at Chelsea Market.

7th Street Burger.

Times Square.

Bowser.

Lego Hulk.

Rockefeller Center.

Atlas.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

I was never a fan of matcha but after this drink (strawberry matcha latte), I'm hooked.

New York Public Library.

Empire State Building.

Black sesame soft serve in a black cone.

Men's US Open draw.

First match, Emma Raducanu vs Rybakina.

Honey Deuce.

Our seats (and view) at Louis Armstrong stadium.

Ben Shelton crushed a 139 mph serve but later withdrew from the match due to injury.

Evening match, Sabalenka vs Fernandez.

This was the look that got me the compliment, "You look fly as hell."

Levain Bakery for their thick cookies.

Prince St. Pizza.

SOHO.

Dominique Ansel Bakery.

Fried onion burger at Hamburger America.

Spicy pork Szechuan ramen at Wagamama.

Vanilla bean donut at Doughnut Plant.

Strand bookstore.

Hanging out at Washington Square Park.

I ❤ NY

Goodbye, New York. If you look carefully, you can see the Billie Jean King Tennis Center (US Open). 

List of restaurants/foods (for my sake):

• L’Industrie Pizzeria - fig jam and bacon, burrata pizza - all so good (BEOTT)
• Mama's Too! - house slice pizza (really good, need to try their thick cut slices next time)
• Magnolia Bakery - banana pudding (thick, not overly sweet - really good), fully loaded icebox (too sweet)
• 7th Street Burger - smash burger (good but a bit small - very similar to Shake Shack)
• Premium Matcha Cafe Maiko - strawberry matcha latte (so good) and salmon onigiri (good)
• Chip City - thick cookies (everything was good)
• New Wonjo - bulgogi bibimbop (good)
• Bear Donut - double milk tea donut (too real? no bueno for me)
• Fujiissa - black sesame soft serve (good - tastes nutty like peanut butter)
• Fuku - OG sando (good fried chicken sandwich)
• Levain Bakery - thick cookies (really good, crispy outside and gooey middle)
• Prince St Pizza - thick slice pepperoni pizza (spicy pep - really good)
• Dominique Ansel Bakery - kouign amann (decent) and cronut (good)
• Hamburger America - fried onion burger (smashed burgers - so good)
• Wagamama - spicy pork Szechuan ramen (surprisingly good)
• Doughnut Plant - vanilla bean donut (crisp outside - really good)
• Glazed - like an Asian Chipotle for teriyaki chicken (decent)
• Lazy Sundae - strawberry matcha latte (good)
• Talde Noodle Bar - fried rice, wings, egg roll, pork (good)