It is essential to remind yourself that Manhattan is a big city, with much more to offer than just the charades of downtown. Take the subway to the Upper West Side and walk through the park on 81st street. Go to the Met (you can skip the entire ticket line by entering through the student entrance to the left of the main stairs). Have dinner at my favorite restaurant “Celeste” on 84th and Amsterdam, or have lunch at “ Via Quadronno” on 73rd between Madison and 5th. When you head back downtown or to Brooklyn at the end of the evening, you’ll feel like you traveled far and went on vacation. Feeling like a tourist in your own city is a gift and a thrill!
