A Jewish New York State of Mind

Need an energy boost this summer? Consider a long weekend in Manhattan to invigorate your mind and soul. Flights are a mere two hours, 15 minutes, and both Delta and Southwest Airlines typically offer reasonable rates. Get ready for the bright lights, Broadway shows, engaging exhibits and diverse dining options. For help in planning your next trip, here are day-by-day recommendations to make planning a busy weekend of art exhibits, Broadway and dining a bit easier.

Day 1 – Arrival

First Stop: AC Hotel
Located in the theatre district, the AC Hotel is modern, spacious, and welcoming. The guest services staff at the front desk are among the best this traveler has experienced anywhere in the world. They are hospitable, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and truly go out of their way to make sure their guests are happy. Devon and Mario, in particular, stand ready to answer any and all questions.
The rooftop bar at the AC Hotel is a favorite for natives and hotel guests alike. Perfect for a nightcap and appetizers, the views from the top are legendary. Boqueria, a restaurant located off the lobby, is lively day and night, and offers Barcelona-style tapas and drinks. The guest rooms are laid out well, and the rooms are among the quietest found in a noisy city. Each room features ceiling-to-floor windows to make the most of city views and a retractable, motorized blackout shade that lowers with the touch of a button.
With its proximity to Broadway and popular sites, reasonable rates and world-class staff, this lovely hotel is a wonderful base for travelers.

The lobby of the AC Hotel, located near Times Square.

Second Stop: A walk through Times Square
Take in the spectacle that is Times Square during the day. A first visit can be overwhelming with the chaos, bright lights, and endless activity. From street performers to the many stores in the area, Times Square attracts tourists and locals alike. There is M&M’s World, offering every type of M&M possible, along with a myriad of branded tchotchkes for kids (and those young at heart); a huge Sephora for cosmetic and hair mavens; a large Disney Store filled to the brim with costumes, clothing, and other paraphernalia; and a host of souvenir stores and street vendors hawking T-shirts, hats and fake purses. If you walk through or spend time there, keep your purse close and be aware of your surroundings.

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Third Stop: Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
Madame Tussauds, located in Times Square, offers a wonderful opportunity to get up close and personal with politicians and celebrities and snap a picture with them if you would like – or, at least, with their wax figure. As kitschy as the attraction may sound, tourists and locals alike show up regularly for an hour or so of unadulterated fun. From a gallery devoted to Marvel superheroes to a visit in the Oval Office with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the exhibit is spread over nine floors and typically takes one to two hours.

Fourth Stop: Norma Gastronomia Siciliana
Located on Ninth Avenue in an area known, by some, as “Hell’s Kitchen,” this restaurant offers authentic Sicilian food and wines. This tour group’s knowledgeable waiter (ironically, from Milan) provided background on the particular cuisine of Sicily. Recommendations included the Busiate al pesto Trapanese, which features a Sicilian type of pesto made with almonds instead of pine nuts, fresh tomatoes, organic basil, Sicilian garlic, and “Nocellara” extra virgin olive oil from Sicily. The pasta is a special type of Sicilian linguini that looks like it has been twisted and serrated to provide ample texture to hold the flavorful sauce. Recommended appetizers include the buratta, mix of Sicilian olives, and Rucola e Parmigiano. The restaurant is cozy, reasonably priced and offers a type of cuisine unavailable in Atlanta.

Day Two

First Stop: “The Sassoons” at The Jewish Museum
The Jewish Museum’s latest exhibition, “The Sassoons,” takes visitors through a revealing look at the story of the Sassoon family, an illustrious Sephardic Jewish dynasty who trace their roots back to Baghdad, Iraq, before later emigrating to Mumbai (Bombay), India, and then on to China, England, and a host of other nations. Family members rose to positions of prominence in their respective communities, as well as on a global scale, due to their growing empire, business acumen, philanthropy, and social involvement.

A portrait of David Sassoon at “The Sassoons,” on view at The Jewish Museum.

Highlighting the powerful family’s role in trade, art collecting, architectural patronage and civic engagement from the early 19th century through World War II, the exhibit follows four generations of Sassoons and includes information about the involvement of the Sassoon women in business, journalism, and the arts, many of whom had previously gone unacknowledged.
“The Sassoons” features an impressive selection of more than 120 works—paintings, Chinese art, illuminated manuscripts, and Judaica — amassed by Sassoon family members and borrowed from numerous private and public collections. On display and of particular note are the Hebrew manuscripts from as early as the 12th century, many lavishly decorated; Chinese art and ivory carvings; rare Jewish ceremonial art; and Western masterpieces, including paintings by Thomas Gainsborough and Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, as well as magnificent portraits by John Singer Sargent of various Sassoon family members.

Second Stop: Shopping along Madison Avenue
Head over to Madison Avenue and take in all the beautiful shops that line this timelessly elegant avenue. The mood here is pleasantly laid back by New York standards. Stop in for an almond pastry or Nutella cookie and latte at Butterfield Market, located at corner of Madison and 85th Street. If you are lucky enough to score a seat on the bench outside, take a minute and observe the stylish Upper East Side set as they partake of their weekend ritual – stopping in the gourmet food shop to pick up groceries, coffee, breakfast, or brunch to go. Dog watching is highly recommended as well! Afterwards, continue walking to the many stores through the 60s, including the city’s flagship Intermix, Bottega Veneta and Prada.

What’s a visit to New York without a corned beef sandwich?

Third Stop: Jewish Deli – it’s NY after all
What’s a trip to New York without a corned beef sandwich on rye and a full sour pickle! Add a bowl of matzo ball soup and that’s nirvana, right? Two options for lunch include Second Avenue Deli (Second Avenue at 77th Street) and Pastrami Queen (Lexington Avenue at 78th Street). This tour group opted for the larger Second Avenue Deli, where the group enjoyed the aforementioned delicacies, along with a potato latke for good measure. Skip the potato latke but order the soup and half-sandwich.

Fourth Stop: Rockefeller Center
Be prepared – Rockefeller Center will be crowded. But the lovely New York City landmark is a “must see,” particularly for any first-time visitor. Take in the ice-skating rink, which converts to a roller-skating rink in the spring and summer. Named “Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace” after the legendary Los Angeles roller rink from 1979, the rink features live DJs and offers rental skates for $10. For those less adventurous, even observing the skaters is a fun opportunity to get your groove on and join the party.
For those interested in shopping, there is a plethora of upscale stores to suit any style, including Cole Haan, Allen Edmonds, Mulberry, Maje and a three-story FAO Schwartz.

Fifth Stop: Avra 48th Street
Head over to this Greek seafood restaurant (48th Street between Third and Lexington avenues) where the meals are simply prepared, using the freshest fish and best ingredients. Faroe Islands salmon and Hawaiian bigeye tuna were the favorites of the group, along with the appetizer spreads. Sit outside with a glass of wine, friends or family and reflect on your day.

Day Three

Through Aug. 12, “Georgia O’Keeffe: To See Takes Time” is on display at MoMA.

First Stop: Museum of Modern Art
There is always an interesting exhibit on display at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and visitors can easily while away the day touring the regular collection at the museum. Through Aug. 12, “Georgia O’Keeffe: To See Takes Time” is on display in MoMA’s third floor south galleries. The exhibit reveals a lesser-known side of O’Keeffe and the process she used to create her art. Using charcoal, watercolor, pastel, and graphite, she explored forms and phenomena—from abstract rhythms to nature’s cycles—across multiple media before creating her final masterpieces. These sequences are featured leading up to several of her pieces on display, enabling visitors to see the painstaking process she used to bring her paintings to life.
While at MoMA, be sure to visit the museum’s permanent collection, with works by Matisse, Picasso and Chagall, A half- or full day can be spent just at this one museum. Also, make a stop upon entering the museum to take in “Refik Anadol: Unsupervised.” You will be mesmerized by the shifting colors and 3-D textures that come to life in an AI-generated moving piece that is absolutely captivating.

Second Stop: Trattoria Dell’Arte
Located across the street from Carnegie Hall, the best part about the restaurant is the huge antipasto bar at the front of the restaurant. Choose three or five vegetarian selections and make it a meal. The eggplant caponata, roasted brussel sprouts, roasted red and yellow peppers, and grilled asparagus were delicious. Though simple, this tour group found the antipasto bar much more interesting than the entrees ordered, which were mediocre at best. Other recommended restaurant options in the area include Le Grande Boucherie on 53rd Street and Il Corso on 55th Street.

Third Stop: “Funny Girl” at August Wilson Theatre
When you learn the lead actress in a popular Broadway show is not performing on the night you attend, there is good reason for disappointment. However, Julie Benko, the Thursday night stand-in for Lea Michele, quickly turned the tour group’s initial distress into joy with her comedic chops and beautiful singing voice. The audience was delighted. The story of comedian, actress and singer Fanny Brice is brilliantly recreated in this show. With longtime favorite songs, “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “People,” and “My Man,” the cast and crew received a standing ovation and the adulation of all those in the audience at curtain call.

Day Four

First Stop: “Leopoldstadt” at Longacre Theatre
Leopoldstadt is a drama written by Tom Stoppard that tells the story leading up to, during and following the German Anschluss into Vienna. Recounted through the eyes of a mostly assimilated Jewish family, the story begins as the family celebrates Christmas, and the audience learns the patriarch has converted to Catholicism. Believing their entry into Viennese society is complete, family members quickly learn that, on the contrary, they, too, would experience the horrors of the Nazi regime. On Kristallnacht, there is a rap on the door and their world quickly falls apart. The play follows the family through 1955 and the fallout is tremendous.
“Leopoldstadt” is based on Stoppard’s personal experience as an older man learning about his own family’s Jewish roots. Four of his grandparents were murdered during the Holocaust. Living in a time when antisemitism has again reared its ugly head, the audience is left with several questions, some existential and many practical. Could this happen again? What role does morality play in saving people from destruction? “Leopoldstadt” is the most nominated play for the upcoming Tony awards and is scheduled to close on July 1. Those interested in seeing this moving drama should make plans to head to Broadway soon before the run is over. Be prepared for a must-see, powerful show.

Third Stop: Quality Bistro
Quality Bistro is a great place to head after a “heavy” drama on Broadway. The mood is lively, and the space is lovely, filled with greenery and flowers, with an actual tree in the middle of the dining room. The food is a modern take on French bistro fare and includes a variety of fish entrees such as salmon, Dover sole, and branzino as well as many cuts of steak. Appetizers offered include Yellowfin tuna tartare, fresh beet salad, French onion soup and a whole chilled artichoke with citrus tarragon aioli. Quality Bistro is part of Quality Branded, which owns many well-known, popular Manhattan restaurants. The restaurant is a wonderful place to stop for dinner during a weekend visit. Be sure to make a reservation.

Stop in for an ice cream rose day or night at Amorino.

Fourth Stop: Amorino Gelato Al Natural
For an elevated gelato experience, head to Amorino, a gelato chain based in Paris with a few shops throughout Manhattan. Each gelato is shaped by hand into a rose, each petal gracefully added by the server using a spatula. Customers may choose as many flavors as there are petals on the rose. All ingredients used in the preparation of the gelato are free of preservatives, artificial flavors and flavor enhancers. And what better way to cap off the night than a walk through Times Square eating a beautiful, handcrafted gelato rose!

Day Five

First Stop: Magnolia Bakery
With its first bakery in the West Village, the beloved Magnolia Bakery has grown, probably due to its extraordinary cupcakes and banana pudding. No visit to New York is complete without a stop at this sugar palace, now with eight locations in Manhattan. The line is out the door at most locations, but the wait is worth it once the first cupcake bite is taken. Pick up a dozen on your way home; your friends and family will be eternally grateful.

Second Stop: LaGuardia Airport
Plan to spend a little extra time at the newly renovated airport, with its many new shops and restaurants. You will not believe the transformation. Bright lighting, updated color schemes, and clearly marked signage make the experience much improved from earlier years, and it’s a relatively quick trip to and from midtown hotels.

When a little excitement and a change of scenery are desired, head to New York City. The cultural diversity, range of activities and even just the sights and sounds are simply unmatched. Some call New York City the greatest city on earth. After a weekend visit, exploring any or all neighborhoods, you might just agree.