Transportation Hub as Destination?

I found myself in New York City with some time to kill on a morning and an evening. It was 97 degrees outside, we were beat, but we didn’t want to just do nothing. I had been to Grand Central Terminal once decades prior and wanted to go back. We walked there easily from our hotel and the vibe inside was instantly just right for what we wanted. Would I go there to catch a train, yes, absolutely, but I was not in the market for ground transportation, so we went for the sights, the sounds, and the eats. And, I’ll do it again next time I am in the city.

Grand Central Terminal opened on February 2, 1913, and was once the busiest train station in the United States. It once houses an art gallery, an art school, and a movie theatre. In the late 1960s it was proposed that an addition by famed architect Marcel Breuer (of the Cleveland Museum of Art 1970s entrance) be built, which would have obstructed the notable facade that, thankfully, still remains. Litigation to stop the addition went on for years, and the station was deemed a protected historic landmark, barring any such changes. Not long after, the building succumbed to pollution, neglect, and time. It was much worse for wear and an intervention was needed. A massive facelift and structural integrity fix ensued, which brought countless jobs to the city and a renewed optimism for the station. The revitalization of this old gem is exactly what I had hoped to share with my daughter.

We arrived and instantly admired the entrance facade and then, after seconds of stepping foot inside, marveled at the architecture. It is a feast for the eyes. We walked around noting all of the gorgeous details, remarking how we wish things would be built this way today, and then made our way to the New York Transit Museum before heading downstairs to explore the food hall. Magnolia Bakery has a small stand (you won’t catch me passing up an opportunity to have one of their cupcakes and I am NOT a cupcake person!). You’ll also find good eats from the great people at Zaro’s, Grand Central Oyster Bar, and several others. I shopped at the Swatch Store (I have an obsession), and Diptyque (I love the salesman there and never pass up a chance to check out perfume and candles) and took my daughter into Jet Set Candy (I adore their silver charms and have one on my charm necklace, which will feature in another post).

                                                                                                                        Check out this video of the station’s market

The food market there is something akin to a small version of Eataly or the Tin Building. I just cannot get enough of these spaces. If you are in the area, I highly recommend Grand Central Terminal and I’d budget more time. In fact, if I’m there without one of my teens, I’m heading to The Campbell Bar and I’ll post about that after. 

And here’s the other thing–I’m suggesting you get on an NYC ferry even if you have nowhere to go. We had nowhere to go and time to kill. My girl said she wanted to see the city skyline at night and researched to find where to get on and how to manage the trip. I had only ever been on the Staten Island Ferry, but I was open to this. She saw the Statue of Liberty earlier in the day and we didn’t feel the need to see it again (though it is magnificent). We got a car to Pier 11, headed to The Tin Buildingsee my post here. 

We made sure to eat beforehand, downloaded the NYC Ferry app, and bought our $4.50 fare tickets online through that. It could not have been easier. We took the East River route from Pier 11  to the end. We left the pier at 8:30 and the timing for late July was perfect. 

This is obviously a commuter route for many people, so there was commotion at every stop, but it didn’t bother us. For the small fare, it was worth it to see the Brooklyn Bridge lit up from below and my favorite building, the Chrysler, all lit up and with lights reflecting off the water. I’d recommend this, and I’d do it again.