By Cassandra Wilkerson

There is something for everybody in busy New York City. I often get so caught up in planning a memorable and exciting vacation that I forget what makes a vacation memorable and exciting. Exploration, adventure and creativity called me to New York. 

ART AND CULTURE 

I started by figuring out what inspired my trip in the first place: art and culture. The beauty of shopping in a metropolitan area is that every interest is more than catered to. I picked up my favorite novels at Kinokuniya, a three-story bookstore carrying everything from comics to stationary, and Midtown Comics, another comic and collectables store. The former is a great example of New York’s fusion of niche market and culture. They carry Japanese novels and comic strip novels both in their original Japanese format as well as translated versions. The café inside sells traditional Japanese tea and Americanized boba tea. It was amazing to see stores like this, carrying culturally diverse food and merchandise in their traditional packaging next to things I see every day. 

Every street held something interesting. I found myself taking walks and stopping whenever something caught my eye. I even stumbled upon the Union Square Greenmarket, where I tried apple cider donuts and fresh apple cider from one of the vendors. This was a fantastic way to live like a local, finding new coffee shops and hot spots. 


OF THE TWO VISITS I’VE HAD TO NEW YORK, 

on the first I was lucky enough to stay in Times Square. Even surrounded by all that Times Square had to offer, I found myself traveling each day to places like Koreatown. It’s surreal to be submerged in a different culture so quickly; it almost feels like you’ve traveled to a different country entirely. 


IN BETWEEN SHOPPING AND EATING, 

I visited art museums. I saw work by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Jackson Pollock at the Museum of Modern Art, and visited legendary photographer Eric Johnson’s New York space. My personal favorite was the New Museum, which highlights lesser-known artists, but covers their work and histories well, leaving me feeling connected to the artists. 

New York City is great in that it has something for everyone. Whatever hobbies, interests, or curiosities you might have, N.Y.C. has museums, stores and restaurants just for you. ◆