NYC, Then & Now
- Spencer
- Dec 18, 2025
- 4 min read
New York City is one of those places. Everyone in the world knows it. Everyone who visits can make it their own.
For a twelve-year-old boy, NYC could do no wrong. I was fortunate to have a mother and uncle who adored the theater, appreciated the museums and loved the big city vibe. They brought me along, almost every springtime, for several years into adulthood. What better way to learn about culture and the world at large?
Indelible memories of Evgeny Kissin at Carnegie Hall, the odd-but-lovely "Sunday in the Park with George," a posthumous exhibit at MoMA of Henri Cartier-Bresson, the elegant Russian Tea Room and the daytime hue of Times Square at night stay with me to this day.
It was wonderful to share those experiences with my mother and uncle. It is now extra special to revisit the Big Apple with my sweetheart, my wife. Love and New York City in fact go together like fine wine and chocolate. They enhance one another and unlock new sensations.
Nikki and I recently revisited NYC by train. The Moynihan Train Hall is something else, with an excellent food hall to have a beer or bite while waiting. Both for nostalgic and logistical reasons, we stayed at the M Social Times Square. Formerly the Novotel - which I stayed at several times growing up - it is now updated and more chic, and still great. There is a lovely cocktail lounge with a view down Broadway.
Between my memories and Nikki's SATC fandom, we had to go to the Russian Tea Room on our first night. This served a dual purpose, as I was able to pass by my old haunt Carnegie Hall. The Russian Tea Room redux was totally different. Thanks to my wife I am now a foodie, so we paid special attention to the cuisine. The food is rich, creamy and dense. We particulary enjoyed the boeuf a la stroganoff and chocolate Russian cream. But the best part is still the exquisite atmosphere, with artwork and class from another era.
Something new for me in New York is the sports scene. This was missing in my early visits, but is now very important to my wife and me. We attended Yankee Stadium on this visit and MetLife Stadium on a prior visit. While we do not actually like any of these teams, it was still fun to take in a new ballpark and try the food. At Yankee Stadium, the Fuku chicken tenders were especially tasty.
There is no shortage of museums in Manhattan. We are both art lovers and this time around went to the Met and MoMA. They were both within walking distance of our hotel - on the way to the Met, we had a lovely carriage ride and stroll through Central Park. The Met is massive, on par with just a handful of encyclopedic museums from around the world. Here we enjoyed the oldest piano by Cristofori and a beautiful collection of Van Gogh, among countless others. MoMA is smaller, more intimate and of course modern. Here we also enjoyed Van Gogh, Hopper, Pollock and, naturally, Campbell Soup. It was a great artistic combination.
Another fantastic landmark includes the New York Public Library. Nikki is the consummate reader. So it was extra special to explore the architecture, holdings and art within. The current exhibit included Charles Dickens' desk, the Gutenberg Bible and some manuscripts from Brahms, among other treasures.
Ever since our fantastic Bustronome experience in Paris, we are suckers for a food-bus. We happened to see Tea Around Town on a random stroll and dove in. The description sounded wonderful - a full tea service in a comfortable cabin while taking in the sights of NYC. But the reality was less thrilling. The tea was iced and limited, the treats were pre-made and lackluster, and the sights were hard to find. The bus also showed up late with no attempts to rectify. It was decent overall but will not be repeated.
One more new New York experience in my adulthood is the food. As a kid we ate to keep going, to take a break. But as husband and wife, we make eating an event. On this trip, we attended the two-Michelin-starred Aquavit for lunch. We had three courses each, highlights including matjes herring, table bread with fabulous cheesy butter, princess cake and gorgeous-yet-delicious arctic bird's nest. Perhaps our favorite Michelin start desserts.
And one final timeless New York endeavor is on Broadway. I saw countless shows with my mother and uncle. My wife adored The Outsiders growing up, so it was extra special to see this with her at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. The story is potent and meaningful, and the cast did a great job. I adore it now as well.
As life moves on, there are certain highlights that recur. I am grateful NYC shows up in more than one of my chapters. Equally wonderful then, now and beyond.
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