Walking Away With Memories in New York City

I love New York City, especially in the fall.  My first trip there was during that season, and while it is not an annual tradition, autumn always draws me back there. In October of 2019, I was part of a family group of seven that went up on a Friday morning and came back on Sunday evening. We walked away with many good memories, including the one that my son, Cade, and I both think of as our favorite New York City memory. 

I go to New York for the museums and galleries, for the performances and concerts, for the food and restaurants, and most importantly, the experience. There is something for everyone, even those who are looking for quiet spaces away from people can find those spaces.

On this trip, there were seven of us in our party, including Cade and Liberty, as well as my Aunt Reeda who used to live there. We started our day with breakfast and then went to the Central Park Zoo. Growing up not far from the National Zoo in DC, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the Central Park Zoo’s more intimate scale. We hoped to see a snow leopard, but one never appeared. The nearby red pandas, though, were playful and happy to put on a show.

After the Zoo, we ended up walking through the Tisch Children’s Zoo.. Cade and Liberty were enjoying climbing on the rope webs. Our party then started to walk south along Fifth Avenue, while we were deciding our next steps . . . literally. We decided to split up for lunch and our afternoon of activities. Cade and I decided on the American Museum of Natural History on the West Side of Central Park.

From Our Walk in Central Park

It was a beautiful fall day and the leaves were starting to turn, so we opted to walk through the park to the Museum. Cade also knew he wanted to have a steak in New York City for lunch. We separated from the rest of the family who were headed in different directions. Cade and I walked through the Park climbing the rocks between The Pond and East Drive. Neither of us were in a hurry, so we took our time enjoying this part of the Park. We passed by the Wollman Rink. We eventually came upon the Mall and Literary Walk.

The Ribbon on the Upper West Side

As I have mentioned before, Cade enjoys finding restaurants and this trip was no different. He wanted a steak and had found The Ribbon on his phone, which is half a block from the Park on 72^nd Street near the Dakota, right along the way to the Museum on 80^th Street.  We arrived around 2PM after exploring the Park, which was kind of perfect. We got a great table and could enjoy the retro-themed restaurant that was a perfect find for us. The restaurant was tastefully decorated for Halloween. We enjoyed our meals, savoring every bite. Cade was feeling the moment with pride and happiness. Our bill arrived tucked in an 1893 copy of Taking the Bastile by Alexander Dumas, which was eccentric and cool. As we left, I grabbed a box of their branded matches, which I still keep to this day.

As we walked along Central Park West, we passed a large sign that read “Black Lives Matter.” Cade pointed it out, and we paused, knowing we were in a place with like-minded people. Approaching the Museum, Cade noticed the Roosevelt statue with the Native American and African figures at its base. He asked about it and voiced dislike of the imagery of a president on a horse, with the other two figures at his feet. Cade has always had a strong sense of justice, and at just 10 years old, he made me proud with the clarity of his concern.

Tyrannosaurus Rex

The Museum was featuring an exhibit on the Tyrannosaurus Rex. It is a big museum and

we focused on the dinosaur and early mammals. Plus, we found the Meteorites and the Gems and Minerals sections. One key highlight was the chance to touch a meteorite in that exhibit. Both of us were tired at that point and we decided to return to the hotel.

Like I said, this experience tops my list of moments in New York City. When I asked Cade just a couple days ago what his favorite NYC memory was, unprompted he shared this one. Maybe that is what I love most about New York: the City offers a thousand possibilities, but the ones you carry with you are often the cherished moments between all the bustle.