My New York Story
New York was once just a dream. In my early years, I never imagined I’d one day set foot on New York soil. But then came Dennis — now my husband — who swept me off to London for my 30th birthday. In a whirlwind of euphoria, he kissed me and said, “When you turn 40, I’m going to hire the Concorde, fly you to New York, we’ll stay at the Waldorf Astoria, and have dinner at the Ritz.”
At the time, we were just dating. Then we got married, and life took a delightful turn — an unexpected opportunity brought us to California. Suddenly, we were a step closer to New York. But, as life does, it had other plans, and that trip didn’t happen for another fifteen years. Go figure!
When we finally made that long-awaited trip, it was one Christmas with Joanne and Ross — and it was magical. Since then, I’ve returned to New York many times, with and without Dennis. But I wanted to share with you this most recent visit — a truly memorable one, and yes, once again, it was with the girls.
The trip started with a simple wish: “I’d LOVE to see the Rockettes and be that person in the crowd on The Today Show,” I said one morning, watching TV. Dennis had no interest in either, so I reached out to the girls — and YES, they were all in. All eight of us!
We got a WhatsApp chat going, and soon we were off and running. Alley took the reins and created a beautifully organized itinerary in Canva, complete with visuals and schedules — Go Alley! The brochure alone elevated our expectations and set the tone for what was to come.
We stayed at the Park Lane Hotel — fun, vibrant, perfectly located, with comfortable rooms and a complimentary Prosecco bar open most of the day. The lobby bar became our go-to spot, serving delicious little snacks we didn’t need but couldn’t resist with our drinks.
One of the gems we stumbled upon — quite by accident — was PopUp Bagels in Central Park. Fresh from the oven with a crisp crust and soft center, served simply with two schmears: scallion and plain, with two rotating weekly flavors. You have to buy a dozen, and honestly? A must-try.
Now let me tell you… The Rockettes did NOT disappoint! The show was beyond fabulous — truly spectacular. I could go every year and never tire of it. Of course, I added a snow globe to my collection as a keepsake from this sparkling memory.
Rockefeller Center — just steps from Radio City Music Hall. The lunch? Incredible. They gave us a private area with a lovely view, delicious cocktails, and gracious service.
The food? Exactly what I’ve come to expect: beautifully presented and full of Mediterranean flavor. And perfectly timed for a post-lunch stroll to the 4:00 p.m. Rockettes show.
One of Alley’s brilliant additions was hiring a photographer through Gig Salad. What fun! We laughed, posed, and made memories all over Rockefeller Center —
at the Christmas tree, Grand Central Station, Paul’s Pizza, on the subway, even recreating an Abbey Road-style street shot. Only a true New Yorker photographer would stop traffic just to get the perfect shot. The whole shoot screamed, “Girls having fun!”
Another standout experience was Thyme, an underground speakeasy cocktail bar. Hidden behind what looked like a closed diner, it led us down into a moody, sultry space with brown and mustard tones and sexy lighting. We did an eight-course cocktail and food pairing. Think: “green bean casserole” — a wild mix of shochu, sherry, vermouth, clarified mushroom soup, and spring water. Sounds crazy, but surprisingly delightful. The food? Beautifully served and surprisingly tasty.
Of course, we balanced the modern with tradition — Afternoon Tea at The Plaza which was just around the corner from the hotel and brunch at Tavern on the Green, on New Year’s Day which was just a short brisk walk through Central Park from our hotel. Each as fabulous and perfectly perfect as you’d imagine.
For our Michelin-star night out, we chose JoJo, partly because my daughter’s nickname is the same. A charming two-tiered townhouse with modern urban flair. The food? Simple, inspired, and delicious — all at a not-too-painful price point.
Another culinary stop: Zaytinya at the Ritz-Carlton, by the renowned José Andrés. While I appreciated the Greek-Turkish-Lebanese menu, the food didn’t quite wow me. The service was wonderful, but the atmosphere felt more cafeteria than Ritz. Sorry José — not my favorite.
Our gang were real troopers getting up at 5:00 a.m. to brave the cold and line up for The Today Show at Studio 1A. Posters in hand (thanks, Jennie!), we bundled up and waited… and waited.
Security took forever, and most of the main anchors were away, so we got the “C team.” We didn’t get our moment on camera, but friends back home caught us waving in the crowd!
And yes, there were shoppers in our group — so we shopped! We took a carriage ride through Central Park and visited Sempre Oggi, a gorgeous restaurant blending Italian tradition with modern design, serving seasonal and locally sourced dishes. Simply charming.
Phew — we packed a lot into five days! It was New Year’s week, and New York was crowded, but we didn’t mind. The weather was surprisingly mild, and dare I say… the hospitality? Incredible. From taxi drivers to restaurant staff, people were kind and warm — even amidst the city’s famous chaos.
We decided against braving Times Square on New Year’s Eve (the crowds were madness) and instead celebrated at Darlings, the hotel’s rooftop bar. While the name was adorable, the space wasn’t quite so. The cocktails were meh, overpriced, and the vibe was a bit lackluster. But who cared? We drank, danced, hugged, laughed as we brought in the New Year together.
Sleeping was not calling us as we left darlings a little bit worse for wear and so we gathered in Jennie’s room so we could all have a reading with her infamous tarot cards……woo hoo the champagne continued to flow as we mapped out our future for 2025!
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Next time you go – Serendipity! A whimsical, nostalgia-packed restaurant on the Upper East Side — originally opened as a coffee shop/boutique by three friends in 1954. Famous for its Frrrozen Hot Chocolate, a decadent chocolate drink topped with whipped cream that’s practically a dessert in itself. Known for over-the-top creations, including the Golden Opulence Sundae, once listed as the world’s most expensive dessert (~$1,000) That’s where we celebrated the opening of my show Here’s Love on Broadway in 1960 with Jackie Susann.