A Lovely Weekend in the Big 🍎

“I am Eloise. I am six. I am a city child. I live at The Plaza.” -Kay Thompson

Last weekend was a dream come true taking our Eloise on her first trip to NYC. It seems like we’ve been planning her trip to The Plaza ever since she was a baby, and the time was right for a special spring break visit now that she’s “a child of six” just like her literary namesake.

The trip also marked her first airplane flight. CAE always makes flying a breeze, and we even got a set of wings from our kind pilot, who met with Eloise after we landed.

An early morning flight also meant an early arrival and the whole day in front of us to explore.

After checking in to The Plaza, we stored our luggage until our room was ready and headed to brunch at a favorite, Sarabeth’s, which is close to the park and offers a yummy children’s menu too. Luckily, Eloise had written her NYC “must do” list, so we marked an item off of it right away- a carriage ride through Central Park. Even a short ride gave a nice overview of the Park and helped us get our bearings.

Next we walked down famed Fifth Avenue to admire the skyscrapers and window shop. We had to duck into Saks and FAO Schwarz to tickle the ivories of the keyboard just like “BIG” and find a gift to bring home for little sister.

Our room was ready, so we settled in and changed for drinks with friends at the iconic Bemelman’s Bar at The Carlyle Hotel to see the beautiful illustrated walls and then dinner at The Polo Bar. Quick tip about The Polo Bar- for your best chance of snagging a reservation, call right when they open exactly one month before your desired date. The classic vibe and impeccable service made for a wonderful dining experience. Eloise was even treated to a special “welcome to NYC” message on her signature sundae.

Day two was all about sightseeing. After a room service breakfast (just like the real Eloise) we were first on the observation deck of the Empire State Building, which meant taking in all of the views without a crowd, and we finished up in time for our reservation at the American Museum of Natural History. For now they require reserved time-entry tickets and ask you to wear masks during your visit.

We detoured through the park after and grabbed a taxi for Soho. A quick lunch at Mercer Kitchen revived us for our next experience at the Color Factory. This is an interactive art museum like none other with different activities in every room leading to major fun. Definitely a highlight for Eloise.

I love meandering down Prince and Spring Streets, so we did a little shopping before returning to The Plaza for tea.

Our afternoon tea in the Palm Court was extra special as Eloise was presented with a perfectly pink cup and saucer with Eloise illustrated on the side. The children’s tea was more than enough to share with finger sandwiches, scones, sweets and cotton candy!

For dinner we took Eloise to an old standard, Tavern on the Green, where my parents took me on my first trip to NYC. Still charming in early spring, but it’s even more dazzling dining alfresco under the twinkly lights during summer months. Note that they also offer a children’s menu and yummy Shirley Temples.

Day three centered around a matinee performance of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. We made our way to theater district a little early to take in Times Square and were at the front of the line to get into the theater, which was a great escape from the rainy weather. My muggles were so excited for the performance, and even without knowing very much about the story the production was amazing. Every detail has been well thought out from the theater design to special effects making it a Broadway experience unlike any that I’ve had before.

Post show we had an early dinner reservation at Palma in the West Village- authentic Italian with a cozy indoor garden- and then sampled some Italian pastries from a nearby bakery for dessert.

The weather cleared by then making it a perfect evening to walk to the park and get some fresh air.

We made our return flight late the last day so that we could maximize our time in the city. The morning was spent at The Met, and Eloise loved the Degas ballerinas especially.

Lunch in TriBeCa, walking The High Line and seeking out a good view of the Statue of Liberty filled our afternoon.

A whirlwind weekend and unforgettable memories made. Until next time, NYC!