New York City is the birthplace of revolutions, where hip-hop began and where the modern-day LGBTQ+ rights movement first raised its tiny fist into the air. For anyone hoping to travel to the greatest city in the world, there are, of course, the usual tourist sites: Times Square, Broadway, the Met. However, for the more adventurous Queer traveler, New York is where you'll find the room where it happened.
Stonewall
Near the crossroads of a beautiful brownstone neighborhood and a bustling intersection of shoppers sits an ordinary-looking brick alehouse. A little over fifty years ago, there was nothing to mark this dive bar as anything other than a neighborhood gathering place. But today, it sits in front of a small park and several monuments announcing its historical significance to all who pass by. This is where the modern Queer rights movement began.
For anyone passing the Stonewall Inn today, the message is loud and clear. The building is surrounded by a colorful bunting of all the various Pride flags. For a Seattleite, it feels like coming home, stepping back into the Capitol Hill neighborhood, albeit a lot closer to the wrong ocean.
Inside, aside from a small plaque and a wall of Pride flags, the room looks like just about any other Queer bar. However, the crowd it draws today is usually tourists.
The Stonewall Inn knows how to make a quick buck off its cultural fame. Nobody enters without buying a drink — it is not a museum, after all. Behind the counter, bartenders offer merch commemorating the riots of '69 and the same beverages they've been serving for the last fifty years. They know the significance of the building they work in, but to them, it's no different than any other neighborhood gathering joint.
Inside, aside from a small plaque and a wall of Pride flags, the room looks like just about any other Queer bar. However, the crowd it draws today is usually tourists.
The Stonewall Inn knows how to make a quick buck off its cultural fame. Nobody enters without buying a drink — it is not a museum, after all. Behind the counter, bartenders offer merch commemorating the riots of '69 and the same beverages they've been serving for the last fifty years. They know the significance of the building they work in, but to them, it's no different than any other neighborhood gathering joint.
A hub for history
If you're looking for more Queer history in NYC, you might want to stroll a bit past Stonewall to the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, located in SoHo. This museum is carefully curated to showcase some of the best modern artists to come out of the LGBTQ+ scene and pieces that capture some of the movement's most important struggles and victories, including the AIDS crisis and the passage of marriage equality.
For a more general look at art and history, one doesn't have to go far. New York is thick with museums — the best of which happen to be on elegant Fifth Avenue. Of course, there is also the American Museum of Natural History, as seen in the hit film Night at the Museum, but the real glitz and glamor can only really be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Like SAM on steroids, it has a bit of everything. A wing of modern art for pretentious PNW hipsters to make sense of is a given, but the beauty of the Met lies in the history hidden inside its many halls and wings. It's easy for one to get lost in the shifting periods, but getting lost is part of the joy of a trip to the Met. Artifacts from around the world take you back in time, begging guests to ponder just what they might have been doing in the days of Jesus, knights, or early America.
Central Park
No trip to New York City is complete without a stroll through the world's most famous park. Central Park, as it is aptly named, sits in the middle of Manhattan, giving the urban jungle a sprig of greenery, and a homesick Washingtonian some much-needed verdant spaces.
The park is a historical relic itself with a dark history. It now rests in the area that was once Seneca Village, a thriving Black community in the heart of Manhattan. When the city planned out the park, the community was destroyed. Homeowners were forced to give up their property without adequate reimbursement, businesses were shut down, and the people were dispersed across town.
Despite the lesser-known and tragic origin story of Central Park, the location has become an iconic part of American culture, a backdrop for some of the best rom-coms, like When Harry Met Sally and Saving Face, and a staple in iconic television series, like Friends. The park also pays homage to American history with several bronze statues along the horse-trodden paths, commemorating everyone from Revolutionary War heroes to Balto, one of the brave dogs from the 1925 diphtheria outbreak in Nome, Alaska.
Fine dining
New York is a city full of wonders, but after a day of fine dining, you'll be the full one. A trip here is not complete without tasting some of the finest foods available. From classic street hotdogs to classy five-star restaurants, it isn't hard to find something for everyone's palate.
To start your day off right, Manhattan has plenty of great breakfast options. If large, hearty portions of classic East Coast breakfast favorites are what you're looking for, check out the Brooklyn Diner, offering sweet and savory items perfect to start your day. If you're more in the mood for a classy pastry with a unique French vibe, check out Angelina's, just a hop away from Times Square. The classic European atmosphere and sweet Nutella donuts will transport your taste buds to another time and place entirely.
For those looking for a romantic dinner on the town, there is no stop like Carmine's. The classic Italian restaurant is known for its monumental portions and will not disappoint. There is no such thing as making a wrong menu choice here, unless of course you forget to order its world-class cheesy bread appetizer.
If you're looking for a Mad Men type of restaurant, take a trip down to the Empire State Building for a delicious burger at the 1960s-inspired restaurant The State. With classic décor and possibly the best burgers in history, it's a must-stop.
No visit to Broadway is complete without a visit to Sardi's. An iconic stop for celebrities, the walls are lined with caricatures of some of Hollywood's favorites. If you're lucky, you might just find yourself seated next to an up-and-coming star.
New York is a Queer traveler's paradise, a city everyone must visit at least once in their life. Come for the Broadway shows and copious museums, and stay for the food and nightlife. It's a city full of history, where our foremothers threw the first stones at the Stonewall riots.