Broadway, it’s such an integral part of NYC. The act of seeing a show can even take a day in itself. Sometimes with our fast paced lives though, we don’t even have a full day and that’s why I’ve decided to start a new series on my blog where I show you highlights of places to visit in 12 hours or less. The first of which will focus on broadway in NYC.
Last week I visited New York City for a day on spring break. I didn’t have a lot of time on my break but I had been planning on seeing Anastasia on Broadway during that time. From my own experience I compiled this outline of what you can do for your next trip!
Transportation
For me I luckily live close enough where I could take a train into the city but if you are planning to stay in the city for a while look out for an upcoming post on where to stay in your travels!
From where I arrived in Penn Station, my first destination was the show-stopping Times Square. It’s only a 20-minute walk through the city to get there which gives you the opportunity to check out more of New York (I even found where I grabbed dinner) but if walking isn’t your thing check out my post on why the subway is your go to option!
Stopping in Times Square is important because if you haven’t already purchased tickets you can check the TKTS booth for some great discounts. The booth opens at 10am but long lines form so be sure to get there as early as possible. A few years ago I came at 7:30 and was the second person in line. Unfortunately this time my train was late and I actually didn’t get there til 11 am. There was a long line but it moved fast and I was very lucky because when I reached the booth I was given a center front row seat for half of what they typically are! It’s still important to note though that getting there earlier ensures you get the cheapest and best viewing option available.
What to do now?
If your tickets are for the matinee show like mine are then you are in two categories
- You bought your ticket early and have an immense amount of time on your hands
If you bought your ticket early on then congrats! You get time to explore NYC a little more in the morning. From Time Square alone there is an immense amount of stores to visit. My personal favorite will always be the three story American Eagle near TKTS. Walking down the street though you will find Sephora, Forever 21, the Disney store, H&M and so much more. If you’re into Kawaii stuff the new Line pop up store is up and they have a gigantic bear you can take a picture with, I have no shame in getting my picture taken with it. Take your time to shop around, or in my case window shop because you spent a little more than expected on Broadway tickets.
- You bought your ticket later and only have time for lunch and a little exploring
If you bought your ticket later on then finding a place to eat first is a priority so that you don’t get caught up with ridiculous concession prices. My personal favorite since it opened has been City Kitchen. It was right down the street from my show and its across the street from Shake Shack. They have a variety of vendors ranging from American fast food to Sushi. I got Luke’s Lobster Roll and it did not disappoint.
The Show!
Now it’s time for your show! If you want to ensure you get to your seat without worrying about a crowd make your way to the theater early on. I went at 1pm which was a little too early so I would recommend stopping by around 1:10/1:15 depending on the popularity of your show. The doors will open at 1:30 pm regardless. All merchandise is expensive so beware t-shirts typically start at $30.
What to do after
Depending on your show its now around 4:30ish in the afternoon. You can check out restaurants for dinner or explore the city some more. I personally went down to a deli for dinner because I was shocked to see another location of the one that I grew up visiting with my Grama in Queens. (It’s Ben’s if you’re wondering. It’s down West 38th and the pastrami on rye is a God send).
Some of the fancier restaurants you can try to get a reservation for ahead of time would be Carmines or Sardis, they’re next to about 4 theaters and it’s a good chance the show you’re seeing is one of them.
You can also do some more shopping. All around Times Square and Broadway are a variety of shops. I’d reccommend thinking of five you definitely want to visit before you call it a day and then make it your mission to find those first.
At the end of the day
Whether you’re staying in a hotel or catching transit back home relax and reflect on the great day you had. New York City is truly a city like no other and you successfully conquered one of its most busiest parts in less than 12 hours!