A to Z with Zachary E
In late 2022 / early 2023, I began to think about traveling again and perhaps changing up my trips by bringing someone with me. I invited a friend to go to Spyscape in New York with me, and from there grew a whole plan to tour New York City and see the best it has to offer. In the end, I took the trip on my own, but it still stands out as one of my finest excursions.
It was during the planning of this trip that I coined the name
"A to Z with Zachary E."
LaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia is definitely one of the biggest and busiest airports I have flown through. Flown in here a couple times on my adventures. This trip, I sat for awhile and charged my phone on my arrival. Spent several hours waiting on my return flight due to missing my original one and even got some Wendy's while watching the water fountain light show in this terminal.
Aloft LaGuardia
One of my favorite hotels, even if it is a bit pricier than my usual budget-friendly fare, Aloft New York LaGuardia Airport is a very nice hotel right next to LaGuardia Airport. Every room I've ever stayed in has a great view of the planes coming and going. There's a restaurant and a bar downstairs as well.
The Museum of Modern Art
MoMA came highly recommended over the years, but I had never visited it. I prioritized it on this trip after learning that my favorite painting, Starry Night by Van Gogh, is on display here. I was also completely transfixed by the large AI generated piece on the wall, with its twisting colors and changing patterns.
Spyscape
One of my primary stops on this adventure, Spyscape is an interactive spy museum that I had originally visited shortly after it opened. I have been following them on social media ever since and was eager to go back and experience it all again, as well as the new exhibits and the expanded bookstore. Once again, it did not disappoint!
Times Square
Times Square is the world famous heart of NYC. So many people. So many ads. So many sights and sounds. This time, I got a couple interesting shots of Times Square itself before meeting a photographer who took some fantastic shots of me posing in the center of one of the busiest cities in the world.
Brooklyn Chop House
I had searched through dozens of potentially cool restaurants on Google in the weeks leading up to this trip and had decided that this one was the one to check out and so had reserved a table here. I ended up giving up the table to another party the night of, due to my being alone and the restaurant being busy. I ate at the bar and still had an amazing time, will definitely return.
Top of the Rock / Rockefeller Center
No trip to NYC would be complete without a visit to the Rockefeller Center, and no visit to the Rockefeller Center would be complete without a trip to the Top of the Rock, an observation deck high above the city. Undoubtedly one of the most popular lookouts in the city, it has some amazing views!
Grand Central Station
I love trains, I love stations, I love old buildings and ornate architecture, so of course I love Grand Central. I try to stop in every time I'm in town, even if it's not on my route through the city, (though it usually is, it's Central) and I think I finally have a decent handle on navigating through the massive building. (I have gotten lost a number of times on previous visits.)
New York Public Library
The iconic library has not only appeared in many movies and TV shows over the years, it also hosts amazing exhibits to rival any museum... Near and dear to me are the original stuffed animals that inspired the Winnie the Pooh stories and I try to visit them whenever I'm in town. I'm also quite fond of the lions that stand guard out front of this particularly majestic library.
The Empire State Building
Perhaps the most famous building in New York City, if not the world, the Empire State Building! I always enjoy a visit here. I think the photos I took on this visit were better than any of my previous visits, there was a perfect balance of clouds and sunshine on this beautiful afternoon!
American Museum of Natural History
I visited the American Museum of Natural History for the second time and explored a couple halls that I didn't have time to check out last time. This stop was largely so I could have look through the gift shop again and grab a couple of the amethyst coasters I spotted back on my last visit.
Central Park
I always tell people that Central Park is one of the most interesting and beautiful places that I have visited. I could probably spend a year exploring the park and I always make sure I take some time to stroll through on my visits.
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
If I had to pick a single stop on this trip as my favorite, it would probably be SUMMIT. I had never been anywhere quite like this before, with the views of the city and the feeling of being inside an art exhibit. When I first stepped off the elevator and saw the room full of reflections and the city below, I had to steady myself against a wall to catch my breath and control the vertigo.
the Oculus
The Oculus was one of the very first places I ever visited in NYC, as I first arrived in Manhattan in the subway station below on that very first visit. On this visit, it was lit in red, white and blue lights for President's Day as opposed to the usual white.
9/11 Memorial
I usually stop by the 9/11 memorial when I'm in the area to pay my respects and spend a few moments in quiet contemplation. It was too late to visit the museum on this visit, but I wasn't too disappointed as I had visited it a few months ago.
Brooklyn Bridge
My first time visiting the Brooklyn Bridge at night, the bridge is one of my favorite spots to visit in the city. I think the photo above gives a nice sense of scale for how huge it actually is.
New York Courthouses
The courthouses in New York are famous for appearing in a number of TV series, including the Law & Order franchise. I have been there to photograph them a few times now, but this trip was the first time I visited at night.