In June, I spent two divine weeks in New York for the filming of Holland's Next Topmodel. Since the eliminations were not every day, I had an ocean of time for myself. In the morning, I crawled into the courtyard of our hotel with my laptop. Around 11:00 AM, a message usually pops in from Anouk (Smulders, the presenter of the day) asking, “Are you ready? What are we doing?”.
With Anouk and Dirk by my side (we were often called the three musketeers because we roamed the city together), both of whom had lived in New York for 8 years, and a makeup artist who had lived there for 25 years, I ended up in places that only the in-crowd knows. Or, as my taxi driver said when I asked him to take me to Waverly Place, “I NEVER brought a tourist there.” See, that's what we need.
Tip 1.
You can get the girl out of Holland but you can’t get Holland out of the girl.
First, download the city bike app so you know where the city bike stations are located. Go to the little pillar, ‘dip’ your credit card into the slot (without a credit card, you're nowhere in New York, you know that, right?), enter your details, and don't be surprised if they ask for your postal code. 90210 is always a delightful answer to give. The device gives you a digital ride code that you enter on the left side of your bike's handlebars. Choose a bike that fits you in terms of saddle, so you don't have to fumble around. We're not made for that, I believe.
Attention! The Citybike actually needs to be parked in a city bike station every half hour. It’s not mandatory, but after half an hour, it gets more expensive. I once cycled all the way to Brooklyn and kept the bike outside the station for four hours, and then it suddenly becomes quite expensive. If you park it regularly, there’s nothing wrong, and cycling through New York is the next best thing.
Tip 2
East Village
Meat Packing is nice, but it’s not really cool anymore. The real New Yorkers, especially the cool crowd, can be found in Chelsea but definitely in East Village. Moreover, you only pay 6 dollars for a gin and tonic in the bars there instead of 16 at the Gansevoort Hotel. That saves the proverbial sip on a drink.
Tip 3
Gitane is a French bistro in NoHo, around the corner from Patricia Field's store, you know, the stylist from Sex and the City.
Never eaten so well. Order a lemonade, which is just how you want it, fresh, sour, and pure. The tajines are worth coming back for, and we seriously licked the bowl of satay sauce clean.
Café Gitane, 270 Lafayette Street.
Tip 4
Tomorrow I'm heading back to New York, and I already made a reservation for Saturday last night. Party of four. We’re going to sit on the terrace with Peggy, Liesbeth, and fashion friend Fiona Hering. Anouk and I ate there about four times in June. Every time the burrata and every time that light dessert wine with a little bubble.
You can't reserve for the terrace, but if you have a drink at the bar, you can easily slide over to your favorite table.
Morandi, 211 Waverly Place.
Tip 5
Rosemary’s is one of those places where you could easily think you’re in Paris, so calm and cozy with a long terrace. It’s said that Daniel Day Lewis drinks his coffee there every morning. We ate away a hangover there, Anouk had Eggs Benedict and I had an egg with a whole lot of chili. What a person can recover from that.
Rosemary’s Greenwich Avenue
Tip 6
Daily Bread in Central Park
Run your morning run through the park and then meet a friend at Le Pain Quotidien there. Just like Carrie and Miranda, remember?
Le Pain Quotidien Central Park
2 West 69 Street
Tip 7
In the category of thick wood saws planks. But bike to The Gansevoort, take the elevator to the penthouse level (be careful, there’s no rooftop mentioned on the elevator, so don’t be discouraged. Otherwise, just confidently ask the bellboy to guide you to the rooftop.) and step into rooftop paradise.
Don’t fear being spoiled to the bone because it’s just ordering at the bar and you get your glass of wine (which costs 16 dollars) in a plastic wine glass. You definitely won’t get an olive or a nut with it, but hey, the view is fabulous, and when I was there, working on the Gansevoort's wifi, I was intensely happy. Really.
Tip 8
The place where shows used to be held is still a nice place to go. If you lie on your back in the grass (no, that’s not weird), you have a delightful view of all the skyscrapers. With your head facing north and your feet facing south, you see the Freedom Tower, the building erected in memory of the attack on the Twin Towers. Anna Wintour goes there with her Vogue editorial team. In the summer, films are shown on a big screen. The pinnacle of a long summer evening, chilling there a bit, back against your loved one, watching a movie with the signature of Manhattan in the background.
Tip 9
You can't get more happy and healthy than this. Fresh juices, cocktails in the form of ice pops, salads, toast. Everything ultra-healthy and super hiply decorated. Perfect for lunch.
19, Kenmare Street
Tip 10
When you work out in a city, it feels like you live there. Just for that reason, it’s already a good idea. If you squeeze yourself into the Equinox branch in SoHo, there’s a good chance you’ll run into top models with enviable bodies. Think Victoria’s Secret girls. Maybe a bit confronting but fun for the stories at home, right?
69 Prince Street New York
If you book with KLM now, you’ll be in NY for 500 euros. Maybe you’ll join us on the terrace on Saturday.
