The joys of being a tourist

Hey, it's Xinyi, and on my last week in NYC, I want to share what made my time here come alive. [View in browser]( [Bloomberg]( Hello! I’m [Xinyi Luo](, a Bloomberg News rotator on the Pursuits team. Living the high life the past three months, I’ve taken a private tour of [Delta’s new SkyClub]( at John F. Kennedy airport, experienced the [first padel club]( in Manhattan, explained the latest [Aspen mansion market](, and analyzed [watches worth millions of dollars]( on celebrities’ wrists at the star-studded White Party and more. What a journey! Sadly, I am signing off from the team and will say goodbye to the Big Apple as I head to my next stop in the newsroom: Hong Kong. But before I go, I would like to share something I learned that may be obvious but many people forget—it’s really fun to be a tourist, especially in your own town. We, and by that I mean you and I just living our lives, spend so much time seeking out the newest and coolest, that we can forget the more mass, basic things are actually a lot of fun.  I got inspired when I interviewed [David Landgraf](, an event planner who was the global head of conferences, events and hospitality management at Blackstone Inc., for our [Distinguished Travel Hacker series](. One of his travel tips was to take a rooftop bus tour to get your bearings in a new city. (He also said to eat at the bar instead of a table, which I already do while traveling alone, and it’s a great tip, too.) Times Square on a double-decker tourist bus? Get over yourself and do it! Photographer: Xinyi Luo/Bloomberg Initially, I thought a double-decker bus tour in New York was too touristy. Having worked in Manhattan for almost a year, I want to spend my time and money doing [more authentic experiences](. However, it turned out to be incredible. And I’m so glad I did it before I left. Starting from Times Square, the open-top bus went down to lower Manhattan, swinging by Bryant Park, the Empire State Building, Flatiron District, Washington Square Park, SoHo and Chinatown—all the highlights. Then it turned back from Battery Park near the Financial District and went up via the West Side Highway, where I saw the Whitney Museum of American Art and Hudson Yards. The famed TKTS booth is 50 years old! It can kick, stretch, and kick. It’s 50! Photographer: Spencer Platt/Getty Images North America These were all places I’ve walked by or hung out with friends but seeing them in a different way, from a higher perspective, was unique. I was able to enjoy the city with fresh eyes and fall in love all over again with this bustling metropolis.  Also, passersby would take another look at you and say Hi from the streets. I even coincidentally saw my friends who were just walking by when the bus stopped in SoHo. What a small world! OK, not as accessible as the bus, but if you’re a Centurion member—or have a friend who is—AmEx’s Black Card clubhouse is calling. Photographer: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg Hooked on the tourist vibe, I asked one of my colleagues for suggestions about what only-in-New-York experience I should have before I leave. “Have you seen the Broadway show?” she asked. Well, yes, of course. I am a big Broadway fan—I have watched 15 shows since last summer! And all of the tickets I got came from the lottery. Yes, you read that right: I’m very lucky, but most of all persistent. The trick to getting $50 or less Broadway lottery tickets is just remembering to register and keep trying, which is especially easy since most shows have [digital lotteries and rush options](. Sometimes, I even sat in the middle of the first row. (Thank you, The Book of Mormon, Hadestown and Take Me Out!) Although, sadly, I tried a whole year for the lottery tickets to Hamilton, and no luck for this. Shucked, one of the 12 best shows to see in NYC this summer. Photographers: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman Other items on my NYC tourist bucket list: Dinner at [Peak](, a restaurant on the 101st floor of 30 Hudson Yards, where for $125 I had a three-course prix fixe with a window view table. The Maine lobster and Rohan duck were both delicate and delicious. Also, you get free access to [the Edge sky deck](, which usually costs $36 for an adult. Just make sure to check the weather first, otherwise, you’ll be enjoying a storm in one of the tallest buildings in town. (On my night the heavy rain was kind of cool, but mostly it was just dark and moody.) I also went to the [roof garden at the Metropolitan Museum of Art](, where you can see a full-scale structure melding ancient Egyptian symbolism, 1960s utopian architecture and contemporary vibes. The site-specific installation by American artist Lauren Halsey is called  the eastside of south central los angeles hieroglyph prototype architecture (I) and on view through Oct. 22. Bonus: a spectacular view of Central Park. And here’s something not on the tourist radar that should be: [a drive-in movie]( on the East River in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. They have seats for people walking in without cars—this is still New York!—and I watched The Dark Night with killer views of the Manhattan skyline during sunset. It was amazing to see Gotham City on the screen and in real life as the background simultaneously.  When art imitates life: Batman on the big screen at Skyline Drive-In in Brooklyn. Photographer: Xinyi Luo/Bloomberg There are too many things to do in New York, even living here. Left on my list: a comedy show, a baseball game at the Yankee stadium and the back room of the Double Chicken Please, which is named[the best bar in North America](. But it all gives me reason to come back—and I definitely will. Connect with Xinyi on [Instagram]( or [X (née Twitter)]( My touristy top five If you also want to get in the traveller mindset, here’s what I’ve been recommending to friends when they visit New York. Some are free! Commission a local artist I love New York street artists, whether musicians in the subway station or painters on the sidewalk. [Zac Crawford]( has been drawing portraits in Washington Square Park since 2018. He really captured my mood and my expression. When sitting for a piece, it’s fun to talk with artists and learn their stories as well. Crawford remembered me when I went there for the second time—and even shared details of his Hinge date the night before as we chatted. Photographer: Xinyi Luo/Bloomberg cocktails on a rooftop Obsessed with the Manhattan skyline, I visited [several rooftop bars]( to see different aspects of it. [Overstory]( is a perfect spot for the view of the Financial District, and [Westlight]( in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is well-known for getting sweeping views across the East River, especially at sunset. Get on the water Everybody knows that taking [a water taxi]( and the [Staten Island Ferry]( is a great way to sightsee without booking an expensive tour, but what about kayaking? I did my first-ever kayaking at [Pier 26 at Hudson River Park](. There are [more places]( in town—and most are free. Also the row boats are back in the water outside the [legendary Central Park Boathouse](, and will soon be bookable online ($25/hour). A top tip: lobster rolls in the reopened cafe. What $1,000 gets you at New York City's top sushi omakase counters. Photographer: Evan Sung Savor a sushi omakase I heard quite a lot of times that you should have at least one omakase in NYC, which arguably has the best sushi outside of Japan. [I went to Towa NYC]( for a $150 18-course menu. Watching the chef preparing all those foods in front of me—the fatty tuna roll blew me away—was foodie theater. Cruise car-free streets I rode a CitiBike last summer from 14th Street all the way up to 109th Street, during Summer Streets NYC, when [miles of roadways are closed to vehicles]( and open for people to play, walk, bike and even walk their dogs. It was odd-feeling but amazing to enjoy Manhattan car-free. The next dates are Aug. 5, 12 and 19. My next bucket list… in Asia As a person who always would love to make a plan, I have already started creating a plan for my next stop. Here are some of my sources. [The Best Bar in Asia Is Hong Kong’s Coa—Again]( [Personal Color Analysis Is Fueling a Gen Z Tourism Boom in Seoul]( [The Best Restaurants in Singapore, According to Michelin]( [Tokyo’s Luxury Sushi Restaurants Go Casual With Budget Spinoffs]( [The Top Dim Sum in Hong Kong, Picked by Star Chefs]( Get VIP access Sign up for [priority access to our Top Shelf Society](. We’ve created this club to share exclusive spirits news, build a tasting community, and offer access to special events and bottle releases. Our first newsletter—[a monthly dive into what’s in your glass](—just went out this past Thursday. If you’re into luxury timepieces, [Watch Club]( might be for you, too. [Check out the latest](. What else I’m enjoying [It Takes Two]( Computer games are not my thing. But even novices will enjoy It Takes Two, a two-player action-adventure developed by Stockholm’s Hazelight Studios. You and your game partner will play as the clashing couple Cody and May, two humans turned into dolls by a magic spell. Trapped in a fantastical world, they’re reluctantly challenged with saving their fractured relationship by the suave love guru Dr. Hakim. It’s great! The storyline shows that a healthy relationship is like the ultimate cooperative game: You have to know when to give and take, when to push and pull, and when to talk and when to listen. So it is also a way to test your relationship with your game partners. Source: Electronic Arts [Modern Love podcast]( I first heard of Modern Love back in 2019 when I was deeply moved by the first episode of the TV series, “[When the Doorman Is Your Main Man](.” It shows a common and unsung friendship between a woman living in New York, single and alone, and a doorman who takes care of her, acting as gatekeeper, bodyguard, confidant and father figure. I started to see New York City from a different perspective, mostly about relationships, which furthered my thoughts to move here. Three years later, I made it! And since then I’ve become obsessed with the weekly podcast that explores the complicated love lives of real people. Check out some [must-listen episodes]( for all sorts of love, loss, redemption and life-changing moments. [The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2]( Based on Jenny Han’s book series, the popular Amazon Prime show has been a fan favorite since its first season last summer. It is a typical romantic story about a love triangle between a girl and two brothers. But who can say no to a series when it’s got an aesthetically ambient summer house filled with such loveable characters. Also, a romance story with [songs from Taylor Swift](? That’s a yes. So, you had some questions... Whatever the topic, keep them coming for next week via our [Bloomberg Pursuits Instagram]( and [e-mail](mailto:askpursuits@bloomberg.net). Where’s the best place to get bubble tea in NYC? You asked the right person. I have tried many different bubble teas in town, including Kungfu Team, Machi Machi, Tiger Sugar, Gong Cha and Debutea. But I will say [Chihiro Tea]( near Washington Square Park is my favorite. My go-to drink is Unforgivable, a Thai-style lemon green tea with special tea jelly. Trust me. It is a perfect fit for summer. At the Fancy Food Show in June, I discovered boba has bubbled over to flavor popcorn, snack bars, ice cream, cookies and more. Photographer: Xinyi Luo/Bloomberg Where are the best places for business breakfast or coffee in New York? I polled my colleagues and we’ve got some good spots for you, @jrosalescarpio: If you’re in Midtown, [Casa Lever]( (390 Park Avenue at E 53rd Street), [The Mark]( (25 E 77th Street at Madison Avenue) and [Clement Restaurant]( at the Peninsula Hotel (700 Fifth Avenue at 55th Street) are all excellent. My colleague James is also a big fan of [Café Sabarsky]( at the Neue Galerie (1048 Fifth Ave at 86th St); members can make reservations. If you find yourself downtown, the original SoHo powerhouse is still thriving: [Balthazar]( (80 Spring Street at Crosby Street). The food may not wow, but it’s a great and yet surprisingly quiet place to have breakfast meetings. If you find yourself in London, here are the nine best spots for a morning meal. Photographer: Steven Joyce If I’m middle class, where can I find a cheap Rolex? I wouldn’t ever say “cheap” and “Rolex” in the same sentence that doesn’t also include “buyer beware,” but there is good news: [Secondhand watch prices are falling]( as the supply is starting to outstrip demand. So, @shukaiw, set your sights on reputable resellers. We had a whole feature on [how to buy a vintage watch online](, and Rolex announced this past December it was going to start [certifying pre-owned models](—a huge shakeup in a $20 billion market for the used luxury timepieces. Wherever you decide to shop, here’s [a primer for buying a vintage Rolex](, from our pals at Hodinkee. Curious about buying new? What it’s like to shop for a Rolex for the first time. Illustration: Till Lauer New for subscribers: Free article gifting. Bloomberg.com subscribers can now gift up to five free articles a month to anyone you want. 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