My second day in NYC was dedicated to being a bit of a tourist. It was admittedly freezing when I woke up, and I knew I was going to need to bundle up before leaving my hotel. It was a crisp 30 degrees with a very unenjoyable wind chill. I practically ran from the hotel into my cab before setting off to Bryant Park.

I arrived 30 minutes before the official opening time, but most shops were already open, except for the food vendors. I took my time walking through the outside ring of stores, staking out what was where before committing. I was glad I arrived before the real crowds and didn’t feel rushed walking around the park. I think I get the most promotions online raving about the food. This was my second time going to Bryant Park in December, and I was looking for something good to have for a late breakfast. Unfortunately, I hadn’t really done my research, and most of the food stalls weren’t open yet, so my options were limited. I found an empanada stall I really wanted to try, but they were having issues with their payment system and couldn’t process a sale. The space was quickly filling up, and I knew I had a decision to make. Always down for a good dumpling, I changed course to get my hands on some and grab a table.

Honestly, I should have done more research on the food since I knew I was walking into a tourist trap: Bryant Park in December. The dumplings were disappointingly average, and the weather made them cold after a few minutes. My toes were frozen solid at this point, and I had to go searching for someone selling socks. It was harder than I thought to find fuzzy socks, but I finally found a seller. I purchased a pair of green fuzzy socks with calico cats on them. Immediately after purchasing, I sat down to get them on my feet. I did a bit more shopping before leaving the park and beginning my walk to the Harry Potter Store.

More to come in my next blog post!

— Fiona Stewart, account executive