I recently traveled to New York City for a short work trip and had some time on my own to explore a bit. Having only been to New York once before, I was very excited to have the opportunity to return to the Big Apple. (Thank you, Global Traveler!) I previously visited the city for my birthday a few years ago and left feeling overwhelmed. We covered all the major touristy scenes, like Times Square, Midtown, Central Park, Broadway shows, etc, and we ate at the trendiest of restaurants and explored as much of the foodie scene as we could. There are endless options in the city! Being able to explore NYC on my own was a little intimidating at first but mostly exciting. I decided to stay in SoHo at the Hotel Hugo, which is stunning, completely renovated and centrally located. After checking in and getting some work done, I ventured out for the evening to sight see. I couldn’t decide where to have dinner after researching restaurants and getting recommendations from others. So I decided to do my own little taste of New York tour, as I like to call it. Having a couple plates at different restaurants sounded like a more appealing option. I immediately got lost after stepping out of the hotel, but made my way to the Hudson River. What a beautiful sight! The outline of New York City, the water and neighboring New Jersey across the way made for a perfect welcome view! Boqueria in SoHo was my first stop on my food tour. I ordered a few tapas to kick off the experience and went with the jamon Iberico (aged 36 months), mixed Spanish olives and gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp). Then I ventured to Little Italy and popped in to Gelso & Grand, which seemed to be the new hot spot in town, and I can definitely see why! The brown butter gnocchi I ordered was delicious! Gnocchi is my favorite Italian dish, hands down. However, I never tasted the following flavors together, and it was life-changing: potato gnocchi, braised lamb shoulder, toasted hazelnuts and piave. On my walk back with a full and happy tummy, I decided to check out some rooftop scenes to take pictures of the infamous city skyline. The James Hotel and Hotel Hugo rooftops were both impressive and breathtaking. Traveling on your own in a city you’re not familiar with can be both thrilling and chilling, all at the same time. It’s the fear of the unknown, getting lost or hit by a cab or ending up in a scary situation that typically steers people away from traveling solo. But for me, exploring a new city and gaining new experiences makes me feel alive. I left New York with a new love, respect and appreciation, and I look forward to discovering more of the City of Blinding Lights on my next trip! — Rafie Iannello, account director, Pacific Rim