Last Updated on January 17, 2026
There’s nothing our author likes better than a cultural crawl through New York City with her niece…
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
While showing Lari-Ann, my teenage niece from Colorado, around New York City I also decided to take her on a cultural crawl. I didn’t want her time to be all thrills, since there would be plenty of those. I wanted her to also be exposed to the cultural, ethnic and educational side of the city, as well.
Early in her stay, while we were at the American Museum of Natural History and the planetarium, she began to lead me around. It was then realized she has a huge interest in science. So on one of her last days in New York, I suggested we visit the Liberty Science Center across the Hudson River in Jersey City, NJ.
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Liberty Science Center
She was excited by the idea and when we made the trip we came across an ethnic Indian wedding on the way in Liberty State Park. It was a la Bollywood, complete with costumes and a groom on an elephant! It was a stunning moment, a wonderful example of the ethnicity of the New York City area.
After we arrived at the Liberty Science Center we went to see the Imax movie “Space Junk” because Lari-Ann is very concerned about all the “junk” in space. After it was over, I once again followed her as she eagerly visited all the exhibits in the Center, and curious about everything we saw. We both especially liked the science, technology and media exhibits demonstrating how we are so affected by what we see and read. Also by many other things I didn’t expect in this wonderful museum.
Lunch in L’Ecole at the French Culinary Institute
Another day we experienced more of the ethnic and culinary side of the city while on our way to a restaurant in Chinatown. Noticing L’Ecole at the French Culinary Institute, the restaurant where student chefs carefully prepare delicious meals, I asked if she’d be interested in dining there. I had once sampled it solo and thought she’d enjoy it. She smiled. We booked.
It wasn’t until later that I realized how eager Lari-Ann was to dine there. As was I, she had been “a chef” for her family for years and enjoys food and food preparation. The next day, to my surprise, she suggested we dress up and take a taxi to the restaurant.
We arrived there at noon and for the next few hours had a fantastic, delicious, multi-course NYC Restaurant-Week lunch. We also continually enjoyed sampling each other’s selections.
A Typical NYC Lunch at Joe’s Pizza
I was shocked at the end of the meal when Lari-Ann pulled out her credit card and insisted on making this meal her treat. Wow, what a lady! We asked our server Alex to take a photo of the two of us.
Several other times during her stay we did Italian. Once at Joe’s Pizza, we kidded around and took pictures with the pizza makers. Another time, at Mulberry Street Bar, we enjoyed pasta and fried calamari. In Little Italy both of us loved enjoyed another typical New York activity, just sitting and watching people go by. It was enhanced even more so knowing we were at the exact place where the “Sopranos” and “Godfather” had been filmed.
Lindy-Hopping At the 412 Club
Another day in our cultural odyssey, we went uptown to Grant’s Tomb, and at the end of a Jazzmobile concert, I saw Lari-Ann engaged in conversation with two older African-American women who told her about a “Frim Fram Jam.”
I didn’t know much about it, but Lari-Ann reserved a Thursday evening for us to go lindy-hopping at the 412 Club, a popular dance studio and center not far from Penn Station. We were given lessons and then danced, and quite energetically, with different partners of different ages and nationalities. I was both amazed and proud of Lari-Ann and her energy, which encouraged me many more times to return to the dance floor. It was a great experience for both of us.
The Always Popular Guggenheim
Another time, after a wonderful all-you-can-eat Indian vegetarian buffet, we used our New York CityPASS coupons to go to the Guggenheim Museum and see a special abstract painting exhibit. We had wonderful conversations about various paintings and photographs, allowing us to become even more culturally understanding of one another.
After the Guggenheim we walked over to Central Park and wound up sitting on a bench in front of “Cleopatra’s Needle,” chatting about history and ancient cultures. As soon as we saw it, Lari-Ann knew the “needle” was an obelisk, in fact, the largest in the Western Hemisphere. We also learned that filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille had a hand in the translation of the hieroglyphics because he enjoyed playing in the park as a child.
Central Park, Perfect For A Stroll
Central Park is perfect for strolling and while we walked we also visited places such as the “Imagine” in Strawberry Fields. We also watched an Argentinian tango musical concert at the Park’s Naumburg Bandshell and later visited the park’s famous Bethesda Fountain and Terrace.
Another time, I brought Lari-Ann to Washington Square Park since I thought she’d enjoy it “bohemian atmosphere.” There It quickly became apparent she did when near Washington Square Arch she jumped on a bench to talk with someone holding a sign saying “Advice.” While she was getting a few pointers, I spent my time listening to the guitarists and singers performing under the Arch.
A Ping-Pong Pro
Another night, wanting to allow Lari-Ann enjoy another facet of the city, I took her to Fat Cat, another popular pool hall/jazz club in New York’s West Village. I knew there we could enjoy one of the three live bands. And, of course, this being New York City, we’d also be able to play pool, backgammon, shuffle, ping pong, chess and the other things.
After arriving at the basement club, while we were wandering about a group of Polish people invited us to join then in ping pong. Watching Lari-Ann play I was stunned — as were they — by how good she was. It was then I remembered Lari-Ann had a ping-pong table at home for many years, and her mother is a champion at the sport!
To tell you the truth, I started feeling sorry for the Poles. I think they’ll want to keep working on their skills before Lari-Ann returns next year.
We’ll play again!
If you go:
NYC & Company
810 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY
www.nycgo.com
Liberty Science Center
Liberty State Park
222 Jersey City Blvd.
Jersey City, NJ 07305
(201) 451-0006
www.lsc.org
New York CityPASS
(888) 330-5008
www.citypass.com
Club 412
412 Eighth Avenue, Fourth Floor
New York, NY
(212) 244-0011
www.Yehoodi.com
Fat Cat Jazz Club
75 Christopher Street
New York, NY 10014
(212) 675-6056
www.fatcatmusic.org
French Culinary Institute
L’Ecole (the restaurant)
462 Broadway
New York, NY 10013
(212) 219-8890
www.Lecolenyc.com
Joe’s Pizza
7 Carmine Street at Sixth Avenue near Bleeker
New York, NY 10014
(212) 366-1182
www.joespizzanyc.com
Mulberry Street Bar
176 ½ Mulberry Street (north end of Little Italy)
New York, NY 10014
(212) 226-9345
www.facebook.com/MulberryStBar
New York never sounded better. I’m ready to go. Only hope I have the energy to enjoy half the things they did in this story. The food sounds so good, and what variety! I have been greatly reminded of what is offered there.
Hi Carla,
Your story was a joy to read. l imagined you & Lari-Ann at each of the amazing venues you so eloquently wrote about.
l love New York too.
Lisa (Australia)
While I was in NYC a couple of years ago I met up with Carla for the day. She had booked a tour bus for us to go see places where movies & tv shows were filmed. Great day, great hostess, great friend! Thanks Carla!