official 'menace' nyc guide
We are humbled by the presence of our guests who have traveled all the way to New York for our wedding. To help you make the best of your weekend, we have compiled some of our favorite hotspots, haunts, and hidden gems.
RESTAURANTS
NARCISSA
Nestle into a booth at the Standard East's Narcissa, and feel as though you're the lead in a Woody Allen movie. This sophisticated, dimly lit restaurant offers seasonal, local, and organic produce from André Balazs’ Hudson Valley farm.
BEYOGLU
One of Nick's favorite restaurants in NYC, he took Menaka here on their first date and on the day he proposed. Beyoglu is a charming and colorful Turkish restaurant in the Upper East Side serving up classic Mediterranean cuisine.
LA BONBONNIERE
La Bonbonniere is far from as fancy as its name suggests. This hole-in-the-wall diner in the West Village has long been one of Menaka's go-to breakfast spots, ever since her days at NYU. Expect to cozy up next to a celebrity while enjoying your chocolate chip pancakes and bacon.
BARS
hudson bar & books
Menaka first came across Bar & Books' original location while studying abroad in Prague, where she enjoyed many a cocktail by candlelight. Its sister bar in the West Village is a dark, romantic cigar and whiskey bar reminiscent of the days of Hemingway and Fitzgerald.
Smith & Mills
This Tribeca restaurant occupies a tiny former carriage house, and what it lacks in square footage it makes up for in thoughtful design, a delicious hamburger, and cocktails that pack a serious punch.
Forgetmenot
Forgetmenot is one of those bars that's so unpretentious it almost circles back to being pretentious. Always packed with downtown New Yorkers (Menace included), this spot is great for large groups to crowd around a graffitied table, throw back some drinks, and people watch.
museums
Whitney Museum of american art
The Whitney focuses on the 20th and 21st century, with a permanent collection of more than 21,000 paintings, sculptures, photographs, videos, and artifacts by 3,000+ artists. Nick and Menaka went on one of their first dates to opening night of the Whitney's new location in the Meatpacking District!
Guggenheim Museum
The Guggenheim, an architectural wonder designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is an art museum in the Upper East Side that boasts an ever-expanding collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern, and contemporary art.
International Center of Photography museum
Located on the Bowery around the corner from where Menaka and Nick live, the ICP Museum is dedicated to exploring the photographic medium through dynamic exhibitions of historical and contemporary work. This museum is brand new, having opened its doors in June 2016.
Sights
East River Ferry
Board the East River Ferry at one of its many stops for an open-air tour of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, all by water. Locations include 34th Street and Wall Street in Manhattan, as well as Brooklyn's DUMBO, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Long Island City in Queens.
OCULUS
The Oculus - designed by famed architect Santiago Calatrava - is a soaring, spiked structure that evokes a bird flying from a child's hand. The design of the Oculus is meant to maximize the effect of the autumnal equinox, coinciding with the skylight opening on 9/11 every year.
Central Park
Nothing beats an afternoon spent in Central Park. Whether you have a picnic in Sheep's Meadow or take a walk through the Strawberry Fields, this sprawling, 40-block urban park provides a welcome oasis amidst this hectic city.