Central Park and Lincoln Center – New York City

Having grown up in Mumbai, New York City is the closest I could feel to home. Like Mumbai, NYC is crowded, fast, busy and noisy yet like Mumbai, New York has place for everyone. I had lived in Boston for a year and half before I moved to New York City. The chaos in New York City was intimidating at first but soon I started to appreciate the city. Trust me; The Big Apple has something for everyone.

My favorite place in New York City is the Central Park. Right in the center of Manhattan Borough of New York City, lies an 800 acres of lush-green park. It starts from the 51^st street and runs all the way to 110^th. It is one of the largest man made parks in the world with an annual maintenance budget of $40 mn! 

Bethesda Fountain at Central Park

There are many entrances to Central Park. My favorite place to get into the park is from the mid-town west side at Columbus Circle. Best way to see Central Park is to rent a bike. Once you get there, you will see many businesses renting bikes by the hour, right outside the entrance. They will ask for $15 but will rent it out for $10/hour if you quibble a little. Every additional hour is $5.

Central Park

Walking out from Central Park after an hour of biking makes me feel relaxed and rejuvenated. It is almost like a therapy. So, with all the energy and enthusiasm, when the sun goes down, it’s time to head towards Lincoln Center which is five blocks from Columbus Circle on Broadway (between 65^th and 66^th streets)

Lincoln Center

Lincoln Center is quite a contrast from Central Park. It is a performance art center. With nice infrastructure and lighted steps which says “welcome” in almost every language, the place is truly welcoming. Chances are that you might bump into fashion models wearing Prada and corporate honchos in their Armani. But what attracts me the most are the beautiful fountains. In summer-time, you can lie down on the sides of the fountain, stare at the sky or if you choose, stare at the high flyers of NYC and feel the mist on your face.

Fountain At Lincoln Center

Going to Central Park and then sitting by the fountains of Lincoln Center is like going from one spa to another. Try it; it’s the best way to spend an evening in New York City!