A Taste of the Big Apple
This spring break, we decided to head to the East coast to spend time with our daughter. After scaling back on travel over the past year, we felt the need to start exploring again. Unlike our previous trips, this one was refreshingly laid-back, and I took the opportunity to disconnect from work completely, leaving my laptop behind. We deliberately chose not to have a strict itinerary this time, opting instead to go with the flow. My relationship with NYC dates back to the late 90s when I first visited to see friends, and I instantly fell in love with the city. Despite the occasional Christmas visits in the early 2000s, it wasn't until the last couple of years, during my time at Peloton, that I found myself frequently traveling there for work. However, this trip was solely about reconnecting with my daughter, catching up with friends, and simply having fun.
Family & Friends
During spring break, we took the opportunity to visit our daughter who is studying in the NYC area. She was eager for her sister to meet her friends during this visit. After her exams, she joined us for a day, and then we all headed to her campus. In NYC, we stayed at the Riu Plaza Times Square, which we really enjoyed. Unlike some of the older hotels, the Riu Plaza is relatively new and features modern amenities. Its location in the heart of Manhattan offers easy access to public transportation and is within walking distance of major attractions like Times Square and Central Park. Spending time with the kids was the highlight of the trip, providing a much-needed break from daily routines. For those reading, I recommend making the most of the time you have with your children before they grow up. Travel often and create lasting memories. We often reminisce about our previous trips, recalling specific places and unforgettable moments.
I was at Peloton for just two years, but in that time, I formed lasting relationships. Working from home during Covid, as the most senior engineer and a new employee, I connected with many colleagues to enhance our software development. The bonds I built during this brief period will stay with me forever. I never had the chance to properly say goodbye to my colleagues last year, so I looked forward to catching up during this visit. Although I planned to visit the office and see many friends, given the company's current challenges, I opted for dinner with a few close colleagues instead.
During dinner, I introduced them to my family, and my wife commented on how much younger my friends were. It's true—I tend to connect with people who are either much younger, because I'm young at heart, or much older, because they feel young around me. There's so much I could say about friendships, but I'll save those thoughts for another post. It was wonderful to see everyone again, and we had engaging discussions, including a lively debate about the role of a platform team. These discussions were always a highlight for me; we didn't always agree, which kept things interesting and left me feeling that there was still much to accomplish when I left. I spent a lot of time persuading others of my ideas, though none of these engineers were in my reporting chain. Our meetings brought us closer, and we've stayed in touch since. I was mostly successful in influencing without authority, which is something I've previously written about while reflecting on my time working with these talented individuals.
Food
I love NY pizza and there are tons of places with some very good pies. As you walk past the sandwich and pizza places, it is tempting to get into one of those restaurants to taste a few slices. We had some pizza at the Famous Famiglia Pizza last year when we were in NYC and it was a stroke of luck that we walked into the same restaurant this time as well. New York City's thin crust pizza known for its perfectly crisp base and flavorful, melty cheese. Each slice is a masterpiece of simplicity, easily foldable and savored on the go if you are in a hurry. There are plenty of pastry and gelato shops to take a break away from the crowded avenues. Amorino Gelato and Cafe is one such place and they had limited spring flavors that melted in our mouths. They also serve Italian Coffee and other beverages but their gelatos are what caught our attention. We were full after a sumptuous meal at IlForno Hell's Kitchen but that did not stop us from having some dessert. IlForno was another good Italian restaurant where we enjoyed some risotto, pasta and of course cannoli.
We wanted to take our high school kid for some college tours including NYU and Columbia. Unfortunately, the Columbia University tour was canceled because of protests but we made it to NYU. The campus and the surroundings including the Washington park were impressive but the true highlight was visiting the Dosa food cart and having a conversation with the Dosa Man. It was an experience that I will cherish for a long time.
For those who haven't had the pleasure, Thiru, or the Dosa Man as he's affectionately known, serves up incredible South Indian dosas – savory crepes made from fermented rice and lentil batter. His creations, along with the accompanying chutneys and sambar, are legendary, and the lines every day are a testament to that. Luckily, we arrived before the batter ran out! I even had the chance to chat with him in Tamil, a South Indian language, adding a personal touch to the experience. Snapping a selfie with the Dosa Man was the perfect way to commemorate the day and brag to my close friends and family.
Fun
New York is a beautiful city and it is not a surprise that millions visit every year. We went to Brooklyn and walked on the Brooklyn bridge to Manhattan. It was cold but the views were spectacular and the stunning view of the city skyline made the journey worthwhile. From the bridge, we even caught a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, though we decided to skip the boat ride to the statue this time.
Once we reached Manhattan, we visited the World Trade Center Memorial. It brought back memories of my visits before 2001. I vividly remember waking up early on the morning of 9/11 to a phone call from my cousin in Austin, informing me about the planes crashing into the Twin Towers. It was a tragic day, as many lives were lost, including friends and relatives of colleagues I worked with at SNIA, an industry organization focused on storage standards. The memorial served as a stark reminder of life's unpredictability.
A trip to NYC without a visit to Wall street is incomplete. The charging bull, a representation of market optimism and financial prosperity attracts a lot of visitors. Interestingly, the line to take a picture with the bull's front was much shorter than the one for its rear, perhaps reflecting how many overlook the opportunities of the bull market by focusing on the wrong side.
Central Park is a refreshing sight in the middle of the skyscrapers of Manhattan. Despite a previous encounter with rats at the entrance, we were pleasantly surprised to find none this time, instead spotting a few turtles near Bow Bridge. Spanning over 450 acres, the park boasts numerous man-made lakes and jogging paths. We lost ourselves in the beauty of the spring scenery, losing track of time as we explored the park.
Conclusion
It might seem odd that I'm using a newsletter site for my personal blog. This post is more about my personal trip, but as they say, all work and no play is boring. I find it important to journal my vacations; it's a great way to preserve memories and easy to revisit them later. Spending time in NYC with my family, catching up with friends, and enjoying some Patel points while savoring delicious pizza was a blast. With my daughter staying near the city for at least another three years, I'm sure we'll have many more visits in the future.