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- Read THIS before riding the NYC subway 👍
Read THIS before riding the NYC subway 👍
+ Sweeping views of Central Park from above, all for free 🏰
Ashley & Devin from Better Together Here
May 14th, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes
Hello hello,
“Make your mark in New York and you are a made man.” –Mark Twain
In this week’s newsletter:
🏰 Belvedere Castle in Central Park - For arguably the best views within the park
🧳 New York Know-How: Escalator Etiquette - There’s only one proper place to stand..
🚇 10 Tips for Using the Subway - Including the best section of the train to ride (usually)
🎫 Events We Love This Week: May 14-21 - Park Avenue Day, free to explore
🍺 You’ll Have to Check It Out - A Viking-themed Hell’s Kitchen bar with mead
Swipe through and let’s go, train’s almost here!👇
Note: As always, this email was written by an actual human who lives in NYC, not artificial intelligence. 🥸
Belvedere Castle - Unparalleled Central Park Views
The Belvedere Castle in Central Park is arguably one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in the famous NYC park.
Plus, the views from the castle are unbeatable (the word belvedere in Italian roughly translates to beautiful view).
The castle, originally built in 1871 and at one time used for housing weather equipment for the United States Weather Bureau, is a spot you have to see to believe!
Ready to get your bearings on where it is, how to get there, and what to expect?
New York Know-How: Escalator Etiquette
See those folks on the escalator? They’re following proper etiquette by standing to the right.
Like the sidewalks, escalators are part of the commuting routes in New York City. So, stand on the right if you’re not in a rush.
If you want to walk up the escalator, use the left-hand side. It’s a win-win for everyone!
Pulled, generally, from Nathan W. Pyle’s NYC Basic Tips & Etiquette book.
You’ll often find escalators as part of the subway system, which leads to.. 👇
10 Tips for Using the Subway in NYC
Trying to figure out how to use the NYC subway can feel overwhelming, especially on your first couple of times in the city!
There are loads of different lines going in all different directions; it can be a lot to wrap your head around. 🤯
Our quick guide covers 10 must-know tips for a seamless (and safe) subway experience. 🫡
#3 is the key to a quick entry..
Events We Love This Week: May 14-21, 2025
In the city this week? Here are some fun events we’re keeping an eye on.
Park Avenue Day - May 17
Gotta love a stroll down Park Avenue. And this Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, you can enjoy:
“[An] annual street festival between 34th and 39th Streets with 150+ booths of art, entertainment, fashion, food, shopping, and more as they launch Michel Bassompierre’s fragile giants!”
Commentary on the Commute: A Century of The New Yorker’s Transportation Cartoons - Through October 26
There’s almost nothing more New York than complaining about the transit situation.
A new exhibit, “Commentary on The Commute: A Century of The New Yorker's Transportation Cartoons," explores how the magazine’s famed comical drawings have explored this subject over the past 100 years.
The exhibit is free to visit through October 26, 2025; find it at the New York Transit Museum’s outpost inside Grand Central Terminal.
You’ll Have to Check It Out - Valhalla
Unique ciders and beers.
If you’re looking for a down-to-earth, fairly priced, and cozy bar in Hell’s Kitchen, you’ll love Valhalla.
You’ll even find a large selection (48 according to their website) of craft and unique beers. Many are on tap!
Their food options are delicious!
What we love most about Valhalla is the interior. As the name might suggest, it def has a “rustic Vikings” vibe.
Valhalla really has a local bar feel, which is sometimes rare in NYC.
Affordable bites accompany a variety of beers.
Their beer selection is massive (including mead), the food is well above average, and you can always catch the game here!
Bye now,
Ashley & Devin from Better Together Here 🍻
Weekly Dog Tax
Scout posing like she means it, in front of Bethesda Fountain in Central Park.