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(NEW YORK) The Harry Potter Store
PHOTO ANGELA WEISS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
The world’s largest Harry Potter store opened in Manhattan in the spring.
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The world’s largest Harry Potter store opened in Manhattan this spring in anticipation of the 20e anniversary of the first film in the series, which will be celebrated next November. The store, which occupies three floors, is located behind the Flatiron Building, not far from the superb Eataly grocery store, with doors to Broadway and 5e Avenue. There are merchandise related to movies, clothes, books, stationery, as well as a section where no less than 50 models of magic wands are sold. The famous butter beer is also served, and you can even buy a few bottles on site. Visitors are also invited to play interactive games in the store. A great program, which we couldn’t wait to discover.
How lucky: when you arrive on the scene, there is no queue. But two security guards are blocking our entrance. You need a ticket to enter Harry’s kingdom. Ticket that can be obtained by downloading a free QR code… from 7 am in the morning, at the main entrance of the store. Be careful, they fly away quickly. It often happens that all places have been assigned for lunch.
Once the QR code has been downloaded, you will be shown your rank in the queue. You will receive a text message letting you know that it is soon your turn to enter. You had better be very close to the store. Not very practical when you have meetings all over Manhattan …
The last evening of our stay, we set the alarm clock for 5:30 the next day. It doesn’t say we won’t walk into that damn store. We arrive at 6:50 am, proud of our stroke … to discover a loooong queue that goes around the block. There are exactly 223 people in front of us, it is indicated on the ticket that we finally downloaded at 7:30 am.
When we finally received the long-awaited text message inviting us to approach the store… we were in the taxi, heading for the airport. Moral of this story: plan.
Visit the Harry Potter store website
Little Island
PHOTO ANGELA WEISS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Little Island is located near Pier 55, in the Hudson River Park.
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This little island is the gift of millionaire Barry Diller and his wife, fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg, to New York City. Okay, the couple also got government financial help to pay for this little eccentricity on stilts, but let’s not get lost in the details. Located at the intersection of West Street and 13e Street, on the edge of Chelsea and Meatpacking District, the island of just under 10,000 m2 rests on 280 concrete tulips. Once there, you can stroll in the green paths or enjoy the breathtaking view of western Manhattan or New Jersey, across the Hudson River. Once on the island, we discover an open-air amphitheater with 687 seats, a stage and a public square where there are street trucks if you want to eat there. Note that Little Island was designed by designer Thomas Heatherwick, who also signed The Vessel, in Hudson Yards. It is essential to reserve your place if you want to visit Little Island after noon.
Visit the Little Island website
Precious stones and minerals
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–PHOTO NATHALIE COLLARD
The American Museum of Natural History in New York
–PHOTO NATHALIE COLLARD, THE PRESS
Inside the new Allison and Roberto Mignone Gem and Mineral Hall at the American Museum of Natural History
–PHOTO NATHALIE COLLARD, THE PRESS
One of the displays where you can admire multicolored stones.
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The American Museum of Natural History is always a successful outing with kids: dinosaur skeletons, large mammals, and other artifacts are always impressive. But the museum is getting old, the carpet is threadbare and some sections are shabby. Fortunately, with a generous donation, the Museum modernized the Gems and Minerals Hall, and the success was instantaneous. You can admire multicolored rocks, crystals and precious stones. One can learn more about the physical and chemical phenomena that transform the sediments or simply be dazzled by the gallery of sumptuous jewelry designed from the transformed stones. The information is presented in such a way that a child can find an interest in it and his parents too. A great family outing that can be completed with a picnic opposite, in Central Park.
Visit the American Museum of Natural History website
See New York from above
PHOTO NATHALIE COLLARD, THE PRESS
Sitting on this staircase in High Line Park, one can see The Edge, the high-rise triangular observatory located in Hudson Yards.
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There was already the Empire State Building, the top of Rockefeller Center (Top of the Rock) and the Freedom Tower (One World Observatory), which remains the highest. Two new points of view are now added from which we can admire New York from above. But beware, sensitive hearts refrain. In Hudson Yards, the new district where we find The Vessel, on the banks of the Hudson, we can visit the Edge. Height: 100 stories, 1,131 ft. The observation platform, in the shape of a triangle, juts out into the void and offers us a panoramic view of New York and its surroundings. And as if that wasn’t scary enough, you can look through a glass floor. We just admired everything from below… The other observatory will be even higher! Perched on top of the One Vanderbilt tower, next to Grand Central Station, it will welcome its first visitors next October, at an altitude of 1,400 ft. We will be able to go up to the top floors in a completely glazed elevator, in order to give ourselves a few cold sweats.
Book, absolutely
In New York, more than ever, you have to book. All over. In restaurants, of course, but also in museums where you are asked to plan your visit. You must also reserve your place, free, if you want to discover Little Island after noon. Covidian novelty: you must reserve your entry to the High Line Park on weekends (an employee on site assured us that this measure would be in effect at least all summer). Spontaneity is more difficult, but it will save you a lot of frustration. For more information, you can also visit the New York Tourism Bureau website.
Part of the accommodation costs for this trip were paid by the New York Tourist Board, which did not exercise any oversight rights over the content of this report.
Visit the New York Tourism Bureau website
Or sleep ?
We were staying at the Moxy (a Marriott owned chain), which has three locations in Manhattan (and around the world). Our hotel was located on 36e Street, between 6e and the 7e Avenue, very busy neighborhood, not far from Macy’s department store. It’s not the fanciest or most popular neighborhood in New York City, but it’s a great location for anyone wanting to get around on the subway. And it’s two blocks from Penn Station train station, whose lobby has just been completely renovated. Superb! The hotel aims to be a kind of Ace Hotel, on a smaller budget. The clientele is young, and the rooftop terrace bar is very popular in the evenings. The rooms are clean, the staff are friendly, and you get muffins and coffee in the morning.
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