Not Throwing Away Our Shot in New York City

When Carmen's new role called for a trip to New York City to lead a customer training session, it opened the door for a travel experience we hadn't shared in years. We seized the opportunity -- professionally and personally -- and made the most of every minute.

We arrived at JFK International Airport early in the week, and as tradition dictates, Tony cued up "Empire State of Mind" on his headphones during descent. The lyric "Concrete jungle where dreams are made of ..." always stirs something in him. And this time, New York delivered.

By day, we followed separate rhythms: Carmen at her company's Midtown office, leading two days of tax software training; Tony bouncing between client meetings, reconnecting with old colleagues and attending a high-caliber networking event that made the trip professionally worthwhile all on its own. But beyond the hustle, this trip was also about connection with each other, the city and the energy only the Big Apple can provide.

Wednesday night took us to the warm, rustic glow of Ulivo, a regional Italian gem in Midtown known for its homemade pasta. Chef-owner Emanuel Concas has created an inviting, authentic space with bold, comforting flavors. We met Tony's client and his wife there and lingered over oxtail pappardelle, rigatoni alla norma, crisp martinis and the kind of easy, soul-nourishing conversation that makes you grateful for good food and good company in the big city.

Thursday we wrapped our respective workdays with a casual meetup at Yard House in Times Square, followed by rooftop cocktails at Beast & Butterflies atop the M Social Hotel. With its wraparound terrace and panoramic view of Times Square, the bar was the perfect perch from which to reflect, recharge and toast the end of our workweek.

Friday was our day to roam -- and we didn't waste a minute. After breakfast at the Algonquin Hotel, where we imagined the ghosts of the Round Table trading quips over coffee, we took the subway downtown to the World Trade Center. There, we visited One World Observatory and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, still as powerful and sobering as ever.

From there we wandered to the nearby Smorgasburg, an outdoor food market at the foot of the WTC complex. With a variety of ethnic foods from which to choose, we decided upon Filipino skewers, a basket of cheese fries and fresh lemonade -- messy, satisfying and perfect. Anchoring the plaza is the Westfield World Trade Center and its iconic entrance, the Oculus, a winged, cathedral-like structure by Santiago Calatrava that seems to lift the city skyward. Standing beneath its soaring ribs, it's hard not to feel the balance of resilience and reinvention.

Before continuing, we stepped into St. Paul's Chapel, the oldest surviving church in Manhattan. After a quiet stroll through the 18th-century cemetery, we slipped inside for a few minutes of air-conditioned stillness. Situated among glass towers and modern steel, St. Paul's remains a humbling reminder of New York's deeply layered history.

Despite a week of relatively mild weather, Friday was hot and muggy -- but we pressed on. First stop: Little Island, the whimsical floating park designed by architect Thomas Heatherwick. With its sculptural tulip-shaped supports and lush landscaping, it felt like walking through a surreal garden in the sky.

From there, we continued along the High Line, the elevated park reborn from an abandoned freight rail line. The path carried us through public art, native greenery and ever-shifting city views before landing us at Hudson Yards. Heatherwick's bold touch greeted us again here in the form of Vessel, a honeycomb-like sculpture that spirals skyward with geometric drama. His designs, at both ends of our route, gave the walk a satisfying symmetry.

That afternoon, we found ourselves inside one of the city's most quietly breathtaking destinations: the Morgan Library & Museum. Originally J.P. Morgan's private library and study -- complete with velvet walls, carved ceilings and a hidden steel vault -- the space has expanded into a world-class institution incorporating Morgan's brownstone residence and a luminous glass addition by Renzo Piano. Among its current exhibitions: original Jane Austen manuscripts, narrative portraits by Julia Margaret Cameron and the provocative drawings of Lisa Yuskavage. It's a place where architecture, literature and ambition intersect -- and where every room whispers reverence for the creative spirit.

That evening, we took in "Hamilton" at the Richard Rodgers Theatre -- perhaps even more poignant now than when it first shook Broadway more than a decade ago. After the final ovation, we wandered a few blocks to West Bank Cafe, a Theater District staple where steak frites and a towering ice cream sundae helped us wind down a full and unforgettable day.

Saturday we traded our walking shoes for wheels and rented Citi Bikes (unlocked easily via the Lyft app) for a ride through Central Park capped off with a picnic on the rocks near Pinebank Arch, a distinctive ornamental cast-iron bridge that spans part of the park's bridle path. With the power of our e-bikes we traversed the entire perimeter of the park, at one point stumbling upon the statue of Alexander Hamilton -- a full-circle moment after seeing the show the night before. The lyric "I'm not throwing away my shot" rang in our heads -- part inspiration, part affirmation.

Even in a city that never sleeps, we found moments to sit still. Bryant Park remains a longtime favorite, but we also appreciated the quieter benches of Herald and Greeley Squares -- calm carved into concrete.

Looking back, it's hard to believe how much we fit into a single week. New York gave us architecture, art, memory, movement, music and meaning. We returned home to Los Angeles a little more tired, a little more inspired and with a deeper appreciation for what it means to rise up -- professionally, creatively and personally. Sometimes the best way to recharge isn't to stop working -- it's to change your vantage point and chase what fuels you.

And this time, we didn't throw away our shot.

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WHEN YOU GO

For information about the places we visited and many more: nyctourism.com.

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Carmen Zermeno and Tony Winders are freelance writers. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.