Aside from Central Park, there are a number of quaint little parks in NYC that serve as a comfy, tiny refuge from the concrete jungle that is the Big Apple. Madison Square Park is one of my favorites because it has a few simple things going for it that make it a winner. In no particular order, they are as follows:
1.) Free Wi-Fi. When I strolled into Madison Square Park (MSP for the rest of the review), I was in serious need of checking my email. (And at this point I hadn't joined the rest of the world and gotten a smart phone, which helps explain the situation.) With a little intuition (OK, I saw another dude working on his laptop, but still.) I decided to check the airport on my Mac and, voila, I was dialed into their wireless network in no time. (For free.) Good job by you, MSP!
2.) It's shady. And not in a bad way. (Not in the daytime, anyways.) There's plenty of shade which, on this particular August afternoon, was no short of a godsend. Also, there are a decent amount of benches scattered throughout the park so I doubt there's ever a real shortage of seating.
3.) It's in the Flatiron District. You can check out the Flatiron Building down the street, or take the 10 minute walk over to the High Line (highly recommended) just east of the park. This is one of my favorite areas in Manhattan (along with nearby Union Square), as there are some really good (cheap) food options and shops nearby, too. (Hill Country Chicken on Broadway was excellent. Just sayin'.)
4.) Shake Shack. Alright, I won't lie to you guys; I did NOT go to Shake Shack. The line was way too long, and I was on my way to the aforementioned Hill Country Chicken for some fried goodness. However, I mean, people wouldn't stand in line for a half-hour to get something that tasted awful, would they? I'll take NYC's word for it until next time.
If you wander into Madison Square Park haplessly like I did, take a few minutes to smell the metaphorical roses, check your email and, if you find the time, grab a burger at Shake Shack. Something tells me you won't regret it. This is easily one of the best little parks in New York.
This review was made by the www.nyctourist.com site editor based on personal experience. NYCTourist was not paid for this review, but we may receive compensation for placement of this travel provider advertisements on our site.
Jason Bushey
(NYCtourist Staff)
Sep 12, 2012
at 3:10 pm
Points: 10
Joined: November 2010
xxx.xxx.185.247
Would recommend to a friend
Date of stay: 08/12
Madison Square Park - Experience the Shake Shack Line! (And More)
Venue Reviewed: Madison Square Park
Aside from Central Park, there are a number of quaint little parks in NYC that serve as a comfy, tiny refuge from the concrete jungle that is the Big Apple. Madison Square Park is one of my favorites because it has a few simple things going for it that make it a winner. In no particular order, they are as follows:
1.) Free Wi-Fi. When I strolled into Madison Square Park (MSP for the rest of the review), I was in serious need of checking my email. (And at this point I hadn't joined the rest of the world and gotten a smart phone, which helps explain the situation.) With a little intuition (OK, I saw another dude working on his laptop, but still.) I decided to check the airport on my Mac and, voila, I was dialed into their wireless network in no time. (For free.) Good job by you, MSP!
2.) It's shady. And not in a bad way. (Not in the daytime, anyways.) There's plenty of shade which, on this particular August afternoon, was no short of a godsend. Also, there are a decent amount of benches scattered throughout the park so I doubt there's ever a real shortage of seating.
3.) It's in the Flatiron District. You can check out the Flatiron Building down the street, or take the 10 minute walk over to the High Line (highly recommended) just east of the park. This is one of my favorite areas in Manhattan (along with nearby Union Square), as there are some really good (cheap) food options and shops nearby, too. (Hill Country Chicken on Broadway was excellent. Just sayin'.)
4.) Shake Shack. Alright, I won't lie to you guys; I did NOT go to Shake Shack. The line was way too long, and I was on my way to the aforementioned Hill Country Chicken for some fried goodness. However, I mean, people wouldn't stand in line for a half-hour to get something that tasted awful, would they? I'll take NYC's word for it until next time.
If you wander into Madison Square Park haplessly like I did, take a few minutes to smell the metaphorical roses, check your email and, if you find the time, grab a burger at Shake Shack. Something tells me you won't regret it. This is easily one of the best little parks in New York.
This review was made by the www.nyctourist.com site editor based on personal experience. NYCTourist was not paid for this review, but we may receive compensation for placement of this travel provider advertisements on our site.