Tag Archives: new york city

What to Visit in New York City!

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I am lucky to have been to a few different cities in my life so far, but New York City is one of my favorites by far. The busy atmosphere, beautiful art, and crazy buildings are just a few aspects that I love. In this article, I will list a few of my personal favorite locations and things I did when I went. Keep reading if you want to learn more!

The very first place that comes to mind is Central Park. This beautiful urban park about 840 acres and is 2,5 miles long. There is plenty of space to explore. While it is nearly impossible to see the entire park in one day, I would recommend going at least a couple times throughout your stay. Of course, some notable areas inside of Central Park include the Bethesda Fountain, Alice in Wonderland statue, and the Strawberry Gardens. These are truly sights to see and are unique to the city.

Another place I would recommend visiting is the Chelsea Market. The neighborhood of Chelsea itself stands out with its high rise buildings, modern architecture, and artsy feel. The Chelsea Market is a wonderful area with various different restaurants and to-go food. It is always super busy, and the food is delicious! I had some great tacos when I went.

Lastly, I would 100% recommend watching a Broadway play or musical in New York. There are many different theatres located around the city, so pick one and watch a play or musical you are interested in! The actors are truly so talented and make the experience unforgettable. I went to go see Wicked and I still cannot get it off my mind.

I hope that these locations and experiences persuade you into visiting New York City! It is very different from Southern California, but it is nice to switch it up every once in a while. Also, it is very important to buy tickets and tours early. New York City is always booked and busy, so it is key to plan ahead. Safe traveling and hope you enjoyed!

The Diviners by Libba Bray

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There is a recently-added feature to the YA section called “Allen’s Pick”.  And, as I was walking through the library, I spotted this little tag and decided to give the recommended novel a try.  Little did I know it was the perfect kick-off to my summer, fulfilling my favorite three genres:  historical fiction, fantasy, and mystery.  Though the main character, Evie O’Neill (a Diviner, herself), and I got off on the wrong foot, I soon began to fall in love with her charming wit and Bray’s use of decadent literature.

The year is in the 1920’s where 17-year-old Evie O’Neill is performing her party act in front of her slightly drunk friends.  She asks for a person’s possession.  She touches it, falling into a deep trance before delivering the verdict.  In one case, she uncovers one boy’s secrets.  Without thinking, Evie spills, causing quite the uproar and later the punishment of moving to live with her mysterious uncle in upstate New York.  While Evie’s parents believed they were sending Evie to her mortal hell, the star-struck-wannabe-flapper was cooking up something entirely different.

I thoroughly enjoyed Bray’s novel, for its language, plot, and musical references.  She certainly did her research, finding what a teenage girl in New York in the 1920’s would be doing with her life.  I even had to google ‘Libba Bray age’ to make sure she was not 108 and therefore was not 17 years old in 1921.  Bray then went on to write a sequel to the Diviners, entitled, the Lair of Dreams.  Next time you visit the library, I would definitely recommend looking for the “Allen’s Pick” tag, and try a new read!

-Maya S.

The Diviners series by Libba Bray is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library.