New York, Always in My Heart – Part 3: Of Icons, Awe, and Quiet Moments

Some places you expect to take your breath away. And yet, when you’re standing there, beneath the soaring ceiling of a cathedral, in front of a masterpiece, or at the top of a landmark, you feel something deeper. Something still. Something that stays.

In this final part of my New York series, I walk through the landmarks that are almost always on every visitor’s list. But for me, they weren’t just checkboxes. They were places of rediscovery, where I found wonder not just in what stood before me, but in the eyes of my sons beside me, and in the conversations that followed.

The Empire State Building: A Boyhood Obsession, A Mother’s Memory

My younger son has been absolutely fascinated by the Empire State Building since he was five years old. For him, it’s never just been a skyscraper, it’s been the skyscraper. Every time we passed by, he would look up with that same wide-eyed awe he had as a little boy. And so, visiting it together became a tradition.

Each trip to the top was a new experience, sometimes at sunset, sometimes in the haze of morning light. And every time, he’d want to stay just a little longer. There’s something magical about seeing the world from above, but even more so when you’re watching someone you love fall in love with the view, again and again.

The Oculus: Discovery and Wonder in FIDI

I discovered the Oculus with my elder son, when he was living in the Financial District and it had just come up—shiny, white, awe-inspiring. We’d often walk around it, admiring its winged structure, and then step inside, completely spellbound by the sheer expanse of it.

Also Read: New York, Always in My Heart – Part 2

It became one of our favourite spots, part architectural marvel, part everyday hangout. We’d browse stores, grab a coffee, and just take in the space. It was grand, futuristic, and yet strangely intimate—perhaps because of the conversations it held between us.

The Met: A Museum of Meaning

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has been one of the constants in my New York visits. I’ve visited it with both my sons, wandered through its vast wings with my husband, and revisited my favourite galleries time and time again.

We’ve spent hours lost in the Impressionist section, paused reverently before sculptures, admired intricate textiles, and stared at Egyptian artifacts with wonder. Some visits were reflective, some joyous, and others just comfortably silent—each special in its own way.

The Frick Collection: Intimate Elegance

There’s something quietly spectacular about the Frick Collection. On one of my visits, I went with my younger son, and we were both mesmerized. The art, the intimacy of the space, the sense of being inside someone’s elegant world—it kept us inside for hours.

We wandered slowly, drawn in by the mind-blowing pieces, Vermeers, Turners, Rembrandts, unable to leave. We whispered our reactions to each other, completely immersed. It remains one of the most memorable museum visits we’ve shared.

Macy’s at Herald Square: History, Escalators, and Waffles

Macy’s at Herald Square has always been a favourite, not just for its endless shopping options, but because it’s such a true New York landmark. There’s a vintage charm in those wooden escalators that take you back to another era, and something grounding about knowing you’re walking through the same floors generations have.

And right outside, under those bright yellow umbrellas, sits the Wafels & Dinges kiosk. Their melt-in-your-mouth waffles became our treat—sweet, sticky, satisfying. It was tradition, plain and simple.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral: Stillness Amidst the Rush

Amid the buzz of Fifth Avenue, St. Patrick’s Cathedral has always been my place to pause. I often stepped inside, sometimes with family, sometimes alone, for a moment of stillness.

The soaring arches, the soft glow of candles, the hush of reverence—it always reminded me that beauty can be bold and quiet at once. I’ve lit candles here for loved ones, said silent prayers, or simply sat in gratitude.

Radio City Music Hall: Velvet Nights and Vintage Glamour

There’s something magical about watching a show at Radio City Music Hall. With its art deco grandeur, velvet seats, and marquee lights, it feels like stepping into old-world glamor.

We planned evenings around it, dinner beforehand, photos at the entrance, and that thrill when the curtain lifted. The performances dazzled, but the memory of sitting there, completely immersed, with my family beside me, that’s what lingers.

Rizzoli, Argosy & The Library: Our Literary Pilgrimages

No trip to New York is ever complete without visiting its bookstores. Whether it was the elegant halls of Rizzoli, the antique charm of Argosy, or the majestic New York Public Library, these were our sanctuaries.

My younger son and I have spent hours poring over books, reading, admiring covers, taking pictures of our finds, and sometimes just sitting there quietly. These spaces weren’t errands, they were rituals.

The lions guarding the NYPL, the echo of footsteps inside its reading room… it all felt like stepping into sacred space for lovers of language.

A City That Surprises You—Even When You Think You Know It

Every landmark I’ve visited in New York, whether it’s on a postcard or hidden in plain sight, has felt layered with meaning. Because when you revisit these places over the years, they evolve. Or maybe, it’s you who evolves.

You notice new things. Feel differently. Remember differently.

And when you’re there with someone you love—walking, pausing, looking up—it becomes more than a city. It becomes memory, ritual, reflection.

Also Read: New York, Always in My Heart – Part 1

And So We Close the Chapter… for Now

This series may end here, but my love affair with New York certainly doesn’t. I know I’ll go back—again and again. And each time, it will offer me something new, while gently reminding me of all it’s already given.

What’s Your New York?

Is it the top of a landmark? A hidden museum? A bench in a park?

Tell me your favourite spot, the one that surprised you, moved you, made you stop and smile. I’d love to hear your story. Because the beauty of New York is that it holds space for all of ours.