No film in recent memory has presented the city of New York as such a boundless canvas for mischief and adventure as Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (Which is now streaming on HBO Now). It’s a quintessential piece of New York City cinema. You know the list: Manhattan, Mean Streets, Home Alone 2.
Being that the movie is 23 years old, you’re (probably, hopefully) an entirely different person than you were when you saw it and dreamed of escaping to the big city. The allure of going on a solo adventure through the Big Apple may not seem so crazy anymore, but it’s still every bit as exciting.
Should the mood strike to revisit the spirit of Kevin McCallister’s time in the city, we say avoid the Wet Bandits, Tim Curry torture, and near death experiences. Instead, elevate your tastes and check out these more sophisticated and subdued spots:
No New York City trip is complete without charging an absurd amount of money at one of Manhattan’s staples — a place bursting at the seams with books on everything from 18th century philosophy to the latest dystopian novels. The building is loaded with volumes by Anton Chekhov, Mark Twain, Patti Smith, and Toni Morrison.
The Strand has a number of rare books, so it’s a good place to search for self-help titles like Why Do My Parents Keep Leaving Me Alone on Christmas?
The Apple Store
If you, like Kevin, have your dad’s credit card, it’s go big or go home. Housed in a meticulously crafted glass box, grab yourself a new iPhone and let one of the available geniuses guide you toward an app that will replace that clunky TalkBoy recorder.
First question for Siri: “How do I defeat a Sticky Bandit?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deApjIhhhC4
When in NYC, it’d be a shame to miss going to the theater. The hit historical musical Hamilton by MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Lin-Manuel Miranda is effectively sold out for the rest of time, but you can get in line for standing room tickets, which are awarded on a lottery basis. Pretty sure that beats whatever hellfire your family is doing. Besides, you can humblebrag to them for the rest of the year as they scramble to get tickets for the touring show.
Don’t want to go alone? Maybe there’s a lady in the park feeding pigeons who would accompany you…just a thought.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Get lost in the largest museum in New York City. No, really, you’ll need a full day to get through even one of the main wings. Hang out with the icons of Ancient Egypt or stop by the Met Costume exhibits and consider the deeper implications of appropriation and how our attire codes us.
The museum entrance fee is relatively inexpensive, so the time to take advantage of that credit card is at the gift shops.
Winter is a great time for hearty Italian food. Stop by Chelsea to check out Pepe Giallo, where reasonably priced delicious food and good lighting will make for great Instagram food pictures for your Miami-bound family to see as they snack on day-old crab meat and sip watered down margaritas.
The Plaza
After that busy day, you’re going to need a place to crash. New York has a ton of interesting and luxurious hotels, but it’s hard to argue with Kevin’s choice of accommodation.
Beware: Uncomfortable celebrity encounters may occur.
