| Hello! I'm Xinyi Luo, a Bloomberg News rotator on the Pursuits team.
Living the high life the past three months, I've taken a private tour of Delta's new SkyClub at John F. Kennedy airport, experienced the first padel club in Manhattan, explained the latest Aspen mansion market, and analyzed watches worth millions of dollars on celebrities' wrists at the star-studded White Party and more. What a journey! Sadly, I am signing off from the team and will say goodbye to the Big Apple as I head to my next stop in the newsroom: Hong Kong. But before I go, I would like to share something I learned that may be obvious but many people forget—it's really fun to be a tourist, especially in your own town. We, and by that I mean you and I just living our lives, spend so much time seeking out the newest and coolest, that we can forget the more mass, basic things are actually a lot of fun. I got inspired when I interviewed David Landgraf, an event planner who was the global head of conferences, events and hospitality management at Blackstone Inc., for our Distinguished Travel Hacker series. One of his travel tips was to take a rooftop bus tour to get your bearings in a new city. (He also said to eat at the bar instead of a table, which I already do while traveling alone, and it's a great tip, too.)  Times Square on a double-decker tourist bus? Get over yourself and do it! Photographer: Xinyi Luo/Bloomberg Initially, I thought a double-decker bus tour in New York was too touristy. Having worked in Manhattan for almost a year, I want to spend my time and money doing more authentic experiences. However, it turned out to be incredible. And I'm so glad I did it before I left. Starting from Times Square, the open-top bus went down to lower Manhattan, swinging by Bryant Park, the Empire State Building, Flatiron District, Washington Square Park, SoHo and Chinatown—all the highlights. Then it turned back from Battery Park near the Financial District and went up via the West Side Highway, where I saw the Whitney Museum of American Art and Hudson Yards.  The famed TKTS booth is 50 years old! It can kick, stretch, and kick. It's 50! Photographer: Spencer Platt/Getty Images North America These were all places I've walked by or hung out with friends but seeing them in a different way, from a higher perspective, was unique. I was able to enjoy the city with fresh eyes and fall in love all over again with this bustling metropolis. Also, passersby would take another look at you and say Hi from the streets. I even coincidentally saw my friends who were just walking by when the bus stopped in SoHo. What a small world!  OK, not as accessible as the bus, but if you're a Centurion member—or have a friend who is—AmEx's Black Card clubhouse is calling. Photographer: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg Hooked on the tourist vibe, I asked one of my colleagues for suggestions about what only-in-New-York experience I should have before I leave. "Have you seen the Broadway show?" she asked. Well, yes, of course. I am a big Broadway fan—I have watched 15 shows since last summer! And all of the tickets I got came from the lottery. Yes, you read that right: I'm very lucky, but most of all persistent. The trick to getting $50 or less Broadway lottery tickets is just remembering to register and keep trying, which is especially easy since most shows have digital lotteries and rush options. Sometimes, I even sat in the middle of the first row. (Thank you, The Book of Mormon, Hadestown and Take Me Out!) Although, sadly, I tried a whole year for the lottery tickets to Hamilton, and no luck for this.  Shucked, one of the 12 best shows to see in NYC this summer. Photographers: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman Other items on my NYC tourist bucket list: Dinner at Peak, a restaurant on the 101st floor of 30 Hudson Yards, where for $125 I had a three-course prix fixe with a window view table. The Maine lobster and Rohan duck were both delicate and delicious. Also, you get free access to the Edge sky deck, which usually costs $36 for an adult. Just make sure to check the weather first, otherwise, you'll be enjoying a storm in one of the tallest buildings in town. (On my night the heavy rain was kind of cool, but mostly it was just dark and moody.) I also went to the roof garden at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where you can see a full-scale structure melding ancient Egyptian symbolism, 1960s utopian architecture and contemporary vibes. The site-specific installation by American artist Lauren Halsey is called the eastside of south central los angeles hieroglyph prototype architecture (I) and on view through Oct. 22. Bonus: a spectacular view of Central Park. And here's something not on the tourist radar that should be: a drive-in movie on the East River in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. They have seats for people walking in without cars—this is still New York!—and I watched The Dark Night with killer views of the Manhattan skyline during sunset. It was amazing to see Gotham City on the screen and in real life as the background simultaneously.  When art imitates life: Batman on the big screen at Skyline Drive-In in Brooklyn. Photographer: Xinyi Luo/Bloomberg There are too many things to do in New York, even living here. Left on my list: a comedy show, a baseball game at the Yankee stadium and the back room of the Double Chicken Please, which is named the best bar in North America. But it all gives me reason to come back—and I definitely will. Connect with Xinyi on Instagram or X (née Twitter) If you also want to get in the traveller mindset, here's what I've been recommending to friends when they visit New York. Some are free! Commission a local artist
I love New York street artists, whether musicians in the subway station or painters on the sidewalk. Zac Crawford has been drawing portraits in Washington Square Park since 2018. He really captured my mood and my expression. When sitting for a piece, it's fun to talk with artists and learn their stories as well.  Crawford remembered me when I went there for the second time—and even shared details of his Hinge date the night before as we chatted. Photographer: Xinyi Luo/Bloomberg Drink cocktails on a rooftop
Obsessed with the Manhattan skyline, I visited several rooftop bars to see different aspects of it. Overstory is a perfect spot for the view of the Financial District, and Westlight in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is well-known for getting sweeping views across the East River, especially at sunset. Get on the water
Everybody knows that taking a water taxi and the Staten Island Ferry is a great way to sightsee without booking an expensive tour, but what about kayaking? I did my first-ever kayaking at Pier 26 at Hudson River Park. There are more places in town—and most are free. Also the row boats are back in the water outside the legendary Central Park Boathouse, and will soon be bookable online ($25/hour). A top tip: lobster rolls in the reopened cafe.  What $1,000 gets you at New York City's top sushi omakase counters. Photographer: Evan Sung Savor a sushi omakase
I heard quite a lot of times that you should have at least one omakase in NYC, which arguably has the best sushi outside of Japan. I went to Towa NYC for a $150 18-course menu. Watching the chef preparing all those foods in front of me—the fatty tuna roll blew me away—was foodie theater. Cruise car-free streets
I rode a CitiBike last summer from 14th Street all the way up to 109th Street, during Summer Streets NYC, when miles of roadways are closed to vehicles and open for people to play, walk, bike and even walk their dogs. It was odd-feeling but amazing to enjoy Manhattan car-free. The next dates are Aug. 5, 12 and 19. | 
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