April 16, 2025
I’ve always loved libraries.
When I was a kid, I often waited for my service to pick me up at the library. It was there that I discovered authors like Enid Blyton and series like The Babysitters Club, along with countless other books I’ve long since forgotten.
I wouldn’t call myself a voracious reader. I’ve never been the type to finish hundreds of books a year. Yet libraries have always felt like home. There’s something about being surrounded by books that makes me feel relaxed, safe, and at peace. Aside from my own home, few places give me that feeling.
So it wasn’t surprising that one of the places I most wanted to visit in New York was the New York Public Library.
I had imagined sitting at one of those famous wooden tables beneath the glowing lamps, surrounded by shelves of books stretching toward the ceiling. Too bad, I didn’t realize reservations were required for the reading room. Still, simply being there felt special.
I arrived shortly after opening. The crowds hadn’t yet arrived, and the building felt calm and almost reverent. A newly married couple was taking wedding photos in one corner, their photographer carefully arranging shots against the library’s grand interior.
I wandered across the marble floors, taking everything in. Through the tall windows, I could see Fifth Avenue unfolding outside. The city felt both distant and present at the same time.
The walk there was memorable in itself.
This was my first destination on the first full day of my trip to New York. The morning air was crisp, carrying that unmistakable feeling of spring. Tulips had begun blooming throughout Bryant Park, adding splashes of color after the long winter.
Before heading into the library, I sat in the park and ate breakfast. I stopped by Zucker’s and ordered a bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon. Nothing extravagant, but somehow it felt exactly right for the morning.
As I walked toward the library, I caught sight of the Empire State Building rising between the streets ahead. For a brief moment, it felt as though the city itself was greeting me.
“Welcome to New York.”
And just like that, my trip had begun.
it begins with a step 