CRUISING IN THE CITY
Sometimes, after living in NYC for many years you can start to take the city for granted. Complaining about the pace, the challenges, the smells, the rats, the hustle.
Sometimes, you just need to look in from the outside and rediscover some of why you fell in love with NY in the first place.
That’s exactly what happened to me last night. My family - cousin Eloise and her husband Geoffrey are here visiting from Australia. This is their first trip overseas and they are loving NYC. I have been running them around like crazy, trying to show them *my city* and why I love it so much. I wanted to take them on the water, so I started looking into options…
I found out about the Benchmarc Events by Marc Murphy #SummerCruise online and I just couldn’t get over what an awesome idea the concept is.
A two hour cruise around Manhattan, with unlimited food and beverages and a theme to boot!
The cruises depart ever Tuesday evening from the World Financial Center Pier and pack in two hours of awesome views, delicious food and booze! Yes, it may well be the gourmet wrapped version of a booze cruise but who are we kidding. WE LOVE THAT!
Last night’s theme was Bluegrass and Bayou and the food was delicious. Shrimp Skewers, Crawfish Jambalaya & grits, Chicken & Andouille Gumbo and a 24ft Muffaletta. Life is beautiful.
Bourbon smash cocktails with mint, lime and ginger, cans of Brooklyn Lager and Summer Ale and then crispy white wine for drinks.
My cousins were just in awe! And to be honest, so was I.
Here we were, having this incredible view from outside the city - seeing it in a peaceful and inspired way. Gobsmacked by the sheer enormity and craziness of what lay inside the concrete jungle.
The sun set and suddenly the whole view turned to flickering lights. We made our way down to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. The ferry boat weaved in a zig zag pattern and we ended up being so close to the Statue you could almost touch her. Well, not really but it was mighty close.
The bluegrass music halted and Jay Z and Alicia Keys came on with their anthem and ode to the city.
It was a pretty awesome moment for Geoff and Eloise. Imagine only having seen the Statue of Liberty in movies before and then here you are on the water, so close to her and with Empire State of Mind blaring. Hello!!!!
The staff and Benchmarc team were all so friendly and kept coming around asking if we were enjoying ourselves. Chef Marc Murphy was there, chatting away to people on board. He loved that the Aussie’s were on the cruise and really made my cousins feel special.
The whole thing was so well done.
Anyway, I can’t recommend this enough. Go find your tickets before they are over for the summer.
I am already planning on going next week for Suckling Pig and Sparkling Wine.
Yes, this is real life.
And I am LOVING IT.
