by TopView Sightseeing & Kev Berry

I love traveling alone! Not having to follow anyone’s schedule but your own is the best. Following your own impulses while walking around a city you don’t know too well can often provide great memories. It’s easy to become overwhelmed when booking a trip to The Big Apple, but have no fear, I am the loneliest New Yorker of all, and I’ve got The Ultimate Guide to Traveling Alone in New York!

First of all, let’s talk about getting around. While the subway makes the city fly by, if you’re in no rush, I suggest walking as much as you can. The best way to get to know any city is on foot, and in New York, there’s so much to explore with surprises around every corner. Central Park provides seemingly endless opportunities for exploration, and even after years of exploring the park, this writer has barely even scratched the surface. Take a walk up the broad tree-lined mall to Bethesda Fountain, and from there take any of the winding paths north and see what you find! 

Head over to the Museum Mile on Central Park West and pop in at any one of the stunning museums and check out the art and artifacts on display! If you’re downtown, check out the shopping scene in SoHo, where the stores are impeccably designed to give patrons an eye-popping experience. (Not a big fan for walking too much? Consider taking a bus tour to save you some legwork.)


After all that walking, you’ll probably be pretty hungry. With such an exciting food scene in the city, making a choice can be tough. The Counter, a build-your-own-burger bar with an unbelievable happy hour, at 41st and Broadway is a great spot for a quick pre-theatre bite. 

Gazala’s Place on 9th Avenue is a killer Middle Eastern joint with a BYOB policy and an insanely affordable wine store directly across the street. If you’re looking for a bite in less familiar territory, head up to 148th and Broadway, where Harlem Public will wow you with their beers, signature cocktails, and wild burgers; or down to Fort Greene, where Smoke Joint will satisfy your barbecue cravings with their unbelievable brisket, pulled pork, and a slew of sides to choose from, like mac and cheese or housemade slaw. If you’re craving a New York slice, Bleecker St. Pizza is the absolute best, and their Nonna Maria pie is a must-try.

At the end of the day, you’ll be pretty tired. The Pod Hotel Times Square has small rooms for single travelers on a budget. It’s brand-new and almost every single room has a great view. If you’re interested in exploring one of the outer boroughs of the city, try renting an AirBnB in BedStuy, Crown Heights, or Astoria, and check out their hopping nightlife and brunch scenes on the weekend.
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Landing in New York City for a solo vacation can be daunting. But if you put on your shoes, start walking, and follow your impulses, and this guide, I guarantee you’ll have a killer trip.

The Legal Aid Society, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, and the Sylvia Rivera Law Project lauded a decision rendered by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) that acknowledges gender non-conforming New Yorkers’ right to health coverage under Medicaid.
 
“No New Yorker should be denied medically necessary, gender affirming health care, and we are glad to see that Albany finally recognizes this right,” said Heidi Bramson, Staff Attorney with the Health Law Unit at The Legal Aid Society. “The Legal Aid Society is hopeful that this historic, precedent setting decision will inform insurance plans, health care providers, judges and gender non-conforming individuals that health care discrimination on the basis of gender identity is illegal and it has no place in New York.”
 
“We are pleased with the Department of Health’s decision in this important case, which should further cement the rights obtained in Cruz v. Zucker - that transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming New Yorkers have access to medically necessary, gender affirming health care,” said Wesley Powell, partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher.

"It is upsetting for AV and every other non-binary New Yorker that legal intervention was necessary in this case. It should be understood that every New Yorker must be provided with healthcare regardless of gender identity and expression. We hope that the Department of Health takes this issue seriously and begins to inform more New Yorkers of their right to access healthcare and that the Department of Health enforces the true scope of the Cruz ruling with all their contracting health and insurance companies,” said Mik Kinkead, Staff Attorney with the Sylvia Rivera Law Project.

Background
In 2014, The Legal Aid Society, the Sylvia Rivera Law Project and Willkie Farr & Gallagher filed Cruz v. Zucker to challenge a New York State regulation that banned Medicaid coverage for transgender health care. That case led to a repeal of the ban and an amended regulation, which became effective in December 2016, requiring Medicaid coverage for all medically necessary transgender health care for individuals diagnosed with gender dysphoria (GD).  The Legal Aid Society now regularly represents transgender Medicaid recipients to enforce the right to gender affirming care secured through Cruz v. Zucker.

AV is one such client. AV is a 27-year-old transgender person and identifies as non-binary. On February 22, 2017 AV’s doctor requested Medicaid coverage for a reduction mammoplasty as medically necessary treatment for AV’s GD. This procedure was denied by AV’s Medicaid plan, Healthfirst. AV requested a fair hearing to challenge the denial, which was held on June 8, 2017. The Decision, issued by New York State on June 14, 2017, upheld Healthfirst’s denial. Disturbingly, the administrative law judge (ALJ) found that the regulation does not apply to non-binary individuals, thereby imposing a requirement that does not exist within the regulation: that individuals must be transitioning strictly either from male to female or from female to male.    

On October 6, 2017, Legal Aid submitted a request for a corrected decision. However, despite months of waiting, Legal Aid did not receive a response. In January of 2018, a group of advocates addressing the ongoing barriers to gender affirming care for transgender people sent a letter to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) alerting them to these challenges. In this letter, AV’s case was mentioned and a request for intervention was made. While DOH did eventually respond to Legal Aid in late March, stating that they were considering our request, there was still no resolution or significant movement weeks later.
On April 27, 2018, Cruz counsel sent a letter to New York State’s Office of the Attorney General alerting it that the erroneous fair hearing decision was a violation of the final judgment and order in Cruz and informing it of our intention to file a motion to enforce the judgment. One week later, on May 4, 2018, DOH informed Legal Aid that AV’s fair hearing decision would be vacated because the regulation does provide coverage for non-binary individuals and that a new decision would be issued ordering coverage for AV’s medically necessary health care. That decision was issued on May 11, 2018.
 
The decision is accessible here.

New York Travel Festival
Thu Apr 20th - Sun 23rd

Do you love to travel? When you have extra cash, do you put it to the side for the next crazy trip you can do? If so, you’ll find a lot of people like yourself at NY Trav Fest. We have a full week of panels, speakers, and experiences that are designed for people who love to explore their world.

Taste food and drink from NYC and beyond, hear inspirational speakers, watch panels that cover destinations and experiences you didn’t know about, learn about new companies from across the world of travel, and connect with other folks who love travel as much as you do.

Tickets for the 5th annual New York Travel Festival ( #NYTF ) are now on sale! Taking place from April 20 to 23, 2017, at several locations in Manhattan, the festival is a series of events for people whose lives are touched by travel: members of the travel industry, travel media, lifelong travelers, long-term travelers, college students, and people in career transition. The festival provides attendees with the opportunity to participate in workshops, network with industry professionals, and attend panel discussions and presentations about trending topics in travel.

NY Trav Fest is partnering with NYU Tisch Center to host the Borough Tourism Summit on Thursday, April 20, and the 3rd annual Travel Unity Summit, at NYU Woolworth Building (15 Barclay Street) on Friday, April 21. Saturday and Sunday of NY Trav Fest will take place at Bohemian National Hall (321 East 3rd Street) and Hostelling International NYC (891 Amsterdam Avenue), respectively. Doors are open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Thursday through Saturday, with registration beginning at 9:00 AM; Sunday starts one hour later (at 11:00 AM).

Ticket Options:
$130 - All Access Pass (early bird price until March 31, 2017)
$170 - All Access Pass (regular price)
Passes include access to all presentations, panels, workshops, and networking events part of the New York Travel Festival.
$50 - Borough Tourism Summit, April 20
$40 - Travel Unity Summit, April 21
$100 - Weekend Ticket, April 22-23
$40 - Sunday-only Ticket, April 23

A tentative schedule of events is available at bitly.com/NYTF2017Tentative
To order tickets, visit Eventbrite - bitly.com/NYTF2017Tickets

People in Career Transition
Sick of the Wall Street grind? About to graduate from college? Looking to become a travel writer, travel agent, tour operator, manager, executive, or entrepreneur in the travel industry? NY Trav Fest takes place in a welcoming environment, with myriad options, opportunities, and connections for those looking to join the travel industry. Attending NY Trav Fest is a great first step to starting a career in travel (or getting away from your current career to get on the road!).

Why Should You Cover NY Trav Fest
What can members of the press (freelancers, editors, bloggers, reporters, v-loggers, and correspondents) get from covering our two-day event?

• Introductions to leading experts in specific travel niches, including eco-friendly/sustainable, luxury, budget, and niche markets along with top travel personalities;
• Direct access to exhibitors, featuring well-respected destinations and brands, to learn about what’s hot or new for their markets and/or services;
• Information on emerging and current trends in various travel sectors from travelers and travel experts directly seeing them;
• An invitation to NY Trav Fest networking parties, where you can interact with fellow attendees and speakers.

Throughout our festival weekend, your press pass will give you access to certain workshops and lectures. Certain restrictions apply. To be considered for a press pass, please fill out this form.


WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19 (11 AM – 3 PM)
Internship and Job Fair
St. Joseph’s College – Tuohy Hall, First Floor, Auditorium
Networking and Refreshments – 11am-12pm
Internship and Job Fair – 12pm-3pm
Most appropriate for: individuals looking for a job/career/internship in travel, businesses seeking employees/interns ( apply here for a FREE table), people looking to network, and those looking to be a resource to job seekers.


THURSDAY, APRIL 20
Borough Tourism Summit
NYU Woolworth Building – 15 Barclay St.
Sessions focused on how to make sure all of New York City benefits from tourism.
Most appropriate for: NYC businesses related to tourism, investors, those interested in learning about the trajectory of tourism in NYC boroughs.
More info on Thursday’s schedule here.

FRIDAY, APRIL 21
3rd Annual Travel Unity Summit
NYU Woolworth Building – 15 Barclay St.
A day focused on how to increase diversity in the world of travel, in partnership with Travel Unity, a 501(c)(3) organization.
Most appropriate for: organizations looking to attract new demographics, individuals and entities focused on economic development, and those with a passion for social justice.
More info on Friday’s schedule here.

SATURDAY, APRIL 22
Festival Saturday
Bohemian National Hall – 321 E. 73rd St.
A day full of networking, tastings, thinktanks, roundtables, and other events to whet your intellectual, social, and gastronomical appetites.
Most appropriate for: anyone who sees travel as an integral part of their life who wants to meet like-minded individuals.
More info on Saturday’s schedule here.

SUNDAY, APRIL 23
Festival Sunday
Hostelling International-NYC – 891 Amsterdam Ave.
A day full of networking, inspirational speakers, and sessions focused on career-seeking in travel, content creation, and long-term travel.
Most appropriate for: anyone who wants to connect with other travelers and/or travel professionals, get advice on careers in travel or long-term travel, and those who take content creation seriously.
More info on Sunday’s schedule here.
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About the New York Travel Festival:

NY Trav Fest is an event for travel professionals and professional travelers. The panels, speakers, and workshops provide professional development opportunities for those in the travel industry, or wanting to join it, as well as inspirational talks to offer ideas about an array of destinations and types of travel.

Don’t miss a chance to chat with representatives from CzechTourism, other destinations and travel industry brands, and learn more about local and international travel. There will also be expert-led sessions and consultations throughout the event.

50 gardens and plant collections house over 1 million plants and breathtaking displays such as the Arthur and Janet Ross Conifer Arboretum; the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden; the Jane Watson Irwin Perennial Garden and Ladies’ Border; about 30,000 distinguished trees, some over 200 years old. In addition to the most sophisticated behind-the-scenes greenhouses in the United States, the Nolen Greenhouses for Living Collections, which opened in 2005 and houses an exquisite orchid collection of over 8,000 plants.

The New York Botanical Garden’s Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, which opened in 1902, was named a New York City Landmark in 1973, and it is the nation's largest Victorian-era glasshouse. It is home to A World of Plants, a permanent ecotour of the world, including tropical rain forests, deserts, carnivorous and aquatic plants, and the world's most comprehensive collection of palm trees under glass. The Conservatory also houses the Garden's seasonal flower shows, including the popular Orchid Show and Holiday Train Show. 

Visitors of all ages will enjoy every turn and every image of this work of art, which is open for the season though January 18, 2016. Now in its 24th annual exhibition, the New York Botanical Garden presents New York’s Favorite Train Show, which takes place within America’s premier Victorian-style glasshouse. With activities for everyone, there are plenty of things to see and do including children’s activities, poetry, classical music, cocktail evenings, and more. 

Directions & Contact Info:
The New York Botanical Garden is a museum of plants located at Bronx River Parkway (Exit 7W) and Fordham Road. It is easy to reach by Metro-North Railroad, bus, or subway.

For more information, please visit nybg.org or call 718.817.8700. 
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