★ SYNERGY ACHIEVED★ PER MY LAST LIST★ LET'S CIRCLE BACK★ BEST-IN-CLASS OPINIONS★ THIS MEETING COULD HAVE BEEN A LIST★ 100% SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL (IT'S ME)★ SYNERGY ACHIEVED★ PER MY LAST LIST★ LET'S CIRCLE BACK★ BEST-IN-CLASS OPINIONS★ THIS MEETING COULD HAVE BEEN A LIST★ 100% SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL (IT'S ME)
The NYC stops worth the blisters, inspected in person by our Director of Comfortable Shoes.
Filed by our Director of Comfortable Shoes · October 2026
Executive Summary
In mid-October, leadership conducted a four-day site visit to New York City. The agenda was aggressive: two Broadway shows, one ferry, one plate of Chelsea Market tacos and an amount of walking that HR has asked us to stop discussing.
Every major sight was formally evaluated. Most exceeded expectations. One is currently on a Performance Improvement Plan. Full findings below.
#1
The High Line
Elevated park on an old freight rail line
Exceptional
5/ 5
📍 Neighborhood
Meatpacking District to Hudson Yards
💲 Cost
Free
⏱️ Time needed
1–2 hrs
🕰️ Best time
Weekday mornings or sunset
Site Visit Highlights
A park floating three stories above the city, built on old train tracks. Gardens, art, river views and the best people-watching in Manhattan, all on one very pleasant stroll.
Skip It If
You hate crowds. Weekend afternoons turn it into a slow-moving conga line, and there's not much shade on a hot summer day.
#2
Little Island
Park on tulip-shaped pillars in the Hudson River
Exceptional
5/ 5
📍 Neighborhood
Hudson River Park at W 13th St
💲 Cost
Free
⏱️ Time needed
45 min–1 hr
🕰️ Best time
Sunset
Site Visit Highlights
A whimsical little park perched on giant concrete tulips over the Hudson. Winding paths, hidden lookouts and a sunset view that makes everyone briefly forget their phone. (They won't.)
Skip It If
You want a big day out. It's small and sweet, so pair it with something else rather than making it the whole trip.
Leadership's Note: Can be completed back-to-back with the High Line in a single sprint. Synergy.
#3
The Brooklyn Bridge Walk
Walking across the 1883 bridge over the East River
Exceeds Expectations
4/ 5
📍 Neighborhood
DUMBO to Lower Manhattan
💲 Cost
Free
⏱️ Time needed
45 min–1 hr
🕰️ Best time
Early morning
Site Visit Highlights
Stone towers, swooping cables and the whole skyline laid out in front of you. Walk it from Brooklyn toward Manhattan so the view is facing you the entire way.
Skip It If
You're there at midday on a weekend, when the walkway becomes a slow parade of selfie sticks. Go early and it's a completely different (and better) bridge.
#4
Top of the Rock
Open-air observation deck atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza
Exceeds Expectations
4/ 5
📍 Neighborhood
Midtown, Rockefeller Center
💲 Cost
$$$ (timed tickets)
⏱️ Time needed
1 hr
🕰️ Best time
Sunset
Site Visit Highlights
The most central view in the city: the Empire State Building in front, Central Park behind, all of Manhattan in between. Zero silver balloons bopping you in the face.
Skip It If
You're allergic to crowds. Sunset slots sell out and the decks fill up fast, so book ahead and bring your elbows.
#5
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
Mirrored observation deck high above Midtown
Meets Expectations
3/ 5
📍 Neighborhood
Midtown, next to Grand Central
💲 Cost
$$$ (timed tickets)
⏱️ Time needed
1–1.5 hrs
🕰️ Best time
Just before sunset
Site Visit Highlights
Floor-to-ceiling mirrors, glass ledges hanging over Madison Avenue, and a room full of silver balloons. It's an observation deck that went to art school.
Skip It If
You prefer your sightseeing calm. It's loud in there, and the balloon room is a contact sport: leadership was hit in the face by a silver balloon. More than once.
Leadership's Note: A strong performer, but internal benchmarking shows a clear preference for Top of the Rock. A workplace incident report regarding the balloons has been filed.
#6
The Statue of Liberty
Ferry to Liberty Island from Battery Park
Meets Expectations
3/ 5
📍 Neighborhood
Liberty Island (ferry from Battery Park)
💲 Cost
Ferry ticket
⏱️ Time needed
Half a day
🕰️ Best time
First ferry of the morning
Site Visit Highlights
The views are genuinely great: the harbor, the skyline and Lady Liberty herself, up close and much bigger than you expect.
Skip It If
Snacks are a key part of your itinerary. The island's offerings did not pass procurement review.
Leadership's Note: Bring your own snacks. Procurement has filed a formal complaint.
#7
Bethesda Fountain
Fountain and terrace in the heart of Central Park
Needs Improvement
2/ 5
📍 Neighborhood
Central Park, mid-park at 72nd St
💲 Cost
Free
⏱️ Time needed
30 min
🕰️ Best time
After August 2027
Site Visit Highlights
Even mid-renovation, the area around it was lovely: the grand terrace, the arcade and the Central Park greenery all around. And the musician playing in the arcade was exceptional.
Skip It If
You'd like to actually see the fountain. When we visited, it was hidden behind a sea of orange barriers and fencing, with renovations scheduled to run until August 2027.
Leadership's Note: Fountain placed on a Performance Improvement Plan pending completion of renovations. Re-review scheduled for Q3 2027. The musician has been recommended for promotion.
Action Items
Got one day? Walk the High Line, keep going to Little Island, then refuel with tacos at Chelsea Market. Pick Top of the Rock for your skyline view. Cross the Brooklyn Bridge early, from Brooklyn toward Manhattan. Pack snacks for Liberty Island. And check back on Bethesda Fountain next quarter.
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