The concentrated energy of a first-time visit to New York City showcased on stage hypes up audiences eight times a week on Broadway in the new musical Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York).
The story follows British tourist Dougal (Sam Tutty) visiting NYC for the first time. He meets Robin (Christiana Pitts), who is charged with a very important task—which, as you might guess from the show’s unusual title, involves transporting a cake across the City.
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). Photo: Matthew Murphy
With only two days in New York, Dougal is excited to explore everything the City has to offer, or at least as much as his meager funds will allow. He stands outside the One World Trade, Katz’s Deli, the Tenement Museum and marvels at the Statue of Liberty. “Cos, you know: Ghostbusters, Independence Day, Men in Black II,” Dougal says, referencing the New York City scenes from these iconic movies.
In homage to Jim Barne and Kit Buchan’s musical, playing at the Longacre Theatre, here’s how to spend your first time in New York City like our doe-eyed, twentysomething Dougal, on a budget. Below, discover a few stops within three beloved neighborhoods referenced in the script that make the show a blueprint to visiting New York City—the Dougal way!
Get Situated in Midtown Manhattan
The center of the City, Midtown is home to Times Square, the “crossroads of the world.” Dougal, or any other first-time visitor, would want to spend a solid chunk of time in this Manhattan commercial hub. The area holds the home turf of the Knicks and New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, the Empire State Building and Saturday Night Live at Rockefeller Center’s 30 Rock. There’s Grand Central Terminal, Fifth Avenue, Hudson Yards and Koreatown for karaoke, all popular spots to visit and all within a few blocks and avenues of each other. Of course, there’s also the famed bright lights of Broadway, with shows playing across the 41 venues of the Theatre District, including Two Strangers at the Longacre Theatre.
Grab a slice at See No Evil
210 W. 50th St., Concourse #1 (50 St subway station), Times Square/Theatre District
Perhaps a dollar slice might be more fitting for Dougal’s coin purse, but this Michelin-recommended pizzeria serves iconic thin-crust pizzas like the spicy Hell pie with an ’80s punk vibe that may be worth splitting a pie. Tucked into the southbound 1 train concourse at 50th Street and Broadway, this is the kind of place Dougal would definitely romanticize getting a slice from on his way to the Theatre District to see a Broadway show. [The pizza shop is not far from the Longacre Theatre, where Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) is playing!]
…Or opt for more budget-friendly bites at El Rey Tacos
1450 Broadway, Times Square/Theatre District
Grab quick bite in Times Square at El Rey Tacos for under $10. The Mexico City–inspired taqueria offers fast-casual service run by brothers Sebastian and Santiago Ramírez Degollado. They are part of the family behind Casa Carmen and Mexico’s famous El Bajío restaurants; on the menu, choose from options like carne asada, barbacoa and pollo adobado to fill tacos and quesadillas.
Score discounted Broadway tickets
While Broadway tickets can get expensive, there are numerous ways to find discounts to the newest shows, including Two Strangers. While Dougal is in NYC, he would be signing up for the digital lotteries from Broadway Direct and Telecharge. He’d also love getting in line at the box office when it opens at 10am for rush tickets ($45–$49) or checking out the famed TKTS booth in Duffy Square for a last-minute ticket at a bargain price.
Take a quick walk through Shubert Alley
222 W. 45th St., Times Square/Theatre District
Shubert Alley is a privately owned public pedestrian pathway that connects 44th and 45th streets, with the Shubert Theatre on one side and the Booth Theatre on the other. Along the buildings are massive posters of current Broadway shows that are ideal for a quick photo op. It’s also a great place to people-watch, especially if you want to see Broadway stars walking by and to their shows. Every July, Bernadette Peters hosts Broadway Barks, a dog adoption fundraiser, here.
…Or a longer stroll on The High Line
Tenth Avenue between Gansevoort and 30th Streets, then west and up to 34th Street
The elevated public walkway trail, which runs on the west side through the Meatpacking District and Chelsea before wrapping around Hudson Yards, is a staple for locals and visitors and free to enter. The 1.5-mile path, some 30 feet above street level, was converted from an abandoned freight line. Walk through the gardens while viewing contemporary art projects, including site-specific exhibitions, murals, billboards, videos and performances by emerging and world-renowned artists at different legs of the stroll.
Head Downtown to Chinatown
Chinatown is where Dougal books his hotel stay in Two Strangers; it’s not far from Trinity Church in Wall Street, where his father is getting married. Home to a dense population of Asian immigrants, Chinatown’s narrow, bustling streets are full of sidewalk vendors and rich culture. The neighborhood, which spills into Little Italy, is a delightful culinary destination full of dim sum and dumpling shops along Mott and Canal Streets; it also holds landmarks like Columbus Park and the entrance to the Manhattan Bridge.
Enter Mahayana Buddhist Temple for some quiet reflection
133 Canal St., Chinatown
Mahayana Buddhist Temple, just steps away from the Manhattan Bridge, is New York City’s largest such building and home to the City’s biggest Buddha—a 16-foot-tall gold statue, seated on a lotus. This nonticketed house of worship is free to enter; visitors can find prints depicting the life of the Buddha on display and spaces for families to pay tribute to relatives.
Try one of the oldest restaurants in Chinatown, Wo Hop
17 Mott St., basement, Chinatown
James Beard Award–winning Wo Hop is a neighborhood staple. You may also know it from appearances in popular TV shows Billions and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Wo Hop, which means “harmony” in Chinese, is one of Chinatown’s oldest restaurants, established in 1938. It’s famous for its “old-fashioned chop suey style” and Chinese American comfort food. Menu highlights include mushroom egg foo young, beef chow fun and pan-fried flounder.
Explore Doyers and Pell Streets
Doyers Street has become a popular spot for filming movies, snapping photos and of course, dining. It and neighboring Pell Street are full of authentic Chinese restaurants and shops. Nom Wah Tea Parlor has been serving dim sum and dumplings since 1920. It’s famous for the almond cookie, lotus paste and red bean filling, which is used for mooncakes during the Chinese autumn festival. Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles, another favorite on Doyers, has a wide selection of Chinese dishes from golden fish ball soup to pan-fried noodles. Once Dougal gets a hold of a certain someone’s credit card in the show, there’s room for a nightcap at bar-restaurant Opera House, with its array of bespoke cocktails and noodle boxes.
Walk over the Manhattan Bridge
A walk over the Manhattan bridge, which connects Canal Street to Brooklyn, overlooks the spectacular East River. It’s a free activity that would wow any visitor, including Dougal. The pedestrian entrance is at Bowery and Canal; in Brooklyn, it’s at Jay and Sands Streets. It’s easy to grab a snack in Chinatown to eat before or after your stroll.
Continue to Flatbush, Brooklyn
This Brooklyn neighborhood has one of the largest and most diverse Caribbean diasporas in the world, earning it the designation “Little Caribbean.” Flatbush also features quaint, quiet streets lined with Victorian mansions—especially in adjacent Ditmas Park—and landmarks like the Flatbush Reformed Church, whose current building was constructed in the late 18th century.
People-watch in Prospect Park
Prospect Park, a scenic landmark, is one of the City’s biggest and popular places for locals to hang out, designed by the same pair—Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux—who planned out Central Park. It offers skating, hiking, fishing and many more recreational activities. Attractions include the Prospect Park Audubon Center, Lefferts Historic House, Prospect Park Zoo and, for a walk or run, the Loop. Stroll over to Concert Grove or Prospect Park Bandshell to listen to live music.
Taste a currant roll at Allan’s Bakery
1109 Nostrand Ave., Flatbush
Allan’s Bakery could have been where Dougal and Robin go to pick up Robin’s sister’s coconut-flavored wedding cake. The third-generation family-owned bakery has been serving Caribbean baked treats for over 60 years at this brick-and-mortar location. The hard-dough bread is a top seller, along with standout current rolls—made with puff pastry, currants, sugar and spices.
Catch a show or take a tour at Kings Theatre
1027 Flatbush Ave., Flatbush
The historic theater, with over 3,000 seats, is a cultural and economic cornerstone of the Flatbush community and a fixture in Brooklyn’s performing arts landscape. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012 (a few years before it reopened), Kings Theatre hosts concerts, comedy, film screenings and special events. The architecture showcases high curved ceilings, ornate plaster walls, wood paneling and a glazed terra-cotta façade inspired by the French Renaissance Revival style of the Palace of Versailles and Paris Opera House.
Visit Sycamore Bar + Flower Shop
1118 Cortelyou Rd., Ditmas Park
Nearby Kings Theatre, you can relax in the backyard of Sycamore Bar + Flower Shop, where there’s a long happy hour every day. There’s also a rotating line of food trucks for nibbling on the weekends. Pick your flowers and purchase a bouquet at its onsite flower shop by supplier Fresh Cut Fridays.
Get tickets to Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), and let us know what you think should be in Dougal’s first-time itinerary.