✈️ LaGuardia, I Owe You an Apology

I already wrote about my first reaction to arriving at LaGuardia Airport after not flying through LGA for a very, very long time.

But now I found a picture of LaGuardia from the 1990s, which is much closer to the airport I remember.

Put that picture next to the photos I took this weekend and...

Are we sure this is the same airport?

Seriously.

The old LaGuardia wasn't exactly an airport you arrived at early to soak up the atmosphere.

Low ceilings.

Fluorescent lighting.

Narrow corridors.

Crowded gate areas.

People sitting wherever they could find a spot.

Limited food choices.

And yes, I remember seeing rats running around in the drop ceiling.

That old photo brought it all back.

Then look at LaGuardia today.

📸 The Before-and-After Is Ridiculous

The 1990s picture almost looks like it came from a completely different era of air travel.

Because, well...

It did.

Compare that with the pictures I took this weekend.

Huge open spaces.

High ceilings.

Natural light.

Modern architecture.

Wide walkways.

Moving walkways.

Plenty of seating.

Restaurants and food options everywhere.

The difference isn't subtle.

It's astonishing.

Walking into the American Airlines check-in area, I actually stopped to take a picture because I couldn't believe I was standing in LaGuardia.

The check-in area is huge, bright, clean, and open.

Then I made my way farther into the terminal and had essentially the same reaction.

This is LGA?!

If your last memory of LaGuardia looks anything like that picture from the 1990s, you might have the same reaction I did.

🗽 And Then There's the View

I also took a picture of the view from LGA.

That's another thing I had forgotten about flying through LaGuardia.

You're right there in Queens, with New York City surrounding you, and depending on your approach or departure, you can get some fantastic views.

On my flight into New York, I caught a great view of Lower Manhattan during our descent.

On the way home, I got another chance to appreciate where the airport sits.

But there was still one final test.

⏰ What About the Famous LGA Delays?

The physical airport may have changed, but there was one part of the old LaGuardia experience I was fully expecting to revisit:

The delay.

Before all of these improvements, delays and LGA seemed to go together like New York and pizza.

You'd get to the airport.

Find your gate.

Sit down.

And wait.

Then you'd hear:

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a short delay..."

And everyone familiar with LaGuardia would collectively think:

Of course we do.

This time, I was actually expecting a delay before departure.

And then something very strange happened.

We left.

No hours sitting around.

No endless mystery delay.

No wondering if I needed to find somewhere to sleep.

We got on the plane and took off.

I even recorded video of the takeoff because after everything I remembered about LGA, departing without that expected delay almost seemed worthy of documentation.

✈️ This May Change How I Travel to New York

Over the years, I've often used Newark (EWR) or JFK, depending on where I was going.

If I needed a rental car or was heading to the northern New Jersey suburbs, Newark often made sense.

JFK was another option depending on the flight and destination.

LaGuardia?

For a long time, it wasn't necessarily my first choice.

After this trip, that may change.

For getting into Queens and New York City, LGA was incredibly convenient.

I flew nonstop from Charleston.

Landed at LaGuardia.

Got over to Astoria quickly.

And when it was time to leave, I went through a clean, modern, comfortable airport and actually departed without the delay I had been expecting.

From THIS to THIS

That's what makes the old picture so much fun to include.

Look at 1990s LaGuardia.

Then look at the pictures I took in 2026.

If you haven't flown through LGA in years, erase whatever image you have in your head.

Because that airport no longer exists.

Airports aren't usually something I get excited about. They're a means to an end.

You go through security, buy an absurdly expensive drink, find your gate, and hope the person sitting next to you understands the universally accepted laws governing airplane armrests.

But this transformation deserves recognition.

So, LaGuardia...

I owe you an apology.

I remembered you as crowded terminals, low ceilings, people sitting on the floor, rats above my head, and seemingly inevitable delays.

Instead, you gave me a beautiful modern airport, great views, tons of food choices, easy access to Queens, and an on-time departure.

And that old photo proves something else:

My memory wasn't exaggerating quite as much as you might think.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but...

I'm actually looking forward to flying through LGA again.

Nicely done, New York.

It’s 10 PM. I Shouldn’t Be Eating This. But the Food Cart Called Me.

It's 10:00 PM in New York City.

I've had a long day.

I've eaten plenty.

I'm back at the hotel.

The responsible thing to do would be to drink some water, get into bed, and call it a night.

There was just one problem.

The food cart outside my hotel was calling me.

And I don't mean figuratively.

I walked outside, and I'm pretty sure I heard:

"Niel... Niiiiiel... come get some chicken and lamb over rice..."

What was I supposed to do?

Ignore it?

That would be rude.

🌃 This Is New York Street Food

The cart has exactly what you'd expect from a New York City street food cart:

Chicken over rice.

Lamb over rice.

Falafel over rice.

Gyros.

Hot dogs.

And enough other options displayed on the side of the cart to make you stand there staring at the menu much longer than necessary.

But I knew what I wanted.

Chicken and lamb over saffron rice.

Add the lettuce.

Add the tomatoes.

And absolutely give me the white sauce.

Hot sauce?

Nope.

I've learned that lesson before.

My stomach and hot sauce have a complicated relationship. Actually, that's being generous.

My stomach has clearly communicated its boundaries.

I'm respecting them.

💰 Wait... That's the Price?!

Then came the biggest surprise of the night.

The entire plate was just over $10.

In.

New. York. City.

Are you kidding me?

I was fully prepared for the guy to tell me it was $15. Maybe more.

It's 10 PM. I'm hungry. I'm in New York. He has possession of the chicken and lamb.

He has all the negotiating power.

Instead, just over ten bucks.

At that price, I happily added another 20% tip for the guy working the cart.

And somehow this gets even more ridiculous.

Earlier, I bought two bottles of Coke Zero from the hotel.

Almost $8.

Let me make sure I understand the economics here:

🥤 Two Coke Zeros from the hotel: almost $8

🍗🐑 A giant container of chicken AND lamb over saffron rice, with lettuce, tomato and white sauce from a New York City street cart: just over $10

Someone, please explain this to me.

Actually, don't.

I don't want anyone investigating and telling the food-cart guy he needs to raise his prices.

🤤 And Was It Worth Eating at 10 PM?

Look at the picture.

You already know the answer.

Chicken.

Lamb.

Saffron rice.

Lettuce.

Tomatoes.

White sauce everywhere.

No hot sauce because I would like to enjoy the rest of my trip without my digestive system filing a formal complaint.

And it is amazing.

Was eating this at 10 PM a good decision?

Nutritionally?

Probably not.

Financially?

ABSOLUTELY.

Spiritually?

I'm going with yes.

After a day of hanging out with friends and family, eating New York backyard food, missing my Broadway show because I was having too much fun, and riding through Queens at night, this feels like the appropriate ending.

Tomorrow I'll worry about responsible eating.

Tonight?

The cart called.

I answered.

And for just over $10 in New York City, I'm very glad I did.

Sometimes Missing the Show Means I Had a Great Day

Today was awesome.

After spending days watching the New York weather forecast bounce all over the place—55% chance of rain, then 77% with thunderstorms, then suddenly looking pretty good—I couldn't have asked for much better.

The temperature stayed in the mid-70s, the humidity was low, there was some sunshine, and toward the end of the day we got a raindrop here and there.

That's it.

Apparently, I spent several days worrying about New York weather for absolutely no reason.

And I'm perfectly okay with that.

This Was Why I Came to New York

Yes, I wanted the New York bagels.

Yes, I wanted the pizza.

Yes, I wanted to see what they did to LaGuardia.

And yes, I had plans to see a Broadway show.

But none of those things were really why I got on a plane this morning.

Today was about the people.

I got to spend the afternoon hanging out with friends and people who are basically family—people I've grown up with and known for years but don't get to see nearly as often as I'd like.

We talked.

We laughed.

We gave each other a hard time.

Because that's what you do with people you've known forever.

There are friendships where you haven't seen someone in a long time, but within about five minutes of being together, it's as if no time has passed at all.

Today felt like that.

And Then There Was the Food

Oh, the food.

I also got something I've been missing for a while:

New York City backyard food.

Not a fancy restaurant.

Not something carefully arranged on a plate so someone can take a picture of it for Instagram.

I'm talking about the kind of food you eat while you're hanging around outside with people you've known forever.

Good food.

Good people.

Good conversation.

And absolutely no reason to rush anywhere.

Which brings me to Broadway.

🎭 About That & Juliet Ticket...

Remember that ticket I bought for & Juliet?

Yeah.

I missed it.

I stayed at the gathering so long that by the time I left, there was no chance I was making the show.

And you know what?

I don't care.

Thankfully, the ticket was $49, not the approximately $200 I would have spent to see Paranormal Activity.

Would I have liked to see & Juliet?

Absolutely.

Was spending more time with friends and family I rarely get to see worth losing $49?

Absolutely.

Broadway will be there the next time I'm in New York.

Days like today aren't nearly as easy to reschedule.

I'd make the same decision again.

🌃 A Ride Through Queens

Eventually, though, the day had to come to an end.

On the ride back to my hotel, SpringHill Suites in Long Island City, I got to take some pictures as we headed south on Vernon Boulevard, just past the Roosevelt Island Bridge and toward the Queensboro/59th Street Bridge.

It was one of those rides where I could just look out the window and enjoy being back in New York.

No rushing to Broadway.

No checking the weather app.

No wondering whether I was going to get rained out.

Just enjoying the ride.

And I'm glad I took some pictures along the way.

🌯 But the Night Isn't Quite Over

Now I'm back at the hotel.

There's a street food vendor right outside, which means I have one final decision to make tonight.

Actually, who am I kidding?

The decision has already been made.

I'm getting something over rice.

Chicken?

Lamb?

Combo?

I haven't decided yet.

But something is going over rice, and I'm going to eat it.

Then I think I'm officially done.

This morning started with a flight from Charleston, a completely transformed LaGuardia Airport, an early hotel check-in and a plate of bacon.

It ends after a beautiful day with people I don't get to see enough, great New York food, a Broadway show I happily missed, a nighttime ride through Queens and, apparently, a plate of street-cart food.

I came to New York wondering whether the weather would ruin the trip.

Instead, I got exactly the kind of day I came here for.

Sometimes the plans you miss aren't nearly as important as the moments that made you miss them.

Today was worth the trip.

✈️ I Made It to New York—and What Happened to LaGuardia?!

I made it!

After days of watching the weather forecast go from 55% rain to 77% rain with thunderstorms and then back to almost nothing, I got on the plane in Charleston this morning and headed to New York.

It has been a very, very long time since I've flown into LaGuardia Airport, and I have one question:

What did they do with the old LGA?!?

Seriously.

The LaGuardia I remember and the LaGuardia I walked through today seem like two completely different airports.

It's new. It's clean. It's bright.

There are food options everywhere.

People aren't sitting on the floor waiting for their flights because there aren't enough seats.

And, perhaps most importantly...

I didn't see any rats running around in the drop ceiling.

If you flew through the old LaGuardia, you know I'm not necessarily exaggerating. 😂

This place has changed.

🗽 Now THAT'S a New York Welcome

As we descended into LaGuardia, I was also able to catch a picture of Lower Manhattan from the plane.

That's one of those views that immediately tells you:

Yep. I'm back in New York.

There's something about seeing Manhattan from the air that never gets old.

Then it was time to start working through today's agenda.

👻 Paranormal Activity Didn't Happen

I had hoped to score one of the same-day Rush Tickets for Paranormal Activity.

That didn't happen.

And I'm still not paying around $200 for a ticket.

I wanted to see some ghosts, but not badly enough to have one haunt my credit-card statement for the next month.

But Broadway isn't completely off the agenda.

I got a ticket to see & Juliet instead!

So tonight I'll be heading to Broadway after the party to see something I hadn't originally planned on seeing.

Sometimes those spontaneous choices end up being the most fun.

I'll post afterward and let you know what I thought of it.

🥓 Hotel Accomplishment Unlocked

Next challenge: Could I check into the hotel early?

YES.

That might actually be today's biggest victory.

I got into my room, dropped everything off, and then took care of another extremely important New York travel priority.

I grabbed a plate of bacon.

Because obviously.

So let's review:

✈️ Made it to New York.

🗽 Saw Lower Manhattan from the air.

😳 Discovered that LaGuardia apparently became a completely different airport while I wasn't looking.

🏨 Got an early hotel check-in.

🥓 Ate bacon.

👻 Failed to get a Paranormal Activity Rush Ticket.

🎭 Got an & Juliet ticket instead.

🎉 Party starts at 1:00 PM.

I'd say we're doing pretty well.

And now, after I hit publish on this...

I'm taking a nap for a few hours before the party.

Because apparently my New York itinerary also includes scheduled unconsciousness.

Stay tuned. There is still a lot of Saturday left.

✈️ Plot Twist: I’m Going to New York!

Well, Mother Nature apparently reads my blog.

A few days ago, I was questioning whether I was going to make my trip to New York at all. The forecast went from a 55% chance of rain to 77% with thunderstorms, and I wasn't particularly interested in flying to Queens just to sit in a hotel room and watch it rain.

Fast-forward to Saturday morning.

70 degrees. Fair. A 2% chance of rain this morning.

Okay, New York. You win. I’m coming. 😂

My flight is scheduled to get into LaGuardia around 9:00 AM, and from there I'll head to the hotel and hopefully be able to check in early. At the very least, I'm hoping they'll take my bags because I've got places to go and people to see.

The yearly gathering in Astoria, Queens starts at 1:00 PM, so I've got a few hours between landing and the party.

And because apparently I don't believe in relaxing on vacation, I've already started thinking about what I'm doing afterward.

👻 Paranormal Activity on Broadway?

I'd really like to see Paranormal Activity on Broadway.

There's just one tiny problem.

I'm not paying $200 for a ticket.

I enjoy Broadway.

I enjoy paranormal stuff.

I enjoy sitting in a dark theater wondering what's about to jump out at me.

But for $200, the ghost better leave the theater with me, carry my luggage back to Queens and tuck me into bed.

Fortunately, there's another possibility.

There are some same-day tickets scheduled to be released at 9:00 AM, and I'm hoping I can grab one for the 8:00 PM performance.

So somewhere around the time my plane is landing at LGA, I'll also be trying to score a reasonably priced Broadway ticket.

Because apparently landing an airplane isn't enough excitement for 9:00 in the morning.

If it works out, my Saturday could look something like this:

✈️ 9:00 AM: Arrive at LaGuardia
🏨 Morning: Head to the hotel and hopefully check in
🎉 1:00 PM: Party in Astoria
👻 8:00 PM:Paranormal Activity on Broadway — IF I can get the same-day ticket

And somewhere in between all of that, there had better be a New York bagel and some pizza.

Those aren't optional.

After several days of watching weather percentages climb and wondering whether this trip was going to happen at all, it's funny that I'm now looking at a forecast with almost no chance of rain this morning.

So...

New York City, here I come.

Now I just need the flight to cooperate, the hotel to let me check in early, and the Broadway ticket gods to smile upon me at 9:00 AM.

That's not asking too much, right?

Stay tuned.