If someone asked me whether they should dive into the world of “Gossip Girl,” I would absolutely say yes. Sure the dialogue is choppy, the plot unrealistic, and the acting predictable, but I still loved every second. It sparked within me a fantastical interest with 2000s-era New York City: high society parties, unmanageable social life, designer fashion, and high school drama. For girls like me, “Gossip Girl” offers a highly entertaining escape free from homework and pressures of the real world.
I was not simply drawn to the glamorous city life portrayed on screen, I wanted to know if it related at all to the way things really are in the Big Apple. So, for my 17th birthday, I took my first trip to Manhattan hoping that the New York experience was like walking in “Gossip Girl” shoes—well actually, not quite.
I could never quite achieve the thrill of Blair and Serena’s adventures as they skipped school to party, took impromptu trips to the Empire State Building, and crashed weekend masquerade balls.
We stayed at the Plaza Hotel, which was a great start. Though not exactly the “Gossip Girl” Upper East Side, Midtown Manhattan was a fine substitute. Just across the street from Central Park, Blair’s duck-feeding sanctuary with Dorota, the Waldorf’s maid, it felt like stepping into a scene. But reality hit fast. The park was bustling with activity; not exactly the serene, have-it-all-to-yourself feel featured in the show.
We started each day with overpriced, but charming, New York coffee shops that screamed “Gossip Girl.” I settled for lattes; not quite like Chuck Bass’s espresso martinis. We had breakfast at Sarabeth’s, the van der Woodsens’ favorite place for a family meal, and we dressed up for elegant dinners that felt straight out of the show. We even spent an entire day shopping. Blair Waldorf would have been so proud.
We checked out the Empire State Building and its amazing views, retracing an iconic moment from the show. We visited the Met Steps, which was Blair and Serena’s go-to breakfast spot before school. Let’s just say that we were not the only ones with that idea.
In all, I tried to romanticize the New York experience—but so did everyone else visiting that weekend. While I loved the trip, it was decidedly not “Gossip Girl.” Was I disappointed? A little. But that is the charm of fiction.
Do I still want to go back to Manhattan again someday? Absolutely. Is “Gossip Girl” still one of my favorites? Of course. But if this trip taught me anything, it is that television rarely translates to real life.
Like Gossip Girl would say: “You know you love me. XOXO Gossip Girl.”
