This text is part of the special Pleasures notebook
In 1989, moviegoers met Harry Burns and Sally Albright, an unlikely duo transformed into a match parfait. When Harry Met Sally (When Harry Met Sally), by Rob Reiner, several scenes of which were filmed in New York, celebrates its 35e birthday. An impromptu, low-budget getaway, that’s one more reason to take a stroll in Manhattan this fall.
The film grossed more than $90 million at the box office and earned a spot on both the American Film Institute and Rotten Tomatoes’ list of the 25 greatest love stories in cinema. . Thirty-five years later, the romance that began at the foot of the Washington Square arch between Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, in her first major role, has not aged a bit.
New York in cinema mode
As soon as we arrive, we drop off at the New York Public Library, a real hidden treasure in the center of a city that never stops. The Stephen A. Schwarzman Pavilion, which adjoins the magnificent and always bustling Bryant Park, is open to the public and can be visited free of charge, accompanied by volunteers passionate about history and literature. In 2008, it was here that Nora Ephron, the fascinating screenwriter of When Harry met Sallyfor all of her work as a journalist, novelist, screenwriter, director and producer.
Even though no scene in the film shows them on the Hudson River, we can well imagine that one day or another, Harry and Sally found themselves on the docks, redefining the boundaries between friendship and romance. Adirondack Sailing Excursions offers cruises aboard a magnificent 24 meter long sailboat, the most popular of which are the end of the day cruises. But for more economical travelers, the US$4.50 NYC Ferry ticket on the St. George line (which connects Midtown, the Financial District and Staten Island from morning to evening) promises the best value for money. cruise on the Hudson.
The film’s most memorable scene, where Sally fakes an orgasm in a restaurant, was filmed at Katz’s Delicatessen, which opened in 1888 on the Lower East Side. In the tradition of Montreal’s Schwartz’s and other smoked meat legends, we come here neither for the service nor for the decorum. We treat ourselves to a generous sandwich, probably one of the best you can find in New York, surrounded by stars, tourists and locals.
Half a day in the Upper
Hundreds of films and series have filmed in Central Park and When Harry met Sally is no exception. Having just broken up with Joe, Sally meets up with her friends at the chic Boathouse, a restaurant in the heart of Central Park which reopened in 2024. The covered terrace overlooks the lake on which you can travel by rowboat to US$25 per hour.
While we’re there, why not treat yourself to a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, at the height of 82e Rue, one of the most important museums in the world with its approximately two million artifacts presenting 5,000 years of history. It is also in front of the impressive Temple of Isis in Dendour, more than 2000 years old, that Harry invites Sally to a movie night after having fun with the words paprika, pepper and pecan pie.
On a getaway to New York, it’s hard to find more romantic than an evening at the Metropolitan Opera. As prestigious as the venue may be, it is possible to get tickets for US$25 for a same-day performance by purchasing them on the Met Opera app. Before the curtain rises and with a drink in hand, we wander from one floor to the other of the astonishing 3,800-seat room opened in 1966. A Verdi classic perhaps contrasts with the jazz standards that the we find on the soundtrack of Rob Reiner’s film, but it fits perfectly into a New York program, even on a low budget.
Part of the costs of this trip were paid by Air Canada and by New York City Tourism + Conventions, which had no right to review this text.
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Dutyrelating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.
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