What Would The Founding Fathers Do in NYC On July 4th?

By Dom Bewley

July 4th is fast approaching. A time when we all celebrate independence, and maybe re-watch a certain cheesy sci-film too. Thanks to the Founding Fathers, we have so much to be grateful for. It’s just a shame they couldn’t see what a great country America has become. But what if they could? What if we could somehow travel back to the 18th century, and bring some of the Founding Fathers to 2019? Who’d have the biggest Instagram following? Which would start their own reality show? And how would they be spending July 4th? Well, through the magic of time travel, we can tell you now. Here is a totally real list that we definitely didn’t make up. What would the Founding Fathers do in NYC this July 4th?

George Washington

How could we not start with the top dog himself? Hero of the War for Independence and our very first President, George Washington needs no introduction. Well known for his wooden teeth and hatred of cherry trees, he also famously crossed the Delaware River in order to land a humiliating blow against the nefarious British. And the first thing he said to us when we brought him to 2019 was “I want to see the city by sea”. Really. He really said that. That’s why we recommended he take a Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise! George marvelled at the iconic modern skyline and learnt a lot about his future (and our past) from one of the award-winning guides that accompanied us on our cruise. He loved it.

Thomas Jefferson

TJ was POTUS number 3, but what a lot of people don’t know about him is that he was something of a palaeontologist. He amassed a huge collection of fossils and was particularly obsessed with woolly mammoths. So after we brought him to 2019, we had a good chat, and the first thing he wanted to do was go to the American Museum of Natural History. He loved the 94-foot long blue whale and was in awe of the Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton.

Benjamin Franklin

Ben Franklin loved science, and is often considered the man who discovered electricity. Sadly, kite-flying isn’t as popular as it used to be, so he insisted on going to the New York Hall of Science. Ol’ Ben-Dog got his hands all over the 450+ interactive exhibits on offer, and even managed to confirm some of his 18th century hypotheses. When he goes back, he may even be able to change the course of human history. Because this is definitely real. We've mastered time travel pretty well, wouldn't you say?

Alexander Hamilton

Founder of the New York Post, and current Broadway star, Alexander Hamilton was humbled to see how far his renown had continued to rise over 200 years later. In disguise, we managed to sneak him onto the Hamilton Happy Hour Tour, a two-hour walking tour through New York’s oldest neighbourhood. Hamilton enjoyed how much his life and accomplishments still mean to people. And so will you.

John Hancock

Most famous for sporting the first, and largest, signature on the Declaration of Independence, John Hancock was also a hugely successful merchant with a thriving trade business. Secretly, though, he simply loved fireworks. That’s why he’s so looking forward to seeing Macys Fourth of July fireworks over the Brooklyn Bridge. He wouldn’t shut up about the 75,000 fireworks due to be set off, and he’s also hungry to flex his trading muscles with an 11% discount at Macy’s Herald Square.

James Madison

America’s tiniest president, James Madison stood at just 5’4”. So you can understand his delight when we took him on a Madison Square Garden All Access Tour. Though he didn’t know much about modern sports, he was understandably delighted that one of the most famous sporting arenas on the planet was named after him. He especially loved the VR experience showcasing some of The Garden’s biggest ever events.

John Adams

One of Americas greatest ever patriots, John Adams is also responsible for the country’s oldest band – the United States Marine Band. Who knew he was such a music lover? Well, we did. He told us in person when we brought him to 2019. That’s when we knew that we had to take him on a Harlem Gospel Tour. On the three hour tour, John learned a lot about the cultural roots of Gospel music, and got to see many of Harlem’s most famous landmarks like the Apollo Theater, Abyssinian Baptist Church and Striver’s Row.

So if you were wondering what the Founding Fathers would do in NYC this July 4th, now you know!

Want more inspiration on things to do this Independence Day weekend? Check out our blog on things to do in NY this summer.

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Win a New York Helicopter Tour this Black Friday

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Dom Bewley
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Best Burgers In Manhattan

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Emily Head over to the West Village to try the taste sensation that's sweeping the nation. PRETZEL BUNS. Truly as decadent as it sounds, Emily's delicious take on the American classic needs to be seen to be believed. Just look at that picture below. The Spotted Pig If you're familiar with the West Village, you're probably aware of The Spotted Pig already. It's a burger joint to the stars and is Dorsia-levels of hard to get a table. However, unlike Partick Bateman, resist the urge to take our frustration out on your co-workers. Even if they don't appreciate the magnificence of Huey Lewis. Simply persist, hungry one. Their noodle-cut fries are to die for. In hindsight, perhaps that's the wrong way to phrase it. Easily one of the best burgers in Manhattan, if you can get in the door. J.G. Melon Looking for a burger without any of the overindulgent trimmings? A classic burger. A burger that embodies the simple truth of the American Dream? Well, J.G Melon's might be just the thing. Just beef, lettuce, onion, pickles and cheese in a bun. It's simple. It's fantastic. Rumour has it that the J.G stands for Just Great. It probably doesn't. We just made that up. BarBacon Ever heard of a bacon flight? For the uninitiated, a bacon flight is a taster plate of bacon from different places, cured with different techniques, all with unique tastes. If that sounds like the best thing ever then you're right. It is. And BarBacon, in Hell's Kitchen, should be on your bucket list. Along with their salivating bacon flights, they also do burgers. Damn good burgers to boot. Why not compliment said burger and said bacon flight with some fried pickles? Then simply run around Manhattan for about 2 days to burn off all those amazing calories. Easily deserves its place as one of the best burgers in Manhattan. Burger & Barrel This SoHo joint doubles up as a 'winepub', so if you want to trick a date into thinking you're sophisticated, take them here. Alongside their diverse and delicious wines, they also have a signature 'bash burger' that's topped by a handsomely-sized portion of onion rings. A burger so good it's won the NY Food & Wine Festivals Event a grand total of five times. Just make sure to do all your neanderthalling in the bathroom. No one needs to see you picking stuff out of your hair and smelling it. Le Rivage Bonjour, mes amis. Want a little taste of the tricolor with your American burger? Le Rivage has you covered. It also has a French onion soup burger, covered in cheese sauce and onions. All of that between a decidedly English muffin, and topped with a pickled onion. Mon Dieu! Grade school French is finally paying off. Keens Steakhouse As you'd expect from a prestigious steak house like Keens, their burger is a meaty force to be reckoned with. A thick, juicy patty that would put some steaks to shame is partnered with lashings of cheese, onion, tomato, and pickle. If you don't have much work to do after lunch, go order one from the bar and then vegetate in the office until the end of the day. Whitmans Ever thought to yourself 'I'd love to eat a cheeseburger where the cheese is inside the patty'? How oddly specific of you. However, you are indeed in luck. It's called a Juicy Lucy, and it already exists! And thanks to the good folk at Whitmans, you can now pick one up on your doorstep, or thereabouts. With locations in the East Village, Hudson Yards and SoHo, you're sure to find an oozing patty within walking distance. 4 Charles Prime Rib We end this list, last but certainly not least, with this intimate supper club in the West Village. While not a burger joint per se, their American Cheeseburger is one of the best around. It's simple yet sublime, no gimmicks necessary. It's also served with a steak knife right through its heart. Definitely enough to sink your teeth into. Van Helsing would shed a tear. Apologies, I'm done with the vampire shenanigans. And that's our list of the best burgers in Manhattan. If these aren't enough to pique your fancy, then what the hell is wrong with you? Of course, Manhattan is teeming with delicious burger joints, so let us know if we missed any of your favorites in the comments below. Looking for something to do after you eat? Why not check out the best jazz clubs in town?
Dom Bewley

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