Photo: Angelina Katsanis-Pool/Getty Images

Given all the cops and helicopters and traffic jams around Manhattan today, it was impossible to miss the fact that King Charles was spending the day in New York. He had a very dignified itinerary, of course: a visit to the 9/11 Memorial accompanied by Michael Bloomberg, a greeting with the mayor, and, tonight, a gala for his charity, the King’s Trust. But locals eating their lunch in Bryant Park as the choppers buzzed overhead had their own ideas about where to take his Royal highness if they were hosting him for the day. Here, what they had to say.

So where would you take the king? 
Flushing. I doubt he’s been to a place like Flushing. It doesn’t get a lot of tourist attention. It’s authentically New York.

What do you think he’d think of it?
I think he’d say something very diplomatic that lacks any substance. And I think, at his core, he’d probably be appalled.

If you could introduce him to someone, who would it be?
My landlords. They’re old-school Astoria Greeks. I’d have her cook for him!

When people visit, I like to have them walk the High Line. We could start at Hudson Yards and go south to Chelsea. And then down to the Financial District. If it’s King Charles, you want to go to where it’s more historic and you break the grid of New York.

And is there a restaurant you’d like to go to?
I’m vegan, and there’s a really good restaurant I like to go to, Jajaja—a Mexican vegan restaurant. There’s one in the West Village, one on the Lower East Side and one in Williamsburg. I’d get him the chimichanga. It’s their take on a fried chimichanga, where it’s like pulled pork but instead it’s jackfruit, or maybe soy. Probably not his cup of tea!

I would take him down to Coney Island. He’s stuck in Buckingham Palace. Get him to smell that ocean breeze, stick his feet in the sand, really relax. I’d love to see him on the Cyclone. And I’d love to see him eat a dirty water dog. They always say if you gave a Victorian child a Sprite, they would die. I think, at this point, if you gave King Charles a dirty water dog, he would die. We’ll see if his constitution could handle it.

I would also take him to my neighborhood, Ditmas Park. There’s a great restaurant, Jalsa, which serves great Indian food. I can’t sing their praises enough. Although it might be a little perverse, taking the King of Great Britain to an Indian restaurant. Maybe they could mess with him a little bit!

I’d have to take him out to Elmhurst, where it’s a little bit quieter, far from the hustle and bustle of the city. We’d see a lot of the stray cats that are in Elmhurst. That’s what I’d like to show the king.

Do you think he likes cats?
I truly don’t know anything about this man, but he’d better like cats. If you like peace and quiet and you like cats, Elmhurst is the way to go.

I’d take him to the Lower East Side to see the art galleries. It’s just such a vibrant community—creators, storytellers and things like that. It might be a little crazy for him but I think he’d get a kick out of it. And I’d take him to the Dynamo Room near Madison Square Garden. It’s very classy inside, good steaks, nice drinks. I’d tell him to try the ribeye.

Hopefully he’s paying. 
I’m sure he’s got it!

I’d take him to the Bronx. Manhattan, it’s very glorified, but I feel the Bronx shows what New York is. Sadly, it’s very dirty. There’s a lot of homeless people, just a lot of chaos. But the community does help a lot. There’s a lot of places where people can go to get back on their feet.

I’d take him to Fordham Road. That’s the heart of the Bronx, in my opinion, from University Fordham all the way down to Webster Fordham. You’d see a lot of people, a lot of street vendors. I’d get him a pizza and a taco!

We’d take the ferry that goes all the way to the beaches, the Rockaway Ferry. It’s a very unique way to see the city. That whole trip has nice views; you see the Statue of Liberty and the harbor. And that would give us enough time to have a conversation, although I don’t know what I’d say to him. I know he’s into architecture and sustainability so I’d compliment him on that.

Is there a neighborhood you’d like to take him to?
I live on Roosevelt Island so that’s an unusual place. I’m into motion so I’d take him on the tram and go to the south end where the FDR Memorial is, with the beautiful inscription about the Four Freedoms. Actually, I’m sure he doesn’t have a lot of time, so maybe I wouldn’t take him all the way to the Rockaways. Maybe exchange that for the Four Freedoms.

I would take him to Soho. There’s so many things to see there, so many people out, the fashion. Just the shops and the overall setting is really nice. And then the Amber Room. There’s a lot of celebrities there, so I feel like it’d be somewhat fitting. It’s very luxurious.

I’d have to take him to a bagel place for a lox bagel with plain cream cheese. I really like the Bagel Shop. And take the bagel, stroll around Central Park. I like the northern area, the Loch. It’s like 100 to 105th street. There’s a lot of birds and a little waterfall. I think he’d feel at home.

I work in the nonprofit space so then I’d bring him to the office and show him the local work we’re doing. We’d have a ball with that!

I’d take him to McCarren Park. It’s usually pretty lively. Every inch is just packed with people lying on blankets or playing bocce, trying to get a little bit of sunlight. Then we’d walk down Berry Street, which is usually closed to cars. You can walk down the middle of the street. It’s not as packed as Bedford, but it still encapsulates a lot of what Brooklyn and Williamsburg have to offer.

And then we’d take the train to Stone Street. People flock to it the moment it’s a little bit nice out. It’s not where I’d go— it’s like one big intern bar on the street for people who don’t really know where to go. I’d show him that, just to get him a little bit of that kind of feel.

Do you think he’d be fun to hang out with?
Take out the royalty, no. But it could be kind of fun. He’s probably a weird guy.

I’d take him to Fort Greene Park. It’s a good cross-section of people and culture, and then we’d go to Walter’s, which is an American oyster bar. And from there, the Brooklyn Inn, one of the oldest bars in New York, for a pint of Guiness.

Is there anything you’d want to ask him?
Yes. How does it feel to be promoted in your job because you’ve lost a parent?

I don’t really have an answer. I just don’t really want to hang out with King Charles.

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