New York City, USA

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419Eater is my life Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 351

Hi folks

I may well be coming to NYC, USA later this year and am after some 'inside' knowledge'.

Like any tourist I've done my reseach, places to go, sites to see, etc etc but does anyone have any recommendations for places to visit in the city?

Places to eat, cool shops (skater / ska / rock esk), clubs and bars?

Any info much appreciated!

ES

Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 12:48 am

Depends on what your taste is.

I presume you've got things like the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, and Ground Zero on your list.

419Eater is my life Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 351

Yeah absolutely, def Statue of Libery and def Ground Zero.

Re Ground Zero, I can't imagine what I'm going to see or how its going to feel. I'm from the UK so only ever seen it on TV but theres no way you can take in the size, I've no doubt it'll be a massive experiance.

My kind of tastes - generally quite alternative, so rock bars, skater clothe shops, I'm quite into sports as well so though about Madison Square Garden (that is in NYC right?....).

Not quite a Newb Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Posts: 29

If you like sports and you are there in the summer, both the Yankees and that other team (the Mets?) have brand new stadiums. Since one stadium is in Queens and one in the Bronx, it's also an easy way to plan some time outside of the Manhattan tourist route. And, after watching a game you will be that much better able to discuss why "football" is superior.

I'm not hip enough (or young enough) to know about skater shops etc., but whatever you are into, you will find a lot of if in NYC. Possibly more so in Brooklyn these days.

If it's summer, there is a pretty much endless series of free outdoor events (movies, concerts and so forth). Time Out New York should list those.

There's not much to see at Ground Zero, other than a construction site, but there is a lot to see nearby (Wall Street, Brooklyn Bridge, some interesting churches and historic sites) so it's worth visiting the area.

Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 1:35 am

I love going to NY. Luckily for me it's a lot closer Mr. Green

If you choose Statue of Liberty be ready for loooong lines.

Last time in NY my wife and I took in a lot of fun things: Museum of Natural History, Central Park, Dylans Candy shop, a hilarious show (Avenue Q), the Cloisters (north east Manhattan) and St Patrick's Cathedral. Even just walking around Times Square was fun. Oh yeah, and Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center) where you can see for miles in every direction.

If you want to save a ton, stay just outside of Manhatten and take a train in and out of the city. It's not like you'll be in the hotel room very much.

Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 2:22 am

Try eating in a real New York deli. The two that I recommend are

Carnegie Deli
http://www.carnegiedeli.com/

Katz Deli
http://www.katzdeli.com/

Also try any one of the many New York pizza stands. There's too many to list. I think NY style pizza by the slice is great

I'm not a fan of New York hot dogs, I think Chicago does a much better dog.

Going down Mulberry Street in the Little Italy neighborhood of Manhattan is fun. It's filled with New York Italian restaurants.

419Eater is my life Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 351

Quote:

And, after watching a game you will be that much better able to discuss why "football" is superior.

Heh heh I imagine that'd be quite a hard sell over there!

Many thanks for everyone for contributions, its the kind local knowlegde I've been looking for that you can't find in a tourist book Very Happy

Eyyyyyyeee I canni wait lad!

Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 2:50 pm

Hi El Sid,

TripAdvisor is a great site and has a wealth of information on it for you. I'm not sure how long you are staying, but if it's just for a short visit whatever you do, don't ask about renting an apartment on the NYC forum. You can read the sticky's about it. 99% of them are illegal per the Dep't. of Housing laws (which obviously most travellers wouldn't know about) and there are a ton of rental scams on the internet for NYC rentals where unsuspecting people have sent deposits, only to find out either the place doesn't exist, or if it does, it's illegal and they find themselves out on the street. Crying or Very sad

As we know, cyber scammers are hard to catch let alone prosecute, but of the few prolific ones that have been caught, most of them don't even live in the US.

You don't even have to join, unless there are specific questions you'd like to ask. You can just read the posts and find most of the answers, i.e. which are the best hotels to stay at for the value, best places to go and times to see them, restaurants, etc. The members/posters on the forum are a friendly, helpful, and sometimes cantankerous Laughing

group......(mainly when people don't listen to their advice about apartment scams)

Hope you have a fantastic trip if you go!

butt-long linkey

Changed link to prevent forum blowout - crash

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 720

I am from the UK and loved my trip to New York

Great free views of the Manhattan Skyline on the Staten Island Ferry

The White Horse Tavern, 567 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014

Make sure you know what you want before you order at a NY diner or deli , you get a million questions.
Eggs , sunny side up or easy over
Bread white brown rye etc
Dressings ranch, blue cheese etc
You won’t be too popular if you hold up the line whilst asking what is easy over

If you don’t want to stand out like a tourist in Manhattan don’t look up at the tall buildings Wink

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 26 Aug 2006 Posts: 577

Doodle Bug wrote:

If you don’t want to stand out like a tourist in Manhattan don’t look up at the tall buildings Wink

That's a definite. Pigeon hazard. It can blind ya.

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 2:10 am

El Sid, I second, to the letter, absolutely everything the wonderful Bohigal said,m line for line, especially the "Original Rays" (there are 30 "original" Rays).

Bohigal, we need to talk!

Not quite a Newb Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Posts: 29

I always have a difficult time choosing between Famous Rays, Original Rays, Famous Original Rays and Original Famous Rays. So I just go to Two Boots instead.

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:50 am

Oh how could I forget John's Pizza on 44th, just west of Times Sq. Some of the best pizza in the WORLD, and they serve it on towers! If they are full, try Carmine's on the same block for good sitdown Italian.

Best people-watching IMO: Union Square. If you see a doctor playing homemade didgeridoos, thats my brother in law. Very Happy

Not too far from there is Strand Books, a ginormous 2nd hand bookstore. It is so big, it has sections like "South American Astrology" so you'll find something you like.

419Eater is my life Joined: 07 Apr 2006 Posts: 441

Village Vanguard, don't dare to miss it.

Any Broadway show, best one of the "old" ones (they currently play West Side Story, South Pacific, Hair), you can't go wrong with "Lion King", and "Billy Elliot" should be quite interesting.

And, of course, the MET. Tosca starts at $39, and if you're lucky Jonas Kaufmann is singing.

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:14 pm

Hi, ES --

I grew up in The Bronx (the northernmost borough of the five which comprise New York City, although most travelers spend their time on the island/borough of Manhattan). I lived there for several decades, but now live elsewhere and visit only occasionally. Sounds like your tastes are quite different from mine, since I am absolutely unfamiliar with local hotspots and club scenes, and I am definitely not into sports. Nevertheless, I venture to propose five options:

1. Zabar’s “delicatessen” at 80th Street and Broadway . . . featuring breads, nova lox <hand-sliced salmon>, cheese, coffee, pastries . . . a NYCity standby for over 70 years.
Their store is a one-block-long brick-and-mortar exemplar of a classic American immigrant story -- enterprising merchants from Europe who established themselves as purveyors of extraordinary food.

http://www.zabars.com/our-store-on-broadway/OUR_STORE_ON_BROADWAY,default,pg.html

2. Hayden Planetarium < not far from Zabar’s >: Exhibits, scientific lectures, space shows under a domed projector theatre; opportunities to enjoy learning about the universe via high-tech presentations.

http://www.haydenplanetarium.org/

3. Japonica Japanese Restaurant -- very, very expensive menu, yes, but according to many food critics, New York’s best sushi restaurant, offering other options of authentic Japanese food as well. < It’s located way downtown in the heart of “the Village,” between Union Square and Washington Square, near the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 12th Street. > I ate there last time I was in NYCity. Yummm.

http://www.japonicanyc.com/

4. Forbidden Planet Bookstore < not far from Japonica >

Comics, toys, collectibles, science-fiction books and DVDs, manga, all sorts of stuff.
After eating at Japonica I purchased wonderful items related to my “Diana Prince” persona here on Eater, as well as my passion for the television series “Angel.”

http://www.fpnyc.com/

5. Also: I agree with Wurzgnubbel -- it would be well worth trying to see any Broadway show -- matinee or evening. NYCity is (along with London, of course) a mecca of live theatre. Most recently I saw “Mamma Mia” (I would give it only a grade of “B,” but it had full production values as well as a lively cast who came outside at the stage door to generously give autographs after the performance!). It will be hard to go wrong with any show, and the option of getting discounted last-minute tickets via TKTS, as Bohigal suggested, is usually a bargain.

Enjoy, enjoy, ES, and tell us all about it when you return!

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 7:08 pm

Another thing, I took my kids to the Empire State Building at 11PM, and there were no lines. It was packed up top, of course, but it was great.

train boi Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 697

Try eating at Wejenskys steak house, Cheap yet very filling, It is near The Waldorf=Astoria, I am from the UK aswell and went and found New York the hard way

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:01 pm

I'm told the Rockefeller Centre is better value than the Empire State.

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 4:31 am

The architecture at Rockefeller Center is pretty cool, and St. Patties is across 5th Avenue.

Central Park is wonderful, too.

Not quite a Newb Joined: 16 Feb 2009 Posts: 78

bohigal wrote:

1/2 price tickets for Broadway & other shows at the TKTS booth in Times Sq or South Street Seaport.

If you go to Times Square don't forget to get a picture with the Naked Cowboy.

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 7103 Location: Yes

callum wrote:

I'm told the Rockefeller Centre is better value than the Empire State.

Agreed unless you have to say "I was there." BONUS: 30 Rock has a bar at the top.

Take the subway. With some advance planning you can get your routes straightened out and not worry about getting lost. The subway in NYC is the best show you'll see for the least amount of money.

Depending on when you go, NYC always has a variety of festivals, parades and other events, usually revolving around some certain ethnicity or special interest. Some of these can be quite fun.

Agreed as to seeing a play/musical. So many to choose from. I recommend (1) Avenue Q; (2) Billy Elliot; or (3) Hair (haven't seen this incarnation but is getting good reviews). TKTS is fine if you don't mind waiting in line.

Plan around your eating because it may involve some travel. I always like to eat cheaply during the day and then splurge on a nice dinner. I'm going to Peter Luger in Brooklyn in about 2 weeks. Now, admittedly, Luger's is a special event type of dining experience ($$$) but there are plenty of much more affordable places in all the Boroughs -- just depends on how much travel you are willing to do...

419Eater is my life Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 351

@ ermmm all of the above Very Happy

Thanks to everyone who posted on here, some really helpful info to take with me!

Much appreciated y'all and I look forward to gracing this fair City Wink

ES

419Eater is my life Joined: 30 May 2009 Posts: 298

Jack Pump wrote:

Try eating in a real New York deli. The two that I recommend are

Carnegie Deli
http://www.carnegiedeli.com/

Katz Deli
http://www.katzdeli.com/

Also try any one of the many New York pizza stands. There's too many to list. I think NY style pizza by the slice is great

I'm not a fan of New York hot dogs, I think Chicago does a much better dog.

Going down Mulberry Street in the Little Italy neighborhood of Manhattan is fun. It's filled with New York Italian restaurants.

I go to New York occassionally on day trips, but since I live pretty close and it's not a HUGE deal, I wander around. I might book a hotel room for a few days come Labor Day weekend.

The World Trade Center site is pretty banal. It's a fenced off vacant lot with some memorial plaques around it. At least it was last time I went there in July 2007. Has construction started on a replacement structure yet?

I went to some deli near Times Square, but was so floored by the sky-high prices that I walked away. I think I went to Wendys or White Castle instead.

Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 8:08 pm

Quote:

he World Trade Center site is pretty banal. It's a fenced off vacant lot with some memorial plaques around it.

I agree. Instead go straight to St Paul's, a little church that was in the shadow of the towers and still stands. They have a moving memorial there, both inside and out. Its a very historic chapel in its own right; George Washington used to worship there.

After wallowing at ground zero, I'd suggest clear your head and see how alive the city is again with a stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge, not too far away. Maybe check out City Hall Park and look up at City Hall on the way to the bridge.

Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 8:34 pm

First my friends and now a fellow baiter gets to go too! No fairs! I wanna go! (Lives closer to Las Vegas and California). I hear it's quite expensive over there.

Anyhoo, have fun *and watch your back so you don't wake up dead in a dumpster. (*Joking)