Going to New York City

[ShyGuy68]

In a couple of weeks time I'll be in NYC for about a week, and I was wondering if anybody here have any hints as to what to see and do there?

 

[supahspaz]

In a couple of weeks time I'll be in NYC for about a week, and I was wondering if anybody here have any hints as to what to see and do there?

Have you ever been? I like the NBC tour at Rockefeller Center, Times Square is a must, The Empire State Building, Ellis Island is incredible. Where are you staying?

 

[ShyGuy68]

Have you ever been? I like the NBC tour at Rockefeller Center, Times Square is a must, The Empire State Building, Ellis Island is incredible. Where are you staying?

I haven't been in many many years, so it'll more or less be like going for the first time.

I haven't found a hotel yet, but I'm hoping to stay in the city somewhere

 

[supahspaz]

I haven't been in many many years, so it'll more or less be like going for the first time.

I haven't found a hotel yet, but I'm hoping to stay in the city somewhere

Just a warning... hotels in the city are Expen$ive

 

[ShyGuy68]

Just a warning... hotels in the city are Expen$ive

I know!!

 

[supahspaz]

I know!!

I paid just under $400.00 for one night a week ago in TimeSquare.

Hopefully others will chime in on great places to eat. I have been to a bunch but never paid attention...

 

[coy_one]

In a couple of weeks time I'll be in NYC for about a week, and I was wondering if anybody here have any hints as to what to see and do there?

Yeah, hit the train in Union Station and come to DC

 

[naxalite0906]

There is a place near soho on Houston I think (not sure if it is east or west houston) called el paso. Best spanish/mexican place I have ever been to. The paella was awesome..

Hotels are pricey in NY. We stayed in a hostel when I was there. Was about 20 bucks a night.
I love NY. Wish I could go back there soon.

 

[ShyGuy68]

Yeah, hit the train in Union Station and come to DC

How about you take a train to Union Station!!

Not that I don't want to go to DC, I were there years ago, and want to go back one day.

 

[Becca007]

Go to China Town for lunch, but don't go to a resturant there, instead walk around and get things that they sell through the windows of the buildings, like awesome pork buns for a quarter and stuff like that, it's much more fun!

 

[coy_one]

How about you take a train to Union Station!!

Not that I don't want to go to DC, I were there years ago, and want to go back one day.

I'm here!!! All the more reason to cum back!

 

[monique1971]

Restaurants:

Cafe Asean in the West Village (southeast Asian fusion bistro [how's that for too many food buzzwords?])
Venerio's in the East Village (fabulous Italian bakery, be prepared for a long line on a weekend night)
Union Square Cafe (expensive, tough to get a reservation, but exquisite)
Jackson Hole (okay cheap filling burgers and sandwiches near the Metropolitan Museum of Art -- there are not that many inexpensive places to eat up there)
or, buy some food at Whole Foods and have a picnic


Museums

Lower East Side Tenement Museum -- very interesting actual houses that have been restored
Metropolitan Museum of Art (obviously)
Frick Museum (amazing collection of 18th century art)
Museum of the City of New York (way up in Spanish Harlem, but very cool)
Guggenheim (at least walk in and appreciate the building)
MOMA (Modern Art, very high entrance fee but if you like modern art it's worth it)
The American Museum of Natural History is cool but always, always swarming with noisy kids running amok. Be forewarned.

Miscelleaneous Other

Strand Bookstore (vast and fascinating)
Central Park (perfectly safe in good weather and daytime, really lovely in fact -- it's amazing how quiet you can be in the middle of the city)
South Street Seaport (kind of touristy and mall-ish, but still interesting restored 19th century buildings and ships, you can think about Herman Melville)
Film Forum (great place to see wide variety of vintage and foreign films)

have fun....give my regards to Broadway

 

[Crazy_Jezabel]

I miss going to New York. It's the only thing I liked about living in New Jersey.

There's so many things to do in New York. A lot of the things have already been mentioned.

There's also always Statan Island to see the Statue of Liberty. If you want an exausting exercise you can climb the statue to the crown.

 

[naxalite0906]

Gugenheim was covered in scaffolding when i was there in november so might be worth giving it a miss.. You cant see any of it.

 

[kittykateater]

Serendipity 3 at 225 E 60th St, Don't get in line for a table...3-4 hour wait unles your name's Oprah.....just go to cash register and ask for packets of theiir delicious Frozen Hot Chocolate to take home with you. Well worth it.

Strand Book Store, 12th & Broadway in Greenwich Village. 18 miles of used books! Used to be a wonderful bakery across the street called Beethoven's, with a bust of the composer in front, had some incredible cakes, no idea if t's still there, haven't been in years.

New York City Fire Museum, 278 Spring Street in the SoHo district. Lots of history, lots iof interesting exhibits from colonial times to present.

Wander around lower Manhattan a bit. Lots of stuff close to battery park, like Trinity Church, South Street Seaport, and the Circle Line ferry boat ride to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (get your tickets from Circle Line online ahead of time--saves a lot of waiting in line!) Plus usually some really great street entertainers in Battery Park itself. Brooklyn bridge (if you'r enegetic, yoiu can walk across it from Manhattan to Brooklyn--great view but can get a bit windy up there). And of course see where World Trade Center was until 9/11--a great memorial! All of this in walking distnce of each other. Oh and Woolworth Building, great architecture, great view, and once was world's tallest building--it will always be known to New Yorkers as Woolworth Building (Frank Woolworth had it built in 1913) even though current owner Donald Tump wants people to call it Trump Broadway now!

See some great architecture and great views in midtown: Empire State, Chrysler Building, Panam Building, etc.

See a play on Broadway...or off Broadway (they are lower budget and lesser-known productions but can be QUITE enjoyable!)

New York Public Library (5th Ave & 42nd Street)--just to browse. Take a peak at the geneology room--chances are they have info you didn't know on your own family history!

Grand Central Station for its architecture and history or to people-watch. Macy's is also a great place to people-watch.

Central Park--carriage ride is memorable but expensive, or just walk, skateboard, roller-skate, or bicycle.

If you get tired, there are ambitious young kids who'll ride you and a friend or relative around midtown on a three-wheeler bicycle, with covered back seat for 2. Decadent but inexpensive.

United Nations Building (not near much of anything else though, so kind of out of your way)

 

[monique1971]

Strand Book Store, 12th & Broadway in Greenwich Village. 18 miles of used books! Used to be a wonderful bakery across the street called Beethoven's, with a bust of the composer in front, had some incredible cakes, no idea if t's still there, haven't been in years.

That's gone. Now there's a chain bakery. Typical of the way the city's been going in recent years.

I loved some of your suggestions. I'll have to check out that fire museum sometime.

 

[kittykateater]

I miss going to New York. It's the only thing I liked about living in New Jersey.

There's so many things to do in New York. A lot of the things have already been mentioned.

There's also always Statan Island to see the Statue of Liberty. If you want an exausting exercise you can climb the statue to the crown.

I too grew up in New Jersey (I'm now in California). Went back for a visit 2 years ago to show my wife my old hangouts where I grew up, and among other places went to Statue of Liberty....they no longer let you climb up inside to the crown....spiral stairway considered unsafe. You can look up into the crown but not go up there to see the view from the top.

If you have time to go places other than NY City itself, go see Atlantic City for the gaudy casinos and luxury hotels. Wildwood has a great boardwalk, not so gaudy as Atlantic City. Cape May has beautiful old Victoran homes, great old hotels and restaurants, and the town has ocean on 3 sides, pristine beaches. Less than 100 miles from NY City.

 

[kittykateater]

That's gone. Now there's a chain bakery. Typical of the way the city's been going in recent years.

Too bad--that was a GREAT bakery! We have the same kind of problem in our city. We had a place that made a truly delicious breakfast sandwich and FRESH-SQUEEZED orange juice, they had to close almost 2 years ago, owner told me they couldn't compete with McDonald's at breakfast time. Guess people would rather eat that McD slop in a hurry, than to take time to enjoy really GOOD food, and that's a shame! Damn but I miss their fresh OJ!

A place opened here locally a few months ago, that makes pizza from scratch, all fresh ingredients, never frozen. Best dang pizza I've ever had. But I never see other customers when I'm in there and I doubt he'll be able to compete against Domino's, Round Table, and all those other cheap cardboard frozen pizzas, so I doubt he'll be here a year from now. I've been telling everyone about him, and he does advertise, but I don't think that's helped build much clientele--he doesn't have an advertising budget to compete with Round Table's advertising budget.

 

[Crazy_Jezabel]

I too grew up in New Jersey (I'm now in California). Went back for a visit 2 years ago to show my wife my old hangouts where I grew up, and among other places went to Statue of Liberty....they no longer let you climb up inside to the crown....spiral stairway considered unsafe. You can look up into the crown but not go up there to see the view from the top.

I didn't know that. When did that stop? I've only climbed the statue of liberty once and I was about 13 or 14-years-old. I can't even remember who I climbed the stairs with anymore, but I do remember it was very difficult to climb the crown with the spiral stairs. I'm guessing some stupid person sued because he or she hurt himself and now no one can climb to the crown anymore.

I don't quite remember who I was with, but I remember I was with a few people. I know only two of us went up to the crown and during that time you weren't alloud to climb to the tourch.

 

[ShyGuy68]

Thanks for all the suggestions! And please keep them coming, I'll print this thread before I leave.

A friend from Canada was supposed to join me for some days, but had to cancel, so now my plans are to stay in NYC from Monday to Thursday, and then head out of the city and visit Mystic until Sunday. Just to experience something else..

 

[KirkStar]

.. and don't forget the boat tour around Manhatten. It's stunning and not to expensive.

 

[orgasmicsizzle]

Walk from Broadway down to Battery park, I love that walk...

 

[DiSparrow]

I was recently in NYC with a photography class. We stayed at a place called the Picwick Arms it's in Manhattan and I don't think it was all too expensive. It's a bit different as they are not exactly rooms, but they call them pods. They are just big enough for the beds and a little walking room. But is was a great location.. could walk anywhere.. just a few blocks off times square.

Like some one said times square, Elis Isle, etc.. are the basic places to see there. When i went Battery Park was all tore up, but I am guessing that is fixed up now. Central park is amazing. Like going into a forest in the middle of the city. Also another great place to go that I loved was The Metropolitan Museum, could have spent a few days there.

 

[rootsfan]

I haven't been in many many years, so it'll more or less be like going for the first time.

I haven't found a hotel yet, but I'm hoping to stay in the city somewhere

Hey ShyGuy, give this place a shot:
http://www.washingtonsquarehotel.com/english/ws_toc.htm

I stayed there a couple of years ago. The room was tiny but clean, and the price was quite good, as is the location. Might be tough to get a reservation on short notice. Good luck.

 

[naxalite0906]

If you have time to go places other than NY City itself, go see Atlantic City for the gaudy casinos and luxury hotels. Wildwood has a great boardwalk, not so gaudy as Atlantic City. Cape May has beautiful old Victoran homes, great old hotels and restaurants, and the town has ocean on 3 sides, pristine beaches. Less than 100 miles from NY City.

I found atlantic city to be a very depressing place. There didn't seem like that much to do, the casinos were full of zombie like people, and if you ventured of the boardwalk you felt like you were gonna get attacked..