NYC VISIT

[ggmiller]

Hi All,

Off to New York on Wednesday, this will be my 4th time so i've done the usual sights etc...

So, I'm thinking what can i do that is not the normal touristy stuff? I do that anyway so looking for more unusual suggestions.

Any and all ideas welcome, I'll likely have done a couple but still grateful for any pointers.

Thanks in advance,

Glenn

 

[TonyP]

We went late Oct/early November last year, although we've been 7 or 8 times before we made a point of doing different things to previous trips.

Have you been to the 911 museum yet?, quite moving but really interesting too (I'm struggling to find the right words here but you know what I mean).

Also, weather depending, the highline walk is lovely, weaving it's way in & out of buildings at an elevated level as it's an old railway, go from mid-town heading towards downtown & there's a nice pub & ice cream place at the end, make sure you don't need the loo before you start the walk as there's nowhere to pee en-route.

http://www.thehighline.org/

Foodwise, Keens steakhouse is great (but pricey).

http://keens.com/

Tony

 

[ggmiller]

Have you been to the 911 museum yet?, quite moving but really interesting too (I'm struggling to find the right words here but you know what I mean).


I do know what you mean and yes i've been a couple of times - and i'd sum it up that way too.

Highline is another fave, weather a bit cooler than on previous trips but I'll while away a couple of hours there too i'm sure.

Not tried Keens yet but a steakhouse is on the list so i'll do that one! - cheers.

 

[SeanConnor]

What about the New York Transit Museum ?
http://www.nytransitmuseum.org/

Maybe a bit anoraky

Have a (careful) look around Harlem ?


Find some street musicians around Gramercy Park or Washington Park

Find a roof bar of an evening (I LOVE roof bars)

This one has a great view of The Empire State . It's on top of the La Quinta 32nd St

http://www.vunyc.com/

Have a look at the complete sh*te on sale along The Bowery.

Go the The High Line Park

http://www.thehighline.org/

 

[TonyP]

How come I didn't know about the transit museum?, I'm nerdy at times, this is just my thing

OP, another thing to consider, the Federal Gold reserves - been there?, you do need to pre book tho, this is really good (& free ), long time since I went there, certainly pre 2001 as I remember sitting in a fast food place looking out onto the twin towers, I don't supposed the gold reserves have changed much though.

https://www.newyorkfed.org/aboutthefed/visiting.html

 

[TonyP]

OP, sorry, they keep coming, if you like your converse shoes, the converse store now has a design studio where you can create your own custom shoes from scratch, they then get made & posted to you, not sure if they ship out of the US.

This was opening the day after we left :x

 

[jimmybell]

Regarding restaurants - book now, the better steakhouses will need a few days notice, or like too much of the US will be first come first serve 'no reservations' style.

The last one i went to was Del Frisco's (my office is on times sq), found myself sat on a table next to the fox news sports team, and A-rod and a crowd of similar level baseball players, so cant be that bad!

tbh i've been to the US enough now that my focus is always around finding new/cool food and drink as my method of tourism! I'm yet to do it in NYC, but in other major cities i've hired cars and gone to more suburban areas, i find just seeing places interesting. Particularly enjoyed doing the 'tradition' of $1 hotdogs at jean and judes (chicago), where families will come and just open up the car boot and sit around on camping chairs in the parking lot chowing on cheap food and chatting to randoms. Similarly brewery tours are always interesting - their craft beer scene is years ahead of ours, and i know there's some goodens in and around manhattan.

I'm also guilty of following timeout/thrillist/zagat etc 'top things to do in XYZ city', and it usually pays off: https://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/101-things-to-do-in-new-york

 

[Darren Slone]

We went last year and Parked on Amsterdam Avenue and walked the length of Central Park from the South, didn't realise we'd parked in Harlem until I told my mate when we got back to his in Ridgewood :roll: got shouted at a bit but that's all from some street guys

How about an afternoon/ evening in Hoboken? The home of Sinatra, they have concerts on a Friday night outside 'Blue Eyes' Restaurant with a cracking view over to Manhattan

Catch the train from around the 911 memorial under the Hudson

 

[Darren Slone]

This is the building to look for, you can't miss it from the Manhattan side!

 

[1000rr]

Been lots of times, last year did 2 weeks. Brooklyn is brilliant for food, as is the bronx, just use the subways to get there. There's some fab eateries and bars, and a fraction of the price of Manhattan. Lots of music venues and hidden bars and art places too. The MOMA is worth a look.... as is midtown , Greenwich village, little Italy etc...

Here's some pics of the bronx, Brooklyn, east side.

 

[1000rr]

 

[1000rr]

 

[Darren Slone]

Some great pics there 8)

 

[jamesditchy]

+1 for keens steakhouse. Excellent food in traditional setting. God knows how long it took them to stick all those steak knives to the ceilings

 

[TonyP]

+1 for keens steakhouse. Excellent food in traditional setting. God knows how long it took them to stick all those steak knives to the ceilings

They're not steak knives, they are old clay pipes, apparently there are approx 45,000 attached to the ceilings & they have about the same again in storage, according to our server anyway.

 

[DMC63]

Great pics. I love NY. Haven't been since '91. Stayed on Ave D opposite the Spanish park.
It was absolutely crazy back then. Loved it soo much. Was living a a squatted apartment block. It was like being
in a film.

 

[jamesditchy]

+1 for keens steakhouse. Excellent food in traditional setting. God knows how long it took them to stick all those steak knives to the ceilings

They're not steak knives, they are old clay pipes, apparently there are approx 45,000 attached to the ceilings & they have about the same again in storage, according to our server anyway.

Oh that's right. It was a good few years ago when we were there. All the waiters wore leather aprons too if I remember

 

[patriot66]

Intrepid Air and Space Museum is awesome ! http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/ WWII mahoooossive aircraft carrier with loads of aircraft plus SR71 Blackbird, a Concorde and the Space Shuttle Enterprise !
Sam Ash Music Store behind The New Yorker Hotel on W 34th St is mind blowing if your a musician, particularly a guitarist. Room after room of guitars inc. vintage/antiques, keyboards, drums etc. I could literally spend a fortune in there !
The Tribeca Grill is excellent for dining out. The 36oz Ribeye Steak for two is superb ! Co-owned by Robert de Niro, his paintings hang on the walls and make sure you check out all his posters and memorabilia in the corridor on your way to the 'John' !!

 

[Spock]

Not quite a restaurant recommendation from me, but you should eat at a proper NYC deli. I think the Carnegie Deli has closed, though I'm not to sure, and there are plenty of others. Make sure you have some home made/cooked corned beef or pastrami. You should also have a 'slice' at a proper Italian-American take away pizza shop. Don't offend the Family!

A visit to the NYSE or the NASDAQ are interesting if you can get one organised. Go to an event in Madison Square Garden. And if you have time go to a baseball game. (Yankees, not Mets!)

And drink cocktails!

 

[TonyP]

I think the Carnegie Deli has closed.......

Indeed it did on the 30th Dec 2016, shame as Mrs P & I had a lovely breakfast there during our stay late last year.