Spending a week in NYC

[BvBPL]

@BvBLP: Turns out I do like books, will definately be passing by that area. What happens at St. Mark's at night?

St. Mark's is the only place I know where you can get a tarot reading by a punk-rock gypsy at 2am. A lot of colorful people, frequently because of their tattoos, hang out there. St. Mark's itself is safe, but it abuts Tompkins Square which has a nasty reputation. It is in the Bowery / Lower East Side / Alphabet City, which is a kind of cool place to hang out.

 

[NetGear]

I second taking the subway, it's part of the NY experience, plus taxis can be a bit expensive. Although taking a NY cab is also part of the NY experience. I love how the NY subway is so grimey, it's like, **** the rest of the world, we don't have to impress you by making a nice looking subway system, we're NY damn it.

Another thing that often impresses visitors to NY, the manholes actually do have steam coming out of them sometimes. It's not just in the movies.

Haha To a tourist all those things may be items of curious interest, but those are the worst thing about the nyc. Citys too damn stingy and lazy to join 21st century and yet its ironically seen as iconic modern city of the world.

First thing I do after coming back from the city is take a shower. Ugh. I dunno how people live there. That place is just grimey.

 

[Takhisis]

So the city's really getting full of riffraff?

 

[ParkCungHee]

Chinatown

Visit Chinatown Flushing. It's much nicer then Chinatown Manhattan.

 

[ParkCungHee]

If you like books, the Strand is brilliant. Forbidden Planet is a must see if you like comic books.

I second the strand, but if you like comics, Midtown Comics is the place that springs to mind. Of course Riffraff is European, so he's likely to be disappointing with an American Comic store.

 

[Narz]

@Narz: Yeah, am also really hoping for many non-rainy days. I'm not sure I'm up to actually getting my ass handed to me at chess, but I'm sure to stroll through some parks and I'll watch out for the places you wrote. You still very active in chess?

Yeah, I've been really active the last couple of years : http://main.uschess.org/datapage/ratings_graph.php?memid=12758884

If you're up for it we could possibly meetup one day when you're in the city. Maybe grimes can come do.

Someday I want to have a CFC meetup where we play Civ the boardgame but it takes hours & probably is not part of your ideal day in NYC!

 

[Riffraff]

@peter: Thanks alot for all those recommendations, I checked out the high line and that really looked quite fantastic. I will also keep the Ars Nova in mind, I enjoyed the last two 'modern' theater productions I went to, so that might fit me quite nicely.

I am too jealous. When I actually do go to NY, I will be sure to take all these tips myself

I admit, making people jealous was one of the reasons for creating this thread

St. Mark's is the only place I know where you can get a tarot reading by a punk-rock gypsy at 2am. A lot of colorful people, frequently because of their tattoos, hang out there. St. Mark's itself is safe, but it abuts Tompkins Square which has a nasty reputation. It is in the Bowery / Lower East Side / Alphabet City, which is a kind of cool place to hang out.

Ok, you have me sold.

So the city's really getting full of riffraff?

aye, the one man mob is coming to town ..

Yeah, I've been really active the last couple of years : http://main.uschess.org/datapage/ratings_graph.php?memid=12758884

If you're up for it we could possibly meetup one day when you're in the city. Maybe grimes can come do.

Someday I want to have a CFC meetup where we play Civ the boardgame but it takes hours & probably is not part of your ideal day in NYC!

Nice nice, looking good those ratings!

I'd definately be up for a meetup, a day between the 15th and 17th would be great. Does that work for you? Any other CFC'ers wanna join?

 

[peter grimes]

So the city's really getting full of riffraff?

Nah, the city is safer than ever. There's really no reason to fear crime here. Certainly some neighborhoods aren't as safe as others, but a tourist isn't going to wind up that far out. I wouldn't worry about anything beyond the usual.

 

[BvBPL]

That's for sure, Peter Grimes. My girlfriend and I are watching the original Law and Order from the early 90s and it is bizarre to see how differently the city is portrayed in that versus how it is now. My girlfriend is generally unfamiliar with New York except for a few recent visits, so I have to explain to her how Times Square used to be filled w/ peep shows, etc.

 

[dutchfire]

If you're going to the Empire State Building: Expect long queues there!
I quite liked the Statue of Liberty and I don't think the queue was too bad, but we had pre-ordered tickets online. There is also the possibility of going to Ellis Island, but that seems to be more interesting to Americans than to foreigners.

 

[Narz]

Nice nice, looking good those ratings!

Thanks, been kind of stuck bouncing between 1900 and 2000 though. That ceiling is tough to crack.

I'd definately be up for a meetup, a day between the 15th and 17th would be great. Does that work for you? Any other CFC'ers wanna join?

I'd like to but my girlfriend will be out of town from the 15th - 19th so I'll have full time child care duty & probably won't be able to come to the city those particular days.

How about Monday the 14th?

 

[jtb1127]

Nah, the city is safer than ever. There's really no reason to fear crime here. Certainly some neighborhoods aren't as safe as others, but a tourist isn't going to wind up that far out. I wouldn't worry about anything beyond the usual.

I think he was making a joke about the OP's username. But I agree, the city is pretty safe.

 

[Riffraff]

Ok guys, so I'll be heading out tomorrow morning - thanks again very much for the all the advice. I'll make sure to post a recap of sorts when I get back

@Narz: sent you a pm.

 

[bestbrian]

Hopefully, I can catch you before you go. First, welcome, and have a great time.

Secondly, as a cop, and a New Yawka, don't be a typical tourist. You'd be shocked at how many people can't manage a simple grid system to find their way around. Here's your navigation guide for most of Manhattan. There are four cardinal direction, Uptown, Downtown, Eastside, Westside. Avenues run up and down, streets east to west. Streets east of fifth avenue are prefixed East, and west of fifth avenue, you guessed it, West, and the building numbers progress from that axis. Thus, "2 East 86" would be right off 5 Avenue, and "200 East 86" several blocks further east. Avenue building numbers begin downtown, and ascend as they proceed uptown, with (usually) odd numbers on one side, and evens on the other. On streets, odd building numbers are on the uptown side, and evens on the downtown side (so, you'll always know which way is up or down by checking the numbers). As a GENERAL rule, even numbered streets run east, and odd ones west ("E=Even=East"). Pretty simple.

Please don't stop in the middle of a sidewalk; step to the side if you have to fiddle with your phone, or if you're walking much slower than everyone else. Read a local newspaper each day (I prefer the Daily News), if for nothing else, but to check the traffic reports; knowing where traffic is backed up, some dignitary is shutting down streets, or where protests are headed can make getting around a lot easier.

Places to go: The Met has been mentioned, but The Frick, and the Neue Gallerie are splendid, as well. A Rangers game at the Garden could be fun. Signing up for "Club Free Time" gives a lot of options.

Eats: Sevilla, on W 4th and Charles in the village, is my favorite restaurant, and I've been going there for almost 40 years. Outstanding Spanish food, and a great neighborhood for walking off a full belly. Wo Hop is good for some sloppy Chinese. Katz's Delicatessen is a MUST; the pastrami is SO good.

Have a great time, and if you need anything, don't hesitate to PM.

 

[kochman]

Hi everyone,

I know there a several posters from NYC around here, whom I'd like to ask for some advice.

I'm attending a wedding this weekend on Long Island, after which I have around a week to spend in NY. I have the feeling the town is awesome enough to simply wander around more or less aimlessly for a week, but perhaps some pointers could make my experience even better. I'm on a sort of medium budget and will be staying in a hostel on amsterdam ave / 87th street.

I'll definately be wanting to do some of the standards like MoMA, Chinatown, visiting a (off)-broadway show. I think I'll be avoiding stuff like the Empire State or the Statue of Liberty, as I'm not a huge fan of queues.

So, what stuff should I definately not miss? Is there something special on from the 14-18th, some awesome concert in an edgy neighborhood for instance ? Any pitfalls you want to warn me of?

Thanks in advance guys

Listen, if you don't go to the Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art), you lose. Admission is voluntary, you can pay one cent, or 100 dollars... GO TO IT WHATEVER YOU CAN AFFORD.

I've been to all the great art museums except the Louvre, and the Met easily blows them all away.

 

[NovaKart]

If you go to the Met try to get an idea of what you want to see beforehand, check out their website. You could spend your whole visit just visiting that place so it helps to plan or you get overwhelmed. It's true, admission is voluntary. They have a sign with the admission price but if you look closely it says - suggested donation or something like that.

 

[bestbrian]

If you go to the Met try to get an idea of what you want to see beforehand, check out their website. You could spend your whole visit just visiting that place so it helps to plan or you get overwhelmed. It's true, admission is voluntary. They have a sign with the admission price but if you look closely it says - suggested donation or something like that.

So true. I live a couple of blocks away from the Met, so I go about once a month, and I usually just donate $5 (seems fair). Having an idea of what you'd like to see is important. Just wandering around, I get sensory overload after about two hours, and have to run out of there.