Travel: New York City

[Nija]

The girl and I are going to New York City. She would like to go from April 18 - April 26. (G|A? get together anyone ;) )

She wants to stay near Central Park, so we can walk to "Our Broadway show" (Spam-a-lot if I have my way, Wicked if she has hers). We are going to do all the typical touristy things, Statue of Liberty, WTC, Times Square, Little Italy, Carnegie Deli, etc. We bought a Lonely Planet guide, but I was just wondering if anyone some other recommendations.

We were thinking about staying at the Ameritania Hotel (http://www.ameritaniahotelnewyork.com/) or possibly The Roosevelt (http://www.theroosevelthotel.com/). *shrug*. I'm indifferent. Things we can walk to are always appreciated.

Thanks!

(Any recommendations for good travel sites are appreciated too!)

[ray]

I say you go see both shows.

If this is your first time there, definitely set a day aside to check out the museums (don't forget they're closed on Mondays!). I really like the Guggenheim and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

I haven't been to South Street Seaport in a few years, but it's worth the trip down for lunch or dinner just to spend time with everybody else who is enjoying their visit to NYC.

Taking the subway will be a good way to get around the city without the hassle of traffic etc. That time of year it shouldn't be brutally hot, so the subways won't smell. You can pick up a 1-day funpass at most of the major stations and in Times Square at the travel bureau. The 1-day pass is $7 for unlimited subway/bus rides. You can also purchase a 7-day pass for $24 for unlimited subway/bus rides. I would ask if there are any restrictions on those passes, but I don't believe there are.

Please, please, please be sure to get a good slice of greasy pizza whle you're there!!! And if you're awake early enough, get a bagel from one of the street vendors!!! Hell, i'll pay you to bring back some Dunkin' Donuts for me :)

I'm sure redcolours and Burzhui can chime in with some more suggestions. I think they're both more familiar with the area than I am. It's been a few years since I putzed around NYC for that much time.

[oblongmelon]

Take a Greyline tour ..you'll see some cool places like the Apollo Theatre and Grants Tomb! (which last time I saw it was covered in graffiti). Sit on the stairs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and just watch people. Go to St. Patricks and make a wish when you go in..GEt a dirty water dog with the works from a Street Vendor...
There is just so much to do there that the locals consider every day kind of stuff...you'll have a great time! (glad to see that the Carnegie deli is on your list..they have the most wicked corned beef and pastrami sandwiches you'll ever eat!-for at least two days because they are so huge..lol)

[JackHammer]

Here's a few places off the top of my head:

bars:
Chumley's on Bedford and Barrow St. This use to be a speakeasy during th Prohibition. You'll not be able to find it if you're not looking for it (86 Bedford St.). There are no signs outside just go to the address and and open the door and go in. Many famous people use to hang out there. Dylan, Thoureau and the lot of them.

McSorley's, never been but it has history.

lounge: the Lobby Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental at Columbus Circle. It's kinda ritzy but ain't too bad. I remember I met up with a girl I was dating at the time there late one night. Nice and romantic and the costs aren't that staggering. Despites its name, the lounge is actually situated pretty high up becasue the hotel's lobby is high up. You get a nice view of Central Park and the NYC skyline.

Walk around SOHO. Nice shopping and they have some pretty cool stores like Burton, Patagonia, Victorinox, Apple, and other stuff the lady would like.

Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and go to Lombardi's for pizza. All the tourists do that. Personally I've never been but I hear the pizza is good.

Definitely walk around the Village (East, West and Greenwich) and SoHo.

Yeah if there is a gotapex get together let me know. I'll defintely try to make it.:cheers:

[kimchicowboy]

i would definitely try to make it up from DC (when i was dating a girl in NYC, i went up at least two weekends a month).

arkistan may be able to give some info too.

[cruelpupet]

If you head down to the south street seaport, you will be right next to the bodies exhibit, also heartland brewery right across from the Peking (one of the wooden ships at the seaport) has a nice beer sampler.

There are too many amazing restaurants to list, but there is a 24hr dive place in chinatown called Wo Hop at 17 Mott St thats good, and there's Joe's Shanghai for the most authentic shanghinese ffod youll find. Get the Xio Lum Bao there (pork).

Walk through Central Park, take the subway everywhere, theres some nice art in the subways....for a free peak at the Statue of Liberty you can take the Staten Island Ferry, you can alos get some good shots of Manhattan from it too.

Check out the Alligator/Crocodile lounge (around or on 14th st) You get a free 8" pizza with every beer you buy. One of them is in Williamsburg Brooklyn the other in Manhattan, I always forget which one is which, but both do the pizza thing.

Of couse youll want to take the girl down 5th Ave, and take her into Tiffanys.

Take a train into Coney Island and see it before it (Astroland) disappears. Not sure if it'll be open by then, but ride the Cyclone. This was also the setting of "The Warriors"

Also walk across the Brooklyn Bridge...great view.

Katz's deli, if you want to eat in the When Harry met Sally place. The Seinfeld Diner is on Broadway somewwhere in the 100's...hard to miss.

[ufcrusher]

Just look for all the pink neon signs blinking XXX. Some will be movies, some will be peep shows, and some may be a guy named Nate who answers to Natalia who hangs around Columbia and will charge you $2 for a reac...

Oh wait. Crap...they cleaned up New York. Nija, there is no reason for you to go.

:hihi: just kidding.

[JackHammer]

If you head down to the south street seaport, you will be right next to the bodies exhibit, also heartland brewery right across from the Peking (one of the wooden ships at the seaport) has a nice beer sampler.

There are too many amazing restaurants to list, but there is a 24hr dive place in chinatown called Wo Hop at 17 Mott St thats good, and there's Joe's Shanghai for the most authentic shanghinese ffod youll find. Get the Xio Lum Bao there (pork).

Walk through Central Park, take the subway everywhere, theres some nice art in the subways....for a free peak at the Statue of Liberty you can take the Staten Island Ferry, you can alos get some good shots of Manhattan from it too.

Check out the Alligator/Crocodile lounge (around or on 14th st) You get a free 8" pizza with every beer you buy. One of them is in Williamsburg Brooklyn the other in Manhattan, I always forget which one is which, but both do the pizza thing.

Of couse youll want to take the girl down 5th Ave, and take her into Tiffanys.

Take a train into Coney Island and see it before it (Astroland) disappears. Not sure if it'll be open by then, but ride the Cyclone. This was also the setting of "The Warriors"

Also walk across the Brooklyn Bridge...great view.

Katz's deli, if you want to eat in the When Harry met Sally place. The Seinfeld Diner is on Broadway somewwhere in the 100's...hard to miss.

Crocodile Lounge?!!!?? You go there? I go there with some work people quite often. It's on E14th St. between 2nd and 3rd. I work for Con Ed and our headquarters isnt too far away so once in a while we trek there. Good times.

[Nija]

Sounds like a get together is already in the making... excellent ;)