New York Nesties
MrsKocal
member
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Visiting NYC? Read this first!
Hello fellow Nestie! Welcome to our city!
On the NYC board, we get lot of requests for information about what to do and see when visiting the Big Apple. So, we thought it would be helpful to create a post where NYC Nesties could put all of their travel tips and advice in one place.
If you are visiting New York and have questions about what to do, where to stay and places to visit, please read this thread first. You will likely find the answers you are looking for right here! Then, if you still have questions, feel free to post on our board and we will be more than happy to help you if we can.
Enjoy your trip!
Re: Visiting NYC? Read this first!
My suggestions:
Manhattan is great, but it is only a small part of the city! Don't discount the other 4 boroughs (for those of you who don't know - NYC is actually comprised of 5 boroughs - Manhattan, Queens, The Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. So, while we usually call Manhattan "the city" for short, that's not really accurate).
A great thing to do is take a walking tour of Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. This is the REAL "Little Italy" (Mulberry street in Manhattan is fun, but mostly just for tourists). Arthur Ave is an authentic Italian neighborhood (ever see "A Bronx Tale"?) and there are many walking tour companies that will take you around to the best places to eat and shop. While in the Bronx, you can also check out the NY Botanical Gardens (home of the last old growth forests in the city), the Bronx Zoo (incredible!) and the new Yankee Stadium.
If you are into sports, Queens is home to the New York Mets, so take the 7 train to CitiField. You can also visit Arthur Ashe Stadium, which is right next door, and is where the US Open is played every year. You will be in Flushing Meadows Park, a tremendous park that not only houses the two stadiums, but also has the Queens County Zoo, Museum of Art, Hall of Science and the iconic Unisphere.
In Manhattan, a hotel I like to recommend to tourists is the Mayfair. It is a small boutique hotels smack dab in the middle of Times Square and the Theater District. The rooms are teeny tiny, but very cute and clean. And the best part is the reasonable price. I have found it is often half the price of other larger hotels.
Two affordable but solid restaurants I like in the midtown area area:
Chef Yu's - Chinese food, located in midtown west: http://www.chefyu-nyc.com/
Osteria Laguna - Italian food, located in midtown east: http://www.osteria-laguna.com/
I'd also recommend checking out the Highline, it is an elevated park: http://www.thehighline.org/
If you're up for going to Brooklyn, most people enjoy walking the Brooklyn Bridge for great views! Once you're on the Brooklyn side, grab a delicious pizza at Grimaldi's http://www.grimaldis.com/ (sit down restaurant, be prepared to wait in line for a table as it is very popular).
Then walk a few blocks to grab some ice cream at the Brooklyn Ice Factory http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/brooklyn-ice-cream-factory/ and hang out in the park nearby.
I always like to suggest the cheap and fun places to go and eat, like those you'd see on Diner, Drive-ins and Dives...
69 Bayard for Chinese food. Most people say Wo-hop (right around the corner) is the best but a couple of years ago, their favorite cooks and manager, Chung, took over Bayard.
Gray's Papaya for delicious Sabret (spelling is bad!) hot dogs-- a meal for under $5 a person!
In Brooklyn, L&B Spumoni Gardens for the best pizza in the whole world!
In the summertime, Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, which is across from the NY Skyline and just about under the Brooklyn Bridge. Home made ice cream and then you can walk it off by walking over the bridge!
Everyone says how beautiful Central Park is...and it is... but I prefer Prospect Park. In the winter, there is ice skating and in the summer, paddle boats!
The Staten Island Ferry is a free alternative to taking a boat tour around NY Harbor.
The South Street Seaport has some cool, historical tours, including the Schooner Pioneer which actually sails. You learn how to raise a sail, navigate using nautical maps and even lower nets into the water to see what kind of life lives in NY waters.
People often ask about visiting ground zero. While the official memorial is still a ways away, the Tribute WTC Visitor Center was established by families, and gives a heartfelt representation of the neighborhood before, during and after 9/11, as well as tours by survivors and their families.
Going to the theater: If you don't have tickets, the TKTS booth (http://www.tkts.com/ ) offers same day tickets for anywhere from 25-50% off.
Theater District eating; I enjoy 5 Napkin Burger (630 9th Ave | Btwn 44th & 45th S), Rachel's (608 9th Ave | Btwn 43rd & 44th St).
Union square area: Max Brenner's Chocolate by the bald man - a little piece of heaven for Chocolate lovers, and The Loop for Sushi on 3rd ave between 16 and 17), Mariella's is great for pizza (also on 3rd between 16/17)
For restaurant reviews, check out menupages.com
Central Park: A wonderful place to go and wander, explore off the beaten path. The further north you go, the less crowded it is. I love the Conservatory Garden on the east side of the park around 103rd Street.
SUBWAY is the way most of us get around, it can be a little complicated especially on the weekends when there are often service changes. Be sure to read the signs. If you have internet access, hopstop.com is a great way to plan routes.
WALKING: Remember, most people get around by subway or walking. If you need to stop to look at maps, take pictures, or look around, please try and step to the side. When you come to the top, or bottom, of the subway stairs, keep moving, find an out of the way place to stop and figure out where to go next.
TAXI'S: The lights on the top have meaning. There is a center one with the cab's number on it, then on the sides are the "off duty" lights. When the cab is available, the center light is on. Raise your hand to hail it. If the side lights are on, the cab may stop, but has the right to refuse to take you where you're going. Give your destination as a cross street, (i.e. broadway and 42nd street), not 123 Broadway, it is much more certain to get you where you're going. Taxi's all must credit card machine's, and the drivers MUST allow you to use them. If you have a problem, get the cabs medallion number (either on a card located on the divider, or from the top of the cab) and call 311 to report it. A 15% tip is customary
Welcome and have fun! It's a great place to visit!
If you are traveling with a baby or child:
carseats are a pain, take the subway and carry baby in a sling or carrier. taxis are exempt from carseat laws, but that makes me nervous, their driving skills leave much to be desired. You can latch your seat in, but subways are just easier.
The Central Park Zoo and Prospect Park zoo are nice alternatives to the Bronx Zoo. They are smaller and more "bite size." The Children's Museum of Manahattan on the Upper West Side has a good early childhood floor and other rotating exhibits. Brooklyn also has a Children's museum. Have dessert and Serendipity. Yummm! The Transit Museum in Brooklyn Heights is also great for kids, and easy to get to from Manhattan.
For a special meal the Modern the in Museum of Modern Art is my favorite. It is very expensive but worth it for a special event. For a cheaper, more casual meal, head down town to Crif Dogs, their hot dots are are amazing!
Brunch places: SaraBeths and Stanton Social are good in Manhattan. Cafeteria is good if you want to live a meal from Sex in the City. But get there early, the lines are nuts.
Spend a lot of time in Central Park, there is more to it than most people see. Head north to the ramble, north woods, and conservatory garden. There are lots of great hidden spots.
Restaurants
Midtown ?
Italian:Becco Restaurant?Inc
Chinese/CheapHappy Hour:
ChefYu
Celebrity?Chef(Bobby Flay):
BarAmericain
Bagels:
Times Square Bagels
?
UnionSquare
Mexican:
Rosa Mexicano
American:?
Gotham?Bar &?Grill
?
Village
Vegetarian:
Vegetarian'sParadise 2?(144 W. 4th St.,?New York, New York 10012)
Hotels
Club Quarters
Wyndham Garden Hotel - Times Square South
Hudson Hotel
Also make it a point to get out of midtown/Times Square. The restaurants tend to be overpriced. You can find lots of great stores and restaurants on the east side in the 20s and 30s that are just as good if not better and like half the price. Pete's Tavern on 18th and Irving has great coconut shrimp and of course steaks and chops. Paul and Jimmy's just on the other side of the street has an awesome cheesecake and Quigly's on 18th and 1st has a killer sizzling steak (it's their signature dish).
You may also want to check out the Tenement Museum at 97 Orchard Street. It gives a great look, albeit sanitized, into NY's past and the immigrant experience. There's Teddy Roosevelt's birthplace on 20th Street and if you're a police buff, the police Museum down at 100 Old Slip is a great place to visit. It's around near the South Street Seaport, which also has a great museum, restaurants and shops.
There are also great walking tours, to find out when and where you can google NYC walking tours. NYCgo.com is a great resource for planning your trip as well.
Just thought of a few more restaurant recs.
Manhattan:
Great french steak place on Park and 28th: Les Halles http://www.leshalles.net/
Mexican by Union Square: Los Dos Molinos http://www.losdosmolinosnyc.com/
Also, if you're looking for KOSHER (meat) restaurants in Manhattan, here are a few:
Le Marais - French, kosher steak place in midtown/theater district: http://lemarais.net/home.php
Nargila Grill - upper east side: http://www.nargilagrill.com/4.html
Murray's Falafel - downtown on the east side, I guess by Murray Hill: http://murraysfalafel.com/
Brooklyn restaurants:
Joya - Thai Food http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/joya/
Alma - Mexican food, great views if you sit on the roof deck http://www.almarestaurant.com/
Henry's End - http://www.yelp.com/biz/henrys-end-brooklyn
Pizza (by the slice or pie, not fancy, but delicious) - http://www.yelp.com/biz/my-little-pizzeria-brooklyn
My favorite trite touristy things to do:
Carriage ride through Central Park: Pick one up at Central Park South
Renting a boat at the Boathouse, going for a paddle, then back to the boathouse bar for a glass of wine and throwing crackers to the giant carp in the pond.
Walking up from the Boathouse, through Bethesda Terrace and south down the "mall". Extraordinarily beautiful in the snow, in April with falling flower blossoms, and during autumn.
Walking through St. Patrick's Cathedral and lighting a candle at the lady chapel (or the saint of your choice) You can explore the art and sculpture without disturbing an ongoing service. Even if you are not Catholic or Christian, it is one of the most beautiful structures in NYC. (IMO) But, I was married there and our daughter was baptized there, so I may be slightly biased.
Favorite not-so-trite touristy things to do:
The Irish Hunger Memorial. A beautiful and compelling slice of irish history transported to Battery Park City
The NYC tenement museum A great example of NYC history.
The Cloisters Beautiful museum in the center of a beautiful park with a lovely view of the hudson
Favorite Restaurants:
Sushi Samba: Japanese/Brazilian fusion. Yum Yum Yum, with amazing Saki-tini cocktails to boot. Try the Sawagani crabs! 2 locations in NYC, one on Park and 20th, the other on 7th and 4th.
Mediterraneo: 2nd and 66th Light Tuscan/Florentine Italian with amazing Carpaccio, delicious pesto, and sinful desserts.
Maison Great atmosphere, awesome place to eat on a nice day. 1/2 the restaurant is under a giant umbrella roof that opens when the weather is good. Delicious Croque Monsieur, delicious cocktails and beers, great bites to eat.
other popular choices:
La Mela Family Style Italian in Little Italy (Mulberry between Grand and Broome)
Mangia yi bevi: Party style italian, great for bachelorette parties
John's Pizza, Times Square Fun place to go for a slice and a beer with friends, in a gorgeous space. Sit down and relax, not a grab and go pizza hole in the wall.
With Kids:
Children's Museum of Manhattan Fun!! We had a great time here with our toddler, enough to entertain much older kids too
Central Park Zoo Great for a short zoo trip, everything in easy walking distance, love it. Right out of Madagascar!
Central Park Carousel Since 1871, a kids classic
Sail boats at the reflecting pond (seasonal) Watch, feed the ducks, or rent a model sailboat! Right out of Stuart Little!
Ice Skating in Central Park (seasonal)
Hotels:
The Hilton New York INCREDIBLY user-friendly. Great concierge service, a separate driveway with taxi stand, lovely comfortable rooms and a fantastic breakfast buffet (sushi included!) A great place for those first timers to feel comfortable in.
Roger Smith hotel cool and great prices
Millenium Times Square Awesome views, cool bars and restaurants in the hotel, and I swear the most comfortable hotel bed I've ever slept in.
Library Hotel A personal favorite of mine. Great for a romantic getaway. Request the "romance" room! Floors and rooms are organized by the dewey decimal system, with relevant books stocked in the room! The romance room has a terrace with a table for two. Beautiful hotel, fantastic service. Highly recommend.
I am not a NYC local nestie but we live in Washington DC and aim to get to Manhattan at least once a year. We hope to branch out to the other boroughs too. This is a review from April 2010
Transportation: Tripper Bus
http://www.tripperbus.com/
Total roundtrip cost for 2 from DC: $22.50. Can?t beat it.
We were about 45 min late getting there on Friday but got back 30 minutes early on Sunday. Bus was clean. Wi-fi was a little spotty but overall decent experience. This is our second trip via bus and would totally use it again.
Hotel: The Manhattan Club
http://www.manhattanclub.com/
We stayed at the Manhattan Club in Midtown. A great hotel, in a perfect location. The rooms are gigantic by NYC standards and we like having a little fridge in there for breakfast and other food (we kept water bottles, beer, a few soda cupcakes in there as well as a pizza that served as Monday?s lunch en route home)
Food, sights etc
Friday night was cold and rainy and frankly we were exhausted from working and then then bus ride and just wanted to chill.
Based on numerous suggestions, we wandered to 9th Ave and just strolled.
We found Bocca Di Bacco and well a wall of wine seemed like a good idea.
http://www.boccadibacconyc.com/media/boccadibacco.html
We split a few appetizers and did a few wines by the glass. All excellent!
For dessert, we wandered up to Magnolia bakery for cupcakes. Granted they are open until midnight and there was zero line there when we strolled in at 11:30 but not a huge selection of cupcakes at that point. Still I devoured my chocolate one with no problem. Very yummy.
http://www.magnoliabakery.com/
Saturday:
I had bagels and salmon cream cheese at Fluffys Caf??.and wow, I clearly understand why New Yorkers complain about bagels elsewhere.
http://www.fluffyscafe.com/
We hit my favorite art store and I spent way too much time in there.
http://www.leesartshop.com/
We then took the Subway to lower Manhattan. Lunch was at the famous Katz Deli (of When Harry Met Sally Fame). It was amazing. We split a pastrami sandwich and wow. If I needed another reminder why NYCers are food snobs. This is it.
http://www.katzdeli.com/
We hopped in a cab and cruised over to the meeting place for our ?wildcard? attraction: Accomplice the Village.
http://accomplicetheshow.com/
If you are planning a trip to NYC, want a unique, non cheesy experience. DO THIS. I don?t want to describe it in detail because it will spoil the fun. There is a Midtown version of it too and we will definitely do it next time we visit. It was super super fun and a great idea. We got to see all kinds of things in the Village which I wouldn?t have stumbled upon otherwise. We loved it. DO IT.
After the ?show?
We had a snack at Peanut Butter and Company (a peanut butter bacon sandwich?oddly delicious)
http://ilovepeanutbutter.com/
We wandered through the little shops and stuff. Very funky stuff.
Also made a stop at Washington Square Park
http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/washingtonsquarepark
We had spectacular mojitos at Cuba (and I mean AMAZING)
http://www.cubanyc.com/
We walked even more to see the Astor Place Cube but mainly to see the new Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art Building. GORGEOUS
http://www.cooper.edu
I was ridiculously excited for my ?trick? to go to Crif Dogs and make a phone call in the phone booth. The booth leads to a bar called ?Please don?t Tell.? (SHHHHHHHH it?s a secret)
http://www.crifdogs.com/
http://www.pdtnyc.com/
We couldn?t get in right away (I tried calling earlier in the day after the reservation line opened at 3p.m. but no dice).
We had to wait a little bit so we killed time at the Belgian Room, with amazing pommes frites (curry ketchup!)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/belgian-room-manhattan
We got our drink at PDT (spectacular!) and then head back for the 9:30 show at Caf? Wha?
http://cafewha.com/
This place was a totally blast. It was packed! A comedian started the show and the house band is amazing. We had a really fun time there.
After the show, we met my roommate from college at another bar
www.hifi169.com.
At this point, I remember it was a bar and it was loud, packed and I was trying to catch up with three people from college. I can really offer no other details.
We took the subway back uptown and collapsed!
Sunday
We eventually got up and the first stop was
http://www.chelseamarket.com/
Really fun place. Impossible to decide where to eat but we picked the Milk Bar. Yummy Mac and Cheese!
http://chelseamarket.com/ronnybrookdairy/
Rightout side the Market you can ?get on? the High Line
www.thehighline.org
also a cool experience. We walked up a portion of it under The Standard Hotel into the Meat Packing District. A great concept for a park.
We wandered through the meat packing district a bit but got back on the subway and headed for Battery Park.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_Park
We saw the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island but were glad we didn?t get tix. It was cold and we were just exhausted from the long day before.
We attempted to go to the Sky Scraper museum?.i felt so bad though as we got there and it was CLOSED! My poor husband really wanted to see it! They were installing a new exhibit. Oh well
http://www.skyscraper.org/home.htm
We then walked up to the financial district.
Saw the Charging Bull
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charging_Bull
and walked up to the Stock Exchange. Just fun to see it up close.
We walk back uptown a bit to see Ground Zero and happy to see building in progress there!
Had to make a stop into Century 21 too.
http://www.c21stores.com/
That place is a madhouse though and you have to be in the right frame of mind to shop there. I have been during the week and it is slightly less insane.
We attempt to walk more and made it to Canal Street but at this point we decided to stop walking and needed food. So we took
the subway uptown to make another attempt at Serendipty 3.
You could we were uptown now by the surroundings and the people. I kid you not there
was a puppy store that just sold little purse dogs and there were
several incredibly wealthy looking women in there TRYING ON purses
with different dogs. I am not making this up.
American Kennels
www.americankennels.com?
I love dogs but was happy my rescue dog was at home. This place was kinda creepy.
Anyway, we made our way to Serendipty
http://www.serendipity3.com/main.htm
I have tried to get into this place four different times to no avail. We were done sightseeing at this point so just decided to stick it out. By some miracle we only had to wait 45 minutes. Dylans candy bar is really close by too to kill some time.
http://www.dylanscandybar.com/
Upon being granted entry into Serendipty (SHEESH!) we got upstairs. I found it irritating that there were five empty tables up there. They could have
been empty for a number of reasons I realize but still there is a line
of cranky kids downstairs and empty tables. But hey, we had our seats so let?s dig in.
I think we consumed 10,000 calories in on sitting. I have no idea what
type of crack they put into the frozen hot chocolate but wow it was
good. Like really good. I sorta get the hype. It was worth the
touristy nature of the visit and after shoveling some nachos and
potato skins in too we were happy. I have no idea why even the most
basic food in nyc tastes better but it does.
We took the subway back to the hotel and just chilled, as we were completely exhausted. At this point I was totally happy we sprung for a nicer room because we had space and
we able to just relax. We ended up ordering some food really late
from: Trattoria Dell Arte just walking distance from our hotel.
www.trattoriadellarte.com
Again delicious. Made for a great lunch on the bus ride home too.
So we covered a lot of ground and I think did a good balance of super touristy and not so touristy things.
We only took a cab once and got good use out of the subway once day pass.
http://www.mta.info/metrocard/mcgtreng.htm#unlimited
thanks for reading this far
On other trips we saw the Macy's Parade (it was fun, but very cold and NOTHING like on TV) MoMa, Top of the Rock, The Met, walked over the Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, ate at One if By Land, Two if By Sea (very great experience) Bubble Lounge, Brandy Library, a great long walk through Central Park, the GuggenHeim, Artisan Cheese place (mm fondue!). ALso like Tasti Delight ice cream.
I will add some more later but a few things I have learned/places have loved in the last 6 months of living here:
1. www.hopstop.com is a LIFE SAVER. mapquest of the subways...finds the best ways to get places via subway AND accounts for schedule changes. There are always changes lately so it is amazing
2. http://www.thunderjacksons.com/ The home of the "dirty burger"... it is down in greenwich village is is the BEST buger on earth. Very different from anything I can describe. And the truffle mayo for the fries is amazing!
3. Fort Tryon Park/The Cloisters. I live in Washington Heights and I love this park. It is very nice once you get up where the cloisters are, great for picnics and a walk. http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/the_cloisters
4. Go to LOCAL theater! It is cheaper and more intimate and you can get a great experience. I personally am singing with Bleecker Street Opera right now... http://www.bleeckerstreetopera.org/
5. Canal Street/Chinatown for shopping! I particularly love the Pearl River Mart. http://www.pearlriver.com/v2/index.html
6. Little Italy Festival of San Gennaro (I am the Littly Italy Soprano Opera Competition winner... thank youu
haha) But the festival is SOOOO fun, amazing food, great atmosphere. http://www.littleitalynyc.com/sg_page1.asp
More later!
the lower east side and east village are great neighborhoods to wander around for unique shops & restaurants. if you want to eat a nyc institution - katz's deli is great ( houston & ludlow streets). they have the best pastrami sandwich ever!! the sandwiches are huge so i'd recommend sharing. one of our other favorites on the lower east side are schiller?s liquor bar (sister restaurant of balthazaar, but cooler and less expensive). we?ve been for brunch and for dinner, it?s always good. it does get loud so i?d recommend going early for dinner (before 7pm). katz?s http://www.katzdeli.com/ schiller?s http://www.schillersny.com/
our favorite bar is on the lower east side too. marshall stack on the corner of rivington & allen streets. they don't have a website but they great beer, happy hour until 7pm, and the best.bar.snacks.ever. four words: blue cheese garlic bread in hell?s kitchen (this is the neighborhood to eat in if you are seeing a show) there are countless restaurants on 9th avenue . we love basilica (cozy italian), chelsea grill (american/eclectic with great drinks), eatery (another eclectic place with great drinks). all of these are on 9th ave in the 40s/50s. this is a great way to avoid the overpriced restaurants in times square and rockefeller center. basilica http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&restaurantid=3681&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=0 chelsea grill http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=13&restaurantid=5746 eatery http://www.eaterynyc.com/ if you like cajun/creole food, there?s a place in hell?s kitchen that is DH?s favorite, delta grill (http://thedeltagrill.com/) in chinatown, you could try one of my absolute favorite restaurants, new green bo. looks like a dive but has fantastic shanghai cuisine and is dirt cheap! the real challenge is eating there and still have room for exotic ice cream at the chinatown ice cream factory across the street. both on bayard street between mott & elizabeth , one block below canal street (which is the main street in chinatown). new green bo (now called NICE green bo but will always be new green bo to me) http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?neighborhoodid=0&restaurantid=2132 our favorite swank/special occassion place is EN japanese brasserie on hudson street, easy walk from the west village or tribeca. www.enjb.com they do lunch now and it's a little cheaper than dinner. their cocktails are very creative and delish! the miso black cod, garlic fried rice, and sea bass kara age are not to be missed.
spice market is another upscale place where the food actually lives up to the hype. i?ve been there and to vong (same management) and had good experiences. they have some pre-theatre and lunch set menus that are more reasonably priced.
http://www.jean-georges.com/
another group of restaurants we love are hundred acres (west village), five points (east village/nolita), and cookshop (chelsea). they have breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner though we've only had dinners there. a lot of local (upstate/LI) produce in their menu. five points has a good happy hour at the bar (the others may too).
http://www.fivepointsrestaurant.com/
My faves
Pastries: Veniero's (East Village), Ferrara (Little Italy)
Cupcakes: Sugar Sweet Sunshine (LES)
Pizza: John's (West Village), Nick's (Forest Hills), L&B (Gravesend)
Steak: Old Homestead
Sunday Brunch: The Essex (LES; cash only, to be followed by a trip across the street to Sugar Sweet Sunshine for dessert)
Historical Bars: Bridge Caf? (Financial District), McSorley's (East Village)
Outdoor Activities: Central Park (walk around, visit Belvedere Castle, rent a rowboat on the lake, have drinks at the boathouse), walk across the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan at sunset, Top of the Rock, Bronx Zoo, Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, NY Botanical Gardens, ferry to Liberty Island, take a sailboat tour around Manhattan