I'll be visiting the second capital of the world in 10 days' time. This will be my first visit. Given that I'll only have a fortnight to fit everything in, I'd like to avoid the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building in favour of some of the Big Apple's more obscure treasures, a la Postman's Park in London.
Are there any locals here on hubski willing share their favourite obscure New York space?
I did practically the same like two weeks ago! Here's some tips: 1. You Want To Get Around: get yourself a MetroCard. DO IT. At any subway station you can get a 7-day Unlimited pass for $32. When you get a 'regular' pass it's $2.50 every time you want to get into the subway - which in my case was often. If you only use it for one roundtrip every day, it's worth it. The other three days I'd suggest doing per-ride and planning around that, or getting another 7-day if you feel like traveling. Also: you can get on the Roosevelt Island cablecar with your MetroCard. Also, the Citymapper app is FANTASTIC when you can get wifi. Do note that the time indication is kinda off. 2. You Want A View: you kinda have to. Stay the hell away from the Empire State building. Not worth the hours of waiting. I found the Rockefeller Center's top floor (dubbed Top of the Rock) to be way better and less touristy. 3. You Want A Museum: the best thing about Top of the Rock is that at the Top of the Rock desk, you can get a combo ticket to the MoMa. Saves you about $15 I think, and the ticket to the MoMa also gives you free access to MoMa PS1 in Brooklyn, so basically an entire day of things to do for $44. I didn't go to the Guggenheim or one of the other famous museums - but there are plenty for you to enjoy. 4. You Want the Food: I found that the area around Fulton Street subway station has lots of food restaurants. There's a TripAdvisor app which saves a lot of restaurants, ATM's and attractions on your device. It's how I found some really neat places I'd otherwise not go to. 5. You Want the Culture: lots of places that are hidden. I recommend the Chelsea Market (great food and awesome place) and the High Line that's next to it (although it's a bit touristy nowadays). Williamsburg is up-and-coming and Brooklyn definitely has character but I didn't get to spend that much time there. 6. You Want to Feel Like A Local: I think nowaypablo can help here. For me, the best way to enjoy NYC is to just explore and go in with only a loose plan. Stroll around places like DUMBO, the Flatiron district, Upper East Side, Central Park, and you'll go where 90% of tourists don't bother with.
MUSEUMS THAT MUSEUM GO-ERS SHOULD GO TO, THAT AREN'T MOMA: METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART. There are no exceptions. You can't go to museums here and not see the met. It is amazing. And ranges from free to $5. The Frick Collection. The Morgan Library The Guggenheim. A must-go for modern art with actual substance and quality, you will evade the inevitable heaps of shit that rot in the MoMA. . AREAS YOU MUST VISIT IF YOU HAVE EYES AND FEET ESPECIALLY EYES SoHo, AND Chelsea, which are nearby to each other, and are a must must must must Columbus Circle/Lincoln Center NOT TIMES SQUARE
That is all. Enjoy.
Edit: NikolaiFyodorov, this is for you. Also note that my taste is a little more hipster and places like SoHo and Chelsea are cultural dens of beauty and modernity and art and wealth, as opposed to locations like the Empire State Building, or Times Square which are just 'wow look at how big these shiny things are' kind of wealth. That said, I'll second veen's suggestion of going to the Top of the Rock. Seriously, forget the State Building, and either way you're probably gonna pass through Times Square during your journey, and a pass-through is all you need. Lincoln Center/Columbus circle are in my opinion far more extravagant than the Rockefeller center, though that is also awesome. For context, all of these places are actually only a few blocks from each other, in what is called Midtown. Columbus Circle is also right by the South end of Central Park. Going a little more South, lands you in the Rockefeller Center. Avoid a cab unless you can really afford it, and don't be afraid of the Subway. Keep us posted on your plans!
Never been... to either! Nowadays if I'm spending time in the city I go to a cool district (love me the West Village and Chelsea) and I walk around alone or with friends. It's the beautiful perk of Manhattan that you can get off at any street and have a place to party.
PS1 doesn't really have much up at the moment, but Nikolai, if you're here when the NY Art Book Fair is happening, that's the only art thing you really need to do. It takes place at PS1. Keep a whole day free for it. It is the art event each year. http://nyartbookfair.com/ Other than that, screw the Koonsy Whitney right now, MoMA's inbetween some better shows... but actually the New Museum has a surprisingly good show on right now though.
The Art Book Fair looks fantastic, and since I'm arriving on the 27th, there's every chance I can make a visit. Thanks a lot, romkeh.
Thanks a lot, nowaypablo. A friend of mine resides in SoHo so I'll certainly be spending time there. Is Chelsea home of the famous Chelsea Hotel? I'm going to eschew google and just assume that it is.
Yeah, it's one of the coolest things about the area that the most modern buildings and galleries in Manhattan are snuggled in between awesome historical landmarks.
Thanks a lot veen. I'll definitely put the Rockefeller Centre (and therefore MOMA) on top of my list. Speaking of museums, word has it that the Tenement Museum is a total gem, so I'll probably give that a look in. And yes, I also plan to spend at least several days involved in aimless wandering to see what comes up. Restaurants are going to be slightly complicated because my girlfriend is vegan. Hopefully TripAdvisor will help there (I'm downloading the app now). The city is supposed to be a vegan mecca, anyway. Thanks again.
One of the good things about NYC is that the restaurant market is so competitive that shitty restaurants have a difficult time surviving. They have to be a bit expensive, because real estate is so valuable, so no one is going to pay premium prices for shitty food. Therefore, you can find something decent (including vegan food--especially in trendy Brooklyn neighborhoods like Williamsburgh, Greenpoint, Bushwick) pretty much where ever you are. If you can't find good food in NY, you really have to be trying not to.
Very useful information. Thanks beezneez. I see that $38.10 will buy me 16 rides. Just to clarify, am I correct in assuming that a "ride" is defined as any single, one-way trip? Or can you make more than one trip on the same ride within a limited time frame (e.g. 2 hours)?
Think of it like this: you have to swipe your MetroCard when you enter a station, so that's when the $2.50 is deducted from your card. Transfers are free if two lines stop in the same station. There are also some places where stations that are really near each other will have a Free Transfer, which you can find on the subway map by looking for black lines between stations (see 14th St Bryan Park BDFM station and the 5th Av station on the 7 line). Theoretically you can sit the entire day in the subway for $2.50.
It really depends on what you like to do. When it comes to NYC, I'm a wanderer. I just like to walk around cobble stone streets, look at beautiful architecture, beautiful people, and mostly - eat amazing food. I will link to some of my favorites below. -veen's advice to get a metro card is SPOT ON. You won't regret it. Get the 7 day pass - get adventurous - be aware and safe - but honestly, I have ridden the subway at all hours of the day and felt safe almost all the time - Once it was a little sketchy at about 3am in a SHITE part of Brooklyn - but that's another story. -I've been 4 or 5 times now just to visit… and frankly, I avoided the empire state building because I thought that was something that "mid-town-theater-ladies" did. Well - I bit the bullet last time (and it is expensive - I think $30+ for a trip to the top) and I will say I'm glad I did it. We went early - right when it opened - so I didn't have to wait in a line or be rushed at the top. I don't think I'll do it again - but I'm very glad I've done it once. -Central Park IS all it's cracked up to be. The waffle truck on the SE corner of central park is amazing and in my opinion a MUST. I like to rent a bike, but not from there. I prefer to rent one here and then ride up the west side bike path and cut over at like 66th. And that bike shop is in a COOL neighborhood. -If you're in to celebrity sightings, Chelsea, SoHo, and the west village might deliver. -You'll likely hear about "The High Line Park". In my opinion - it is over-rated. I went right after it opened and it was a nice break from the city streets. I went again a year ago and it was WALL TO WALL people. I could have had more personal space on a tokyo subway. -I don't have a lot of input on bars, clubs, etc. Some one else will need to weigh in on the night life. -Some of my favorite spaces to just "be" are here and here Union Square park is so peaceful. There are often Chinese performers playing music. Old men bring birds in their cages and just enjoy the park. I felt like I was in a park in Beijing. It's very peaceful. And there's a great dumplings place around the corner. You get like five potstickers for $1. I get dumplings, walk over to the park and soak it all in. Petrosino Square (which is actually a triangle) is cool for a different reason. There's a lot of foot traffic, it's near a LOT of cool restaurants, and if you're into fashion or models - this is where you see a lot of them. It's kinda crazy. -I am a big fan of Grand Central Station. It's so big you feel like you could explore it for years and never find the end. It's beautiful to look at, and if you're into architecture - it's not to be missed. -This is a weird one… but with your metro card you're able to ride the tram over to Roosevelt Island. There's not a lot there (that I've found) but I like the cable car ride - it's a great view, easy to do and gives another perspective on the city. And there's usually an ice cream truck there for a quick treat. (see? it's all about the food) -Pizza… if you like pizza… NYC is crazy with it. Lombardi's or Grimaldis have been my favorites so far. Grimaldi's is in Brooklyn, but the DUMBO area of Brooklyn is totally worth exploring. -Those are the things I can think of at the moment. I'll add more later as I think of it. I'm so excited for you to go. It can be a lot of fun.
. Other restaurants not listed above that are AWESOME: http://epistrophycafe.com http://cafeselectnyc.com http://www.vietnamese-sandwich.com (SERIOUSLY - this is a favorite - and so reasonably priced)
> It really depends on what you like to do. When it comes to NYC, I'm a wanderer. I just like to walk around cobble stone streets, look at beautiful architecture, beautiful people, and mostly - eat amazing food. That pretty much sums up what I'm after. In particular I was hoping for locals and regular visitors to share their own favourite places to just hang out when they're there. Not the hippest, or the best looking, or the most popular; just somewhere that's great to sit still in for an hour or two. Your descriptions of Union Square Park, Grand Central Station and Roosevelt Island represents exactly what I'm looking for. I like the idea of High Line Park as an easy way to get a grip on the city when I first arrive. I suppose we'd avoid most of the crush if we arrive early enough in the day?
The Highline is cool… it just got SUPER crowded. an early day might be heavenly. Watch for the dude and his typewriter.
And I've just spent the better part of an hour looking at images of Bushwick street art. Do you know if the 5 pointz building is still standing, or has it been demolished? Sounds like the place to visit for new stuff.
Hmmm... well, this is something everyone always does in NY, but it's still worth doing if you enjoy running. Take a run in the Park. It's a beautiful place and even if you've never been there, you're going to feel like you've been there many times because you've seen it in so many movies. I mean, the #movieclub just saw it in this scene: If you do decide to go running in the park, watch out for the Red Knight. He's a dick.
I have never been to New York before, but during my europe trip I had a little app that I was basically following in every city. It took me to places.... Spotted by locals
The app is free, but each city guide is an inapp purchase of around 3 euros, absolutely worth it.
While you might have the typical touristy things, the people there mention the places they like to go to. That is how I found out about this old bunker in barcelona with the most amazing view of the city or the flourescent art museum in amsterdam. Enjoy your trip!
Damn, that looks handy. I wasn't planning to carry my phone around with me because international roaming charges from Australia are nightmarish. I suppose I could always turn off the cell reception and just use wifi, though.
I always turn off data roaming etc.
This app works offline. Including map etc. For very detailed maps I used City Maps 2 Go
One time fee, all the maps in the world, OFFLINE
Loving bacon like I do, I must send you to the Bacon Triangle. Bacon wrapped, deep fried hot dogs with fascinating combinations, Bacon infused alcoholic drinks, and Ice cream sandwiches with bacon sprinkled on the outside.
A generous suggestion, c_hawkthorne, but unless they offer bacon made out of tofu, I think I might have to pass for the sake of harmony with the gf. Also, bacon-sprinkled ice cream sandwiches? Man, that is positively primeval. And to think up to now I'd thought peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were horror par excellence.
You poor, poor baconless soul... By the way, sprinkled is the wrong term for the ice cream sandwich. More like a layer. 
See some jazz. Since around the 50s, the jazz mecca has been NY. Go to The Blue Note, the Village Vanguard or Smalls. If you are dissapointed by any of the music you see at these places on any night, there is something wrong with you.
I had been somewhat trepidatious about getting recommendations about the NY club scene since I'm no longer in my 20s and I'm not sure whether some of the more happening places would really appeal. Jazz clubs are an excellent suggestion that I'm astounded I hadn't thought of earlier. Cheers, BLOB_CASTLE.
Yeah no problem. I recently graduated with a jazz degree and it's been a dream of mine to see a show at those spots. There's also one in Paris that lil told me about called the Jazz Cavern. I'll see that one day too. What days will you be there? I want to see who's playing?
Walk the High Line. It's an urban hiking trail above the city on an old rail line. Go early or it will seem like Grand Central Station. I hope your weather is wonderful. You'll end up near NYU, not far from Washington Square. Walk there and hang out. Bring a picnic.
I did the walk on August 16 and it was so interesting. Lots of sudden sculpture. The high part of it is about 1.5 miles and takes about half an hour, but you can also stop at the high pub. If you go north to south, you can cross over to Riverside Park and continuing walking south to the ferry terminals that take you over to Liberty Island and Ellis Island. I highly recommend the Museum of Immigration on Ellis Island.
Chagrined to discover I've never heard of this before. How long is the walk, lil? It looks ideal. I might have to put this first on my list of things to do, actually.
Okay. So. I would recommend doing those hop on hop off red bus tours first. I know its fucking touristy but it allows you to really get a feel for the layout of the city and see everything for way cheaper and easier than the subways. Do that early. Enjoy it. Don't feel like you need to stop everywhere. The other place you must visit is a place called Cuba on Thompson and West 4th. They have the best mojitos ever. Get a pitcher if you have anyone with you. I also recommend the emenadas, ceviche, calimari for apps and ropa vieja or paella valenciana. Share everything. That's near Washington Square park so you can wander around there. There are a bunch of really divey type bars around that area. Sometimes it feels really college-y though because NYU is right there. I don't know how bad it's gotten. There are a bunch of places that are less touristy but still give you that NYC experience. Really, NYC is about wandering around. Central Park is really nice to wander in. See if there are any street fairs or anything when you're there. (link? http://www.newyorkled.com/nyc_events_street_fairs.htm) I would recommend seeing something on Broadway just to do it. Theres these things call TKTS booths near Time Square that sell tickets day of for cheap. Don't worry about seat or anything. Get them cheap, enjoy the experience. and don't blow your entire life savings on a show. Also, eat BEFORE you get to time square. Fuck that place for food. Reddit has a crazy awesome NYC subreddit with tons of information too: http://www.reddit.com/r/nyc/wiki/food http://www.reddit.com/r/nyc/wiki/commonquestions#wiki_new_york_for_cheap They used to do a Tuesday night meetup at Peculiar Pub. I don't know if they still do. While I normally wouldn't recommend meeting up with redditors, the NYC crowd is really diverse and fun and most are late-20/early-30s professionals, not awkward children.
Mojitos! The last time I got drunk on mojitos, Black Saturday happened. I should probably post a warning here and on r/nyc when I order my first round. Thanks insom!
Is Black Saturday a thing. Because I had a Black Monday once and I thought I was the only one who referred to it like that.