New York vacation ideas

[xtine]

So I'm vacationing with a friend to New York the week of the 21st, and I was wondering if any of you guys had any suggestions or neat tips/tricks to know about the area. I've never been to the east coast before, and of course NY. I will be staying with a friend that is doing a master's at NYU, so I'll be close to the area.

We are obviously going to take a day to do the typical sightseeing (statue of liberty, ground zero, met, etc), see soho and expensive shopping (like saks and the first macys and stuff), a day for a concert or broadway show, and hitting up some bars. But otherwise, I could use some suggestions for interesting things to do around the area. And good places to eat too, I am a foodie of sorts, but I can't wait to try NY pizza and hot dog carts. :D

[Trump]

Go upstate and go skiing!

[jindojim]

If you're looking for food, go anywhere except Times Square. I'd recommend some places that have Asian cuisine, but I see you're coming from SoCal. Places around NYU are good; I'm sure your friend can take you to plenty of restaurants and bars around there. And Little Italy is always a good choice. Just look for Zagat rated places, and you probably can't go wrong. There's one pizza place in Brooklyn that's really good called DiFarra's. It's pretty out of the way, but I thought it was worth the hour long subway trip.

As for things to do, you should go skating in Bryant Park; it's free if you have your own skates (rental is about 11 bux?). Or skating in Rockafeller Center too. Visit FAO Schwartz, bloomingdales, the glass Apple cubish building, etc. (and they're all up in the same area too, around 59th Street and Lexington Ave.) The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is free on Fridays, but there's always a huge line. I'm not sure if it's still there, but there's an exhibit called "Bodies" featuring preserved cadavers; it's unusual and not everyone's cup of tea, but it's worth a peek. Let's see...my friend goes hiking along the Hudson River, so you could try that (although he says that if you miss the 7pm train, you can't get back until the next day). You could also try to get into the audience for shows like the Conan O'Brian Show (although that's kind of on pause because of the writer's strike).

There's so many things in NYC that you can do in a week, even if all you do is touristy things and shop. In fact, one fun thing you could do is try a restaurant from a different world cuisine each meal, since there's so much diversity here. Have fun, and don't forget to bring plenty of money! :P

[Roxie]

Don't sit on the sidewalk. It's real social more up there.

[RoxFontaine]

Food:

Cabana Carioca (Brazilian)
123 W 45th St
New York, NY 10036
*Lunch time is best. You won't believe the amount of food for the price. Simply phenomenal.

Uptown/Harlem Juice Bar (Vegetarian & Fresh Juices)
54 W 125th St
(between 5th Ave & Lenox Ave)
*Amazing veggie food. NO meat. Even if it looks just like it.

Carmine's (http://www.carminesnyc.com) (Italian)
*Fun place to eat. Good food. Best for a group of 4 or more.

There are PLENTY more. You should search Zagat or something for food that interests you.

Stuff to do:

Boricua College Art Museum/American Numismatic Society
155th St. & Broadway
*You won't get so close to art this expensive anywhere else. The statue of El Cid out front is breathtaking.
** Free (suggested donation of $5. WELL worth it.)

Circle Line (http://www.circleline42.com)
Pier 83, W. 42nd Street & 12th Ave.
*The Circle Line is a great way to see the city. Don't miss it.
** Full 3-hour cruise is $29.50. Several options available.

Riverside Church
(http://www.theriversidechurchny.org/)
122nd St. & Riverside Dr.
*BEAUTIFUL! The arhitecture and art are amazing. You should be able to go to the top as well. They keep a falcon up there. You likely have never seen a church like this. It houses two bowling alleys, a gym, a 12ft gold Jesus statue, a library, a theater, a cafe and a whole lot more.
**Free

There's so much to see and do. I tried to give you some things outside of the normal tourist traps.

[Digital Masta]

I used to go to Riverside every weekend...but thats because my younger brother played basketball for the church.

[RoxFontaine]

^ Yeah, their children's stuff is amazing. That team is very good.

[erbiumfiber]

The Cloisters. An amazing collection of medieval art in a most amazing space. This is my favorite place in New York:

http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/introduction.asp?dep=7

Don't forget to hit St. Patrick's Cathedral. Free and pretty damn amazing. No, you don't have to be Catholic.

[Pierrot le Fou]

Central Park at night is supposed to be beautiful...

I also recommend the South Bronx around the middle of the night, though unfortunately it was better back in the early 90's...

And always remember to tip the guys on the subway who ask for change!

[xtine]

So NYC is fucking awesome... I just touched down on Monday and I got to eat at Momofuku Noodle Bar, then went barhopping, and finally ended up in a speakeasy place. I'm right in the middle of East Village/West Manhattan. Hopefully I have to time to see some things you guys mentioned, but tomorrow is going to be some meandering at Soho, Wednesday I'm going to have lunch at Gotham Bar and Grill and do the touristy Statue of Liberty/Empire State/Ground Zero/etc, and Thursday I'm going to museum crawl at Met/Moma/Natural History. And I have Fri/Sat. :D

Like most people warned me, it's pretty damn cold (20s) for someone who's raised and used to constant 70 degree weather in SoCal, but I'm doing fine with my coat/gloves/hat/scarf/etc. It's nice to experience something different.

[Roxie]

I remember when we (marching band) went to the Statue of Liberty...we started clapping for the people who came out...cause we thought it'd be funny and we were bored standing in line. And it caught on! Eventually the ENTIRE CROWD who was waiting in line started clapping for the people who came out. It was so much fun.

Kyle, a bit of clown, started dancing in the subway with his hat out as if asking for change and someone actually gave him some!

So, I love NYC. Good times.

[Trump]

Yeah, it has been pretty cold up here recently. Be glad you didn't get here Sunday. Monday morning was just frigid. My car told me the temperature was in the single digits! Granted, I live in Florida where it has been 80 until last week...

[jindojim]

Yep NYC is awesome...when you're free and have time to check out the city. Not so great when you're swamped with work :(

Too bad you had to come when it's this cold though. It's so cold at night in my apartment. >_< I think some tenants complained to my landlord that the radiator heat was too high back when the winter weather was mild. So he turned it down, but now it's too little. Heh.

Anyway, hope you keep having fun here :)

[The_Penguin]

I love the MET. They have a neat clock collection. It's also cheap as dirt.

[aarathi]

Have a nice journey to you. I did not know anything about New York.