New York under the radar.
Discussion
Heading to the US is October, to watch my daughter race in a couple of rowing events.
As they are a week apart, my son (12 years old) and I, will have a few days in New York.
Does anyone have any suggestions for slightly of the beaten track, under the radar, things for us to do?
Thanks.
As they are a week apart, my son (12 years old) and I, will have a few days in New York.
Does anyone have any suggestions for slightly of the beaten track, under the radar, things for us to do?
Thanks.
Having been a number of times I would do the touristy things starting with Empire State building as it helps get your bearings. It's not quite like London or Paris with many centuries of history. Coincidentally my first trip was when I was 12, a long time ago! Nonetheless I can recall being blown away by the scale of the buildings and the sheer buzz of the place. It was intoxicating for a lad from the West Midlands. Decades later I took my kids to Ellis Island for example. I think it helped explain the whole migration, melting pot concept.
davepoth said:
What sort of stuff does the son like?
NY is touristy, in that everything of note in the city is fairly famous - you'll have seen most of Manhattan on TV or film at some point.
Thanks for the input guys.NY is touristy, in that everything of note in the city is fairly famous - you'll have seen most of Manhattan on TV or film at some point.
I take your point about "knowing" Manhattan, from the TV. That was exactly my thought. That's what I was getting at I guess, when asking about "under the radar" things to see or do.
I've had recommended to me, the guided walks. You get shown around a n area of your choice, by a proud local. I think that this would be good.
He loves his sport, the iconic buildings and the notoriety of the Mafia in New York.
Nobby Diesel said:
Thanks for the input guys.
I take your point about "knowing" Manhattan, from the TV. That was exactly my thought. That's what I was getting at I guess, when asking about "under the radar" things to see or do.
I've had recommended to me, the guided walks. You get shown around a n area of your choice, by a proud local. I think that this would be good.
He loves his sport, the iconic buildings and the notoriety of the Mafia in New York.
There are definitely mafia walking tours, so maybe check one of those out. Also, I think you'll be arriving right at the start of the hockey season so if you're lucky you might catch some burly men smashing seven bells out of each other on the ice. I take your point about "knowing" Manhattan, from the TV. That was exactly my thought. That's what I was getting at I guess, when asking about "under the radar" things to see or do.
I've had recommended to me, the guided walks. You get shown around a n area of your choice, by a proud local. I think that this would be good.
He loves his sport, the iconic buildings and the notoriety of the Mafia in New York.
as everyone has said, new York is all pretty touristy, but some stuff I thought was 'cool' when I was there, I suppose they are all touristy but hey ho:
- the intrepid museum- old air craft carrier with all types of cool planes and stuff on board- even a space shuttle
- subway to Brooklyn, grab pizza in a nice pizza type place (grimaldis was really good) wander round the shore front, then walk back over the bridge at dusk/ sunset
- ferry to staten island or boat tour, you get a great view of the bottom of Manhattan and the sheer scale of all the buildings/ city and great views of the statue of liberty
- Greenwich village, meatpacking, Chelsea area of town- lots of nice cafes, restaurants etc.... much more civilized part of town. much more laid back, nice place for a wander about
- sport- take in a baseball, basketball, ice hockey or American football match. even if your not into whatever sport it is, they make for a fun day/ night out.
- movie location tour type thing- he's bound to have a favourite tv show/ film set in new York? a trip round some of the famous locations- ghostbuster house? anything from elf? gossip girl? friends?
- the intrepid museum- old air craft carrier with all types of cool planes and stuff on board- even a space shuttle
- subway to Brooklyn, grab pizza in a nice pizza type place (grimaldis was really good) wander round the shore front, then walk back over the bridge at dusk/ sunset
- ferry to staten island or boat tour, you get a great view of the bottom of Manhattan and the sheer scale of all the buildings/ city and great views of the statue of liberty
- Greenwich village, meatpacking, Chelsea area of town- lots of nice cafes, restaurants etc.... much more civilized part of town. much more laid back, nice place for a wander about
- sport- take in a baseball, basketball, ice hockey or American football match. even if your not into whatever sport it is, they make for a fun day/ night out.
- movie location tour type thing- he's bound to have a favourite tv show/ film set in new York? a trip round some of the famous locations- ghostbuster house? anything from elf? gossip girl? friends?
We have done a food tour the last three years (first time youngest was 12).
http://www.foodsofny.com
Greenwich Village and China Town were the best.
Somewhere a little different to have lunch
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g6...
oh and the Highline- http://www.thehighline.org
http://www.foodsofny.com
Greenwich Village and China Town were the best.
Somewhere a little different to have lunch
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g6...
oh and the Highline- http://www.thehighline.org
Edited by craig1912 on Monday 19th September 14:11
New York is only touristy if you hang out in the tourist places! Take a walk around East Village, Little Italy, Lower East Side, TriBeCa, Chelsea, Gramercy Park, Greenwich/West Village etc etc
Basically if you want to see and experience the NYC that doesn't really exist in any other city you need to stay and spend your time in the area from 10 blocks south of Houston to 25 blocks north of Houston. Houston is a major street that runs east/west across the city. The further north and south you go of that area the more generic/boring it gets...,until you get north of Central Park that is! You can spend a good two or three days walking around those areas. Are there specific things to do? Not really but that's kind of the point just explore!
So many people seem to spend their time in mid town around Time Square, Fifth Avenue, Broadway etc That's the equivalent of going to London and spending your time in Leicster Sq, Picadilly Circus and Oxford St.
Basically if you want to see and experience the NYC that doesn't really exist in any other city you need to stay and spend your time in the area from 10 blocks south of Houston to 25 blocks north of Houston. Houston is a major street that runs east/west across the city. The further north and south you go of that area the more generic/boring it gets...,until you get north of Central Park that is! You can spend a good two or three days walking around those areas. Are there specific things to do? Not really but that's kind of the point just explore!
So many people seem to spend their time in mid town around Time Square, Fifth Avenue, Broadway etc That's the equivalent of going to London and spending your time in Leicster Sq, Picadilly Circus and Oxford St.
Cheib said:
New York is only touristy if you hang out in the tourist places! Take a walk around East Village, Little Italy, Lower East Side, TriBeCa, Chelsea, Gramercy Park, Greenwich/West Village etc etc
Basically if you want to see and experience the NYC that doesn't really exist in any other city you need to stay and spend your time in the area from 10 blocks south of Houston to 25 blocks north of Houston. Houston is a major street that runs east/west across the city. The further north and south you go of that area the more generic/boring it gets...,until you get north of Central Park that is! You can spend a good two or three days walking around those areas. Are there specific things to do? Not really but that's kind of the point just explore!
So many people seem to spend their time in mid town around Time Square, Fifth Avenue, Broadway etc That's the equivalent of going to London and spending your time in Leicster Sq, Picadilly Circus and Oxford St.
I'd echo that. This year will be our 10th visit, and we always stay somewhere down by Bleecker Street (usually Washington Square Hotel). The bars and restaurants are more individual, you'll find some world-class musicians playing in clubs (Terra Blues is our favourite, now that The Back Fence has closed) and you don't get the crowds you find in the more popular areas. Spend some time in the parks; people-watching is like nowhere else on Earth. Tenement Museum on Lower East Side can easily take a day out of your time if you do all the tours. Canal Street is an eye-opener. Wander around Little Italy for a bit, and everywhere you look you'll see the Mafia doing deals (it's how if felt at the time; over-active imagination, and too many Scorcese movies!)Basically if you want to see and experience the NYC that doesn't really exist in any other city you need to stay and spend your time in the area from 10 blocks south of Houston to 25 blocks north of Houston. Houston is a major street that runs east/west across the city. The further north and south you go of that area the more generic/boring it gets...,until you get north of Central Park that is! You can spend a good two or three days walking around those areas. Are there specific things to do? Not really but that's kind of the point just explore!
So many people seem to spend their time in mid town around Time Square, Fifth Avenue, Broadway etc That's the equivalent of going to London and spending your time in Leicster Sq, Picadilly Circus and Oxford St.
We return again soon, and will do more of the same. NYC gets it's hooks into you.
Forget the Empire State Building and do Top of the Rock instead if you want a view. Better view, much, much quieter and more spacious...win, win, win.
Take the subway down to Coney Island (about 45 minutes) and have a good walk around, the place is bizarre, well off the beaten track for the average tourist and you can visit Nathan's for a nice hotdog.
The Highline is still just about more of a local thing than a touristy thing, mainly because it's quite a way from the nearest subway stop. It's a lovely walk and top to bottom takes you into Greenwich, which is a nice area.
We've been so many times we worked our way through the whole of this book ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-New-York-Unusual-J...), everything from that alleyway you always see in movies when a NYC alleyway scene comes up, to sections of the Berlin Wall.
Take the subway down to Coney Island (about 45 minutes) and have a good walk around, the place is bizarre, well off the beaten track for the average tourist and you can visit Nathan's for a nice hotdog.
The Highline is still just about more of a local thing than a touristy thing, mainly because it's quite a way from the nearest subway stop. It's a lovely walk and top to bottom takes you into Greenwich, which is a nice area.
We've been so many times we worked our way through the whole of this book ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-New-York-Unusual-J...), everything from that alleyway you always see in movies when a NYC alleyway scene comes up, to sections of the Berlin Wall.
Edited by ukaskew on Tuesday 20th September 13:35
Interesting topic. I have 5 nights in NY in December... Trying to figure out where to stay.
My budget is pretty limited, but so far I have options as follows...
Hostel at the top end of Central Park (On Amsterdam)
Very cheap hotel close to the Tenement Museum (143 Bowery, Lower East Side)
Hostel at 224 East 47th Street, Midtown East, close to Penn Station
Or.
Hostel just over the bridge in Long Island City which looks cool (44th Ave)
Any suggestions? I want to do the obvious touristy stuff but also love local foods, diners and finding the hidden stuff. Most of the options above are a broadly similar price, I have cancellable bookings for the Bowery hotel ($200/5 nights!) and the Midtown hostel ($486/5 nights). To be fair the Bowery hotel looks like a bit of a dive, but I can do that!
My budget is pretty limited, but so far I have options as follows...
Hostel at the top end of Central Park (On Amsterdam)
Very cheap hotel close to the Tenement Museum (143 Bowery, Lower East Side)
Hostel at 224 East 47th Street, Midtown East, close to Penn Station
Or.
Hostel just over the bridge in Long Island City which looks cool (44th Ave)
Any suggestions? I want to do the obvious touristy stuff but also love local foods, diners and finding the hidden stuff. Most of the options above are a broadly similar price, I have cancellable bookings for the Bowery hotel ($200/5 nights!) and the Midtown hostel ($486/5 nights). To be fair the Bowery hotel looks like a bit of a dive, but I can do that!
carreauchompeur said:
Actually the more I look at it, the more the LIC option sounds good. Really cool place with a craft ale bar. Is staying in LIC an enormous ballache for getting to places? The hostel is within 1-2 blocks of a metro interchange.
I'm flying into JFK and out of LGA if that helps.
I'd stay on the Lower East Side, fantastic area to eat out and drink. I'm flying into JFK and out of LGA if that helps.
AdeTuono said:
Cheib said:
New York is only touristy if you hang out in the tourist places! Take a walk around East Village, Little Italy, Lower East Side, TriBeCa, Chelsea, Gramercy Park, Greenwich/West Village etc etc
Basically if you want to see and experience the NYC that doesn't really exist in any other city you need to stay and spend your time in the area from 10 blocks south of Houston to 25 blocks north of Houston. Houston is a major street that runs east/west across the city. The further north and south you go of that area the more generic/boring it gets...,until you get north of Central Park that is! You can spend a good two or three days walking around those areas. Are there specific things to do? Not really but that's kind of the point just explore!
So many people seem to spend their time in mid town around Time Square, Fifth Avenue, Broadway etc That's the equivalent of going to London and spending your time in Leicster Sq, Picadilly Circus and Oxford St.
I'd echo that. This year will be our 10th visit, and we always stay somewhere down by Bleecker Street (usually Washington Square Hotel). The bars and restaurants are more individual, you'll find some world-class musicians playing in clubs (Terra Blues is our favourite, now that The Back Fence has closed) and you don't get the crowds you find in the more popular areas. Spend some time in the parks; people-watching is like nowhere else on Earth. Tenement Museum on Lower East Side can easily take a day out of your time if you do all the tours. Canal Street is an eye-opener. Wander around Little Italy for a bit, and everywhere you look you'll see the Mafia doing deals (it's how if felt at the time; over-active imagination, and too many Scorcese movies!)Basically if you want to see and experience the NYC that doesn't really exist in any other city you need to stay and spend your time in the area from 10 blocks south of Houston to 25 blocks north of Houston. Houston is a major street that runs east/west across the city. The further north and south you go of that area the more generic/boring it gets...,until you get north of Central Park that is! You can spend a good two or three days walking around those areas. Are there specific things to do? Not really but that's kind of the point just explore!
So many people seem to spend their time in mid town around Time Square, Fifth Avenue, Broadway etc That's the equivalent of going to London and spending your time in Leicster Sq, Picadilly Circus and Oxford St.
We return again soon, and will do more of the same. NYC gets it's hooks into you.
Dug up a few pictures of some favourites...
Life Underground - Head to 14th St, 8th Ave subway station and explore the station itself, great fun, the figures are everywhere:
NYC 2013: Life Underground by Chris Harrison, on Flickr
The High Line - Still pretty quiet if you time it right, lots of interesting art along the path and it's an interesting area to explore as few head over into the West Side:
NYC 2013: The High Line by Chris Harrison, on Flickr
Central Park - Absolutely beautiful in October (photo is from Nov 4th), and you only need to head up above the Fountain and you're basically 'under the radar' as most tourists stick to a few small areas:
NYC 2013: Central Park by Chris Harrison, on Flickr
Coney Island - I love, love, love this place. Slowly being developed but still as close to '70s' New York as we've found, particuarly if you head off into the Russian areas etc. The boardwalk is lovely and you're pretty much gaurenteed to see something very odd:
Coney Island Piste by Chris Harrison, on Flickr
Brooklyn Heights - For every single trip we always take a walk over Brooklyn Bridge and then head along the shoreline, the parks are lovely and the views are stunning, few people venture fully over the bridge so it's surprisingly quiet much of the time:
NYC 2013: Sunset by Chris Harrison, on Flickr
Top of the Rock - Most seem to go straight for the Empire State Building and ignore this, but it's such a nice place to spend a few hours and usually quiet.
New York City 2011 - Top of the Rock by Chris Harrison, on Flickr
Life Underground - Head to 14th St, 8th Ave subway station and explore the station itself, great fun, the figures are everywhere:
NYC 2013: Life Underground by Chris Harrison, on FlickrThe High Line - Still pretty quiet if you time it right, lots of interesting art along the path and it's an interesting area to explore as few head over into the West Side:
NYC 2013: The High Line by Chris Harrison, on FlickrCentral Park - Absolutely beautiful in October (photo is from Nov 4th), and you only need to head up above the Fountain and you're basically 'under the radar' as most tourists stick to a few small areas:
NYC 2013: Central Park by Chris Harrison, on FlickrConey Island - I love, love, love this place. Slowly being developed but still as close to '70s' New York as we've found, particuarly if you head off into the Russian areas etc. The boardwalk is lovely and you're pretty much gaurenteed to see something very odd:
Coney Island Piste by Chris Harrison, on FlickrBrooklyn Heights - For every single trip we always take a walk over Brooklyn Bridge and then head along the shoreline, the parks are lovely and the views are stunning, few people venture fully over the bridge so it's surprisingly quiet much of the time:
NYC 2013: Sunset by Chris Harrison, on FlickrTop of the Rock - Most seem to go straight for the Empire State Building and ignore this, but it's such a nice place to spend a few hours and usually quiet.
New York City 2011 - Top of the Rock by Chris Harrison, on FlickrI am going with my 15yr old son in Feb, amongst other things to watch a Knicks game.
What he really wants to do though is join in a random street game in one of the courts you see in various tv shows.
Do these still exist, can anyone join in, when is the best day/time and where are they ?
What he really wants to do though is join in a random street game in one of the courts you see in various tv shows.
Do these still exist, can anyone join in, when is the best day/time and where are they ?
lordturpin said:
I am going with my 15yr old son in Feb, amongst other things to watch a Knicks game.
What he really wants to do though is join in a random street game in one of the courts you see in various tv shows.
Do these still exist, can anyone join in, when is the best day/time and where are they ?
yes they exist, but will they exist in February time when its freezing cold, potential for snow? no idea! can you just join in/ ask for a game? again no idea.What he really wants to do though is join in a random street game in one of the courts you see in various tv shows.
Do these still exist, can anyone join in, when is the best day/time and where are they ?
I was there in summer and there were lots of little adhoc basketball courts/ football pitch type spaces between some of the buildings. this was mainly downtown area away from the tourist hotspots. best bet for spotting some of these is either walking around, or go on the bus tour, you will spot them!
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