5 nights in New York; See, do, drink and eat.

[Dibble]

Well Mrs Dibble's come up trumps again, and has booked us five nights in New York in May. We're staying near to Times Square.

Already on my "to do" list are the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island, Central Park, eat a hot dog from a street vendor, MoMA or another gallery, a full hit diner breakfsat, and get a photo of me and a local BiB.

I realise most of these are pretty cheesy to-dos, but I do like to do the iconic tourist things now and again.

So what do the PH collective recommend? I'm after some decent but reasonable bars and/or restaurants, and some "hidden gems" for either daytime or evening visits.

[davido140]

I really liked the zoo in central park, greenwich village for nightlife, hells kitchen, heartland brewery (micro brewery bar) on union square.

What surprised me most was "the city that never sleeps" was pretty well tucked up in bed come midnight during the week!

Might put a downer on your week but taking a look at "ground zero" might be worth it, I was on a downer for the rest of the day after that, dont know if the permanent memorial/museum is open yet, it was a small temporary one when I was there, serious lump in the throat stuff.

Is the big aricraft carrier back yet? it was away for refurbishment when I was there last, ??

ETA looks like its back! http://www.intrepidmuseum.org

ETA touristy, but very good

http://www.smithandwollenskysteakhouses.com/new_yo...

This place is also very good, biggest lobster I have ever seen/eaten!

http://www.thepalm.com/sitemain.cfm?site_id=6

Keats bar which is right over the road from the palm on 2nd is fun for boozy night and kareoke, I dont think they have gotten over my redition of Gay Bar by electric six.....

Edited by davido140 on Friday 27th February 19:59

Edited by davido140 on Friday 27th February 20:00

[Dibble]

I'm liking most of those suggestions david140, particularly the aircraft carrier.

Not sure about the zoo, and don't know if I can be bothered with Ground Zero (I realise that makes me sound even shallower than I already am, but while it was a tragedy, it wasn't anyone I knew).

[davido140]

Dibble said:

I'm liking most of those suggestions david140, particularly the aircraft carrier.

Not sure about the zoo, and don't know if I can be bothered with Ground Zero (I realise that makes me sound even shallower than I already am, but while it was a tragedy, it wasn't anyone I knew).

You're probably right to be honest, the zoo isnt big and only takes an hour to wander around, I found it quite quaint stuck at the end of the park!

Plus, everyone loves a sealion!

You can get one of those sappy white horse and carriage rides from right near the zoo (south end of the park IIRC) the missus will either love you or think you've gone mental, depends how soft she is!

Have added a couple of extra links for you, if I had to choose one place to eat It'd be the palm, I loved it.

[Rollin]

Top of the Rock.
Circle Line Cruise.
Parker Meridien burger joint.
Lower East Side for going out.
Keens for a Porterhouse.

Then use the search function


ETA And walk a lot or use the subway. Oh and talk to the locals!!

Edited by Rollin on Friday 27th February 20:09

[dibbly_dobbler]

Me and Mrs DD did a cruise all the way round Manhattan Island - very interesting and quite relaxing if you need a bit of a chill out for a few hours.

Saw the Aircraft carrier thingy with the Mark 1 Mrs DD about 10 years ago - it was cool and I got to stand next to a Blackbird SR-71

[juice]

I'd give MoMA a miss if I were you. I was reallly disappointed - wish I'd gone to the Met instead.

[Dibble]

juice said:

I'd give MoMA a miss if I were you. I was reallly disappointed - wish I'd gone to the Met instead.

Cheers.

As well as the cheesy tourist options, I do like to throw in a bit of culture for balance!

[AdeTuono]

Had one of my best nights out ever here.....

http://www.thebackfenceonline.com/

There are loads of cracking bars and clubs around here. Greenwich Village is a fantastic area to get a feel for NYC (IMO).
As said before, give MoMA a miss, but do the Met. You can easily spend a full day in there.

[Jagfox]

Rollin said:

Top of the Rock.
Circle Line Cruise.
Parker Meridien burger joint.
Lower East Side for going out.
Keens for a Porterhouse.

Then use the search function


ETA And walk a lot or use the subway. Oh and talk to the locals!!

Edited by Rollin on Friday 27th February 20:09

Parker Meridien - i stayed there last week- fabulous place. Burger bar is great, even better is Norma's breakfast restaurant- it's legendary- have to book!

Instead of MOMA- try MAD museum at Columbus circle, or the Internation photography centre if that is your thing.

Also, on the food theme, go to the Oyster bar underneath Grand central station ( and try the listening gallery), Toyama sushi near Macy's is AWESOME. H+B Bagels, F+B Hotdogs at Gudtfood, i could go on..
Steakhouse? Avoid Uncle Jacks, try Qualitymeats on W57th or W58th near central park. Superb place, relaxed service, not too pricey. Good Italian restaurant- Shelleys Tradizionale again on w57th.

Top of the Rock is a better view than Empire state, but get there early to beat the queues. USS intrepid is quite good, even my wife thought it was interesting.

Metropolitan museum- well you could spend a day there easily. If you are going to do many of the standard things - google a NewYork city pass before you go- discounted entry and queue jumping etc.

And lastly,even if you have filled in your online immigration stuff and APIS forms, you still HAVE to fill out the green card+ Customs forms on the plane- irrespective of what the websites tell you! Have fun!

[Dyl]

Another vote for the aircraft carrier, I went to NY with my school in 2004 and it was great. If it has been refurbished since then can only be better. I was only there 4 days, and being aged 14 at the time didn't help me see much of the nightlife But I can support going to the touristy areas. Enjoy!

[HDM]

Jagfox said:

Rollin said:

Top of the Rock.
Circle Line Cruise.
Parker Meridien burger joint.
Lower East Side for going out.
Keens for a Porterhouse.

Then use the search function


ETA And walk a lot or use the subway. Oh and talk to the locals!!

Edited by Rollin on Friday 27th February 20:09

Parker Meridien - i stayed there last week- fabulous place. Burger bar is great, even better is Norma's breakfast restaurant- it's legendary- have to book!

Instead of MOMA- try MAD museum at Columbus circle, or the Internation photography centre if that is your thing.

Also, on the food theme, go to the Oyster bar underneath Grand central station ( and try the listening gallery), Toyama sushi near Macy's is AWESOME. H+B Bagels, F+B Hotdogs at Gudtfood, i could go on..
Steakhouse? Avoid Uncle Jacks, try Qualitymeats on W57th or W58th near central park. Superb place, relaxed service, not too pricey. Good Italian restaurant- Shelleys Tradizionale again on w57th.

Top of the Rock is a better view than Empire state, but get there early to beat the queues. USS intrepid is quite good, even my wife thought it was interesting.

Metropolitan museum- well you could spend a day there easily. If you are going to do many of the standard things - google a NewYork city pass before you go- discounted entry and queue jumping etc.

And lastly,even if you have filled in your online immigration stuff and APIS forms, you still HAVE to fill out the green card+ Customs forms on the plane- irrespective of what the websites tell you! Have fun!

I would suggest Peter Luger's in Williamsburg for steaks, you could easily get a car service there and back, still rates as the best steakhouse in many reviewers eyes.

Check out the "Spotted Pig" if want a great burger, plus you might spot a celeb or two, as it has a number of celeb 'backers'

I would try and keep clear of midtown, roughly where you'll be based, head either east or west to find 'real' neighbourhood bars.

What was the meatpacking district (think Smithfield market) is now the hot trendy area, Hogs & Heifers is pretty much the only place still going strong from when the area was more sketchy.

Try and catch a Yankees baseball game, this will be their first season in a new stadium, it was always an occasion to watch a game in the old stadium.

Have fun!

[bull996]

Dibble said:

I'm liking most of those suggestions david140, particularly the aircraft carrier.

Not sure about the zoo, and don't know if I can be bothered with Ground Zero (I realise that makes me sound even shallower than I already am, but while it was a tragedy, it wasn't anyone I knew).

If you are going to Battery Park for the Staue of Liberty trip, you may as well walk past Ground Zero. It is worth a quick visit, even just to put things into perspective.

[Grant76]

Eats - River Cafe, amazing food & views. Spice Market in the meat packing district, great atmosphere. Balthazar in Soho for lunch is always great. Be sure to book all in advance.

Drinks - The upstairs bar in the Blue fin is great, right on Times Sq. Figaro's is a cracking locals bar, can't remember the street but right across the road from the Sofitel, Abe behind the bar is a legend! The bar at hotel (sp) Gueynsvert has incredible views from the terrace (not the cheapest though..)

To do- Top of the Rock, heli tour, grand central ( visit the deli! ) the NY library is beautiful & if you have time get a subway out then walk back across the Brooklyn bridge, one of lifes huge pleasures!

[anonymous-user]

I'm bloody jealous - won't get there this year for a long weekend the first time in many.

Eating

- Katz's Deli on Houston - NY institution - world famous Pastrami on Rye and where Sally had an orgasm when she met Harry in the film of the same name.
- Carnegies Deli - as above, great PoR, on 7th Ave
- Balathazar - on Spring St in Soho - good seafood and great selection of French wines
- Tabla on Madison - not to pricey fine dining - had a couple of great meals there - American/Indian fusion
- Nobu on Hudson - the original and best - you need to book 3 months ahead but you might snatch a cancellation if lucky - sight of my best meal ever
- Indochine - Lafayette - v.good (expensive) French/Asian - normally a few celebs (tw3ts) there

Drinking

- Chumleys in Greenwich - difficult to find but has atmosphere in spades
- I happen to think that a Manhatten cocktail in one of the balcony bars overlooking the main concourse at the Grand Central Station (worth going to see the place anyway)to people watch is probably THE best place in the world to sample a cocktail
- McSorleys on 7th I think is the oldest pub in NYC
- The bar at the Mercer in Soho - celeb central
- Fat Sams if you like to keep up with the UK footy

See

- Flatiron building
- Chrysler Building
- Inside of Trump Towers - the epicentre of NAFF
- The John Lennon memorial in Central Park over the road from the Dakota
- The Statue of Liberty and NYC skyline (go at dusk if you can) from the (free) Statten Islan ferry - and buy a beer on board and drink it from a can in a brown paper bag..class
- The Woolworth Building - world's first 'skyscraper'

Do

- Helicoper tour of the island - if not, boat trip around
- Go drinking/shopping in the Village
- Walk across Brooklyn Bridge
- Madison Square Gardens for boxing if you can
- Chinatown for fakes
- Go to Harlem - feels like the 70s/80s and not nearly as bad as people would have you believe

Hope that helps!

[Dibble]

had ham said:

Loads of good ideas

Some stuff there worth a look - shame we've only got 5 nights!

[Jagfox]

bull996 said:

Dibble said:

I'm liking most of those suggestions david140, particularly the aircraft carrier.

Not sure about the zoo, and don't know if I can be bothered with Ground Zero (I realise that makes me sound even shallower than I already am, but while it was a tragedy, it wasn't anyone I knew).

If you are going to Battery Park for the Staue of Liberty trip, you may as well walk past Ground Zero. It is worth a quick visit, even just to put things into perspective.

I was there last week- Ground Zero is a building site with boards around the perimeter. Nothing to see at all (

[Antony Moxey]

Things to do? When I was there a month ago my brother insisted I took a photo of a manhole with steam coming out of it! Grand Central Station is worth a visit, if just for the begels underneath. Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Rockerfeller Centre, Trump Tower, Pony and trap ride around Central Park, UN Building, Madison Square Gardens, Soho, Little Italy, China Town, Brooklyn Bridge, Battery Park, Ground Zero, Wall Street, ride in a yellow cab, photo with a plod, Times Square, Macy's, dinner at the Waldorf Astoria, ride on the ferris wheel in Toysrus - it was a hectic weekend!

[BermyAndy]

definitely definitely go to lugers

www.peterluger.com

only take cash, but its not that expensive and its reallt bloody good steak!

[King Herald]

I was there a couple of weeks back, with my family, stayed with her in-laws. We went to Ripleys 'Believe it or not', ($50 for me and the daughter to get in), also went to Madam Tussauds, ($240 for six of us to get in). We all had pizza under the Brooklyn bridge, then walked across the bridge at night. Well worth seeing Manhattan at night from there.

They all went to see the Statue of Liberty one day, but I stayed home as the little 'un had a cough/cold.

We had a family party thing one night, had a look round Manhattan after, but we never really did much else.

I ordred a bunch of hot rod stuff from Summitracing.com and Speedwaymotors.com