New York City - things to do

[taxi2]

Im heading there next friday, any suggestions about what to do?

Im going to see a show in Brooklyn saturday night, ill be around williamsburgh and downtown Brooklyn saturday past 6.

I will also be going to eat at thai son in lower manhattan and uptown in harlem around the 135th.

Im going to take the JMZ line in queens since its overground to take in some city sights.

Last time i missed the Brooklyn bridge at night so its on the to-do list.

Ill be renting a bike

Also i cant remember if manhattan is flat lol im not a fatty but im not a super biker either, how much slope is there when you bike there?

[korrowan]

Manhattan is indeed flat. I know little about hte city even though I live just outside of Philly but I do know its flat lol. I went there once and was like... damn too many people..never been back.

[taxi2]

Manhattan is indeed flat. I know little about hte city even though I live just outside of Philly but I do know its flat lol. I went there once and was like... damn too many people..never been back.

Hehe i was there last year, i loved that feeling of whoa, so huge. I want to go to Tokyo once before i die to see another urban monster. 35 million people, lulz

[Henini]

I will also be going to eat at thai son in lower manhattan and uptown in harlem around the 135th.



I'd much rather be eating a thai daughter or even wife then a son... but whatever rocks your boat! I know the gay community is very big in Montreal.

[Shannacore]

I've been to NY once. What you need to do is stop by Uniqlo and pick me up a ton of clothes because they're sorta cheap and definitely cute. Then go to 53rd and 6th (iirc) and get whatever the hell that dude is selling out of his cart, and eat it. SO GEWD.

NY ruled, I wish my tour guide didn't suck. I definitely want to go back.

[Messianic]

Apparently there's only one coal-oven pizza place in NY anymore based on regulations - the pizza is apparently GODLIKE there. I haven't been able to try it (since i've never been to NY, just heard from a close friend), but that's on my list whenever I get to go.

[guineapig]

There are a few coal oven pizza places in Manhattan. The number increases if you count all five burrows.

There are slopes all over the city, including in Manhattan. If it wasn't for the traffic you could easily roll your bike down from Murray Hill all the way to Chinatown without having to pedal. Nothing horrible but the island certainly isn't flat either.

[BeepBeep]

The Best Adventures are unplanned!

[taxi2]

The Best Adventures are unplanned!

I agree somewhat, i wouldnt call my trip planned, its just a general outline. Last time i didnt plan for my pizza and i ended up eating whatever (Ray's pizza in manhattan) just for the sake of saying i ate NY pizza.

My planning this time will make me stop at Grimaldi's pizza near the Brooklyn bridge if i dont have any other better recommendations until then.

[taxi2]

Any other suggestions? 2 more days and NY fucking C

[Shannacore]

Have you picked me up stuff from Uniqlo yet

[taxi2]

Have you picked me up stuff from Uniqlo yet

Im not there yet, but no! I might get you a keyring since you got me thinking, i never buy clothing, like ever. Since im in NYC, i might buy one piece of gear. Ive been looking to buy something with a future look to it, something like:

http://www.gradientmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/minus-richly-hawtin-2010-collection-01.jpg

Im not looking to spend 200$ on a piece of gear though. If someone knows somewhere i should check out thats cheapish... thanks

[SlankyLanky]

Apparently there's only one coal-oven pizza place in NY anymore based on regulations - the pizza is apparently GODLIKE there. I haven't been able to try it (since i've never been to NY, just heard from a close friend), but that's on my list whenever I get to go.

its the water in new york that makes the pizza, i dont know what the fuck kind of nasty run off but its all about the water there.

[SlankyLanky]

just throwing it out there but new york has quite a few amazing freight train yards!

[Shannacore]

Im not there yet, but no! I might get you a keyring since you got me thinking, i never buy clothing, like ever. Since im in NYC, i might buy one piece of gear.

will be patiently waiting for my keyring.

[guineapig]

The skywalk is kind of neat. It's on the upper west side, they converted some old above ground rail tracks into a super long park/walk path.

If you are looking for a good view, 30 Rock is MUCH more worth your time than the Empire State Building. The view at the top of 30 Rock is probably the best in town. At night it's really pretty in Brooklyn Heights overlooking downtown Manhattan if you are in to that sort of thing.

There are a million museums pretty much covering everything... including a museum of sex in midtown... I don't know if it's historical or fetishy or what so don't take my word for it. Anyway, the internet can give you any answer you would find in this thread.

The best decisions are one's that you make and like Beep said... it's best to just fly by the seat of your pants!

[taxi2]

The skywalk is kind of neat. It's on the upper west side, they converted some old above ground rail tracks into a super long park/walk path.

If you are looking for a good view, 30 Rock is MUCH more worth your time than the Empire State Building. The view at the top of 30 Rock is probably the best in town. At night it's really pretty in Brooklyn Heights overlooking downtown Manhattan if you are in to that sort of thing.

There are a million museums pretty much covering everything... including a museum of sex in midtown... I don't know if it's historical or fetishy or what so don't take my word for it. Anyway, the internet can give you any answer you would find in this thread.

The best decisions are one's that you make and like Beep said... it's best to just fly by the seat of your pants!

Thanks for the feedback, i might go for that skywalk since i got vertigo and all lol (im serious)... I am planning to go to the fashion institute of technology they have an exhibition for eco-friendly clothing (might get a laugh out of what they came up with or it might be nice) and another one on japanese fashion. Like a 2hour stay.

When i was in amsterdam for a month, unplanned was how i did it. I just got in the subway with my bike, got off at the end of a random line and pedaled back while following the train tracks. Its just when im in New York, we go only for a weekend so i dont really have time to explore alot.

So ill do that, like last time in NY (which was all unplanned) but at the same time i took the time to look at the restaurant feedback to see where to eat and came here for some more feedback cuz locals are almost always the best source of info on what to see that isnt a tourist trap.

Talkin about that non-tourist trap, the train yard, we talkin about the sunnyside yard?

[Shannacore]

PLEASE EAT TAYLOR HAM WHILE YOU ARE EAST

unless they have that in canada

[Tumdumm]

who/what is a taylor ham?

[taxi2]

I prepared a music CD to play in the car, its 45 mins long, when should i put it in? Hehe, im guessing a bit before nyack? We coming through RFK bridge in Queens.

I dont usually eat pork (like once every few months) but im gonna eat Korean BBQ pork in Flushing, yea whats taylor ham?

And wheres that skywalk? I mean is there a particular name to it? Im checkin it out quick on the web cant seem to find anything specific, im cooking soups burning CDs washing clothes in here XD

[Shannacore]

When my old roomate used to fly back to Jersey I used to have him bring this stuff back with him. The only place I can find it is on teh East Coast :( :(

http://www.clovegarden.com/ingred/img/sg_njpr11f.jpg
http://www.clovegarden.com/ingred/img/sg_njprf09h.jpg

Taylor Ham > Bacon or breakfast sausage.

http://www.clovegarden.com/ingred/sg_njprz.html

[taxi2]

lol... im someone who eats meat once in a while. And theres a Korean BBQ restaurant planned for this weekend where ill be eating this:

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/1599/55234449.jpg

I think ill have my fix of pork for a while XD

thanks for the suggestion though, i always come out of NY 5 pounds fatter and this weekend wont be any different XD

[SlankyLanky]

lol... im someone who eats meat once in a while. And theres a Korean BBQ restaurant planned for this weekend where ill be eating this:

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/1599/55234449.jpg

I think ill have my fix of pork for a while XD

thanks for the suggestion though, i always come out of NY 5 pounds fatter and this weekend wont be any different XD

good god thats a lot of pork.

[Scrooge]

Make sure to check out L'n'Bs (L&B Spumoni Gardens) in Brooklyn, for the best pizza you'll ever taste!

[bufferofnewbies]

Just in case...
http://www.galactic-guide.com/articles/2R9.html

[Itchybottom]

When my old roomate used to fly back to Jersey I used to have him bring this stuff back with him. The only place I can find it is on teh East Coast :( :(

http://www.clovegarden.com/ingred/img/sg_njpr11f.jpg

Taylor Ham > Bacon or breakfast sausage.

or you could just order it online... http://www.jerseyporkroll.com/products.htm

Back on topic. As far as what to do in New York? Right now? Grab a camera, and go to Central Park -- leaves should be turning. Go to Top of the Rock (http://www.topoftherocknyc.com/), check out the Museum of Sex (http://www.museumofsex.com/), or maybe take in some jazz at the Blue Note (http://www.bluenote.net/newyork/index.shtml).

[taxi2]

Thx for all the feedback, im on the last legs of my planning!

At some point on my bike run im going to end up on the brooklyn side of the brooklyn bridge, how crazy is it for bikes on the manhattan side of the bridge? Like can i just cross the bridge and try to wander around Lower east side, Chinatown, alphabet city etc (on a bike)?

Also, what are the chances of someone whos not used to NY (but not stupid on a bike) of getting a bike down from 135th / Lennox to the brooklyn bridge in one piece? Any tips for doing this? (smallish and easier to travel streets etc) Like broadway toward downtown until it gets too crazy, and switch to west end ave? That sounds like a semi-ok plan lol ?

[taxi2]

Lookee here NYers, one last tip! ^^^^^^^^^^

[Spud]

I'm pretty sure you can bike across the bridge no problem, there are bike lines all over Manhattan.

If your looking for bands to see check out www.brooklynvegan.com (http://www.brooklynvegan.com/) to see whats going on any particular night.

If your looking for good views of the city take the Staten Island ferry at sunset, its free.

[Kraftwerk]

New York Yankees vs Minnesota Twins game 3 Saturday night in the Bronx, maybe you can scalp some tickets for what will be the Yankees clinching the ALDS.

[BusPassenger]

Thx again for all the feedback

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3165/3056953388_4512c89d0a.jpg

And off we go

[Thelastaxi]

Thanks again for the input

Biked all weekend, did almost the whole manhattan island north/south on bike twice, east and west side. Started on 145th and ended up near Brooklyn for the second ride, great ride.

Some of the sights ive seen

Ate some great food at spoonbread too in Harlem:

http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/8435/harlem.jpg

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/9420/harlem2.jpg

As i walked along an upper west street , some yuppie guy got scared of me and took his kids in his arms after a quick glance over the shoulder and seeing me. (I look somewhat like an average NY bike courrier guy)

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/1705/westcourier.jpg

I had a taste of angry americans in Brooklyn where i biked across a red light but without a car in sight. Some law and order idiot shouts: "ITS A RED LIGHT! I HOPE YOU GET RUN OVER SOME DAY, STUPID!!!"

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/3669/brooklynq.jpg

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/3240/brooklyn2l.jpg

Biked all around Queens, where my american host lives.

http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/2452/queensf.jpg

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/4352/queens3.jpg

There was a jesus freak on top of the Queensboro bridge with his hands held up high and chanting some stuff, i was chanting as well "Dont look him in the eye, dont look him in the eye"

http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/7834/queens2.jpg

And finally some food i ate

Best falafel eva at Maoz

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/9994/maoz.jpg

Harlem's Spoonbread too popcorn shrimps, was so good i had to slow myself down to taste cuz i was hungry:

http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/901/popcorn.jpg

[purist]

As this forum's leading falafel correspondent, I can say on authority that falafel looks pedestrian at best.

D.C. has some good ass falafel though.

[Thelastaxi]

As this forum's leading falafel correspondent, I can say on authority that falafel looks pedestrian at best.

D.C. has some good ass falafel though.

lol its pretty plain, but whats nice is all the toppings inside, and the fact that you can go at the salad bar and fill it up again plus the sauce tastes great. Ive actually had better ones in Montreal, its cuz i ate Maoz 3 times a week in Amsterdam, i have a special place in my stomach for it.

[purist]

It actually looks pretty tasty I just like to be a falafel snob. The fixin' bar will make the difference between a good falafel shop and a great falafel shop.

[Spud]

I think the worst food I've ever had was from a falafel truck in manhattan. It was like 4am and I was drunk but it still tasted awful. It was hard, stale, and waaaay to spicey. But ive also had really good falafel in NYC.

[guineapig]

I think the worst food I've ever had was from a falafel truck in manhattan. It was like 4am and I was drunk but it still tasted awful. It was hard, stale, and waaaay to spicey. But ive also had really good falafel in NYC.

Yeah, the halal trucks all smell really great but I often hear that the end result is somewhat dissapointing. The lower east side and the east village have some hidden gems when it comes to fallafel at $2.50 a pop! (I always forget the names of these places). If you are familiar with NYC prices you know how awesome that is!