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i'm going to NYC in May for 11 days with a friend, and it will be the first time.
We already have a list of what we want to do and see (very touristic and typical attractions) but i also wanted some good tips from locals, like where could i eat the best pizza ever, where could i see a gospel, ...
and, i read we could buy discount tickets at the TKT for broadway shows, but how does it work...? we queue, then what happen next?
thanks for your time,
Google Harlem gospel tours; if you do decide to find one on your own, do be respectful, follow their rules etc. Here is an indication of the problem.
The best pizza ever would likely be in Napoli or my pizza shop in West Dublin.
IMO 11 days is a long time in NYC. Have you considered an overnight or two night trip to DC?
so your pizzas are the best??? i should give it a try then i guess :)
it's pretty long, but i don't want to rush. I want to enjoy NYC fully without stressing about what i couldn't do etc.
any other things you think we should do? or shouldn't do?
cheers,
Suffice it to say, this is a very subjective question with very strong opinions.
Here is one list to look at.
But I'll bang off a couple of rounds and identify the favourite things I've done in Manhattan .
1) Lower East Side Tenement Museum. It is a guided tour of late 1800's/early1900s tenements. Check their website and book for the particular tour you want.
2) 9/11 Memorial. Free. Book your tkts online, print them out. You will struggle to get walk-up tkts. Allow a couple of hours including security and tkt checks.
3) The High Line. Start at the southern end, it is better IMO.
4) I like the African Burial Ground Memorial and Museum. Again, like the Tenement museum, a good look at a lesser known part of Manhattan's history.
5) Innwood Park and Fort Tryon Park are both worth the trip to the northern part of the island.
6) Buy a weekly Metcard. I would probably suggest you should also buy a second one to cover the last four days but that depends on how much you use it.
Take the 7 Train to Jackson Heights, get off, and find somewhere to eat. Almost everything is good. Indian, Nepalese, Tibetan, Pakistani. Wander around. The 7 is called the immigrant express for a reason. Any stop on the line, from Sunnyside to Flushing is an "ethnic enclave".
Take the Q train to Brighton Beach and Coney Island. Be mindful of Coney Island at night. The immediate area is fine, and it's extremely unlikely anything will happen to you even outside of it, but be aware. The projects there are notoriously bad, but of course most of that crime is "internal".
Come up to my neighborhood, Astoria, and check out the beer garden near Ditmars Ave. Really cool Bohemian outdoor beer garden with tons of Czech (and other) beer. Also, get some greek food around the corner after you're done drinking. or Afghan. or Colombian.
Walk around the Lower East Side (I second the suggestion of the Tenement museum) and have some drinks at the Magician. Go to the east village, wander around, find somewhere cool. You can make your way all the way to Avenue C. Avenue D is safe, but there's nothing over there.
Definitely don't rush your time here, and limit the tourist stuff. Yeah, it's the "iconic" stuff to do, but it's boring and doesn't really give you any idea what the city is all about. It's like the tourist part of the city is a separate bubble from the real world of day to day life. Take a walk through Times Square, but don't "hang" around. Instead go over to 9th avenue and have some shrimp and grits at Delta Grill, then walk a few blocks to Rudy's and have unlimited free hot dogs with cheap (good) beer. If it's a Saturday, ask for Connor, tell him you know me, he'll take care of you!
These days, uptown is perfectly fine for tourists. I say that with some disappointment. The same thing that made it a little edgy was what made it an interesting place to live. It's weird seeing the demographic shift almost 180 degrees in the past 10 years.
Go to a church, but don't take pictures and videos. It's extremely inconsiderate. I don't believe in any of that nonsense, but if you're going in to their establishment, follow their rules and respect decorum.
The Abbysinian Baptist Church is very welcoming to drop ins.
I'm also going to recommend visiting the Eldridge Street Synogogue.
The Theatre Development fund TKTS booths are very easy to navigate. I've linked you the website.
I'm also going to recommend you check out the Brooklyn Flea which by the time you get here will have moved back to outdoor locations.
Other things to do? Visit one of our amazing Botanic Gardens (Brooklyn or NYBG in the Bronx). Go to the Noguchi or the Rubin for interest perspectives on art.
I was planning to do Brighton Beach and Coney Island. What do you mean "The immediate area is fine, and it's extremely unlikely anything will happen to you even outside of it, but be aware. The projects there are notoriously bad, but of course most of that crime is "internal", you're scaring me...!!!
I go and have a look at that delta thing you mentioned!
thanks!!!!
Then it was sold and franchised. Though Patsy had some involvement with Grimaldi's expansion it just wasn't the same.
A rent dispute led Grimaldi's to move down the block.
Patsy then jumped at the vacancy. Lawsuits went back and forth. Dis guy can't open a peezzahreeah next to us, dese guys can't stop me, yous wanna go to war? etc. Grimaldi's did not want to compete with the man responsible for Grimaldi's success. Follow?
Patsy won the court battle. Back in his old spot, he opened Juliana's. If you called Grimaldi's "Patsy's" you now support the man at Juliana's and call Grimaldi's a tourist trap. Follow?
Juliana's for pizza. Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory on the water for dessert. Soak in the views. Stroll through Brooklyn Bridge Park. Tons of photo ops.
NYC is a Foodies paradise, just Brooklyn alone would take 11 days of dinners, Manhattan...years.
http://www.timeout.com/newyork
"Best" things to do are subjective as mentioned. We need to know your interests. Otherwise, you can just Google "best non-touristy things to do in NYC" or something like that and get tons of hits.
Best places to get the best views of NYC,...
also, do you know where i can hit some baseballs?? like in the movies (i know predictable). Where you're in a "cage" and suppose to hit the balls thrown by a machine to you...
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New York
Hi,i'm going to NYC in May for 11 days with a friend, and it will be the first time.
We already have a list of what we want to do and see (very touristic and typical attractions) but i also wanted some good tips from locals, like where could i eat the best pizza ever, where could i see a gospel, ...
and, i read we could buy discount tickets at the TKT for broadway shows, but how does it work...? we queue, then what happen next?
thanks for your time,
1
Hi ya, welcome to TT.Google Harlem gospel tours; if you do decide to find one on your own, do be respectful, follow their rules etc. Here is an indication of the problem.
The best pizza ever would likely be in Napoli or my pizza shop in West Dublin.
IMO 11 days is a long time in NYC. Have you considered an overnight or two night trip to DC?
2
i'd rather not do any tours... my sister last time just entered a church in Harlem and told me it was amazing, but she forgot where it was... so i'm kinda lost here haha! thanks for the link!so your pizzas are the best??? i should give it a try then i guess :)
it's pretty long, but i don't want to rush. I want to enjoy NYC fully without stressing about what i couldn't do etc.
any other things you think we should do? or shouldn't do?
cheers,
3
i read we could buy discount tickets at the TKT for broadway shows, but how does it work...? we queue, then what happen next?
You get in line and wait. When it's your turn, you see what they have available and you buy the tickets.where could i eat the best pizza ever
I wonder how many posts until this devolves into a flame war....Suffice it to say, this is a very subjective question with very strong opinions.
Here is one list to look at.
4
any other things you think we should do? A million guidebooks and a trillion web resources can provide a list of hundreds of things to do in NYC and without any indication of your interests any effort would be a shot in the dark.But I'll bang off a couple of rounds and identify the favourite things I've done in Manhattan .
1) Lower East Side Tenement Museum. It is a guided tour of late 1800's/early1900s tenements. Check their website and book for the particular tour you want.
2) 9/11 Memorial. Free. Book your tkts online, print them out. You will struggle to get walk-up tkts. Allow a couple of hours including security and tkt checks.
3) The High Line. Start at the southern end, it is better IMO.
4) I like the African Burial Ground Memorial and Museum. Again, like the Tenement museum, a good look at a lesser known part of Manhattan's history.
5) Innwood Park and Fort Tryon Park are both worth the trip to the northern part of the island.
6) Buy a weekly Metcard. I would probably suggest you should also buy a second one to cover the last four days but that depends on how much you use it.
5
About the show tickets, there are a few things to think about. There Is a range of seating and pricing options available at the theater, and you might find a better option there, assuming they have sets available. Most people want to sit in the orchestra, which to me is a waste of the whole experience. You are close enough to see the actors spit, but the overall view is very limited. These are the most expensive tickets and the ones generally available at half price from TCKTS. My preference is to sit close up in the mezzanine or balcony where the view is much better and the tickets are much cheaper, often beating the price at TCKTS. Also consider that the line at TCKTS often takes hours to move to the front. is all this worth it? You decide.6
Ok so I can't tell you much about the tourist stuff - I don't do it obviously. But I can tell you some cool stuff to do.Take the 7 Train to Jackson Heights, get off, and find somewhere to eat. Almost everything is good. Indian, Nepalese, Tibetan, Pakistani. Wander around. The 7 is called the immigrant express for a reason. Any stop on the line, from Sunnyside to Flushing is an "ethnic enclave".
Take the Q train to Brighton Beach and Coney Island. Be mindful of Coney Island at night. The immediate area is fine, and it's extremely unlikely anything will happen to you even outside of it, but be aware. The projects there are notoriously bad, but of course most of that crime is "internal".
Come up to my neighborhood, Astoria, and check out the beer garden near Ditmars Ave. Really cool Bohemian outdoor beer garden with tons of Czech (and other) beer. Also, get some greek food around the corner after you're done drinking. or Afghan. or Colombian.
Walk around the Lower East Side (I second the suggestion of the Tenement museum) and have some drinks at the Magician. Go to the east village, wander around, find somewhere cool. You can make your way all the way to Avenue C. Avenue D is safe, but there's nothing over there.
Definitely don't rush your time here, and limit the tourist stuff. Yeah, it's the "iconic" stuff to do, but it's boring and doesn't really give you any idea what the city is all about. It's like the tourist part of the city is a separate bubble from the real world of day to day life. Take a walk through Times Square, but don't "hang" around. Instead go over to 9th avenue and have some shrimp and grits at Delta Grill, then walk a few blocks to Rudy's and have unlimited free hot dogs with cheap (good) beer. If it's a Saturday, ask for Connor, tell him you know me, he'll take care of you!
These days, uptown is perfectly fine for tourists. I say that with some disappointment. The same thing that made it a little edgy was what made it an interesting place to live. It's weird seeing the demographic shift almost 180 degrees in the past 10 years.
Go to a church, but don't take pictures and videos. It's extremely inconsiderate. I don't believe in any of that nonsense, but if you're going in to their establishment, follow their rules and respect decorum.
7
In addition to what has already been recommended:The Abbysinian Baptist Church is very welcoming to drop ins.
I'm also going to recommend visiting the Eldridge Street Synogogue.
The Theatre Development fund TKTS booths are very easy to navigate. I've linked you the website.
I'm also going to recommend you check out the Brooklyn Flea which by the time you get here will have moved back to outdoor locations.
Other things to do? Visit one of our amazing Botanic Gardens (Brooklyn or NYBG in the Bronx). Go to the Noguchi or the Rubin for interest perspectives on art.
8
Hey, thanks a lor for your advice.I was planning to do Brighton Beach and Coney Island. What do you mean "The immediate area is fine, and it's extremely unlikely anything will happen to you even outside of it, but be aware. The projects there are notoriously bad, but of course most of that crime is "internal", you're scaring me...!!!
I go and have a look at that delta thing you mentioned!
thanks!!!!
9
You may hear of Grimaldi's under the Brooklyn Bridge. Formerly owned by Patsy Grimaldi, called Patsy's until a naming dispute, renamed Patsy Grimaldi's (though still affectionately called Patsy's, follow?). Classic brick oven pies (no slices), 40 minute waits, elbow to elbow seating, and a jukebox with a selection of Italian crooners only. In other words, lots of Sinatra.Then it was sold and franchised. Though Patsy had some involvement with Grimaldi's expansion it just wasn't the same.
A rent dispute led Grimaldi's to move down the block.
Patsy then jumped at the vacancy. Lawsuits went back and forth. Dis guy can't open a peezzahreeah next to us, dese guys can't stop me, yous wanna go to war? etc. Grimaldi's did not want to compete with the man responsible for Grimaldi's success. Follow?
Patsy won the court battle. Back in his old spot, he opened Juliana's. If you called Grimaldi's "Patsy's" you now support the man at Juliana's and call Grimaldi's a tourist trap. Follow?
Juliana's for pizza. Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory on the water for dessert. Soak in the views. Stroll through Brooklyn Bridge Park. Tons of photo ops.
10
If you have 11 days in NYC (Expensive) you dont need any plans, tour, just go in a general direction and enjoy, you can train and walk to just about everywhere, if you get pooped take a taxi.NYC is a Foodies paradise, just Brooklyn alone would take 11 days of dinners, Manhattan...years.
http://www.timeout.com/newyork
11
Don't think anyone's mentioned yet, but walk the Brooklyn Bridge. Grimaldi's in by the bridge on the Brooklyn side, so you can eat there once you cross. Get there right when they open though for shortest lines."Best" things to do are subjective as mentioned. We need to know your interests. Otherwise, you can just Google "best non-touristy things to do in NYC" or something like that and get tons of hits.
12
what i like: food. Tiny food shops that aren't listed in the lonely planet, routard... where they sell i don't know, good ice creams, burgers, hot dogs,..Best places to get the best views of NYC,...
also, do you know where i can hit some baseballs?? like in the movies (i know predictable). Where you're in a "cage" and suppose to hit the balls thrown by a machine to you...
14
Batting cages.
