Metafilter Travel

a canadian and venezuelan in NYC for the first time

specialk420 — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 21:58:44 -0800

ok... so two of my favorite people will be with me in New York next weekend? - a fantastic Venezuelan scenester/party animal and an equally magnificent vivacious Canadian woman (both 30 something and 1st time in New York) ... any recommendations for Friday and Saturday fun for 1st time visitors who really like to push the limits?

New York one day

stuart_s — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:51:45 -0800

Went to New York for one day. Took the train because I'm not too smart. I stayed at a Hostelling International hostel. I ate at The Spotted Pig and had ramen at Setagaya. I recommend both restaurants. Count on a wait at The Spotted Pig and also count on being crammed in like a sardine. I guess that's par for the course in New York. The food is good, though. The ramen at Setagaya is very good.

The hostel was everything that I needed - cheap and in a good location. It was clean and comfortable with nice ammenities - wifi, laundry, etc...

The train was less pleasant. I was on the train for longer than I was actually in New York. It's comfortable, most seats have power outlets and you can get spotty reception. All in all, the experience would be great if it weren't so long. Next time the airfares seem too high I think I'll consider swimming.

New York food centered detour

stuart_s — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:08:43 -0800

Two days, one night, a couple meals in New York. Sushi, bagels and the Unisphere. I went to Yasuda for dinner and had a nice meal. The sushi conformed to my expectations of what high end sushi should be: smaller pieces not straight out of the refrigerator case. I wish there were some place like that locally but I think in the end I learned that my local favorite is consistently, if not perfectly, competitive in terms of freshness and quality.

Lunch was supposed to be Momofuku but they were closed. I suppose I should have checked. But closed on Wednesday? In the end, I ate way too much at several different places. Doughnut Plant is vastly over rated. Two Boots Pizza is also pretty disappointing. I was suckered in by some award they have posted. I had a couple tacos at San Loco. They were good but I can't put them in context with other New York tacos.

Kossar's Bialys saved the day. The bialys are great and they've been making bagels now for several years and those are also great. A little Taam Tov cream cheese was also fantastic. I have since read an article about Taam Tov's horrific labor practices so...

My hotel was in Queens very close to the Unisphere and the rest of the fairgrounds. There was also some sort of children's science museum nearby in a very interesting building. The park/fairgrounds were serene and calm and the remnants of the World's Fair were fascinating. I only wish that I'd had more time to spend there.

New York food centered trip

stuart_s — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:13:04 -0800

I tried to fit in some cultural activities between meals. I stayed in a youth hostel, took the subway from Queens to Manhattan daily ate a lot, mostly Japanese, and visited a couple museums. I stayed in a hostel in Jackson Heigts, Queens. I'm glad I made that choice. I enjoyed meeting the other guests. The hostel itself was nice, if a little hot. There were several rooms accommodating between three and six people each. It was a house on a residential street. I drove to New York. I parked my car on the street and had to move it twice to deal with street sweeping which didn't really put me out much at all.

The neighborhood was also a pleasant experience. Walking to the subway each morning and returning each evening, I was bombarded by the wonderful smell of Indian food. The manage of the hostel is an acquaintance of Jim Leff, the top dog at Chowhound. Apparently, Leff lives in Jackson Heights because it's the chowiest neighborhood in all of New York.

Aside from moving for street cleaning, I didn't use my car at all. I relied entirely on public transportation. $24 bought one one week pass. Transportation time between boroughs seemed to take slightly less than 45 minutes included walking and waiting. I managed to navigate the system pretty well. I used HopStop and on rare occasions queried a helpful station attendant.

I ate at Momofuku Ssam Bar, Momofuku Noodle Bar, Masa, a sub shop in Corona Heights, Chiyono, Yakitori Totto, Rai Rai Ken, Una Pizza Napoletana, Magnolia Bakery, Chikalicious, Super Taste - a Chinese noodle soup restaurant in Chinatown and Taste Good Malaysian Cuisine in Elmhurst, Queens. Generally none were so disappointing that I would recommend against them. On my way out of town, I picked up some knishes from Yonah Schimmel, assored goodies from Russ and Daughters and a bento from Yagura. I wasn't impressed by Super Taste but Robert Sietsama thinks they're the best noodles in the universe. I've only been to two Malaysian restaurants and Taste Good isn't quite as good as the other (not New York) restaurant. Masa was notable as much for the amazing atmosphere as for the food. If you're not willing to pay exorbitantly for atmosphere I'm not sure that Masa is the right place. I wasn't planning on going to either Magnolia Bakery or Beard Papa but went after just happening to walk by. Both were a little disappointing, especially Magnolia. I've definitely had better cupcakes (again not in New York). Chikalicious was okay. Momofuku Noodle bar's ramen had a very rich broth, lots of delicious stewed pork (in addition to the roast pork) and the poached egg is a great idea. The roast pork in the ramen at Rai Rai Ken was really outstanding. Many items at Yakitori Totto were very good, in particular the chicken meatball with raw egg "sauce". The bento from Yagura was very good - a fried hamburger patty, a tiny speck of salmon, rice and an assortment of very small sides. These last few were the best and really the only ones I'd consider returning to. Still, nothing was really a revelation and in a city like New York I think that's a reasonable standard. Even in the short time since I returned, I've read that one new ramen shop has opened and another has announced an imminent opening. Similarly, I've got great leads on more pizza, smoked fish and countless other things.

Between eating, I went to the Museum of Modern Art, the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, Tryon Park in Washington Heights and the Staten Island Botanical Gardens. The Staten Island Botanical Gardens has an art gallery and the exhibits that I saw were worthwhile. The Cooper Hewitt was showing the design triennial and an exhibit about clever design in unindustrialized areas. I recommend it if it's still available. Mostly, I think of New York itself as one big museum. Walking from the subway stops to my "destinations" was invariably just as interesting as the museums themselves. Washington Heights, Corona Heights, Midtown, Jackson Heights, even the subway itself. Each was fascinating.

Long Island Islip Macarthur Airport to Brooklyn, NY?

brokekid — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 07:51:51 -0800

What is the best way to get from Long Island Islip Macarthur Airport to Brooklyn, NY?

How to entertain unfun folks in nyc?

Bookhouse — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 11:49:08 -0800

What are some free or inexpensive ways to entertain anti-New Yorkers in New York City? Some relatives are coming into town tomorrow, and we're at a loss of how to entertain them -- they aren't into exotic food, art films, art museums, a lot of walking, spending money, shopping or the outdoors. Yeah, New York City isn't really for them, but they are coming so we've got to find some cheap ways of filling the days. Bus and boats tours seem pretty pricey, and we're hep to the big tourist thangs like the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, but any other ideas for time fillers and non-threatening eating would be welcome.

Give me ideas for things to do in NYC or NJ... I'm leaving tomorrow!

mhuckaba — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 20:43:04 -0800

Help me plan a trip to NJ/NYC... I'm leaving tomorrow. I'm visiting my cousins/aunt/uncle and staying in NJ near Princeton at their house. We're visiting NYC on Friday and Monday. For someone who is completely uninterested in art, museums, and has been to the statue/Ellis Island/Empire State Building, what is there that is really cool to see?

3 Days of Peace and Quiet

kimdog — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 07:52:33 -0800

What to do in Woodstock, NY this weekend? Me and my sweetheart are making a last minute trip to Woodstock this weekend. Rental car from NYC, staying just off Tinker Rd this Friday through Sunday.

I've had a few recommendations from the friend who is loaning us his apartment, but I want a few more ideas.

Places to laze about on a blanket and enjoy nature: while we enjoy Central Park, we would love to get our dose of unstructured green. Also interested in easy hikes (less than 3 miles, not much climbing) and places where could get wet (wading and/or swimming).

What to do in town: places to eat, hang out, shop.

And I've heard something about a Buddhist Monastery?

Any other cool things to do in the area are appreciated.

What to do in New York City if you're under 21?

nameless.k — Sun, 20 May 2007 20:39:29 -0800

Is it possible to have fun after dark in NYC if you're under 21? I'm going to New York City for the first time with some friends. 3 of us are over 21 and one of us is 20. I found a listing of some places in New York that allow minors in, and I've got lots of ideas for stuff to do during the day, but I'm wondering if it's reasonable to have a "night out", i.e. can we expect to be able to get into a few bars? What part of town might have the highest concentration of such places? And failing that, what are some fun alternatives for night time?
Thanks!

Cheap or Free Things To Do In New York Next Week?

Becko — Fri, 18 May 2007 18:20:28 -0800

I have a week in New York City and limited funds... I'll be heading to New York City on Sunday and I'll be there until Saturday. I'd like some ideas for cool things to keep me occupied without costing me a ton. I'm staying at the Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge. I plan on taking subways and walking, what is the best way to quickly get accustomed to the subway system? I've been to New York City once before, but it was about 3 or 4 years ago.

Friday I plan to hit some museums because they have free/pay what you can nights. I'd love to get tickets to see a taping of a show, but it seems like this is a bad time for that, are there even shows taping at this time? If so, how can I go about getting a hold of a couple tickets? I'd love to go to a neat tea store or cafe. I love tea, especially really unique atmospheres of tea stores. I'm sure there are a ton in New York, but what are some of the best?

I just graduated from art school and I think it would be cool to show my illustration portfolio to some art directors if possible. Does anyone know the best way to get in touch with art directors? Or is there a cool art scene I can hit up?

Also, this is probably a shot in the dark, but last time I was in New York we stumbled across a Udon place near the location of the former World Trade Center. My fiance's mom has tried to locate the place again on other trips but has been unsuccessful. Anyone know what this restaurant is called? It was almost exclusively udon, but it had other Japanese items as well.

I know there are a lot of New York tourist questions, but I didn't find any specifically addressing my questions about free/cheap things. Especially events that are taking place this coming week.

Yankee Stadium Help

Anonymous — Thu, 17 May 2007 21:26:20 -0800

Surprise trip to NYC to see a Yankees game. I know nothing of NYC. Please help me figure out where to fly and where to stay. Game is at Yankee Stadium, on a Saturday afternoon (4pm start). I'd like to fly in on Friday sometime and out on Sunday, early, like before 10. What area of NY is convenient to the stadium to stay in (I'd like to spend less than $300/night) and which airport should we fly to? I'd rather not need a car, but I assume some sort of public transportation (the subway) will get us to and from the game?

I feel like an idiot, but I've never been to a big city, and just want to take some special people before they tear down the stadium.

Best rate at Maritime Hotel?

skwm — Sun, 06 May 2007 16:36:19 -0800

How to get the best rate at the Maritime Hotel in NYC for June 9th?

Need to score indian cookware and banging beats

Smegoid — Sat, 05 May 2007 07:57:50 -0800

AllAroundNYCFilter: Looking for 2 things in NYC. Indian Cookware (Baltis, Tavas, etc.) and a decent club for electro, house and german style techno. At NYC for a conference this week and am having a hard time fidinging two things. I want to use this occassion to stock up on indian cookware (Tavas, baltis, thalis, stainless steel everything and anything). Any thoughts? Don't care about distance, I'm a grad student in a small college town so this is one of my rare chances to stock up! Be nice to find some large indian supplies store.

Second I'm wondering were people go for good electro/techno and house. Sorta place that would play Bpitch Control, Kompakt or Get Physical.

Cheers mefi!

Help me make the most of my three days in NYC

man on the run — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 18:27:30 -0800

Help me plan an awesome weekend in NYC! This weekend (4/19 - 4/22) I'm going to see a good friend who recently moved to the city, and we're ready to hit the town. Please offer suggestions for unique, memorable experiences that won't cost us a fortune and don't require a wardrobe upgrade.

Likes:
Live music (bluegrass, classic rock, Ween, DMB, jazz, etc.)
Tasting Whiskey
Unique City Experiences (Staten Island booze cruise is one I've done before and liked)
Asian Cuisine
BBQ
Exploring cool neighborhoods
People watching
The absurd

Dislikes:
$12 drinks
Ridiculous cover charges
Fancy people with fancy attitudes (unless just watching them - see above)

(Oh yeah, I'm leaving my wife and kid at home, and we're both straight men in case that colors your suggestions).

Things to do in Albany New York

curiousleo — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 16:02:35 -0800

Things To Do in Albany, New York during a weekend. We will be in Albany, New York for a weekend.
We're both new to the place and couldn't find too much insider's info on the net... or maybe too much of it...

I would like to hear real person's advice.

For Friday night, Saturday... Where should we go for romantic dates..... Relaxing .. and great views are welcome. Unique or great food is good too...

Any UNIQUE surprises are welcome also.l..

Thanks in advance.

Things to do in New York this weekend.

kyrademon — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:03:25 -0800

Some happy business is taking me to New York City Thursday through Sunday. I'm coming from Tucson, though, so to me it'll be freaking cold and I'm looking for indoor activities. Can anyone suggest any good vegan or vegetarian restaurants, astounding modern art museums (famous or obscure), Off-Broadway or Off-Off-Broadway shows worth seeing, or anything fun I haven't thought of, whether off the beaten track or on it?

Car seats in the city

pomegranate — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:31:13 -0800

Car seats in cabs/cars for hire in NYC? We're going to NYC with our two-week old. (Long story, we know it's not recommended to travel so early, we gotta go.) The only time we will be in a car will be from the airport to the city. Do we need to bring a car seat, and if so, do we need to tell the car service about it ahead of time? Do car services have them available so we don't have to drag one with us?

Looking for a good Long Island B&B

incomple — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 23:25:31 -0800

I'm looking for recommendations for a quality, reasonably priced bed-and-breakfast in the NYC tristate area (preferably in Long Island)... It's my girlfriend's birthday on the 25th and I'm planning on surprising her with a one-day jaunt out to the "country" this Saturday afternoon, leading to Sunday afternoon. I'm a wage slave and rent's due in a week, so I'm trying to keep my total budget (including transportation from Manhattan) below $400.

The "breakfast" part isn't at all necessary, but it reflects the sort of lodging I'm after. Quiet, maybe a bit secluded... I'm not looking for anything particularly posh or fancy, just a nice place to get out of the city for the weekend and get a nice rest.

I was thinking Hamptons/Montauk/Amagansett, but if anyone has any suggestions for Connecticut or Westchester, or even the five boroughs, I'm all ears. I've found plenty of results via Google, but I'm on a schedule that's about as tight as my budget, so I'm after personal recommendations and suggestions. It seems that most places require a two night stay for a weekend booking, which automatically blows my budget, so any suggestions on dodging that (short of offering them an extra $50 or something) is appreciated. I'm not expecting much help, but if anyone can offer me some hope I will be extremely grateful!

Brooklyn! Where to go?

zaphod — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 17:23:31 -0800

Brooklyn, where to stay what to see that's not obvious? Going to visit cousin John whose over from Ireland for 2 weeks and staying in Brooklyn, near the corner of Washington & Lafayette Aves (NE of Prospect Park).

First, I need a place to stay and Brooklyn seems to have a shortage of Hotels! WTF, everyone wants to stay in Manhattan? ;)

About the best, closest place I can find is the Brooklyn Marriott at about $230 a night with taxes ($199 + $30), which for 2 nights is a wee bit steep. Do you know anywhere else that's a bit cheaper and that you'd recommend? I found a bunch of places with decent reviews on some other sites, but then some Googling turned up some interesting Police reports about hourly customers for a few places .... even somewhere the other

Secondly, what to see and do, eat & drink, avoid & run, that tourists wouldn't normally see of Brooklyn?

Before the cousin said he was going to Brooklyn I had the, incorrect, impression that Brooklyn was a bit unsafe. But, after a wee bit of research I've released that it's a vast city within NYC that has it's own character & charm that's unlike Manhattan. So, you the Brooklynite reading this, where should we (me the Paddy in Boston, and the cousin from the wilds of Ireland and his German gf) go to see the joys and experiences of Brooklyn? Always looking for suggestions for good places to eat & drink too!

Secaucus to NYC for beginners?

rcavett — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 22:58:30 -0800

What is the best way for a first-time to NYC tourist to get from the Meadowlands Exposition Center area in Secaucus, NJ to Manhattan? We will be staying in Secaucus in a couple of weeks but want to visit New York City and do all of the touristy things. What is the best way to get from Secaucus to NYC?

I was considering buying a couple of days worth of the red bus passes but after reading other posts, now I'm not so sure. We only have three days to site see and don't want to waste a bunch of time wandering around lost. We did fine riding the subway in Washington DC. How does the NYC subway compare for someone who's never been there before?

Hot in Manhattan?

TiredStarling — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 09:55:31 -0800

In 1990 (as a non-USAnian) I visited Manhattan. At that time, SOHO was the new "up-and-coming" area: money moving in, interesting shops, galleries, bars, restaurants. What's the hot-spot now? And what's SOHO like now?

What to do in NYC for ten days around NYE?

sandmanwv — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 10:24:16 -0800

I'll be in New York, staying in a subletted West Village apartment, from Dec. 27 to Jan 6. Although I have plenty of friends who I can hang out at night, most will be working during the day. I'm looking for either some possibilities to keep busy during the day... these include finding other travelers to go to some more obscure sights, short term volunteering, info about watching taped shows, etc. If anyone has suggestions, or places I can look for activities, events, people, that'd be great. I just don't want to waste my time there. Thanks!

Christmas and New Year's Eve dinners in NYC

clearlydemon — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 18:38:19 -0800

My family and I will be in New York city for the holidays. My mission: to find great restaurants for Christmas and New Year's Eve dinners. I'd like personal recommendations for restaurants for Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas Day brunch, and New Year's dinner. We are four adults and two teenagers (ages 16 and 18). Our budget is about $100 per person, per dinner (although I think it should be less for brunch). If we could make reservations online, it would be a big plus.

We'll be staying near the Carnegie Hall. We were planning to go to Times Square for New Year's Eve, but after reading this, I guess we'll go somewhere else.

Thank you!

New York + Punk Rawk + Next week?

ImJustRick — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 17:06:01 -0800

So I left NYC in 2000, right around the time Coney closed. Used to go there about every week, as great bands came through all the time. Here I am, going back for the first time in years. What's happening between 12/9 and 12/13? Anybody playing? Where are the new record stores? Is see/hear still open? What's new in the New York Punk Rock?

Where to go for New Years in New York?

hjd — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 02:08:34 -0800

My girlfriend and I are visiting New York City on New Years Eve and want to have a memorable night. We preferably don't want to spend more than $200 each and would like something suitable for young professionals, not getting too drunk, not too loud (!) and comes with a seat! More info: We're staying in the West Village. We've found things such as this, this and this but aren't sure if they're worth it. We're not fussed about celebrity spotting - just having a good time with other good people.

We're looking for fun things to do in NYC the last week of the year.

Mr. Justice — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 04:50:41 -0800

We're looking for fun things to do in NYC the last week of the year. Suggestions? We haven't been to NYC for a couple of years (wife worked there some years ago) but are going back briefly. Here are some things we are planning to do in late December: see comic art exhibit at the Jewish Museum/Newark Museum, revisit excellent Turkish restaurant in Bklyn Heights, hit Forbidden Planet and Strand Bookstore, see old friends, find a good place that we can eat dinner that also plays live background jazz during. etc. Your suggestions on a good live jazz place as well as anything else fun to do would be greatly appreciated. We live in the South so we're looking to find things we couldn't find there.

Where is the best slice in Brooklyn

srlbraintree — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 08:26:40 -0800

Prototypical, definitive, best-you-can get New York slice. In Brooklyn? I'm headed to NYC for a business trip, and will have spouse & sons in tow for the first night -- they're driving down with me to arrive Sat evening and they will return to Boston Sunday evening.

Looking for the most unbelievably-good, if-you-looked-slice-up-in-the-dictionary, really really memorable pizza slices we can find, as close as possible to the Brooklyn Museum of Art.

How do you spend your layovers?

donajo — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 13:38:48 -0800

I've got a 4 hour layover in JFK during my holiday travels, and I'd like some suggestions on how to spend it. Four hours is not long enough to leave the airport, but it's more than enough time for me to eat and use the restroom and wander a bit. I'm going to try and save my books, mags, Sudoku, and GameBoy for the actual flights. Got any ideas on how to waste time in an airport?

It looks like I'll be in Terminal 3 (Delta), if you have any specific ideas, but general suggestions are good too.

Giving thanks for (and in) New York City

serialcomma — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 22:23:54 -0800

Suggestions needed: where to eat, watch football, and keep busy on Thanksgiving Day in New York City. My boyfriend and I will be in New York City for Thanksgiving. We're looking for three things for that day:

1. A place to have Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey and the trimmings is not essential--we're leaning toward a Chinese meal instead. Can anyone suggest a not-too-pricy Chinese restaurant (or other non-turkey cuisine) that'll be open on Thanksgiving?

2. He wants to watch the Cowboys game. Can anyone recommend a sports bar?

3. And any thoughts on other things to do on Thanksgiving? I used to live in NYC, and he's visited several times, so I'd rather avoid the typical tourist attractions (though I realize those may well be the only things open on Thanksgiving Day).

Oh, and specific neighborhood doesn't matter too much, though I'd prefer recommendations in Manhattan.

Thanks!

First NYC visit

forwebsites — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 15:07:03 -0800

Help us in our first NYC tour this weekend (Sat-to-Mon). What's the best vantage point/time to see the marathon? Apart from MoMa any other must see museum? Good middle eastern (Iranian/Persian/Afghani even Greek - falafel, khobedu et al) places to eat. A good jazz/R&B show and some more misc. questions We are touring NYC first time, at a short notice. (actually I was in NYC for a few hours while in transit months back, so it doesn't count). Looking to do some popular touristy things and sadly not much time left to research. Any help appreciated. Will be landing Fri night (10pm) and returning Mon afternoon(12noon) from JFK. Staying at Club Quarters Downtown with just one suitcase. Both of us dig walking and public transportation.

Places outlined: Empire State building, Statue of liberty, Central Park, MoMa.

Please help me out with the foll:

1) Most economical way to get between airport < -->hotel.

2) Recommendations for a good jazz/R&B show. Preferably something upbeat, a la Van Morrison (or Aaron Nevillish). Someplace where they play trumpets and horns and lots of pompomp music. We are both big fans of that kind of music.

3) Recommendations for any Broadway show. Preferably heavy drama/tragedy or comedy (but not toilet/vulgar like some ComedyCentral's standups I've seen on TV).
We've never attended (2) or (3) so have no idea if tickets around $50-75 per head possible for them?

4) Apart from MoMa any other museum to see? NYC museum's list is too long and sadly I don't have the time to research what I should see. I am pretty confident there should be atleast one more museum we are missing, that we will enjoy. Pls recommend anything you think is great except for highbrow/abstract art museums. Not too much into it.

5) Central Park is too big for us. As a visitor I am sure even a day won't be sufficient. So suggest us some high on the trail.

6) I've heard a lot about Union Square/Rockerfeller center. What exactly do people do there? Is it just people hanging out, and street musicians and entertainers holding an audience..because we dig those kind of things and miss those things from India here in the gentrified USofA. Any other squares I am missing? Apart from the holy TimesSquare where I know we should stand for atleast 15 mins, take all the neonsigns in and claim that we saw a citizen from every single country of planet earth :)

7) Good place/time to watch/photograph the marathon, which coincidentally happens to be this Sunday :D

8) Which is that bridge, which if I recollect properly, people suggest walking to get the entire Manhattan Island view. I'd like to take some pics from that point.

9) Suggestions for Irani/Afghani/Persian restaurants not too heavy on the purse. Falafel, khobedu, spicy Indian fast foods et al.

10) Generally other city spots and beautiful sights/landmark buildings to walk by.

Any other NY specific things I may have read and stored in my latent memory and missing in this query, or events specific to this weekend, please recommend them as well.

I hope Ask MeFi helps The Husband pull a surprise visit over The Wifey. Ask me questions and I can give more details if required. I am watching this thread while simultaneously tubing through the other internets for this trip.

Thanks.

Where in NYC should we spend a special new year?

thoughtless — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 03:22:04 -0800

Where should the SO and I spend New Year's Eve in NYC? I'm taking her there as a present for her 30th and we want to spend the 31st somewhere suitably great. (Searching shows New Year in New York to be a venerable AskMe subject, but we have quite specific requirements and are looking for specific recommendations.) We're enormously excited at the prospect of welcoming in 2007 with the good folk of new york city, but a wee bit anxious about a venue - numerous times in the past I've spent new year bar-hopping without ever finding a place that wasn't hideously over-crowded, or just a bit shit. And I REALLY don't want that to happen this time.

So we've decided that the safe option would be to try to reserve places in some drinking hole before we go, and therefore spend at least the majority of the evening in that one venue, which obviously needs to be somewhere rather terrific. And there are some criteria it must meet -

It needs to be in Manhattan, though we don't care whereabouts on the island

The clientele and atmosphere should be conducive to having a fine, happy, drunken time

We'd like somewhere to sit, ideally a booth that's reserved for us

It must play good music, hopefully guitar-based, and definitely not dance/electronica. We like the sort of 'indie' that English folk like at the moment (Killers, Kaiser Chiefs etc) so something conceptually similar would be a bonus

Being able to eat there as well would be great, as long as the food's good

(Cost isn't such a big deal - this is a special occasion and should be enjoyable, and I'll fork out for that if necessary.)

So I'm hoping that some node in the hive mind can recommend some place like this that could guarantee us entry. (Or maybe I'm worrying too much and we should just go with the flow? This is a distinct possibility. As is that it may be too late already to book such a place as we'd like.) Thanks!

How to get to Great Neck

mojohand — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 10:41:16 -0800

Getting to Great Neck from New Jersey I'm traveling mid-week from DC to a mid-day meeting in Great Neck. From NJ, MapQuest/Google Maps want to send me north and cross at the GW Bridge, to the Cross-Bronx, to the Throggs Neck Bridge and so forth.

But the GWB and the Cross-Bronx have evil memories for me. And looking at the map, better alternatives appear to be taking the Turnpike to 287E to the Verrazano and then either: 1) Taking 287N to the LIE (495E) to the Cross Island Parkway N to Northern Blvd, etc. OR 2) taking the Belt Parkway east to the Cross Island Parkway N, etc. I have zero, bukis, zilch experience with any of these highways. Can any Long Island Mefiers offer advice?

Where to sleep in NYC?

btkuhn — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 07:12:01 -0800

I'm a college student, being flown up for a job interview in Manhattan this Friday. I asked the firm I'm interviewing with to schedule my return flight for Saturday morning instead of Friday night so that I can explore the city, but now I'm finding out how expensive lodging in the city is. I'm from North Carolina and don't know anyone currently living in NY, which is fine with me because I was looking forward to walking around by myself. I don't mind my own company, and enjoy exploring new places alone and meeting new people. I'm looking for suggestions for a place to sleep for a few hours Friday night. Here are my sole requirements: safe, reasonably clean, and most importantly cheap. I'm just going to be sleeping for a few hours and heading out, so all that is essential is a mattress and a roof. I saw the Gershwin Hotel suggested on a previous thread for $40/night which is within my budget, but there are no rooms available for this Friday. I'm going to be stretched for money as it is, so heavy emphasis on cheap. My interview is in the financial district but I'm not deadset on staying in that area afterwards, so recommendations for anywhere in south/central Manhattan are fine. Thanks!

NYC

beccaj — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 06:17:06 -0800

OK.. so I am taking my boyfriend to NYC for the day. He went about 20 years ago with a friend that brought him to peep shows and he basically got mugged, etc. He hated it and hasnt been back. Help me make him like the city! I go to the city a few times a year but I am a wanderer-- he likes a destination. So normally I will wander looking for cool stuff but now I don't want to leave it all to chance. What are some of the neatest places in the city?
I am planning on taking him to Natural History museum and want to take him to a few unique shops and a great place to eat.
I will of course walk him through Times Square but want to avoid place like ESPN zone etc like the plague.
I want to go to unique places like the place that kinda specializes in PB & J and that fossil-y store "EVOLUTION" and some good strolls by some cool stores.

What are some best experiences in the NYC?

[side question for me-any place for a cheap foot massage while we are in the city?]

Roadtrip from Manhattan

The_Partridge_Family — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 20:49:09 -0800

Day trip drive from Manhattan? My parents are flying in from Scotland, I'm flying in from LA, and we're staying in Midtown. It's their first time in the US and they wish to spend one day on a drive out of the city. I'm always up for a road trip - but where: what's a good drive and/ or destination?

Creepy as in "Casper" hotel near NYC?

the jam — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 16:50:01 -0800

Looking for NYC-area hotels with stories of hauntings and/or assorted creepiness. Friends are coming to town this Friday 13th and are looking for some correspondingly creepy digs. I know about the Chelsea and the Algonquin hotels, but they're too expensive. We're looking for some less bourgeois ghosts. New Jersey, Long Island, and slightly upstate are ok, too.

Luggage storage in Manhattan?

electric_counterpoint — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 07:06:03 -0800

Where can I leave my luggage for a day in Manhattan? So, the lovely Ms. Counterpoint and I are visiting New York for a long weekend in a week's time, and we're staying in a hostel. It's the West End Studios (850 West End Avenue), and since we have a private room we'll be leaving our stuff there when we go out.

But! We're checking out Monday by 11, and we've got the rest of that day to explore the city before we get to La Guardia in the evening. What can we do with our bags during that period?

I saw this thread on the same subject, but our situation is different: 1) we don't have a room (having checked out of it by this time), and 2) we don't have any friends in New Jersey. With those conditions in mind, none of the advice in the previous question seems to help us.

Oh, there's this: We want to spend some time in Brooklyn -- if that's more conducive to dropping off luggage, we could schedule that trip for Monday.

Where can we let Kitty run?

skryche — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 20:11:42 -0800

New York City Dog Lovers: Where can two car-less Manhattanites (and one miniature poodle) go for the weekend? We just need to get out of the city for three days and would love to find a place we can let our pup run around safely (within a fenced area). Any advice/experience?

"Picking" the Right Birthday Celebration

NYCinephile — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 12:37:23 -0800

Autumn in New York City & Birthday Celebration filters: My gf wants to go apple-picking (again!). My gf loves the experience of heading out into the country on a sunny, crisp fall day, stopping by an orchard for apple picking,a hayride and fresh donuts, and celebrating her birthday at a nice restaurant on the way home (Cheesecake Factory was last year's choice).

Here's my dilemma: While I enjoy all of these, too, I'm a once- or twice-a-year driver and HATE the stress associated with navigating the highways near NYC in a rental car as dusk descends.

Hive mind, I appeal to you: find me an orchard near public transportation from NYC, or propose an alternate celebration that would feel very much like the above. The happy birthday girl will thank you.

nice veg restaurant in manhattan?

deafweatherman — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 01:53:01 -0800

Looking for an awesome, romantic, reasonably-priced restaurant in New York City with excellent vegetarian dishes. Does anyone have any reccomendations for a vegetarian (or a place with some great veggie dishes) restaurant in Manhattan where I could bring a date? I say reasonably-priced because I'd like to go somewhere nice, but not pay a ridiculous amount. Extra points if its in/around Gramercy.