| Author | Message | ||
     Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.242.126 |
Today the wife and I booked up for 5 days in New York over the Easter holidays to celebrate our birthdays. I can't wait; another lifelong dream fulfilled. Any tips what I should see while I'm there, other than the obvious? God, I'm excited... :-) | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 90.199.0.84 |
I love New York! There are so many obvious things, but try and fit in some art galleries, especially the Guggenheim & the Whitney. If you're bored, go to the NYU Medical Center on first avenue and look up at the seventh floor of the doctors residences - that's where 'Asphyx in Glass' came from in Faculty of Terror, and in one of those rooms I wrote both that and 'An Absence of Malice' from Coffin Nails. Then go to the Cinema Cafe round the corner for the best breakfast. If you want a 'Hellraiser III' moment then go to the Time Warner Centre. You'll see what I mean in the foyer if it's still there, & you can have your picture taken next to it. | ||
| Barbara Roden (Nebuly) Username: Nebuly Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 216.232.189.45 |
The Frick Collection is a wonderful gallery, and not as overwhelming as some. Plus you really feel as if you're wandering through someone's house (albeit someone fabulously wealthy and with wonderful taste in art), and not through a museum. The Natural History Museum is brilliant; plan on half a day AT LEAST, if not more. Times Square is a must. I know you've seen it a million times on TV and in movies, but nothing prepares you for what it's like to be there. Grand Central Station is beautiful, and well worth a visit. Head down to Union Square; there's a huge Barnes and Noble for new books, and kitty-corner across the square there's Forbidden Planet and then the wonderful Strand Book Store. '18 miles of books', says the advertising, and it's about right. Take a wants list, plan on spending a couple of hours, and dress in layers: the place is like a furnace. | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.192.53 |
Aside from the obvious attractions, spend a little time walking around Greenwich Village, Chinatown, and Little Italy, if you have time. Plenty of atmosphere and local colour there. Have a great time! | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.44.153.74 |
Well, there's Tesco's on the ring road, and a decent branch of Borders nearer the centre. Watch out for all the tourists from Leeds, though - they'd have your wallet as soon as look at you. Some nice walls there, too. In short, it's a deceptively ancient and friendly haven in a grass band studded with problem spots. Oh, you said New York... | ||
| Hubert (Hubert) Username: Hubert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.22.236.227 |
The Strand bookstore on Broadway! Avoid Forbidden Planet, it's nothing like the one in New Oxford Street, London. But then I haven't been in NY since 1995 . . . Try to explore some of the more 'adventurous' hoods, like Brooklyn, The Bronx . . . But don't take anything valuable with you on such trips. If you know someone who lives there, pay them a visit and have them accompany you. I was always escorted by Mr S.T. Joshi, my magnanimous host who used to live there. | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.194.54 |
I haven't been to New York since early 1988, and I stayed in Queens. There were some great Chinese restaurants around Queens. I was a little nervous at first about the subway, but it was fine, even late at night. I remember seeing all these 'guardian angel' posters about, warning child molesters, rapists and murderers what would happen to them if they got them before the police. | ||
| Hubert (Hubert) Username: Hubert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.22.236.227 |
I was once accosted by a drug dealer in Union Square, but usually it's a good place to relax and listen to the music and poetry around you. In 1990, before they got rid of the porn, Times Square was a hallucinatory place. There was more cruising going on back then, by both sexes. As for restaurants: if hot and spicy is what you like, go to a Korean place in Chinatown. Don't go to 'regular' Chinese restaurants, as they serve the same fodder as over here. Also in Chinatown, a good-size plastic container full of great take away food (salad bar style) will set you back a mere 5 -10 dollars. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.159.158.168 |
I'd go along with all the recommendations above, plus try to walk everywhere. We were staying a block from the Empire State Building and walked down to 'Ground Zero', and if you walk down some of the back streets you'll get a real feel for the place. Try walking through Chinatown one way, and back up through Greenwich Village. We've only been the once but I'd love to go again - folk were very busy but always friendly. Also, Central Park is essential, as is Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Guggenheim is more interesting for the architecture than the contents, but it has a couple of Kandinsky's that are worth the admission price. Another(!) thing to recommend is a boat trip around Manhattan Island; your hotel should be able to organise that for you, and there are free cross-town busus that'll get you to the port and back. Bloody envious, I am! | ||
| Adriana (Adriana) Username: Adriana Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 99.230.239.233 |
Erm, I think it's only like an 8 hour drive to my house from there... | ||
| Michael_kelly (Michael_kelly) Username: Michael_kelly Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 207.188.88.89 |
Gary, Have fun! I'm going to New York for the first time ten days from now. Staying in Manhattan, near Penn Station. Already booked tickets to see tapings of Stephen Colbert, and Jon Stewart. Will definitely hit Central Park, Times Square, MoMA, and a Broadway show. | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.78.74.231 |
Have a good time Michael! And Zed - you can look forward to it all winter. I've never been to NY but perhaps one day. | ||
| Adriana (Adriana) Username: Adriana Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 99.230.239.233 |
I'm SOOOO jealous, Michael - I have the biggest crush on Stephen Colbert. If I ever go to NY I'll have to find out from you how you got the tickets. That would be too fun! | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.242.126 |
Some good tips here - thanks, all! | ||
| Gcw (Gcw) Username: Gcw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.43.119.113 |
Zed. DO THE ROCK N'ROLL TOUR!! You must, it's fantastic Muchacho, see Iggy Pop's house...CBGB's (gone now though...)The Fillmore...Madison Square Gardens.....The tenements off the front cover of Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti..The corner shop where the back cover photo of The New York Dolls' first album was shot - exactly the same! Fantastic place, so good I wrote a song about it...  gcw | ||
| Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.244.140.221 |
I second Hubert's suggestion for a visit to The Strand bookshop. One thing to do: visit a jazz club (you'll probably need to reserve). They are awesome in NY. Everytime I visit NY for my job I go to a concert in the "Dizzy's club Coca Cola" is in the lincoln center (at southwest corner of central park). See http://www.jalc.org/ for details. They charge around $30 cover charge and you still have to eat or drink something. Choose well and it's worth it. There are a few other famous jazz clubs of course, such as birdland and Iridium where the venerable Les Paul (yes, the Les Paul who designed the popular guitar) gives a weekly concert. Etc. Then, the best thai food I have ever eaten (truly michelin star quality) is prepared by one of the best chefs from Thailand in Kittichai. check and make reservation on www.kittichairestaurant.com/ This is in a nice part of town. For an enormous offer on well priced dvds and cds, you owe it to yourself to visit J&R (www.jr.com - a full block near the financial center is occupied by this shop). And for cheaper than UK prices on cameras and lenses (but be aware of the 8% sales tax,) THE place to be is BH photo video (see www.bhphotovideo.com ) best, Tom | ||
| Gcw (Gcw) Username: Gcw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.43.119.113 |
Fuck it, - I must go again next year! gcw | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.159.158.168 |
Just what I was thinking - I'm getting all jealous! | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 90.203.130.132 |
They have direct flights from Bristol now. Which is nice |