New York

I like the alcohols.

www.alldisco.net

drink a quart of ballantine ale -- tastes like pine needles

stroll down clinton rivington or ludlow street and try to imagine that all those trendy shops/bars/restaurants used to be drug spots

go to katz delicatessen and send a salami to somebody in Iraq

battery park at sunset followed by dinner at trattoria gigino

shop for restaurant supplies on the bowery, then stop and and pay respects at CBGB while you still can

storm the locked gates at residents-only grammercy park, and then have a drink at the grammercy park hotel (if it's still there)

walk through the garment district (7th ave west 30s)during business hours, watch out for flying coat racks

try to find a porn shop/strip club in Times Square: happy hunting!

drink a $15 martini in the 4 seasons hotel lobby, it's sorta worth it

eat BBQ and catch an early set at the Jazz Standard (Blue Smoke)

go to the northern end of Central Park and check the Harlem Meer

worship at the church synagogue mosque or bank of your choice

Have a drink at Bemelmans Bar in the Carlyle Hotel (76th St. and Madison), where the walls are fully illustrated by Ludwig Bemelman of "Madeline" fame.

Visit the main Manhattan library branch on 42nd Street -- read between the lions etc etc and have a picnic lunch in Bryant Park behind the library.

Stroll through Chinatown and try the dumplings at several different places for a taste test. I don't have any favorites but I'm sure someone on here does.

Have very good and not very expensive Thai food at Pong Sri on Bayard and Baxter (Chinatown). Specifically, have the coconut rice with your dish if possible. Go in the early evening to the park across the street from the restaurant and watch the very elderly Chinese men play Go and soak up the last of the sun.

Go downtown to City Hall and walk (or bike) across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Convince the security guard to let you into the incredibly ornate lobby of the Woolworth's building. Not sure if you can still get in during these parlous times, but used to be you could stroll around the ground floor and get an eyeful. I think there are retail shops in there now so you can probably manage.

"It's titled 'Subway Map Floating on a New York Sidewalk,' and it was created in 1986 by Francoise Schein, a Belgian artist and architect, who now lives in Paris. The schematic runs the length of the building -- 87 feet -- and is 12 feet wide. The IRT, BMT and IND are represented by half-inch-wide stainless-steel bars embedded in concrete, with lights indicating SoHo-area subway stops. The project cost an estimated $30,000 to produce and won the City Art Commission award for the best art project that year."

Hang out and read a book in the various courtyards at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. It's surprisingly tranquil and you can scope out lots of art/dance students.

also if you like architecture, take the m5 bus up to grants tomb/riverside church and check out all the awesome buildings on riverside drive

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Have a burger at the Corner Bistro on W. 4th & Jane St.

At night go out drinking in the East Village and/or Lower East Side.

Take one of the tours offered by the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. Fascinating and it'll make you see NYC, especially downtown, in a new light.

Walk the entire lenght of Central Park and marvel at the genius of Olmstead.

Damnit! When I was in NYC I spent all my time between there and Bronxville!

Casimir is my pop star crush, so I'll keep away.

Check out the Metropolitan Museum and MOMA's new space. I've heard good things mainly about the latter, the former will take hours. There's also a fantastic house off of Central Park with a museum in it, the house alone is worth the entrance but there are some real gems there! It's called the Frick Collection or Museum.

I loved Ellis island and was proud of a cork woman being first through (Up the rebels) and of course you've got to visit the Jolly Green Giants French mistress.

There's so much I want to go back and do, see Grand Central station's restored roof, drink expensive cocktails, just go mental and figure out how to calmly call a taxi (seriously). Plans afoot to move there at some point so here's hoping.

Oooo and before I forget: shop. Really. You don't need to eat after the trip. Century 21 is great cos I'm cheap and a browser but there's so much else obviously.

Spencer is OTM, start q-ing around an hour and a half before sun down for the Empire State cos we didn't and missed it unfortunately.

God there's so much. Now sitting at desk consumed by jealousy... Enjoy it though, don't make it your last trip sure isn't there the rest of the world to explore!?

There are no more Allan Kaprows in the art world

when: Now through Sun 8.14 (Wed-Sun: 12-6pm)
where: Silo (1 Freeman Alley, entrance on Rivington St, btwn Bowery & Chrystie St, 212.505.9156) map
price:
links: Event Info | Allan Kaprow

Tucked away in the Manhattan oasis Freeman Alley, Silo celebrates its one-year anniversary with homage to legendary "happenings" pioneer Allan Kaprow. Following his lead, the artists here eschew formal convention in search of liminal spaces between art and everyday life. Stephan Pascher's after-hours intervention at a Swedish co-op investigates the intersection between shoppers' inner thoughts and the anonymous eye of the security camera. Elke Lehmann unravels the symbols of American post-9/11 patriotism through found fashion, and Douglas Boatwright reinterprets the Beach Boys in a deadpan, self-produced videogram. Patrick Grenier's slide presentation Invisible History of Chelsea is perhaps best representative of the ideas driving this show in its unrelenting circumvention of the gallery scene. (AM)

New suggestions are appreciated.

I love walking around the new york public library, YOu can run down the steps like peter venkman.

The transit museum in Brooklyn is worth an hour or so of anyone's time

PS1 is generally worth an afternoon, check out kate masonic boom's old favourite diner, the court square whilst you're at it.

Prospect Park is at least as good as central park for walking in.

I love Smith/9th St Subway stop and the really huge girder structure it's on

http://static.flickr.com/39/105802374_a92193fafe.jpg?v=0

Give my love to the G train.

See what's on a Galapagos in Williamsburg. Say Ed sent you (only works with one waitress).

Point yourself in any direction and walk

Zabar's, Russ and Daughters, Katz's

is anything good happening next week? i don't know how much free time i'll have, but recommendations for stuff happening mon/tue night, or just good places to hang out near le parker meridien (where i'm staying) would be much appreciated in case i find myself with spare hours...

Tuesday - Q-Tip at Nokia Theatre (Times Square); El Guincho at le poisson rouge (Greenwich Village)

You are right in the middle of the most garish, crowded bit of Midtown but on the plus side just over the road from Central Park which is worth a half-hour wander round. The bit down from Union Square to the Lower East Side was my favourite bit of Manhattan just to wander round, and it would be very difficult for even you to get lost.

Somewhere in my Gmail I have a load of eating and drinking recommendations from Tracer as well that I can forward to you.

Bar Americain (a dramatic-looking restaurant that does good haute regional American food) is 5 blocks away. Norma's, inside the hotel, is considered one of the best brunch places in the city (not cheap).

you're 2-3 blocks from the Carnegie Deli (Jewish deli for enormous corned beef and/or pastrami sandwiches, etc.), which is not the best, but the most famous of its type

a great brunch place right where i'm staying? this is fantastic news. thanks for the recommendations gabbneb (got yr emails matt, cheers) - i will take note and use if time permits

also, the lobby of your hotel contains Burger Joint, one of the best burgers in NYC

:D

what good bars are in the area?

love the Burger Joint. follow the neon burger sign

"good" bars, I'd probably head downtown. You are right in the middle of the most garish, crowded bit of Midtown

There are loads of good bars as you head down towards Greenwich Village or towards the East Village from Union Square. Most of them further downtown seem pretty passable though.

If you are only there a couple of days I'd recommend getting the subway down to somewhere in the 20s and then just wandering south and getting a feel for the streets, taking in any particular landmarks you want to see.

The bit you're in is roughly the equivalent of staying somewhere between Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Street, with all the horror that entails.

what good bars are in the area?

you probably want to go elsewhere for that, certainly if you want to hang out with ILXors, as most places in the neighborhood cater to wealthy business types, tourists/out-of-towners, and/or workingmen. but i'll mention:
- Salon de Ning at the Peninsula Hotel (outdoor space is the biggest draw, so probably more of a summer phenomenon)
- ava lounge in the dream hotel (same; less upscale)
- downstairs bar at Tao restaurant, popularized by Sex and the City, and probably filled with midwestern tourists, but might be up your alley
- the Townhouse, a v upscale, clubby midtown gay bar.
- the (classic) king cole bar in the st. regis hotel (where the bloody mary was either invented or introduced to the US)

another attractive and expensive nearby restaurant is the modern, inside the MoMA, with separate bar and main rooms and alsatian-inspired cuisine. at further reaches of midtown, the Grand Central Oyster Bar is a classic NY place amid the commuter rush of Grand Central Terminal with great oysters and decent, fairly simple seafood. GCT also has the Campbell Apartment bar.

hey matt can you send me tracer's tips too? looks like i'll be going to NYC for work from time to time and will be staying in that same garish area (was at the hudson last time which was the smallest room i've even been in!). the office is in rockefeller ctr, and i fear there's really nothing around there's that's not touristy crap. i'll be happy to venture around.

if you are at rock ctr and don't mind walking over to 9th ave, there are lots of little restaurants/bars. uncle nick's ouzaria is good greek tapas, next door to vintage, which has nice cocktails/"martinis" that are $10-12 instead of $15-20. uncle vanya on 54th is also nom and has infused vodkas (though if that's your thing, the vodka selection is better at the russian samovar).

none of these places are "fancy" or especially nice, but i find the quality to be pretty good and not overly expensive. if you want shi-shi atmosphere, these are not the places to go, though (with the exception of vintage) they have a lot of character.

i'm not that fancy ;) i'm sure i'll see shi-shi places with work people, but when i'm on my own that's a different story...

the waitstaff at uncle vanya is kind of lolinsovietrussiacaviareatsyouawesome.

does anyone know of any large coffee houses in new york?

How large?

larger than your usual diner or starbucks. I'm thinking there aren't any...

the starbucks at astor place is pretty big

i would have said Lotus on the lower east side but it's closed :(

did anyone else just hear that big scary missile/thunder sound?

ah, it's raining.

Anything happening between the 7th and 11th? i'm going! very excited about it, never having been to America before!

open house new york lets you go see some cool buildings and sites. check it out
http://www.ohny.org/

thanks!

hey guys i am going to be in nyc this wknd. uh webmail me or something if you wanna say "hi" or buy "e" a birthday lager or premium ale. i am gonna try to go to friend's bar in brooklyn or heck, "Scratcher" (my favorite bar ever) or just camp out at my friend's house in queens. but i need to get out of here. okay, goodbye forever. click on my name if you read this, and call me or txt me. ok, bye.

yeah, i need to get out of town./././././.

I have Saturday night, Sun/Mon, and Tuesday morning in Manhattan.

I know I at least want to hit MOMA, but I'm really clueless as to what else should go on the itinerary.

going to be in NYC for first time in apr. stoked

there's an african jazz night at st nicks pub (189th st iirc?), every saturday night starting midnight. fun to go loosen up at if you're just arriving in town. you get to take the a train!

Heading to NYC tomorrow pm - Mon am with my bf. Staying in the East Village (air b&b apartment). 1. It's going to rain all weekend; 2. bf has done his back in and can't walk very far or for very long.

Any East Village activity suggestions based on these two facts, other than chilling out and eating and drinking?

Put me in the pool of people who are going. Huge university trip in two weeks.

cocaine...

sooo want to be in dat city right now

Arriving Friday, leaving Monday... partly wandering around on my own, partly hanging out with a friend and her kids... late notice, but let me know if any fapinterest.

there's gonna be something saturday: i go to new york

Arriving Wednesday, leaving Thursday! I think for the week we can call it New ILX, yes?

er of next week. I'm just excited!

working in new york for a week from saturday, staying meat packing district but up for some exploration and really want to be told about some kind of amazing record store where mint conditon disco records go for a dolllar. Anyone any wonderful local treasures they want to let me know about or does that involve a time machine to the 90s?

just a random recommendation for dumbo. one of the only neighborhoods left with cobblestone streets.

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h94000/h94785.jpg

working in new york for a week from saturday, staying meat packing district but up for some exploration and really want to be told about some kind of amazing record store where mint conditon disco records go for a dolllar. Anyone any wonderful local treasures they want to let me know about or does that involve a time machine to the 90s?

― straightola, Thursday, July 12, 2012 1:43 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

lol

Any of you guys and girls live on the UWS?

I used to know someone who lived on the UWS. She was a struggling documentary filmmaker! I also used to know people who lived in Chelsea. I knew somebody who rented a room in the meatpacking district for peanuts. One of my best friends lived on Ludlow Street. But nobody lives in Manhattan any more, right?

Talk about NEW YORK, people. What is the deal? I haven't lived there in 8 years and I imagine it as a kind of post-apocalyptic landscape of rich people, ringed by pools of poor people, reinforced by vast concrete holding pens of families just gettin' by, interlaced and suffused with artisanal seams of Portlandia extras who receive outsized attention in regional magazine articles.

it's been fucking over for years, even before we got Domino's Pizza and police-state patdowns at ballgames.

I've lived all over in 3 boroughs I'm the past 20 years and I like the UWS a lot. Everything is right there. And 5 blocks between Ruverside and Central Parks.

Lower Manhattan is just French ppl and some Scandinavians

Can someone please lower the tax rate in France so these horrible people stop coming to Brooklyn?

sad http://www.grubstreet.com/2016/08/times-squares-seor-frogs-has-closed.html

Times Square hasn't been good since Mars 2112 closed

goodbye Houston Street Lenin

http://evgrieve.com/2016/09/the-fall-of-lenin-iconic-statue-removed.html

Tapping into the ilx hive mind, heading to NYC soon for a family trip. My son wants to do a lot of the touristy stuff of course, so we'll be hitting up Ellis Island, Central Park, Broadway (Hadestown and Sweeney Todd - son is so beyond excited to see one of the Stranger Things kids in the latter), etc.

Will be staying in Chelsea area and wife will be working in Financial District a few days - looking for book/record store recs. Are there any of the latter left in Manhattan (doubt we'll have much time to head to Brooklyn or anywhere else this trip)? Planning to hit up 30 Rock anyway and I understand Rough Trade reopened there for some reason, but happy to hear any other recs. Also happy to hear any food spots in Chelsea area - keep in mind we'll have an 11 year old with us, but he is an adventurous eater.

here are some very standard recs

bookstores - strand, mcnally jackson, bluestockings (a little out of the way from you but employee-owned anarcho LBGTQ coop), printed matter, book-off

record stores - feel like a-1 records or academy are your best best for finding something good and reasonably priced. otherwise, there are a bunch of small random shops that are very expensive all over town.

food - chelsea market is touristy but good, otherwise chelsea is kind of a desert, maybe shukette? better bet would be to walk down a few blocks and go to the west village (lot of choices but $$$) or macdougal street, or an even better bet is to head over to the east village or chinatown. if you're going to 30 rock, urban hawker is kind of a fun food hall, otherwise there are a lot of restaurants in the area that cater to the business lunch crowd. this is probably the hardest thing to recommend without some kind of forcing function, just see whatever's hot on eater.com at the moment.

Thanks! That is all super helpful. yeah we'll definitely be roaming around the city, just good to have some ideas close to where we are staying. Strand was already for sure on my list.

I'll be there tonight to Friday, it's an ILX Chicago to NYC exodus!

Go to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum!

Didn't make it to the Tenement Museum, couldn't convince the family. But we had a great time, my son is already asking when we can go again. Didn't hurt that he was able to get a selfie with Dustin from Stranger Things after the performance of Sweeney Todd we saw, and that he got to visit Flight Club, an apparently super popular sneaker store.

A few thoughts:
best food was Bazar Tapas on 26th, Black Tap (I loved the burgers, kid loved the insane shakes), Anita Gelato, Stone Street Tavern
Academy Records was great, found some good stuff at reasonable prices
Rough Trade at 30 Rock was fine I guess? decent selection, but packed with random tourists completely uninterested in looking at the selection (due to the location), also hate when these newer shops stock their CD shelves so you can only see the spines, makes it hard as hell to find anything and gives you a sore damn neck (lol, old)
shout out to the super nice bartender at Fraunces Tavern that let us bring the history loving kid in after 11 pm to look around and gave him a tour
Strand lived up to the reputation, had to come back a second time due to being kinda overwhelmed the first time on a crowded weekend day
McNally Jackson was really nice! obvs not as deep as Strand, but had a cool vibe, super friendly employees and a thoughtful approach to curation
Hadestown was fine, but honestly don't get the insane hype
kid loved the audio tour at Ellis Island
so glad to finally get to experience the Guggenheim
High Line kinda sucked tbh, we went at 9 am on a Tuesday and it was already so packed we could only kinda shuffle along
Felt really out of place at the ritzy Hudson Yards mall thing, but The Edge was cool
Fuck JK Rowling forever and I kind of felt gross about the Harry Potter store when we randomly stumbled upon it, but hard to argue with the absolute magic in my son's eyes as he got excited about all the wands and butterbeer and everything

all in all, A+++++++ visit would recommend, fuck the "NYC is scary and violent" narrative. can't wait to go back when my wife is less tied to her work and we can hit up some of the other boroughs.

Reviving Jon’s question above. We’re bringing our 3 teenage girls to NYC this weekend, also staying in Chelsea. They say they don’t want to book tickets for any shows and would rather wander south on shopping adventures. I’m into that but would welcome any ilxor endorsements or recs for exhibits or other events that don’t involve Times Sq or Central Park madness. South of Chelsea would be a plus but I’m shaky on NYC geography and am not picky on that point.

I'm pretty out of the loop on stuff, but I know there's a Harry Smith exhibit at the Whitney right now that looks pretty cool.

staten island ferry is free; brooklyn bridge park for views of LM (accessable via A/C to high st; F to York - CHECK YOUR WEEKEND TRAIN REPAIR INFO). Chinatown for curios and breakable stuff and good eats (Tasty Hand Pulled is my jam). Outdoor Holiday markets at union sq (near the Strand) and Bryant Park.

Wandering shopping from Bleecker St at christopher, all the way over to 10th and B and down to Reade or so (excite 4 u 2 b poor). Your garden variety brand names/flagship stores are on lower broadway so if ur looking for unique you won't find it there.

Central park is enormous and once you get about 70th st or so the crowds thin out dramatically (I would advise going to any of the 110th st stops and walking DOWN to the reservoir or belvedere castle)

If I knew what they actually liked I may be able to help more.

https://americanindian.si.edu/visit/reopening-ny

https://www.mocanyc.org/

https://www.govisland.com/things-to-do/events/winter-solstice-celebration

the new museum is cool and it is right on the bowery. https://www.newmuseum.org/exhibitions

for shopping, i recommend that area, like elizabeth street, mott street, etc. a little off from the main soho drag with the mall-like stores.

Walk south on the high line

Hudson yards is worth a trip, you can get to it from the high line as well

Thanks peeps